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

Health service delivery is undergoing rapid change, and this is reflected in the nature and scope of nursing practice. Registered nurses working in intensive care and emergency settings require the ability to provide nursing care for patients who are progressively more critically ill, in an environment that evidences increasingly complex technology. As such, registered nurses require advanced knowledge and skills that enable the delivery of evidence based nursing care, to address the health needs of patients and families. in the context of a multidisciplinary team.

Aims

This unit aims to develop an understanding of advanced nursing practice in the intensive care and emergency practice settings.This will be achieved by exploring theoretical and practice concepts required for registered nurses to provide advanced nursing care for diverse and complex critically ill patients and their families in either the intensive care or emergency practice setting.

Objectives

This unit will enable you to:

1. Critically analyse and demonstrate the role of the registered nurse within the intensive care or emergency environment emphasising clinical problem solving and technical knowledge and skills, communication, teamwork and collaboration with the multidisciplinary health care team.*



2. Critically discuss and demonstrate an understanding of the implications of physiological and pathophysiological changes during critical illness for a broad range of patients with actual and/or potential life threatening conditions within the intensive care or emergency environment.



3. Develop, implement and critically evaluate plans of care to address problems experienced by individuals and families in the intensive care or emergency environment, including the culturally and linguistically diverse.*



4. Critically review current research and evidence based literature to support the provision of advanced nursing practice in the intensive care or emergency environment.

* The specialist practice standards for the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) or clinical competencies for the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN Ltd.) provide a framework for achievement of the learning outcomes.

Successfully completing this unit will contribute to your attainment of the following postgraduate capabilities:

• Access the knowledge and skills pertinent to your specialty area of practice


• Think critically, creatively and analytically


• Undertake effective problem solving


• Use effective communication in a variety of contexts and modes


• Work independently and collaboratively with colleagues in the health system


• Responsibly practice within a socially and ethically accountable frame of reference.

Content

Content that relates to a broad range of clinical issues and concepts underpinning practice will be addressed. This will include practice concepts relating to acute respiratory failure, mechanical ventilation, respiratory disorders and chest trauma, neurological disorders, multi trauma, burns, spinal injuries, bariatric management, pain management and the patient's experience of critical illness. Physiological, pathophysiological and psychosocial underpinnings of intensive care and emergency practice; planning of appropriate strategies/interventions for patient care; and development of selected technical skills will be addressed.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit is delivered in internal and external mode. A variety of approaches will be adopted to encourage a broad knowledge of, and skills in, advanced nursing practice. You will be encouraged to think critically about key issues in your practice context, through analysis of literature and case studies, contributions to seminar/online discussion and assessment items. You will receive a study guide and accompanying readings, either available through the QUT library catalogue or via the Course Material Database (CMD) on the unit online learning management system (Blackboard). This will provide a framework for your further reading and encourage critical analysis through a program of learning activities. You are required to undertake suitable workplace based clinical experience throughout this unit. You will be facilitated to apply the learned concepts to your practice context.

INTERNAL MODE:
A series of seminars further support your learning in this unit.

EXTERNAL MODE:
The seminar series supporting this unit will be audio-recorded and accessed through the unit online learning management system (Blackboard).

Assessment

There are three summative assessments to be completed throughout the semester. You are required to successfully pass both the theoretical and clinical assessment components in order to pass this unit.Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. An online multiple choice quiz/test covering material to date will be available during week 6 of semester to provide you with formative feedback. Formative and summative feedback will be provided on return of the marked assignment. Clinical assessment will be both formative and summative. Summative feedback will be provided on the exam on release of the exam result. Formative feedback on the exam will be provided on request.

Assessment name: Essay
Description: You will be required to write an academic essay in the form of a critical discussion of 3000 words. A prescribed topic derived from the content covered in the unit will be provided. You will be required to critically discuss this from the perspective of your specialty area (emergency or intensive care).
Relates to objectives: 1, 2 & 4.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid semester

Assessment name: Demonstration
Description: A structured assessment format will be used to provide clear and specific feedback regarding your progress. Clinical competencies for the emergency study area are based on the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) specialist practice standards. Clinical competencies for the intensive care study area are based on the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN Ltd.) competency framework. The Clinical Performance Assessment Tool (CPAT) will be assessed by appointed Clinical Lecturers in the clinical venue.
Weighting: Achieved / Not Achieved (You must receive Achieved on each competency area of the CPAT to pass this assessment item)
Relates to objectives: 1-4.
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: The examination will include clinical case study questions that require you to apply problem-solving skills and the integration of theoretical knowledge to a range of clinical situations.
Relates to objectives: 1-4.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central exam period

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

Prescribed Texts/ References:

For both emergency and intensive care study areas:
Pierce, L. N. B. (2007). Management of the mechanically ventilated patient (2nd ed.). St Louis: Saunders Elsevier.

For emergency study area only:
Curtis, K., & Ramsden, C. (Eds.). (2011). Emergency & trauma care for nurses and paramedics. Sydney: Mosby Elsevier.

For intensive care study area only:
Carlson, K. K. (Ed.). (2009). AACN advanced critical care nursing. St Louis: Saunders Elsevier.

Risk assessment statement

As a student undertaking this unit you are required to undertake accompanying clinical practice experience in your workplace. As such, you will be exposed to risks encountered in the practice of advanced intensive care or emergency nursing practice. Students undertaking workplace based clinical placement are required to follow the same health safety guidelines that apply to all staff in your workplace.

In order to minimise risks during this component of the unit, it is essential that you:

• Act in accordance with organisational Workplace Health and Safety policies


• Are appropriately supervised by a clinical lecturer


• Undertake the required theoretical and practical preparation


• Are aware of specific risks and hazards associated with your clinical area


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


• Maintain your personal health and immunisation status.

Emergency procedures
All facilities require that their health workers become familiar with local emergency procedures. It is your responsibility to locate fire exits, emergency procedures and complete CPR drill and fire safety as required.

Health status and immunisation requirements
It is strongly recommended that you will:

• Endeavour at all times to maintain their personal health at a high level


• Be fit to work and have had a reasonable rest period between shifts


• Review their current immunisation status


• Inform the Unit Coordinator, Study Area Coordinator or Clinical Lecturer if you are aware of any personal condition, which may present a risk to yourself or clients, other students, health care agency staff or the general public while on clinical placement.

The management of your health facility has the right to send you home if, in their opinion, it is unsafe for you to work that day.

Confidentiality
As a student in the clinical area, you must treat all information regarding clients and their families with the utmost confidentiality. Information that is documented as part of your learning experiences must preserve client anonymity and confidentiality. Classroom discussion should also adhere to these principles.

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: 21-Nov-2012