Practitioner Inquiry Module

Overview

Using an insider-researcher approach, you will develop your practice, your practitioner enquiry skills and begin to understand methodologies and methods for engaging in healthcare practice and/or organisational development.

You will be provided with the resources to become an insider researcher and to also develop academically and professionally to maximise your potential and opportunities for career progression.

This module is designed for qualified nursing or midwifery practitioners and is run part time, meaning that you are able to join sessions with minimal disruption to your current work structure.

Course content

This module will cover the following areas and topics:

• Work based enquiry methodologies and theoretical approaches to practice improvement projects in Health and Social care settings
• Issues for improvement and ‘drivers for change’ such as Health and Social Care policy initiatives (NICE guidelines)
• Policy analysis and contextualisation
• Team and own professional objectives
• The role of the practitioner ‘researcher’ and the implications of undertaking enquiry in one’s own workplace
• Discussion and review of a range of qualitative and quantitative approaches suitable for practice based enquiry, such as audit, action research, survey approaches, case study, and service evaluation
• Techniques of data generation and analysis
• Ethics and codes of practice of work-based enquiry and service improvement such as gaining approval, consent and confidentiality
• Designing, planning and justifying a work-based project within the context of the learner’s workplace and profession

Learning and teaching

Learning and teaching on this module is learner-centred, supported by workshops, self-managed, resource-based and tutorial guidance.

You will be expected to engage in self-managed learning activities in order to develop your own professional enquiry plans.

Our virtual learning environment, MyUniHub, will be used to support interaction among students about their work, allowing you to discuss and share ideas relevant to understanding and application of theories and methodologies to your professional enquiry proposal.

Assessment

This module will be assessed via formative and summative assessments. The formative assessment will include selected portfolio activities to develop your understanding of being an insider researcher.

There are two additional assessment components in this module; the project report and the project presentation. The project report comprises research proposal, reflective assignment and activities from the formative assignments.

Fees and funding

The fees* below refer to the 2022/23 academic year unless otherwise stated (2023/24 fees to be confirmed).

Per credit: £63
30 credits: £1,890

*Course fees are subject to annual inflation.