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

The nurse practitioner operates at an extended level of nursing in a specialty field. Supervised immersion in the extended clinical role at this point in the course is necessary for the development of nurse practitioner competency. This field-based unit focuses on the development of the generic knowledge and skills necessary for you to practise competently as a nurse practitioner in a specialty area within your organisational context. During the internship, you will be working in an advanced practice role, and will be supervised by an appropriately-qualified local Clinical Support Team in conjunction with a nurse practitioner mentor appointed by the School of Nursing and Midwifery.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to enable you to undertake supervised, extended clinical practice that enables you to competently apply your coursework learning to nurse practitioner practice. This unit must be successfully completed before you can undertake NSN425-2 Nurse Practitioner Internship and NSN428 Transition to Nurse Practitioner.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to demonstrate the following nurse practitioner competencies:

1. Conduct generic, comprehensive and holistic health assessments that culminate in accurate provisional and definitive diagnoses;



2. Utilise knowledge and skills appropriate to an expanded scope of practice in relatively stable health situations, including prescribing medications, ordering diagnostic tests, referring to other health professionals and developing therapeutic management and evaluation plans;



3. Demonstrate ability to access established and evolving knowledge in the clinical and social sciences, and the application of this knowledge to the care and education of a specific client population;



4. Demonstrate autonomy, accountability and competence for expanded practice by providing client-focused care within an evidence-based nursing model of practice;



5. Establish therapeutic links with the client that recognise and respect physical differences, cultural identity and lifestyle choices; and



6. Demonstrate creativity and proactivity in conducting your nurse practitioner service to improve client outcomes.

Content

This field-based unit focuses on developing the generic knowledge and skills necessary to practise in an extended way in your specialty area and your organisational context. The unit focuses on developing nurse practitioner competence, with an emphasis on practising generic assessment and management skills. Due to the variable nature of the nurse practitioner role, specific content is determined by the context of practice and your own learning objectives. You will explore the extent of extended clinical practice available to you in the specialty and the organisation in which you are undertaking the internship. Complementary to the unit learning outcomes, and in consultation with your Clinical Support Team, you will develop personal learning objectives that reflect the knowledge and skills required in this extended scope of practice within organisational parameters.

Successful completion of this unit contributes to attainment of the following course values, ANMC Nurse Practitioner Standards, QUT Capabilities and Australian Learning and Teaching Council expectations:

• Course Values:




1. Safe, competent advanced practitioners who strive towards excellence in the delivery of holistic, ethical, evidence-based nursing care for all people in the settings in which they practise;


2. Caring practitioners who are culturally safe and sensitive to the human condition and individualise their own care accordingly; and


3. Collaborative practitioners who work with clients, families and colleagues in the pursuit of optimal health and well-being.




• ANMC Competency Standards:




1. Dynamic practice that incorporates the application of high-level knowledge and skills in extended practice across stable, unpredictable and complex situations; and


2. Professional efficacy whereby practice is structured in a nursing model and enhanced by autonomy and accountability.




• QUT Graduate Capabilities:




1. Knowledge and skills pertinent to practice as a nurse practitioner;


2. Advanced levels of critical, creative and analytical thinking, and effective problem-solving;


3. Highly effective verbal and written communication;


4. An enhanced capacity for life-long learning;


5. The ability to work independently and collaboratively; and


6. Heightened social and ethical responsibility.




• Australian Learning and Teaching Council Threshold Learning Outcomes for Health Graduates:




1. Demonstrate professional behaviours;


2. Assess individual and/or population health status and, where necessary, formulate, implement and monitor management plans in consultation with patients/carers/communities;


3. Promote and optimise the health and welfare of individuals and/or populations;


4. Retrieve, critically evaluate and apply evidence in the performance of health-related activities;


5. Deliver safe and effective collaborative health care; and


6. Reflect on current skills, knowledge and attitudes, and plan ongoing personal and professional development.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is delivered in flexible mode.

You must be working in an advanced practice nursing role for the duration of this unit, of which 0.4 FTE hours constitutes this supernumerary clinical internship. Hence the clinical component for this unit comprises a minimum of 185 formal clinical learning hours (15 hours per week x 13 weeks).

Your internship will be supervised by an appropriately-qualified local Clinical Support Team. This support team will assist you to develop the requisite clinical decision-making skills in your specialty practice area. You must have ready access to the support team during your supernumerary clinical learning days. The discipline-mix and specific contribution of each local Clinical Support Team member to the internship team will vary according to context of practice and health service requirements. The Clinical Support Team will usually consist of an advanced health practitioner currently practising the relevant extended clinical skills in your specialty field of practice (eg: an experienced and qualified nurse practitioner, a medical practitioner, a dietician or pharmacist), together with an advanced practice nurse in the specialty area (eg: Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Nurse Specialist). The composition of your supervisory team will be determined on application to the course and reconfirmed before you undertake your internship. In addition to the local Clinical Support Team, you will be formally linked to a practising nurse practitioner mentor for the duration of the internship by the Unit Coordinator.

During the internship, you are expected to manage, under appropriate supervision, at least two complete episodes of care per week during the semester that represent typical clients in your case load. Your clinical support team will conduct clinical practice reviews on your management of these cases. These reviews, which are the formal mechanism for teaching and learning in this unit, will be held weekly in the first half of the semester and at least fortnightly towards the end of the semester. The practice reviews will draw upon documented care in the medical record, observation of practice and your case reporting. Additionally, you will communicate weekly with your School-appointed Nurse Practitioner mentor for feedback. These meetings can occur through a variety of media, e.g. face-to-face, telephone, video conference, synchronous online chat or synchronous email conversation.

The unit is taught through a supported, self-directed approach utilising resources posted on Blackboard, the on-line unit learning management system. The unit embraces a supported, self-directed approach guided by comprehensive student and Clinical Support Team handbooks that outline all course details and requirements. Unit materials can be downloaded from Blackboard. The prescribed readings are accessible through QUT library resources or provided through the Course Materials Database (CMD) within Blackboard. Blackboard will also manage all information notices relevant to the unit, contain the answers to frequently asked questions, and provide access links to other relevant websites. Internet discussion forums and tele-tutorials will also be utilised as the need arises. Regular email contact with the unit staff is encouraged.

Assessment

There are three assessments in this unit. You must achieve a satisfactory performance in each assessment item to successfully complete the unit. Assessment items are designed to evaluate your knowledge and application of generic patient assessment, diagnostic, management and evaluation skills.A structured approach to assessment and marking will provide you with detailed feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit. Assessment is spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points.

Assessment name: Report
Description: Clinical Practice Report - You are required to provide clinical care for number of patients/clients, utilising nurse practitioner competencies in extended practice over the course of the semester. You will submit a clinical practice report detailing your case load and related practice.
Weighting: There is no weighting for this assignment as students must achieve a satisfactory outcome in all assessment items to successfully complete the unit.
Due date: Week 13 (Interim Clinical Practice report due Week 6)
Relates to objectives: 1-6.
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Placement Performance
Description: Clinical Activity and Practice Assessment Record (CAPAR) - You will demonstrate a range of skills and provide evidence of competence commensurate with the nurse practitioner role. You will receive formative verbal and written feedback on your progress throughout the practicum for this unit. A structured assessment tool that is consistent with the ANMAC National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner will be used for both formative and summative assessment of your performance. You must demonstrate satisfactory achievement on each criterion on the assessment tool.
Weighting: There is no weighting for this assignment as students must achieve a satisfactory outcome in all assessment items to successfully complete the unit.
Due date: Week 13 (Interim assessment due Week 6)
Relates to objectives: 1-6.
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: Clinical Case Report - You will be required to complete a clinical decision-making report related to your clinical problem solving and diagnostic reasoning related to one specific case representing a typical patient in your caseload.
Weighting: There is no weight for this assessment as students must achieve a satisfactory performance outcome in ALL assessment items to successfully complete the unit.
Relates to objectives: 1-6.
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 10

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

ANMC National competency standards for the nurse practitioner (2004). ANMC, Canberra.

Risk assessment statement

You will participate in an off-campus clinical experience in a health care setting. During this time, you will be exposed to a range of risks and hazards that are normally encountered by nurses practising in hospital settings. When undertaking these placements you are automatically subject to the Workplace Health and Safety Policies, Procedures and Regulations operating within the health care agency in which you are placed. You are required by law to comply with these policies and procedures at all times.

In order to minimise risks during the off campus components of this unit it is essential that you:

• Participate in the health care facility orientation session


• Act in accordance with organisational Workplace Health and Safety policies


• Are appropriately supervised by a registered nurse at all times


• Undertake the required theoretical and practical preparation prior to commencement of the placement


• Are aware of specific risks and hazards associated with the particular clinical area to which you have been assigned


• Act within your scope of practice and the requirements of this unit


• Maintain your personal health and immunisation status

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: 23-Jan-2013