Community Care
6 Credits (ECTS)
Community Care*
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Module Description
This module will assist students to further develop and extend knowledge and skills in caring for individuals and families experiencing a diversity of health-related conditions and focusing on the holistic approach to care in the community.
This module focuses on the Maltese legislations related to the sector.
To ensure that the first level nurse is equipped with the knowledge, skills and competences necessary to practice as a competent and professional nurse in a Community Care setting, the candidate nurse is required to do clinical Work Placement in this setting.
Entry Requirements
Candidates who apply for this course must be:
- Be second level nurses in possession of a minimum Level 4 Certificate in Nursing (or comparable as per MQRIC).
OR
- Possess a qualification at MQF Level 4 (one ‘A’ Level or equivalent preferably in science) or if ‘A’ level is not in science subject then a a pass in Biology, Chemistry or Physics at MQF Level 3 (‘O’ Level or equivalent) is required.
Preference will be given to prospective applicants who have a minimum of 1-year work experience in healthcare sector.
Target Audience
- 2nd level nurses who hold an MQF Level 4 certificate in Nursing.
- Candidates who are employed within the healthcare sector and possess an MQF Level 4 Diploma qualification (or equivalent) in healthcare/health science or other relevant and related sectors, examples include but are not limited to: Carers, Medical Assistants, Home Health Aides, Orderlies, Administrators, etc.
- Candidates seeking a career in the Health Care sector.
- This Level 5 Diploma provides an opportunity to candidates to progress in their studies and create a study route for further studies in Higher and Further Education while broadening the spectrum of advancement in own career path.
Career Paths
- The second level nurses in possession of a minimum Level 4 Certificate in Nursing (or comparable as per MQRIC) who successfully complete up to a minimum of the Level 5 Diploma in Health Sciences at 60 ECTS together with a Work Placement of 480 hours carried out at health settings are eligible to apply for first level nurses.
- The main objective of Level 5 Diploma in Health Sciences at 60 ECTS together with a Work Placement of 480 hours carried out at health settings is to convert second level nurses to first level nurses.
How you’ll be assessed
The course comprises:
- Evening classes for part-time courses.
- Classes held throughout the day for full-time courses.
- Guided learning, presentations, comprising synchronous online discussions, tutorials and/or videos.
- Self-study hours comprising research, reading and assignment work.
Assessment
Assessment is carried out via mandatory components:
- Modular Assessment
- Summative Assessment
The programme includes different forms of assessment which allow for and promote students’ critical engagement. The formative and summative assessment tasks may include an in-class assignment and/or a home-based written assignment using diverse assessment tools which may take the form of online and in-class discussions, examinations, case studies, reports, proposals, essays, and presentations, etc., as applicable to the diverse modules
Module Intake Dates
March/April 2025
Learning Outcomes
Competences:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:
- Develop comprehensive knowledge and understanding how to educate the patient and their family regarding parameter taking and recording.
- Identify potential abnormal social surroundings and how to report it accordingly to other specialised professionals
- Examine and analyze the underlying theory and principles of selected health conditions and interventions including physical, psychosocial, spiritual and ethical, and legal considerations.
- Develop knowledge and competence in infection control issues related to specific health problems in the community.
- Develop knowledge and competence to deliver the basic principles of nutrition to patients living in the community.
Knowledge:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have been exposed to the following indicative content:
- Family nutrition and/or lifestyle
- The needs of patients with diverse health problems;
- Hygiene Standards needed in a community setting;
- Wound care and the availabilty of different products available in the market;
- Community services.
- Abnormal situations;
- Identify potential abnormal social surroundings and how to report it accordingly to other specialised professionals
- Basic knowledge of legal and ethical considerations and practices in community care; Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct for Nurses and Midwives, Council for Nurses and Midwives, Malta, January 2020
- Beliefs and Cultural Practices in community care
- Introducing an integrated holistic approach to patient/client care in elderly care: physical, psychsocial and spiritual
- Understand basic communication styles, skills and techniques when working with a health team towards a common goal in community care
- Identify the different roles and responsibilities of team members.
Skills:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills:
- Be able to have an understanding of the importance of having appropriate and effective communication skills to enabling to work as a contributory member of the nursing and multi-disciplinary team while caring for patients in order to deliver holistic competent care within a caring and therapeutic home environment.
- Be able to have an understanding of the importance of having the appropriate skills using a holistic approach according to the ethical and legal framework of the Maltese Professional Code of Conduct.
Judgment Skills and Critical Abilities:
- Develop critical thinking skills in order to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care given to patients experiencing diverse health related conditions in the community.
- Analyse different approaches to patient’s care in the community care context
- Recognise the differences in beliefs and cultural practices in community practices.
- Evaluate best practices in nursing care in community care context.
Module-Specific Communication Skills:
The learner will be able to:
- Understand the importance of having different and appropriate communication skills to communicate with specialists and non-specialists.
Module-Specific Learner Skills
- Present own discussion and developments in a logical and organised manner through approaches of critical feedback and self-reflection.
- Engage with peers and/or team members to share and reflect on own development.
Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences
- Navigate through the online learning platform to find assignments, discussion boards, literature, tutorials etc.