Registry

Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2012 - 2013
Please note that this information is subject to change.

Module Title	Philosophy and Ethics for Nursing
Module Code	NS440
School	School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Semester 1: Donal O'Mathuna Semester 2: Donal O'Mathuna Autumn: Donal O'Mathuna
Module Teacher	Donal O'Mathuna
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

This module introduces students to ethics and ethical reasoning. Various ethical theories and principles are discussed and applied to cases and issues relevant to nursing and health care.Key concepts which are said to underpin clinical nursing practice, and which also permeate the professional and academic literature, will be examined. The notion of ethical problems, judgements and decisions will be analysed and explored from the perspective of three theories of ethics: deontology, utilitarianism and virtue theory. A broad framework for ethical decision making will be critically evaluated.

Learning Outcomes

1. Apply key skills of philosophical analysis and ethical reasoning.
2. Identify ethical issues in nursing practice and health care.
3. Apply ethical theories and principles to specific cases from practice.
4. Weigh the relative strengths of different positions on ethical issues.
5. Consider the nature of the ethical domain of clinical practice.

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Lecture	24	Ethical theories and principles applied to nursing cases and issues
Tutorial	2	Scheduled time for group work on case presentation
Seminars	6	Discussion of ethical issues raised in films
Independent learning time	93	Preparation of case study presentation and essay
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Ethics.
Overview of what ethics is and what it seeks to do.

Critical thinking.
Developing and evaluating arguments.

Ethical principles.
Overview of the main principles and their application to nursing.

Ethical theories.
Overview of the main theories and their applicaion to nursing.

Emotions and ethics.
Overview of the relevance of emotions in ethical decision-making.

Assisted suicide.
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives.

Informed consent.
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives.

Advocacy.
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives.

Personhood.
Description and evaluation of different ethical perspectives.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Presentation	Group presentation of ethics case study	50%	Week 4
Essay	Ethics case evaluation	50%	Sem 1 End

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Dooley, D. and McCarthy, J.: 2005, Nursing ethics: Irish cases and concerns, Gill and McMillan, Dublin, 0717135764
Fry, S. T., & Veatch, R. M.: 2000, Case studies in nursing ethics, 2nd ed, Jones & Bartlett, Boston, MA, 0763713333
Margaret A. Burkhardt, Alvita K. Nathaniel: 2008, Ethics & issues in contemporary nursing, Thomson Delmar Learning, Clifton Park, NY, 1418042749
Hugh Mercer Curtler: 2004, Ethical argument, Oxford University Press, New York, 0195173163
Elsie L. Bandman, Bertram Bandman: 2002, Nursing ethics through the life span, 4th ed, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River, N.J., 0838569765
Tom L. Beauchamp, James F. Childress: 2009, Principles of biomedical ethics, 6th ed, Oxford University Press, New York, 9780195335705
Mary Donnelly: 2002, Consent: Bridging the Gap Between Doctor and Patient, Cork University Press, Cork, 1859182755
Steven D. Edwards: 1996, Nursing ethics, Macmillan, Basingstoke, 0333615905
Ian E. Thompson, Kath M. Melia, Kenneth M. Boyd: 1994, Nursing ethics, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 0443048118
Ruth R. Faden, Tom L. Beauchamp: 1986, A history and theory of informed consent, Oxford University Press, New York, 0195036867
Søren Holm: 1997, Ethical problems in clinical practice, Manchester University Press, Manchester, 0719050499
edited by Stanley Hauerwas and Samuel Wells: 2004, The Blackwell companion to Christian ethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 1405150513
R. G. Frey (Editor), Christopher Heath Wellman (Editor): 2005, A Companion To Applied Ethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 1405133457
Helga Kuhse and Peter Singer: 2001, A companion to bioethics, Blackwell, Oxford, 063123019X
A. P. Martinich: 2005, Philosophical Writing, 3rd ed, Malden, Mass, Blackwell, 1405131675
Peter Singer, Helga Kuhse (Editor): 2006, Bioethics: An Anthology, 2nd ed, Blackwell, Oxford, 9781405129480
Verena Tschudin (ed): 2003, Approaches to ethics, Butterworth-Heinemann, Edinburgh, 0750653264
Lewis Vaughn: 2006, Writing philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 0195179560

Other Resources

285, DVD, 2003, Nuts, California, Warner Home Video, 286, DVD, 2001, Wit, United States, HBO, 287, DVD, 2004, The doctor, London, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, 288, DVD, 2002, One flew over the cuckoo's nest, London, Warner Home Video,

Array

Programme or List of Programmes

BNCG

BSc in Children's & General Nursing

BNGN

BSc in Nursing (General)

BNID

BSc in Nursing (Intellectual Disability)

BNPY

BSc in Nursing (Psychiatric)

Timetable this semester: Timetable for NS440

Date of Last Revision