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How to write a QQI Level 7 Nursing Assignment on Assessing Elderly Needs in Ireland

If you are studying nursing in Ireland and working towards a QQI Level 7 qualification, you might need to complete assignments that involve older people’s care. One common assignment is assessing the needs of elderly people in Ireland. 

This blog will help you with step-by- step guiding on how to write  well-structured assignment on this topic with a main focus on the Irish healthcare context, relevant models, HSE frameworks and academic writing standards used in Ireland. Whether you are at the early stage of writing or polishing your final draft, this blog will help you approach your assignment with clarity, confidence and critical depth.

Assignment structure 

Below is the simple structure that you should follow while writing your nursing assignment. Most nursing colleges in Ireland prefer this format:

• Introduction (about 200-250 words): Start by introducing your topic and defining key terms like holistic assessment and elderly care. And explain why the subject is relevant in Ireland today. Briefly describe your aim. Mention what your assignment will cover in the coming sections. 
• Main body (around 1200-1500 words): Break your content into clear sections with headings. This will help you stay organised and keep your reader hooked. Here is the layout that works:

Understanding the Needs of Older Adults

Here, talk about the multiple needs that older people encounter.

• Physical needs: reduced physical function, vision, or hearing difficulties, chronic illness like arthritis, diabetes.
• Cognitive needs: dementia, confusion, memory loss
• Mental health needs: depression, anxiety, loneliness
• Social needs: support from family, help at home, attending day centre

How nurses assess these needs 

Explain how nurses find out what kind of care an elderly person needs. There are several assessment tools and models that you can mention.

• Roper-Logan-Tierney Model –  based on activities of daily living like eating, mobility, etc.
• ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)-  it helps in measuring how independent an older person is 
• Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)—used to check memory and cognitive functions. 
• Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)—looks for depression in older students. 
• Braden Scale—check risk of pressure sores. 

Mention the role of Nurses in Planning and Coordinating Care

After doing the assignment, describe the nurse’s role 

• Developing a care plan with the patient and their family
• Working with doctors, social workers, and home care providers
• Keeping records and monitoring their progress
• Advocating for the patient’s needs.

Also, mention how nurses in Ireland work with older people living at home or in care settings.

Must include Irish Healthcare Policies

Know the Irish healthcare system and policies that will affect elderly people. Here are some important ones

• Fair Deal Scheme—helps in  paying for nursing home care
• National Positive Ageing Strategy (2013)—promotes better ageing supports
• HIQA Standards—ensure quality in nursing homes and care settings
• HSE National Clinical Programme for Older People—gives guidelines for elderly assessment and care
• Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015—protects the rights of people with reduced capacity to make decisions

And also explain how these policies impact elder care planning.

Incorporating case studies in your assignment.

An Including a case study in your assignment can help you in demonstrating how a theory applies to practice. For example, take a fictional older patient in Irish home care and describe how he requires both physical and emotional support. And include the tools you used for his assignment, like the Barthel Index, and link your decisions to Irish policies like the Fair Deal scheme. This shows both understanding and critical thinking.

Ethical issues in elder care 

Here, talk about the ethical responsibilities nurses have to deal with while taking care of older adults, especially those who may have cognitive problems:

• Autonomy—respecting the patient’s right to make their own decisions
• Dignity—treating all patients with care and respect
• Confidentiality—keeping patient information private
• Consent—getting permission before giving any treatment

Also, mention that nurses in Ireland must follow the NMBI Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics.

Common challenges faced by nurses

Here, describe problems that nurses often face when dealing with elderly people, like 

    Oftentimes, nurses face communication issues while dealing with older people as they have hearing, speaking, and memory loss problems. Due to a lack of experience in training, some nurses struggle using assessment tools. Nurses dealing with a lot of older people at a time can cause problems in their evaluation. Dealing with their family members can cause emotional distress to the nurses. Nurses sometimes struggle with family members’ choices, which results in their emotional distress.

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You can also mention some solutions, such as:

• More training in geriatric nursing
• For better assessment, use technology
• Hiring more community nurses
• Stronger teamwork with other healthcare staff

Conclusion (about 150-200 words) 

Summarise what you have written in the main body. Again, tell how important it is to take care of the needs of older people in a careful and planned way. Finally,  cite all the relevant government sources, books, journals, and Irish policies used in your assignmnet. 

Referencing Styles in Irish Nursing Colleges

Most QQI Level 7 Nursing Programs in Ireland require:

• Harvard Referencing Style (author-date format)
• Some institutions may use APA 7th Edition

Make sure to include:

• Include government sources like HSE.ie, HIQA.ie, and CSO.ie
• Cite at least 8–12 academic and policy references
• Include journal articles from the Irish Journal of Medical Science, Nursing Older People, or BMC Geriatrics.

Looking for expert assistance while writing an assignment in Ireland? We provide nursing and healthcare assignment help. 

Common pitfalls to avoid:

When you are writing your QQI Level 7 nursing assignment on assessing elderly needs, there are several mistakes that students should avoid. 

• One major pitfall is only describing a topic without offering any analysis. You have to remember your examiners want to see your understanding.
• Another mistake is not being able to connect your discussion to Irish healthcare policies, such as HSE guidelines or the Fair Deal Scheme. These are crucial in showing your awareness.

• Create well-organised content. Lack of headings can make your assignment hard to follow and understand. 

• Poorly formatted references or using non-academic sources like Wikipedia reduces the quality of your assignment, so make sure you rely on trusted sources.

• Lastly, before submitting, not reviewing or forgetting to proofread can leave grammatical mistakes.  

Sample Titles for Your Assignments

If you are looking for topic ideas, here are some samples

Ireland’s Nurses’ role in Planning and coordinating the care  of Older people

Assessing the Health and Social needs of elderly adults: A Nursing Perspective 

Final Tips for Success

• Carefully read your assignment brief 
• Before writing, carefully plan your structure
• Make sure to include real-life examples from Irish healthcare
• Keep your writing clear and simple
• Proofread before submitting

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