Independent Professional Practice Development
- Credits
- 30 (Level 6)
- Course code
- NUR 30171
- Contact email
- nursing.cpd@keele.ac.uk
- Starting months
- Trimester 1 - October, Trimester 2 - March, Trimester 3 - June
Course overview
This 30 credit, level 6, work-based learning module provides an opportunity for the student to demonstrate critical and creative thinking through their approach to developing specific learning outcomes and the achievement of these through practice-based initiatives. This will have relevance to their own practice in order to enhance their own professional standing.
You may also be interested in our Independent Professional Practice Development 15 credit module
Overview
The module enables the student to demonstrate their ability to make informed judgements about practice based issues and communicate ideas to their work-based learning facilitator, specialist and non-specialist fellow professionals. Evaluative reflection will be integral to this in determining further and future learning needs.
It offers students the opportunity to gain academic credits for completing work-based activities that will include either professional development (such as completion of a recognised preceptorship programme) or other practice-based initiatives (for example, relating to service improvement, education, leadership or health and well-being).
Module aims
To plan, undertake and critically evaluate a practice based initiative, which may include achievement of practice based competencies, project work, literature review or extended audit, and synthesise understanding from it.
Develop personal and professional skills and self-efficacy.
The module learning outcomes are attained through the achievement of competencies that are tailored to the student’s individual development needs. These competencies relate to the work-based activities being undertaken and are assessed by two pieces of work:
- Completion of the work-based activities is usually assessed through the assembly of a portfolio of evidence or equivalent, as agreed by the employing organisation (which is evaluated by a nominated work-based supervisor).
- The student submits an academic piece of work that enables scholarly reflection on their professional development and learning derived from their work-based activities.
Entry requirements
Hold current first level Professional Registration with a relevant regulatory body e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC); Health Professional Council (HPC); General Social Care Council (GSCC).
Have an identified work-based facilitator within their practice area, who will support and guide them through the acquisition of the developed learning outcomes.
Module content
There will be a tripartite meeting between the student, module leader and identified work-based facilitator (this may be Skype/Email/Teleconference as dictated by the accessibility) to develop and agree the specific area for exploration, followed by a period of planned, self-directed learning supported, as requested by the student.
A key element of the module is self-study as there is no requirement to attend the University for taught content. Individual tutorial support is offered through the School’s personal tutoring system and the module leader will work with individuals and their work-based supervisor /employing organisation to devise the necessary competencies for achievement of the learning outcomes. Relevant learning resources are made available to students through the Keele Learning Environment.
This Keele module is distinctive because it centres on the individual’s professional development and learning in their own workplace under the supervision of a work-based clinician and their personal tutor, while facilitating practice development.
Teaching and assessment
The principal learning and teaching methods used in the module may include:
- Web-based learning using the Keele Learning Environment (KLE), Blackboard.
- Directed independent study. Most of the study hours for each module comprise independent learning by expecting participants to add depth and breadth to their knowledge of topics, to practice skills and to reflect on critical incidents and their practice.