Unit Outline

The first part of this unit aims to enable the registered nurse to identify and explore leadership within the context of contemporary nursing practice. Students enrolled within this unit will examine the skills and attributes of clinical leaders that they identify in their workplace with the overall aim of fostering the ongoing development of their own advancing clinical leadership skills. The establishment of advanced beginning level clinical leadership skills will have key implications for the registered nurses as future leaders in the nursing profession. This unit will assist the student in developing sound awareness of the differences between leadership and management. The content will critically examine what constitutes a leadership role and what good, quality attributes of a clinical leader are. The second part of this unit aims to focus on the development of understanding and insight into the principle components of clinical governance and its significance to the daily practice of the registered nurse. Students will review relevant and up to date quality improvement activities and scrutinise policies within their work environment and relate to contemporary literature on clinical governance with regard to application and implications for their practice development.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Demonstrate an advanced theoretical understanding of clinical leadership and the implications for practice for the graduate nurse.
2.	Critically analyse, and synthesise a broad understanding of clinical leadership and its significance to leadership roles, using communication skills to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas generated from theoretical and experiential research.
3.	Review, analyse, and synthesise theoretical knowledge of clinical governance and how the application of this knowledge is relevant to the scholarship and practice of the registered nurse who values improving the quality of care and improved patient outcomes.
4.	Exhibit and exercise the cognitive and technical skills to design and conduct a clinical audit or review a policy/quality improvement activity within the practice setting, executing either activity with a degree of intellectual independence to demonstrate an understanding of quality improvement and the importance of evidence based practices within the context of clinical practice.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Regular monitoring and review have been undertaken.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Professional Practice Improvement Episode (PPIE)	Week 7	50 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Clinical Audit or Related Project	Week 13	50 %	LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Professional Practice Improvement Episode (PPIE)

Task Description:

This assessment is a Professional Practice Improvement Episode (PPIE) that requires you to conduct an interview and then write about your findings in a narrative essay style to show a practical and theoretically underpinned understanding of clinical leadership.

Task Length:

1800 words

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate the ability to conduct a professional interview with a colleague to access key information.	LO1, LO2
2	The extent to which appropriate scholarly literature is critically analysed and incorporated to support findings within well synthesised writing.	LO1, LO2
3	The extent to which the student recognises the key attributes of good clinical leadership and how this will have implications on their own professional clinical practice goals.	LO1, LO2
4	Communicate clearly and succinctly using the current APA Style.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Clinical Audit or Related Project

Task Description:

You are required to explore and conceptualise clinical governance and its relevance to your clinical practice by choosing one of two assessment options that explores various key elements of continuous quality improvement.

Option 1: A clinical audit
Conduct a small clinical audit in your practice area. The aim of this assessment piece is to choose an area of clinical practice, gather data and critically analyse your findings

Option 2: Review a policy/guideline/protocol/QI activity

You will engage in the theoretical underpinnings of quality improvement that shapes quality improvement activities and the development and evaluation of policies within your facility.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Explains clinical audit strategies employed, critically analyses and evaluates findings generated with mindfulness to critique the chosen audit tool in order to analyse its effectiveness.	LO3, LO4
2	Selects appropriate quality improvement activity or policy to critically analyse.	LO3, LO4
3	Demonstrates a degree of independence and autonomy in order to execute their project of choice.	LO3, LO4
4	Engages with and integrates evidence based literature and in particular supports their chosen area of clinical governance.	LO3, LO4
5	Communicate clearly and succinctly using the current APA Style.	LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.