Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Registered nurses practise across a variety of settings and in numerous contexts. Consequently, comprehensive knowledge and skills are required for collecting, using and documenting information about a person's health care, clinical problem-solving and decision-making and applying evidence to the planning and evaluation of nursing care. In this unit you will integrate the knowledge and skills you have developed throughout your studies, establish the foundation for successfully transitioning into the role of a beginning registered nurse capable of providing safe, competent, holistic nursing care.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to facilitate the integration of clinical knowledge and skills for the planning of safe, competent, holistic nursing care in the settings in which a registered nurse might practice.

Objectives

1. Integrate detailed knowledge from nursing and related sciences within a plan of nursing care that includes key health alterations, assessments, treatments and nursing therapeutics for a selected client situation;



2. Comprehensively apply problem solving, decision making and evidence-utilisation frameworks to the plan of care for a selected client situation;



3. Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing in a scholarly, professional manner; and



4. Demonstrate self awareness of pesonal strengths and weaknesses through reflecting critically on the proposed plan of care, and identifying specific areas and plans for further personal/professional development.

Content

This unit focuses on preparation for your transition to beginning level practice as a registered nurse. The main areas of learning in this unit include the opportunity to integrate concepts and principles of units you have previously studied to explore in depth a key area of health care through developing a holistic care plan from a provided scenario. You are able to choose an in depth study from the following healthcare themes:

• Aged care*


• Indigenous health*


• Mental health*


• Chronic conditions*


• Palliative care


• Primary health care


• Caring for children and families


• Rural and remote care*

* National Health Priority

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit will be offered in a manner that actively engages you in learning. Blended approaches will be used wherein teaching modalities include a combination of student-centred workshops and online materials. Workshops are highly interactive, based on structured activities that are complemented and extended by materials on Blackboard QUT's Learning Management System. This distributed learning environment provides flexibility for how you engage with the unit.

You are expected to collaborate with staff in setting and reflecting on your own learning goals. Our approach requires you to be focused on understanding and to be responsible for your learning by seeking evidence, and, with support and guidance, actively practising critical thinking and reflection.

Assessment

There are three summative assessments in this unit. You will also have the opportunity to receive formative feedback regarding your progress throughout the semester.The unit coordinator and tutors are available for consultation throughout the semester by telephone, email and in person. Feedback will be provided as part of tutorial discussions throughout the semester. You are also encouraged to develop peer networks to support your work in the unit. On line quizzes will also be available for you to check your understanding of key concepts and principles. An in-tutorial feedback session will also be offered following the first summative assessment to discuss challenging aspects and provide you with advice on how to improve.

Assessment name: Abstract
Description: This assessment requires you to provide a concise overview of your project (see Assessment 3). To complete this project you need to develop a case study based on a complex patient care situation from your clinical placement. This assessment is an abstract or synopsis of your case study. This assessment will provide you with formative and summative feedback on your project development and direction.
Relates to objectives: 1-3.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Case Study Presentation
Description: This assessment requires you to give an oral presentation justifying the clinical priorities of your case study and to critically reflect on how you assessed, planned, implemented and evaluated the care of that patient.
Relates to objectives: 1-4.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Case Study Project
Description: This assessment builds on assessment items 1 and 2. This written assessment requires you to critically analyse the clinical management of your case study. It is designed to provide you with an opportunity to demonstrate your ability to apply knowledge and clinical judgement to manage a complex clinical situation, justify your approach with research evidence, and reflect on the implications for your future nursing practice.
Relates to objectives: 1-4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required text
Levett-Jones, T. (Ed.). (2013). Clinical reasoning: Learning to think like a nurse. Frenchs Forest, NSW: Pearson Australia.

Recommended texts
Brown, D., & Edwards, H. (Eds.). (2012). Lewis's medical-surgical nursing: Assessment and management of clinical problems (3rd ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Mosby Elsevier.

Hockenberry, M.J., & Wilson, D. (Eds.). (2013). Wong's essentials of pediatric nursing (9th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby Elsevier.

Lewis, P., & Foley, D. (Eds.). (2011). Weber & Kelley's health assessment in nursing. Broadway NSW: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Risk assessment statement

You are advised that if you are distressed by the issues explored in the content of this unit you should approach staff in this unit or contact the University counselling service.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 13-Feb-2013