Module Code - Title:
NM4104
-
LAW AND ETHICS FOR NURSING AND MIDWIFERY PRACTICE
Year Last Offered:
2025/6
Hours Per Week:
Grading Type:
N
Prerequisite Modules:
Rationale and Purpose of the Module:
This module aims to provide students with an understanding of the ethical and legal concepts central to contemporary nursing and midwifery practice and explore the legal and ethical frameworks that guides nursing and midwifery practice.
Syllabus:
Legal, ethical and professional principles applied practice including: ethical frameworks
Autonomy and advocacy, consent, informed consent, capacity and refusal of treatment. Duty of care and professional negligence, including indemnity.
Patient information and confidentiality, including reporting obligations and open disclosure. Beginning of life care including assisted fertility and conscientious objection. Mental health law, including the rights of patients in psychiatric hospitals and the legal framework for civil commitment and voluntary treatment. Legislation, case-law, international treaties and codes of conduct, rules and regulations of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. End of life care including advanced health care directives.
Learning Outcomes:
Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)
Demonstrate an understanding of the legislation, case-law and international treaties which guide nursing and midwifery practice within a human rights framework.
Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical principles and obligations of nurses and midwives and how these impact on practice.
Affective (Attitudes and Values)
Appreciate the relevance of ethical theories for nursing and midwifery practice.
Employ an ethical decision making framework to all aspects of nursing and midwifery practice to make ethically and legally sound judgements on all aspects of care provision.
Psychomotor (Physical Skills)
N/A
How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:
This module will introduce students to contemporary legal and ethical challenges in the practice of nursing and midwifery through lectures and tutorials. Traditional and contemporary ethical theories will be explored in practical case studies focusing on their relevance to decision making in practice. Students will also be expected to engage in self-directed study on the issues raised in class to supplement their learning. Students will become more knowledgeable about the legal principles and ethical frameworks that inform effective professional nursing and midwifery practice. Through tailored tutorials and assessment mechanisms and particularly through the use of group work, students will also become more articulate, proactive and collaborative.
The module will reflect the most recent developments and research.
Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):
Prime Texts:
Clarke, E. (2015)
Law and ethics for midwifery
, Oxford: Routledge.
Dooley, D. and McCarthy, J. (2011)
Nursing ethics, Irish cases and concerns, 2nd ed.
, Dublin: Gill & Macmillan.
Mills, S. (2016)
Clinical practice and the law, 3rd ed.
, Dublin: Tottel Publishing.
Lombard, J (2021)
Nursing Law in Ireland
, Dublin: Clarus Press
Other Relevant Texts:
Casey, P.R. and Craven, C. (2010)
Psychiatry and the law, 2nd ed.
, Dublin: Blackhall Publishing.
Fry, S. and Veatch, R. (2011)
Case studies in nursing ethics, 4th ed.
, Sudbury Mass: Jones & Bartlett.
Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:
BSMIDWUFA - MIDWIFERY
BSNUIDUFA - NURSING (INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY)
BSNUMHUFA - NURSING (MENTAL HEALTH)
BSNUGEUFA - NURSING (GENERAL)
Semester(s) Module is Offered:
Spring
Module Leader:
eimear.spain@ul.ie