New RLOs (2004-5)

All of the RLOs listed below can also be found in the School RLOs section of this site.


What are Journals?

This RLO, written by the School librarians Jenny Drury and Wendy Stanton, and developed by Liz Hilton, is an introduction to academic, professional, general and subject-based journals for nurses, and forms part of the Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) strand of RLOs. The RLO has been released on 22nd December 2005 for general use, although it awaits final peer-review.

Link to RLO


Elements that make up the human body

This RLO is an introduction to the periodic table of elements, focussing in particular on those elements (eg Mg, C, H, O, etc) which constitute the human body. Content was authored by Richard Windle.

Link to RLO

Atomic Bonding

This RLO examines ionic, covalent and mixed bonding in atoms, and was authored by Richard Windle.

Link to RLO

Structure of the Atom

This RLO outlines the structure of the atom and its consitutuent particles, and was authored by Richard Windle and Mark Foss.

Link to RLO

The above three RLOs form part of an ongoing series of RLOs on basic Chemistry for Nursing students, intended to build into a coherent collection. All three have been released on 10th November for general use, although they're currently awaiting peer-review.


Hand Hygiene

This RLO explains the importance of good hand hygiene by health workers to prevent the spread of infection, such as MRSA, to patients in their care. It contains video clips displaying good technique, and even has a singalong section where you can wash your hands to the Hokey Cokey. Content was authored by Alison Columbine, a practicing nurse at Nottingham City Hospital. The RLO is currently awaiting final peer-review but is available for public use.

Link to RLO


Cell Division

This RLO explains the importance of cell division and outlines the basic processes of mitosis and meiosis. An added bonus in this RLO is two standalone, interactive animations of mitosis and meiosis, which can be extracted and used in presentations, VLEs, and websites. The RLO content was written by Damion McCormick, Lecturer in Biological Sciences at the School's Boston centre, and the RLO was developed by the prolific Viv Rolfe who will sadly (for us) be leaving in November for a new post at De Montfort University.

Link to RLO


Understanding Dyslexia

This RLO is an introduction to dyslexia, outlining both positive and negative aspects of the condition. The content for this RLO was written by Jo Sanderson-Mann, a researcher within the School, as part of her project "Coping with dyslexia in a work based learning environment: a study to identify nursing students' and mentors' needs", working with Heather Wharrad and Fiona McAndless. A follow-up RLO, "Dyslexia and Workplace Learning", aimed specifically at nursing practitioners, is under development.

Link to RLO


Using databases to find journal articles

This RLO, authored by two librarians (Jenny Drury, Wendy Stanton) in the Greenfield Medical Library, is an introduction to online databases of journals relevant to nurses (eg CINAHL, BNI). It was released for use on 20th September, 2005, and is awaiting RLO peer review. It's the second in a series of 5 RLOs on using journals in study and practice, the others being under development:

  1. What are journals?
  2. Using databases to find journal articles
  3. How to conduct a literature search
  4. Displaying and outputting results of journal article searches
  5. Finding the full-text of a journal article

Link to RLO


Search strategy for locating Randomised Controlled Trials

Part of the Evidence-Based Practice strand, this RLO is an introduction to search strategies for locating randomised controlled trials (RCTs) in online databases, and includes a screen movie of an example search using Ovid Medline. Content was authored by Dr Fiona Bath-Hextall, Senior Lecturer in Biological Sciences in the School. The RLO was released for use on 5th September, 2005, and awaits RLO peer review.

Link to RLO


Probability associated with inferential statistics

Another RLO which fits into both the Evidence-Based Practice and the Statistics series of RLOs, this is an an introduction to the concept of probability, and the probability of sample errors affecting research results. The RLO content was written by David Justham and Heather Wharrad, Lecturers within the School of Nursing, and development was by Al Leeder of UCEL. It was released on 6th July, 2005, although it still awaits RLO peer review.

Link to RLO


Descriptive Statistics for interval and ratio scale data

A RLO which fits into both the Evidence-Based Practice and the Statistics series of RLOs, this describes the use of measures of central tendency - mean, mode, median - and dispersion - range, Standard Deviation. It was released on 26th May, 2005. The RLO content was written by David Justham and Heather Wharrad, Lecturers within the School of Nursing, and development was by Gareth Peevers, one of our freelance developers.

Link to RLO


Concentration Gradients

This RLO has been reviewed and released on 20th May, 2005. It describes the concept of concentration gradients in biological systems through analogy with gradients found in everyday life, and outlines passive and active transport across cell membranes. The content was written by Fred Riley, Learning Technologist at the School of Nursing based at QMC, and developed by Yiran Tian (aka 'Leon'), one of our freelance developers.

Link to RLO


Calculating medicines for children

This RLO has been reviewed and released on 12th April, 2005, and outlines a basic arithmetical technique for calculating medicinal dosage for children, and works through a practical example. Although the example used relates to children, the technique is applicable in all areas of Nursing. The RLO content was written by Gill Langmack, Health Lecturer (Child Branch), based at the School of Nursing Lincoln Centre, and developed by Caroline Burton, one of our freelance developers.

Link to RLO


Drugs and the liver and kidneys

Two more RLOs from Viv Rolfe have been reviewed and released in March 2005. They examine the role of the liver in metabolising drugs, and of the kidneys in the process of drug excretion. Thanks also to Jo Lymne for reviewing these and all other pharmacology-related RLOs.

The Kidneys and Drug Excretion

The Liver and Drug Metabolism


Respiratory ventilation: anatomy and mechanics

This RLO has been released for use on 14th March, 2005, although it awaits peer review. It presents the purpose of ventilation, the anatomical parts involved, and the muscular activity that enables ventilation to take place at rest. It was authored by Heather Bull, Health Lecturer in Biological Sciences based at the School of Nursing Derby teaching centre, and developed by Viv Rolfe, now our most productive RLO developer.

Link to RLO


Plasma Proteins and Drug Distribution

This RLO has been released for use on 19th January, 2005, although it awaits peer review. It examines the role of plasma proteins in the blood in the distribution of drugs in the body, and looks in detail at drug binding by proteins and the actions of displacers on drug action. It was co-authored by two Health Lecturers in Biological Sciences, Damion McCormick and Mark Foss, and is one of a series of Pharmacology RLOs (see below).

Link to RLO


Starling's Forces

This RLO has been released for use on 5th January, 2005, although it awaits peer review. It looks at the roles of hydrostatic and oncotic pressures, also known as Starling's Forces, in the transport of fluids and gases across the capillary wall. It was authored by Ann Lawrie, Health Lecturer (Adult Health, Renal) in the School, who also authored the Osmosis & Diffusion RLO.

Link to RLO


Liver Anatomy, Liver Physiology

Two further RLOs, from the highly productive Viv Rolfe stable, have been released. Liver Anatomy is an introduction to the basic external and internal anatomy of the liver, and Liver Physiology is an introduction to the functions of the liver, examining its role in filtering blood, metabolism, nutrient extraction and homeostasis. These RLOs are part of a series of six authored and developed by Viv - see the news item below on kidney RLOs. Her RLOs on drugs and the liver and kidneys will be released shortly, after undergoing peer review.

Liver Anatomy RLO

Liver Physiology RLO


Kidney Anatomy, Kidney Physiology

Two RLOs, authored and developed by Vivien Rolfe, a Lecturer in the School, have been released. Kidney Anatomy is an introduction to the basic gross and internal anatomy of the kidneys. Kidney Physiology examines the processes by which the kidneys filter blood, control body pH and eliminate the waste products of metabolism from the body. These RLOs are the first of a series of six produced by Viv, the other titles being:

These titles will be released shortly, after peer review.

Kidney anatomy RLO

Kidney physiology RLO


Lock and Key Hypothesis

This RLO has been released for use on 20th September, 2004, although it still remains under peer review. The content was written by Richard Windle (QMC), a Lecturer in the School, and developed by Ahmad Athamneh, one of our consultant RLO developers. It explains the "lock and key" analogy of drug-receptor interaction, whereby only drugs of a certain molecular shape will 'fit' with a cell membrane receptor. The RLO is one of the Pharmacology series of RLOs (see Drug-Receptor Interaction below for other titles in the series).

Link to RLO


Osmosis & Diffusion

This RLO has been released for use on 9th September, 2004, the content written by Ann Lawrie, Adult Health Lecturer in the School based at QMC, and developed by Yiran Tian, one of our consultant RLO developers. It explains the difference between the processes of diffusion and osmosis, and introduces the concepts of concentration gradients and tonicity. The Resources section contains links to other learning objects on these topics.

Although the RLO is still under peer review, it's been released so that it can be used by new and returning students at the School who will, it's hoped, offer feedback on it.

Link to RLO


Drug-Receptor Interaction

This RLO was released on 30th June, 2004, the content written by Mark Foss, Health Lecturer in the School based at QMC, and developed by Gareth Peevers, one of our consultant RLO developers who previously worked in the Medical School. The RLO is an introduction to the interaction of drugs with cell receptors, including the concepts of Specificity, Agonists, and Antagonists. Although under peer review, the RLO is online and available from the School RLO list.

This RLO is one of a series of RLOs in Pharmacology produced primarily for students on the post-registration Nurse Prescribing module. Others in the series are:

Link to RLO