GRADUATE PROGRAMMES

M. PHIL PROGRAMME

COURSE REGULATIONS
Duration of Course

Two years comprising one year of course work and a research thesis in the second year.

Entry Requirements

A good first degree in Nursing, in addition to eligibility for registration with Nurses’ and Midwives Council of Ghana, plus a minimum of 3 years practical experience.



FIRST SEMESTER:

CORE COURSES

NURS 601 Management Theories and Health Policies
This course introduces the student to various organizational theories that underlie the major management functions. Management principles are examined and applied to the health care industry. Issues and factors that lead to formulation, development and implementation of health policies are discussed and the nurses` influence in this process identified.

NURS 603 Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing
This course explores current nursing concepts, theories and philosophies that provide the framework for nursing practice both in hospitals and within the community. The interrelationships among theory, practice and research are emphasized.

NURS 605 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Tools and procedures employed by nurses/midwives to develop and implement scientifically based nursing/midwifery care and practice are examined theoretically. Communication skills, physical assessment skills, interpersonal relationships, problem solving approaches and values are stressed.


SECOND SEMESTER:

CORE COURSES

NURS 602 – Issues in Nursing and Health Care Delivery
The course examines the place of nursing in the health care delivery system; social, economic, political and historical factors are examined in the context of their influence on the health of society and the delivery of health services; issues affecting the roles of nursing and inter-sectoral cooperation with other health care providers in the delivery of health services are studied within local, national and international organizations. Leadership in Nursing, nursing professionalism and values, and strategies for instituting change are also covered.


FUNCTIONAL ELECTIVES (Candidates are to select either Option A or B)

OPTION A

NURS 604 Curriculum Development in Nursing
Factors that underlie and influence curriculum development are analyzed; principles concepts and learning theories from educational psychology and nursing theories are applied to the process of curriculum building, throughout the stages of development, in relation to new programmes and curriculum change. Opportunity is provided for developing a curriculum and for examining different types of curriculum for the purpose of curriculum evaluation.

NURS 606 Instructional Methodologies and Evaluation
The focus of this course is on the processes and methodologies of instruction of nursing students in various settings. Opportunity is provided for students to practice instructional processes of identifying learning needs and preparing and implementing teaching strategies as well as developing evaluation procedures. Emphasis will be placed on the adult learning techniques.

OPTION B

NURS 608 Human Resource Management in Health Care
This course examines leadership in instituting change, effective use of communication skills and the acquisition and maintenance of human resources in nursing service administration. Strategies for in-service education towards development and improvement of education of human resources are examined.

NURS 612 Administration of Health Care Institutions
This course examines the leadership and management role of the nurse manager, and attempts to apply management principles and processes to nursing service. The course will examine the concept, scope and importance of financial management. Practical experience is provided by placement of students in health care institutions for observation and participation in administrative activities.


CLINICAL ELECTIVES (STUDENTS ARE TO SELECT ONE OPTION)


NURS 614 Adult Health Nursing
This course provides the opportunity for in-depth study of the concepts, principles and theories basic to decision making in the provision of care to the sick adult, male and female, and explores interrelationships between the health of the individual and that of his family in health and during illness. Opportunity is provided for the student to focus on the study of tools and procedures in the care and management of patients with acute medical/surgical conditions; with chronic medical/surgical conditions; and also on the teaching and supervision of others giving care. Students will be required to select an area of specialty.

NURS 616 Family Health Nursing/Midwifery
This course is a second level course of the study of the woman throughout her childbearing years. Opportunity is provided for exposure to contemporary issues in the study of the three trimesters of pregnancy, labour and peurperium, including nutritional requirements and high risk situations for the mother and child during the various stages as well as life saving skills during labour. The roles of other members of the family such as husbands and children are studied in relation to their influence on mother and child health. Opportunity is provided for the management of at least 5 families. Population issues are discussed, and skills in delivering family planning services provided. The role of the nurse midwife as a family primary provider is also expected.

NURS 618 Child Health Nursing
The course provides opportunity for in-depth study of the developmental and health problems of infants and children through adolescence. Emphasis is placed on promotion and maintenance of health, development and prevention of health problem in this age group, in homes, institutions and community using the multi-disciplinary approach. The nursing process is employed as the basis of management of the more common diseases and conditions peculiar to the age group. Opportunity is provided for the care and management of both healthy and sick children, in acute and chronic health care facilities as well as in the community using the team approach.

NURS 622 Community Health Nursing
This course is based on the nurses` previous knowledge of resources for community services and various roles nurses play within this service. Socio-economic and political forces that shape health policies will be explored. Interpretation of health policies and their implementation at the national, regional and district levels are examined, and nursing policies derived and developed from role expectations for community health. Emphasis will be placed on development and analysis of community based programmes designed for health maintenance and promotion, disease prevention and identification and utilization of resources for community health. Opportunity is provided for special focus on services for specified population groups with extensive practical training.

NURS 624 Mental Health Nursing
The principles and practice of mental health promotion and maintenance and prevention of mental illness are discussed as bases for study of psychopathology and therapeutics. The major psychiatric diagnoses and interventions are reviewed with emphasis on nursing interventions. Nursing process as a choice of nursing tool for care management is practiced both in institutional and community management of psychiatric patients with acute and chronic conditions.



MSC IN NURSING PROGRAMME

The School of Nursing wishes to commence its MSc. Nursing Programme in the 2005/2006 Academic Year.

In our Proposal to become a School within the College of Health Sciences, graduate courses were presented; that is, M.Phil Nursing and MSc Nursing. M.Phil Nursing has been running since the 2000/2001 Academic Year with the main objective of building up the numerical strength of the faculty. After running for four years, the need to commence the MSc. Nursing has been realized.

The target group for the MSc. Programme is practicing nurses who need further education and degree in order to enhance their professional practice, administrators, nurse educators, and community based project managers.

The M.Phil programme is thesis based to prepare faculty and further them in doctoral work for a career in teaching and research. On the other hand, the MSc. is a terminal programme, highly essential, with student interacting with their work environment.


Justification

There are practicing nurses who want to sharpen their skills and enhance their status in their area of practice, but are not interested in rigorous academic work involved in thesis.

At present, many professional nurses who apply to do graduate work are advanced in age and thereafter do not see themselves as candidates for academic positions. Such people see the MSc. as the best option.

Seven out of the fifteen applicants for graduate programme in 2004/2005 academic year were above age 45. They all held first class degrees. However, during the interview, they all declined the M.Phil programme and are now waiting to re-apply for the MSc. Programme.

The Ministry of Health, the largest employer of nurses in the country has expressed the need for the calibre of nurse who will take the leadership in administration and practice. The programme will help decrease the current brain drain in a way since some nurses who leave the country claim that they left because they wanted to enhance their educational status.


Duration of the Programme

The programme will last a minimum of 12 calendar months and a maximum of three semesters.

Entry requirements

The candidates for admission should have:
(1) B.A. / B.sc. nursing with a minimum of second class lower division.
(2) The candidate must have been a practicing nurse for not less than 3 years.


FIRST SEMESTER

CODE	CORE COURSES	CREDITS
NURS 601	Management Theories and Health Policies	3
NURS 603	Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing	3
NURS 605	Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice	4
NURS 607	Programme Planning and Evaluation	3
NURS 609	Independent Study 1: Clinical Theory	3
	(Inter-semester period)
PSYC 603	Research Methods	3
SECOND SEMESTER
CODE	CORE COURSES	CREDITS
NURS 620	Independent study 2: Clinical Practice	3
NURS 630	Seminar presentation	3
NURS 632	Viva	4
NURS 602	Issues in Nursing and Health Care Delivery	3
NURS 628	Dissertation	12
FUNCTIONAL ELECTIVES:
(CANDIDATES ARE TO SELECT EITHER OPTION A OR B)
OPTION A
NURS 604	Curriculum Development in Nursing	2
NURS 606	Instructional Methodologies and Evaluation	2
OPTION B
NURS 608	Human Resource Management in Health Care	2
NURS 612	Administration of Health Care Institutions	2
TOTAL CREDITS		48

NURS 601 Management Theories and Health Policies
This course provides an introduction to various organizational theories underlying major management functions. Management principles are examined and applied to the health care system. Issues and factors that lead to formulation, development and implementation of health policies are discussed and the nurses’ influence in this process identified.

In designing this course, an assumption is made that nurses graduating with an M.Sc. from this University will be expected to provide nursing leadership in senior positions in Ghana’s health care and educational systems as well as in government, non-governmental and community organizations. Classroom discussions will include: theoretical concepts relevant to structure, process, and design of organizations, leadership behaviour, the legal framework for health care, the development of health care and educational policy, innovation and change, inter-organizational politics, interdisciplinary relations, fiscal accountability, health system integration, research and evaluation. Central to the course are the implications of organization and management theory, leadership behaviour, and research activities to the education of nurses and the provision of nursing services.

NURS 602 Issues in Nursing and Health Care Delivery
The course examines the place of nursing in the health care delivery system: social economic, political and historical factors are examined in the context of their influence on the health of society and the delivery of health services; issues affecting the roles of nursing and inter-sectoral cooperation with other health care providers in the delivery of health services are studied within local, national and international organizations. Leadership in nursing, nursing professionalism and values, and strategies for instituting change will also be covered.

NURS 603 Theoretical Foundations for Advanced Nursing
This course explores current nursing concepts, theories and philosophies that provide the framework for nursing practice both in hospitals and within the community. The interrelationships among theory, practice and research are emphasized.

NURS 604 Curriculum Development in Nursing
In this course, factors that underpin and influence curriculum development are analyzed; principles concepts and learning theories from educational psychology and nursing theories are applied to the process of curriculum throughout the stages of development, in relation to new programmes and curriculum change. Opportunity is provided for developing a curriculum and for examining different types of curricula for the purpose of curriculum evaluation.

NURS 605 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
Tools and procedures employed by nurse/midwives to develop and implement scientifically based nursing/midwifery care and practice are examined theoretically. Communication skills, complete physical assessment skills, interpersonal relationships, problem-solving approaches and values are stressed.

NURS 606 Instructional Methodologies and Evaluation
The focus of this course is on the processes and methods of instruction of nursing students in various settings. Opportunity is provided for students to practice instructional processes of identifying learning needs and preparing and implementing teaching strategies as well as developing evaluation procedures. Emphasis will be placed on adult learning techniques.

NURS 607 Programme Planning and Evaluation
This course provides an introduction to programme planning and evaluation with an emphasis on health-related projects. There is a consensus within the health sector that programme planning and evaluation represent a major constraint in both domestic and international programmes. Many project planners and administrators may not have the necessary skills or understanding to develop and manage such projects. The course will focus on theory and the application of theory related to the program planning and evaluation process.

NURS 608 Human Resource Management in Health Care
This course examines leadership in instituting change, effective use of communication skills and the acquisition and maintenance of human resources in nursing service administration. Strategies for in-service education and the development of human resources are examined.

NURS 609 Independent Study 1: Clinical Theory
This innovative course has a dual focus; it affords students the opportunity for self-directed study. The course is designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of practitioners. Students will be expected to apply the theoretical knowledge and skills acquired in their various specialities to real life situations in the field. Students will be allowed to outline their own objectives and determine learning experiences that will maximize critical and/or analytical thinking. Students are encouraged to explore avenues that will enable them to gain much insight into their specialities, improve their understanding of current issues in their areas of interest, and formulate a knowledge base that will serve as a basis for a planned change in existing health services. Students will be assigned academic supervisors for on-going consultation and will be offered opportunities to share and debate their experiences with a panel of experts for constructive criticism.

NURS 612 Administration of Health Care Institutions
This course examines the leadership and managerial role of the nurse manager, and applies management principles and processes to nursing service. Special attention is paid to resources management including finances. Practical experience is provided by placement of students in health care institutions for observation and participation in administrative activities.

NURS 620 Independent Study 2: Clinical Practice
This course is designed to allow students to explore clinical areas of interest in depth. Students will choose a specialty area of nursing and develop a course outline, including course description, objectives, learning strategies, and evaluation methods. Six hours of clinical practice per week will be required. It is expected that students will use this opportunity to build on previous areas of nursing expertise or interest in order to develop advanced expertise in the area of focus. There will be regular meetings with faculty supervisors and papers from individual projects will be presented in an open lecture to which students, faculty, and the wider nursing community will be invited. Students are expected to take the physical assessment course before taking this course.

NURS 628 Dissertation
This course is designed to test the student’s skill in defining a problem, collecting relevant information, developing a researchable question, carrying out a small research project, and writing a report outlining the findings. The course is aimed at testing skills in preparing a comprehensive literature review, developing and implementing a small project, and writing a research report. The student is expected to present the research problem for approval and carry out the research under the supervision of faculty supervisors. Evaluation will include assessment of the student’s analytical and critical thinking skills.

NURS 630 Seminar Presentation
The purpose of this course is to create opportunity for students to present and critique papers. Students will be required to do a Power Point presentation about their NURS 630 project and lead a discussion about the implications of their work. Students are expected to attend and participate in discussion of the presentations of all students in the course.