Nutritional Health
6 Credits (ECTS)
Nutritional Health
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Module Description
In this module the healthcare professionals will learn about the importance of nutrition, how ongoing good health avoids disease. They will be able to explain facts about healthy eating to their clients.
Participants will explore how balanced nutrition and healthy lifestyle choices contribute to long-term health outcomes and reduce the risk of chronic illnesses.
This knowledge will enable professionals to empower clients with scientifically backed information, helping them make informed dietary choices that support better health and quality of life.
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 a comprehensive understanding on the facts, principles and science of nutirition.
- Identify information on additional services available in the community to help clients maintain a healthy lifestyle.
- Promote preventive healthy lifestyle changes to patients at high risk of developing severe conditions
- Assess, plan, implement and evaluate Nutritional care for a confirmed diagnosed patients.
- Develop an understanding of the critical role of nutrition in improving the quality of care to patients.
- Examine different elements building up models of nutritional education.
- Propose nutrition care according to different health and medical conditions
Knowledge:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have been exposed to the following indicative content:
- Nutrition facts and principles
- The Body Mass Index
- Medical conditions caused due to poor nutrition
- Nutritional Assessment: The ABCD Approach
- Nutrition facts related to health care of medical and health conditions, for example to include, though not limited to:
- Wound care for diabetic patients;
- Nutritional education for diabetic patients taking insulin;
- Nutritional education for high cholesterol patients;
- Screening for cholesterol;
- Warfarin patients, high blood pressure
- The difference between macro and micronutrients in food;
- The importance of a healthy lifestyle;
- the importance of common minerals that people require in their diet.
Skills:
At the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the following skills:
- Identify signs and symptoms of eating disorders and recommend course of action;
- Identify malnutrition practices of patients with specific health and medical conditions.
- Demonstrate an ability to integrate a healthy lifestyle with a healthy diet to address specific health and medical conditions.
Module-Specific Digital Skills and Competences
- Navigate through the online learning platform to find assignments, discussion boards, literature, tutorials etc.