Assessment
3000 word assignment
Submission Date: 8th January 2024
Module NUR6068 – Assessment Guidelines
Assignment Task
The assignment for this module is a 3,000-word assignment. It will allow you to demonstrate the principles of academic writing, reading, literature searching and critical analysis. The purpose of the written assignment is to demonstrate your problem-solving skills as part of the nursing process and showcase your ability to have a sustained discussion and formulate ideas and conclusions.
Assignment Title
A critical analysis of one health inequality and how the learning disability nurse would have addressed this including the implementation of one resource that may have improved health outcomes for Veronica Bubb during a point of time in her life.
Assignment Description
In answering the above question, you should draw upon the themes that are covered within the module. You will choose a point of time as part of a case study in Veronica Bubb’s life (see Appendix 1). Problem solving is an essential complement of the nursing process; you are to develop your skills using a problem-solving approach to examine health inequalities and inequities and the impact this has on the health outcomes for people with a learning disability.
To demonstrate this, you must include the following in your assignment:
Introduction and background
o Introduce the report and how it is organised (remember to identify the health inequality),
o Demonstrate relevant knowledge and understanding by selecting appropriate background reading and evidence related to the chosen timeline.
Examination of health need in context
o Examine the health need in context (i.e., possible implications to Veronica’s death, potential risks to health, identification and discussion of health outcomes and the inequity & inequality faced by people with learning disabilities, environment issues, care issues, service issues, current literature, current policies, current practice and current social climate, what is out there for people who have not got a learning disability in relation to the health need)
Critical analysis of one health inequality faced by Veronica within the timeline chosen
o Identify one specific health inequality faced by Veronica within the timeline chosen,
o Use your knowledge, skills and expertise to identify how you could improve access across the health system and lead improvements in the mental and physical care for Veronica in relation to your chosen timeline through your critical analysis of this one health inequality.
Critical analysis of the changes required by the learning disability nurse to enhance accessibility of the service for Veronica
o Identify the changes required by the learning disability nurse to enhance accessibility of the service for Veronica,
o Using your knowledge, skills and expertise, identify how you would improve access across the health system and lead improvements in the mental and physical care for Veronica in relation to your chosen timeline by exploring gaps in the learning disability nurse’s knowledge and expertise.
Critical analysis of one resource which addresses this health inequality that the learning disability nurse would implement
o Plan and critically evaluate one resource which addresses this health inequality that the learning disability nurse would implement.
Conclusion
o One or two paragraphs to sum up your assignment.
Additional Information
1. Submission Date: 8th January 2024
2. Deadline: 12:00pm (Midday)
Please see the Moodle submission point for additional information regarding submitting the assignment if you have a disability support statement.
3. Submission Point: Moodle
4. Assignment Format: Assignment
Please write this level 6 academic assignment in the 3rd person. Use size 12 Arial font and 1.5 or double space.
5. Word Limit: 3,000 words + 10% (max word count 3,300 words)
a. The word count includes the following within the main body of your essay:
i. Headings,
ii. In-text citations.
b. The word count excludes the following from the main body of your essay:
i. The reference list at the end of your assignment,
ii. Any tables and figures or images used in the main body of your essay.
6. Ensure that you include the total word count on your cover and feedback sheet.
7. When submitting your essay, ensure that you also submit the NUR6068 Cover and Feedback Sheet as a separate file. If you do not submit this file, your assignment will be marked but you will not receive any overall feedback/feedforward.
Formative Assessment
To support you in completing your assignment, you will have the opportunity to discuss your planning and research as part of a group activity. This will enable you to focus on the influence that the learning disability nurse role has on the impact of health outcomes for people with learning disabilities when examining health inequalities. This will take place on Monday 20th November 2023.
Prior to your specific formative session, please identify the timeline you wish to focus on and consider what you would include in the following headings.
Introduction and background
Examination of health need in context
Critical analysis of one health inequality faced by Veronica within the timeline chosen
Critical analysis of the changes required by the learning disability nurse to enhance accessibility of the service for Veronica
Critical analysis of one resource which addresses this health inequality that the learning disability nurse would implement
Conclusion
On your formative assessment day, we will be concentrating onthe above for specific timelines and resources to address this. You will discuss your own thoughts and research as groupwork.
Feedback
The module team will provide developmental feedback at the formative assessment session, which will support you with the completion of the summative assignment.
Your work will only be graded at the final submission.
You will receive summative feedback on your submission as per your course assessment guidelines. The feedback will outline the key strengths and areas for development in your submission and a clear indication of your achievement against the marking criteria.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this module, you will have achieved how to:
1. Critically examine health inequalities and inequities and the impact this has on health outcomes of people with learning disabilities.
2. Construct a systematic, person-centred and holistic assessment from which to base nursing care decisions, utilising appropriate assessment strategies and investigations.
3. Critically examine and provide rationale for the care management strategies for the coordination and person-centred care of an individual or group of individuals with learning disabilities, within the wider context of interdisciplinary processes.
4. Evaluate potential risks to health and take measures to de-escalate situations and ensure the safety and quality of evidence informed care.
Appendix 1: Veronica Bubb Case Study (this is a fictitious name)
Veronica Bubb was born in Small Heath, Birmingham on 1st August 1958. She was one of four siblings born to her parents and her family life is described as close knit and loving. She is known to have had a close relationship with her maternal grandparents and there were a lot of extended family members close by who she was in contact with on a regular basis. Knowledge of her school days is limited although she is known to have attended a school for children with special educational needs from around the age of 12 but it is unclear as to when she left school. She has attended a variety of colleges and day centres throughout her life but due to the sporadic input of numerous professionals over the years, there is no clear chronology of her education and Veronica has always been very vague on these details when questioned. She does describe being bullied while at school.
Veronica has a diagnosis of a mild to moderate learning disability and she presents as articulate and communicates well verbally. However, various clinical reports reference the fact that she may often mask the extent of her learning disability and appear more able than she actually is.
Veronica lived with her parents until the age of 46. Both of her parents died within a short space of time. By now Veronica and her siblings were no longer close and she had limited contact with them. Little is known about the next few years of her life although she reports as living in “dirty flats” and not having much money. Veronica stated that she spent most of her money on alcohol and cigarettes. When asked she cannot recall any contact with professionals except the nice lady who helped her with her benefits. It may be that Veronica had some input from a social worker during this time.
At the age of 50 Veronica was living in Abraham Heights in Birmingham. She had her own rented flat but did not do very much during the day. It was here that she had police contact and was also briefly seen for assessment by a mental health community team. Veronica reports that during this time she began to experience blackouts and falls. She would wake up and would have often been incontinent. She said that this happened once in a shopping centre and was very embarrassing. She reports that she told the mental health worker at the time but that she didn’t seem to think it was very important. Veronica also states that during this time her periods stopped and she found it difficult to sleep. She does say that she stopped drinking alcohol at this time, because she was worried about being incontinent. She apparently drank quite heavily whenever she had money to buy alcohol because she felt sad and depressed about her mum and dad.
At the age of 52 Veronica is still living in Abraham heights. She had been socialising more frequently with some younger people in the flats who often asked her to keep their drugs for them in her flat. She has told people that she wanted to do this because she is kind and they are her friends. There have also been incidents of being drunk and disorderly and she did spend more than one evening in the police station. Veronica told the lady next door that she didn’t really understand what they were asking her but said yes so that she could get out and come back home to see her friends. The lady next door believes that Veronica does not take care of herself and only eats crisps and other junk food. She has occasionally had her round for dinner but not often due to the “horrible” friends who she associates with.
At the age of 55, it is reported that Veronica’s mental health has deteriorated and she began threatening to assault various people she would encounter. She then attempted to set fire to her flat. There is evidence of self-harm in the form of cutting her legs and arms and she states that she still likes to drink beer a lot during the day. Veronica had been prescribed Sertraline some years earlier but has not been taking her medication and does not seem to know what it is for. Veronica is admitted formally via the Criminal Justice System to a secure unit under Section 37/41 of the Mental Health Act (2007). Upon admission she receives a diagnosis of emotionally unstable personality disorder and is required to undertake group therapy relating arson. Reports from this time indicate a high frequency of incidents on the unit when Veronica requires physical restraint and has been placed into Seclusion on at least three occasions.
At the age of 61 Veronica is placed in an induced coma. Remaining family members including siblings have various meetings with medical staff and Do Not attempt CPR has been discussed. It is unknown what Veronica’s wishes around this would have been although different family members argue about this. The decision to remove life support is taken and Veronica dies shortly afterwards. The family are devastated.
