Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

ACUTE CARE NURSING:
Coordinator: Professor Ann Bonner, Ph: 07 3138 0823, email: ann.bonner@qut.edu.au

CANCER CARE NURSING:
Coordinator: Professor Patsy Yates, Ph: 07 3138 3835, email: p.yates@qut.edu.au

Individuals in acute and cancer care environments experience a wide range of health problems requiring nursing intervention. Nurses working in these fields require an advanced level of knowledge of evidence-based principles and practices appropriate to prevent and manage these health problems, as well as skills in the implementation and evaluation of intervention strategies in the context of a multidisciplinary team. This unit aims to develop your understanding of the theory, process and practice of advanced nursing in a designated practice context, to enable you to effectively prevent and manage common health problems experienced by individuals and families in a range of locations within their field.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to further develop your understanding of the core elements of advanced nursing practice in generalist acute, 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 for people receiving care within these various practice contexts.

Objectives

The unit will enable you to:

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



2. Demonstrate clinical judgement and reflective skills through the application of theoretical concepts;



3. Initiate plans of care to address client needs/problems experienced by individuals and families in the practice context;



4. Discuss and review technical competencies with selected skills/techniques; and



5. Discuss and review collaborative practice strategies.

Content

Content that relates to a broad range of clinical nursing practice will be addressed. This will include: physiological, pathophysiological and psychosocial underpinnings of advanced nursing practice across a broad range of health problems; planning of appropriate strategies/interventions for client care; and development of related skills. Students will be facilitated to apply the concepts learned in this unit to their area of practice: Acute Care Nursing or Cancer Nursing.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

A variety of approaches to teaching and learning will be adopted to encourage a broad understanding of knowledge and skills in acute and chronic nursing care practice in a range of locations. You will be encouraged to think critically about key health needs and problems experienced by individuals and families in their specialty through analysis of literature, case study analysis, contribution to class discussions and assessment items. The unit is offered flexibly and you will receive a comprehensive study guide and a list of suitable readings. The study guide will provide a framework for your readings and encourage critical analysis through a program of learning activities.

You are required to undertake suitable workplace based clinical experience throughout this unit.

Assessment

Assessment varies depending on the stream in which youare enrolled.Assessment items are spaced throughout the semester to provide an opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points as they progress through the unit. A structured approach to grading that provides detailed feedback will be used.

Assessment name: Communication Skills Activity
Description: Critical reflection of communication skills relevent to selected clinical scenario/s.
Relates to objectives: 1-5.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Assessment name: Evidence Review
Description: Critical review of the evidence related to the management of a selected symptom encountered in practice.
Relates to objectives: 1-2.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

Assessment name: Education Plan
Description: Critical application of educational and health theories relevent to patient and family teaching in the management of a selected symptom encountered in clinical practice.
Relates to objectives: 2-5.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Both
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: TBA

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 the student's practice context is included below:

Cancer Nursing:
Yarbro CH, Hansen Frogge M, Goodman M. (eds) (2010). Cancer nursing: Principles and practice (7th ed.). Jones & Bartlett, Boston.

Otto, S. (2007). Oncology nursing (5th ed.). St Louis : Mosby.

Acute Care Nursing:
Students will be advised of a selection of references relevant to their specific practice context.

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 addition, measures to control exposure to risks include:

• Orientation to the health care agency


• Supervision by a clinical lecturers


• Appropriate theoretical and practical preparation

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;


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


• Review your current immunisation status; and


• Inform the Unit Coordinator, Strand Coordinator or Clinical Lecturer if you are aware of any personal condition that may present a risk to yourself or to 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: 05-Jul-2012