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 way health services are delivered is undergoing rapid change, and the nature and scope of nursing practice reflects this. This unit is designed to present a foundation of theoretical and practice concepts required for registered nurses to provide effective, consumer-focused nursing care within a variety of clinical contexts in a range of practice settings. The concepts introduced in this unit provide the basis for further study in subsequent units.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop an understanding of core elements of advanced nursing practice in generalist acute or community settings, specialist medical/surgical units, or cancer care settings. This will be achieved by exploring the theoretical, conceptual and practical knowledge required to provide effective consumer-focused nursing care within these various practice contexts.

Objectives

The unit will enable you to:

1. Discuss factors influencing contemporary practice in a selected area of practice;



2. Critically analyse the principal concepts that underpin advanced nursing practice in the selected area of practice;



3. Interpret epidemiological data relevant to the selected area of practice;



4. Develop therapeutic and caring relationships that are sensitive to a range of individual perspectives and circumstances;



5. Demonstrate clinical judgement and reflective skills through the application of theoretical concepts and current research findings within a generalist acute or community setting, specialist medical/surgical setting, or cancer care settings; and



6. Discuss and review practice competencies associated with the selected area of practice.

Content

Content that relates to a broad range of clinical issues and concepts underpinning practice will be addressed. This will include practice concepts (philosophies, evidence-based practice, competencies and continuity of care); physiological, pathophysiological and psychosocial underpinnings of advanced speciality or generalist practice; planning of appropriate strategies/interventions for client care; and development of selected technical skills. You will be facilitated in the application of concepts learned in this unit to your chosen area of Acute Care Nursing, or Cancer Nursing.

Cancer Nursing
Students enrolled in the cancer nursing major will study these topics:

• The cancer experience;


• Cancer control policy and practice;


• Cancer prevention and early detection;


• Epidemiology of cancer;


• Pathophysiological basis of cancer;


• Psychosocial aspects of cancer; and


• Overview of major treatment modalities for cancer including surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapies and transplantation.

Acute Care Nursing
Students enrolled in the Acute Care major will study these topics:

• Professional development strategies;


• The advanced nurse in a medical surgical setting;


• Advanced decision making in patient care;


• Contemporary issues in medical surgical nursing;


• Ethico-legal issues in medical surgical nursing; and


• Practice development and managing change.

Successfully completing this unit will contribute to your attainment of these Australian Nursing and Midwifery (ANMC) capabilities in the context of cancer care or acute care:

• 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; and


• Responsibly practice within a social and ethically responsible frame of reference.

For cancer care students, successfully completing this unit will also contribute to your attainment of the EdCaN Competencies for Specialist Cancer Nurses.

1. Practises within an evidence-based framework and contributes to the development of evidence for practice;



2. Identifies potential and actual adverse effects of having cancer and receiving cancer therapies;



3. Participates in the safe and effective management of cancer and the delivery of cancer treatments;



4. Identifies, validates and prioritises potential and actual health needs across all domains of health of the person affected by cancer throughout the cancer continuum;



5. Effectively provides and ensures access to a range of supportive care services and interventions to meet the multiple health needs of the person affected by cancer;



6. Coordinates implementation of care across different phases of the cancer journey and across health care settings to facilitate continuity of cancer and effective use of health care resources relevant to the needs of the person affected by cancer;



7. Develops therapeutic relationships with people affected by cancer to anticipate and meet their multiple health needs across the cancer continuum; and



8. Initiates and ensures ongoing improvements in collaborative relationships with the person affected by cancer and other members of the health care team to optimise health outcomes.

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 understanding of and skills of the advanced nursing in practice. You will be encouraged to think critically about key issues in their practice context, through analysis of literature and case studies, contributions to class or online discussions and assessment items. A range of flexible approaches will be used for students studying by internal mode. These include seminars, online resources, and clinical learning experiences in the workplace. Both internal and external students will receive a study guide. This will provide a framework for readings and encourage critical analysis through a program of learning activities. On-line learning activities are also available.

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.

Assessment

There are three assessments to be completed throughout the semester.

Assessment items 1, 2 and 3 are to be completed by students enrolled in the cancer nursing major.

Assessment items 4, 5 and 6 are to be completed by students enrolled in the acute care major.Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will be provided with feedback on each assessment item as you progress through the unit. A structured approach to assessment and marking will be applied to provide you with detailed feedback on your progress.

Assessment name: Cancer Nursing - Case Study
Description: The case study will enable you to demonstrate the application of theoretical and conceptual knowledge to the analysis of selected client problems.
Relates to objectives: 2, 5 & 6.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of week 5

Assessment name: Cancer Nursing - Reflec. Jrnl
Description: Reflective Journal - Care Plan
This care planning assignment will enable you to demonstrate your ability to understand the experience of the person with a diagnosis of cancer, deliver and reflect critically on the care you provided to this patient, and review your care in light of current nursing theory and research.
Relates to objectives: 4-6.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of week 12

Assessment name: Cancer Nursing - Written Exam
Description: The written examination will include a series of case studies and clinical scenarios that require you to apply problem-solving skills to a range of clinical situations and to demonstrate the integration of theoretical knowledge into clinical problem solving. This closed examination is conducted on campus during the central examination period.
Relates to objectives: 1-4.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central exam period

Assessment name: Acute Care - Essay
Description: : This assessment item will enable you to develop critical analysis and solution-focused skills as well as deepening your discipline engagement through scholarly discussion. It will also deepen your engagement with discipline discourse through a scholarly discussion of: the impact of disease processes on patient, family, community and the healthcare system; the nurse's role in acute management and treatment; and evidence-based recommendations for patient care. In this academic essay you must adopt a critical approach.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 5 & 6.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5 (Monday)

Assessment name: Acute Care - Essay (Written)
Description: This assessment item will evaluate your ability to apply knowledge and problem solve in specialised clinical situations. There will be several essay questions relevant to the modules studied in this unit. You will choose one question and examine the role of the specialist acute care nurse in integrating evidence-based patient care.
Relates to objectives: 1, 3, 5 & 6.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mon 28 May, Wk13

Assessment name: Acute Care - Reflec. Jrnl
Description: Reflective Journal - During the semester you will record a personalised account of your acute care nursing practice. You will use the journal to develop a written assessment that critically reflects on your developing specialist practice and the strategies you will employ to sustain continuing professional development relevant to your acute care specialty area, experience or event critical analysis of experience/activity.
Relates to objectives: 1, 4 & 5.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13 (Monday)

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

A selection of references relevant to your practice context is included below:

Cancer Nursing:
Recommended readings will be provided with each module. Published materials will be made available through the library course materials database.

Acute Care Nursing:
Due to the range of specialties, students are encouraged to access relevant specialty specific texts. Other relevant published materials will be made available through the library course materials database.

Risk assessment statement

As a student undertaking this unit you may be required to undertake accompanying clinical practice experience in your workplace. As such, you will be exposed to risks encountered in the practice of advanced nursing practice. Students undertaking 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 components of the unit it is essential that you:

1. Participate in the health care facility orientation session;


2. Act in accordance with organisational Workplace Health and Safety policies;


3. Are appropriately supervised by a clinical lecturer at all times;


4. Undertake the required theoretical and practical preparation prior to commencement of the placement;


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


6. Act within your scope of practice and the requirements of this unit; and


7. 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 your personal health at a high level;


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


• Inform the Unit Coordinator, Course 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