Topic outline

  • Welcome

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    TreeWelcome to the course

    It gives us great pleasure to welcome you to Solent University and to BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing. 

    The University has been working in partnership with NHS Trusts for over 5 years and the course has been developed in close collaboration to ensure the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) academic and practice based standards are covered, delivered and met. You will be learning alongside colleagues and staff from different settings within health and social care for instance acute, community, primary and social care settings as well as from a range of professions including social work, allied health and public health. This provides an excellent opportunity to share, support and learn from each other in a truly inter-professional environment.

  • Getting started

    • Course instructions

      Each week new course material will be released. As you move through use the small tick boxes on the right-hand-side of the course to mark whether or not you have completed an activity - this will help you to keep on track. 

      You can revisit material and retry course activities at anytime so please make the most of the material you have available to you. 

      Course community

      We would like you to start my introducing yourself. Tell us who you are, where you come from and what you are hoping to get out of the course. 

      This is your space, ask each other questions and chat about the course material. 

    • Forum icon
      Course forum
    • Page icon
      The 'Get ready for adult nursing' Padlet board Page

  • Week 1

    Welcome to Week 1

    • 1.1 Professionalism

      What do we mean about ‘being professional’? 

      Lets start by watching the Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) video below on 'Enabling professionalism - challenging poor practice'. 



      Next take a look at material from Community Medical Center (CMC). Click on the buttons below to play two short clips.

      Click to watch Defining professionalism (7.08)

      Click to watch Professional qualities (0.25)


      Once you have watched this check the box on the right

    • 1.2 Enabling professionalism 

      'Enabling professionalism in nursing and midwifery practice' document describes and demonstrates what professionalism looks like in everyday practice through the application of the Code.

      Click here to view the document. 

    • 1.3 The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

    • 1.4 Study skills: critical thinking

      To finish things off for this week, lets take a look at a critical thinking exercise. Below is an article from the BBC. Have a think about the questions you might ask in order to critically evaluate this source. 

       

      Click on the (+) icons to read more about each section of the article and why it is important when evaluating sources. 

       

    • Using what you have learnt, answer the following question about critical thinking:

  • Week 2

    Welcome to Week 2

    • 2.1 What is anatomy and physiology?

      The two fields biology that are associated with the human body anatomy and physiology.

      Click on the arrows to expand the section and find out more. 

    • 2.2 What is structure and function?

      Anatomy and physiology are related in terms of structure and function.

      Structure of organs and tissues will determine what physiological function of the organ or system can undertake. For instance, skeletal muscle tissue is specialised tissue that is capable of contraction and relaxation and facilitates movement.

      In contrast lung tissue is made of very fine membrane which is seen and easily allows the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.

      As structure determines function, any alteration in the structure of a body part may lead to a physical disorder.

    • 2.3 Structural organisation


    • atoms

      At the lowest micro-cellular level our bodies are composed of atoms.

      Atoms then join together to form molecules such as oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), sugar (C6H1206) and water (H2O).

      Molecules then join together to form cells. There are many different types of cells which have different characteristics perform different functions in the human body. 

      Similar cells join to form tissues. As all the cells in a specific type of tissue are the same, tissues also carry out distinct function. There are four major tissue types epithelial, connective, neural, and muscular.

      An Organ can be defined as two or more tissues working together to perform a specific function. Examples of organs are the stomach, the heart and the lungs. 

    • 2.4 Anatomical directional terms 

      Next up is anatomical terms, click on the play button to watch the short video below to help familiarise yourself with this topic. 

    • Now you have watched the video, lets see if you can name the anatomical directional terms. Select the words on the right and drag them into the correct boxes, click 'Check' once you have completed the task to review your answers.

    • 2.5 Body Planes and sections

      This video will start at 3.25 where it talks about the coronal, transverse and midsagittal sections of the body.

      To watch the video again from the beginning, press the play button once it has ended. 


    • 2.6 Body cavities

      Most commonly, the body is described as having two main cavities called the 'dorsal and ventral body cavities'. Click on the arrows below to read more about these body cavities. 


      Dorsal body cavity

      More information can be found at Anatomy & Physiology: a learning initiative.
    • Page icon
      Drag and drop activity Page

      2.7 Labelling regional terms

      Test your knowledge of regional terms in this drag and drop exercise. You will be asked to label the terms highlighted on the image below. Click here to get started. 

    • Developing your writing: Constructing an introduction exercise

      This week we want you to get thinking about how to develop your academic writing skills. Have a go at the exercise below that looks at constructing an introduction. 


  • Week 3

    Welcome to Week 3

    • 3.1 Body systems

      Click on the Plus icons in the image below to discover the structure of the body systems 

    • 3.2 Biochemistry Cell theory

      Cellular level:  What is cell theory?
      • A cell is the basic structural and functional unit of living organisms. When you define cell properties, you define the properties of life.
      • The activity of an organism depends on both the individual and the collective activities of its cells.
      • According to the principle of complementarity of structure and function, the biochemical activities of cells are dictated by their shapes or forms, and by the relative number of their specific sub-cellular structures.
      • Continuity of life from one generation to another has a cellular basis.

      3.3 Types of cells

      Types of cells

    • 3.3 Three basic parts of a cell

    • 3.4 Understanding reflection

      Throughout your course you will be asked to complete a number of reflections, these are very important in terms of your development as a practitioner. Here are a number of activities that will guide you through what reflection is. 


      What is it? 

      Reflection is an opportunity to learn from what you have done in order to understand how you might improve in the future. 


      Why is it important? 

      Your lecturer's feedback on your work, both written and spoken, will give you guidance on how you can improve your next piece of work. By taking a wider perspective over a unit, you will be able to recognise your progress, gain confidence, and learn how to ensure the desired outcome next time. 


       How do I do it? 

      There are several useful models that guide the reflective progress. The common aspect to all of them is going beyond description to ask questions, to inquire into why something happened the way it did, looking critically at your own role, and evaluating how you might change your behaviour in the future.



    • 3.5 Understanding reflection activities

      In this section you will explore the anatomy of this text and what are the features of it that make it reflective.  Use the slider to reveal additional information.

    • 3.6 Writing reflectively

      In this last activity you will have a go at creating a reflective piece yourself.  in this example we will be using the Driscoll model of reflection, but there are many more out there.  Take a moment to think of a situation where you have had and experience where something wrong or unexpected has happened to you in either your personal or professional life.  Now that you have done that complete the form below with that in mind.  At the end you will have the to opportunity export your reflection as a document. 

  • Week 4

    Welcome to Week 4

    • 4.1 An organ system

      An organ system is a collection of organs that work together to achieve specific functions. For example, the renal system is composed of the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra. The renal system has many different functions that include excretion of waste products in urine and fluid and electrolyte regulation.


    • Drag and drop activity: Locating the major organs in the body. 

      To complete this activity you will need to drag each of the terms listed around the body to the correct grey square on this image. To check your answers and to try again, use the buttons below. 

    • Activity: Matching organ with function

    • 4.3 Composition of body fluids

      Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes

      Nonelectrolytes have bonds (usually covalent bonds) that prevent them from disassociating in a solution. Because of this, no electrically charged species are created when nonelectrolytes dissolve in water. Most nonelectrolytes are organic molecules — lipids, glucose, urea, creatinine, for example.

      In contrast, electrolytes are chemical compounds that do disassociate into ions in water. Since ions are charged particles, they can conduct an electrical current — that’s why they’re called electrolytes! For the most part, electrolytes include organic salts, some proteins, and both organic and inorganic acids and bases.

      Electrolytes have much greater osmotic power than nonelectrolytes because each electrolyte molecule disassociates into at least two ions. For instance, a molecule of sodium chloride (NaCl) contributes twice as many solute particles as glucose, and a molecule of magnesium chloride (MgCl2) contributes three times as many.

      Regardless of the type of solute particle, water always moves according to osmotic gradients — from an area of lesser osmolarity to an area of greater osmolarity. For this reason, electrolytes have the greatest ability to cause fluid shifts.

    • This section answers the questions 'What is a reference?' and 'What is plagiarism?' 

       

      What is a reference? 

       

      Typically you need 3 things to create a reference:

      1. The brief details of the source in the body of your assignment.

      2. The full reference details of the source written down.

      3. The reference details of all sources brought together in a reference list or bibliography. 

       

      Below are examples of these 3 elements, using HARVARD STYLE. Most courses at Solent use Harvard Style, however, check with your tutors to find out which style to use as the way to include information is different for each referencing style. 

      4.4  Brief Details


      4.5 Full Reference Details, the Reference List

      What is plagiarism? 

      Plagiarism is pretending that someone else's work is your own, i.e. NOT referencing your sources. You are committing academic misconduct if you plagiarise. This can have serious consequences for your degree.  Try the two questions below to see what know about plagiarism and how to avoid it. 

    • 4.6 Referencing Style

       

      At Solent your course requires you to use Harvard Style referencing. 

       

      Harvard Style References

      Click on the links below to see the format and examples references in Harvard Style. If you cannot see an example for the type of source you are using, or have other problems, look at the guidance. This library leaflet also gives further guidance on Harvard Style referencing. 

      Written Journal Article -  Book and Book Section - Magazine or Newspaper Article - Conference Paper - Dissertation, Thesis - Play Text
      Audio, Image and Video Film, Video, DVD -   Musical Score - Radio, Podcasts - Sound Recording, Song, Album - TV Programme,  Interview - Video Game
      Live performances Production - Presentation -  Play Performance - Concerts and Live Music
      Web resources Social Media, Blog, Discussion List - Website, YouTube
      Specialist resources OSIRIS - FAME - Market Research (Mintel) - XpertHR - Map
      Legal Legislation (UK) - Legal Case (UK) - Legislation (EU and International) - Legal Case (EU) - Command Paper - Hansard
       Personal Communication  Email Correspondence - Personal Letters, Telephone Calls
         
       Problem  Source not listed
       Author Issues   Missing Author - Multiple Authors  - Author of multiple works 

  • Week 5

    Welcome to Week 5

  • Week 6

    Welcome to Week 6

    • 6.1 Topic of discussion


      Consider this newspaper article 'Nurses wear 'do not disturb' signs during drug rounds' and then vote on whether you think this is a good idea.

      Once you have made your vote, please give reasons for your answer using the forum. Perhaps you can think of another solution?

    • Choice icon
      Vote on the newspaper article Choice
      Make a choice
    • Forum icon
      What's your thoughts on nurses wearing 'do not disturb' signs? Forum
      Make forum posts: 1

    • 6.2 Using apps

      The British National Formulary (BMF) have developed an app giving you access to practical, evidence-based medicines information wherever you are. 

      Using this app you can: 

      • Search or browse drugs
      • View drug monographs
      • Check drug interactions. 


      The app has been built for iOS and Android platforms and can be downloaded from the App Store or from Google Play. To find out more information, visit the BNF website. 

    • 6.3 The Systems of the Human Body 

      Watch the video and answer the questions that appear throughout

    • 6.4 What is referencing? 

      In this last section we are going to take a closer look at what it means to reference your work at University.

      Below are five key terms to familiarise yourself with, click on the arrows below to expand the section. 

    • Now, answer this question about why it is useful to include references in your writing:


  • Additional activities

  • Topic 9

  • Topic 10