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Overview

Course Prescription

Considers the types of evidence that inform nursing practice and implementation, and examines barriers and enablers to the application of evidence to practice. Provides students with the tools to locate and appraise evidence and requires the student to engage in research activities resulting in a substantial research essay.

Course Overview

This course is designed to develop students' skills in locating and appraising research evidence for a range of clinical questions, assessing the applicability of that evidence to nursing practice scenarios, and planning for the successful implementation of evidence-based change. Students are provided with the tools to appraise different types of evidence as well as frameworks to support theory-informed implementation planning. The final assessment requires students to select a clinical problem of interest to their clinical setting, obtain and appraise evidence to address the problem, and prepare an implementation plan that includes theory-based assessment of organisational readiness for change, implementation strategies targeted at the barriers and enablers identified, and a plan to measure implementation success. Emphasised throughout all coursework are principles of implementing evidence-based interventions into practice in ways that engage stakeholders, eliminate health inequities and promote person- whanau- centred, evidence-based care.

Key Topics

Steps of evidence-based practice: critical appraisal; results interpretation; implementing evidence into practice; equitable implementation.

Course Contacts

Course Director  Dr. Cynthia Wensley  Email: c.wensley@auckland.ac.nz Phone: 09 9234257

Course Administrator Betty Lin betty.lin@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

Nursing 746 is a 30-point course. Students are expected to spend an average of 20 hours per week on this course.

For this course, you can expect 48 hours of lectures and 252 hours of reading about the content and mastering the skills, including hours of work on assignments. 

The exact study day dates can be via this link in November of each year (for the following year), when enrolments open. Search via subject, which is Nursing and course number, e.g., 746. Then click on meeting information to bring up the dates.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

There are six study days in the course, which are organised into three blocks of two days.

Attendance is expected on the scheduled study days. Attendance is recommended so you can take full advantage of the learning opportunities provided in each study day. Developing supportive relationships with the lecturers and other colleagues is also an important part of 746 study, so we hope you can attend. 

Lectures will be available as recordings.

The course also includes several Zoom tutorials. These are highly recommended and are recorded for those unable to attend.  

Attendance on campus is not required for assignment work completion. 

All assessments are via electronically submitted work.

Teaching and Learning Methods

  • In-person lectures
  • Self-directed learning
  • Online evening tutorials (dates and times to be determined on Day One study day)

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

You can access relevant readings and other resources via the reading list tab in Nursing 746 CANVAS,  which you have access to once you are enrolled. 
The following textbook is highly recommended text: 

  • Hoffmann T, Bennett S, Del Mar C. Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions. (4th Edn). Sydney, Churchill Livingstone. 2023.  
The text is available as an E-book at the University of Auckland Library, you may download chapters and save as a PDF copy. The text book is also available to purchase either in-store or online via this link https://ubiq.co.nz/p/evidence-based-practice-across-the-health-professions-9780729544436

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Students should ensure they have access to a computer with the spreadsheet programme Excel to enable use of the clinical calculator tool required for the assignments.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

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Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type1234567

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Overall satisfaction with the learning experience in this course is high. In 2024, Semester 2, the median course satisfaction score was 4.8/5 (0-5 scale; 5 = strongly agreed that satisfied with the quality of the course, 0 = strongly disagreed).  Changes made in response to SET evaluation feedback were:

  • Start later on the first day of each study block. 
  • Provide the assignment two tutorials closer to Study Days three and four.  
  • Minor adjustments to course content and resources.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Additional Information on Class Representatives

N746 has not traditionally had a class representative, but the Course Director values this role if any student is interested in taking it on.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

Please contact the Course Director as soon as you can regarding any circumstances affecting your study. 

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.