Course Title: Palliative Care

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Palliative Care

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS1137

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

NURS1137

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022

NURS2006

Hamilton Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2012

NURS2144

Sale Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010

Course Coordinator: Dr Ruby Walter

Course Coordinator Phone: Please contact via e-mail

Course Coordinator Email: ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.07.003


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.


Course Description

In this course you will consider the options for care of a patient with terminal illness resulting from intractable disease or terminal organ failure. You will explore the clinical issues as they relate to the transition of therapeutic management interventions, when cure transitions to care. You will learn the conceptual framework for active treatment in the palliative care patient; the legal and ethical principles associated with end of life care; and you will consider the holistic approach to care that incorporates spiritual and emotional care as well as physical care. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP032 Bachelor of Nursing Program in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Australia, Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016):

  • PLO 1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice
  • PLO 2: Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships
  • PLO 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments
  • PLO 5: Develops a plan for nursing practice
  • PLO 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2016) Registered nurse standards for practice. Melbourne, Australia.


Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Identify death as an integral part of the life continuum
  2. Define and elaborate the concept of terminal illness as it relates to both disease processes and organ failure
  3. Review the philosophy of palliative care and the associated legal and ethical principles from an Australian and global context.
  4. Appraise the notion of palliation as that time when “cure turns to care.”
  5. Discuss the principles of palliative care management as both active and supportive treatment of the patient


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will use a range of learning activities including lectures, discussions and self-directed learning. Throughout the course you will be able to work both independently and in groups to aid development of your theoretical knowledge and its application to clinical practice.

Learning activities may include modalities such as workshops and online learning.

Self-Directed Learning: Self-directed learning activities associated with this course are designed to enable you to better develop independent learning skills to support your commitment to lifelong learning as a nursing professional and a university graduate. The self-directed learning activities will support your knowledge of the material covered in the formal learning program and enhance the consolidation and application of that knowledge.

RMIT have state of the art simulated learning facilities for student learning and practice. You will participate in simulated practice within these facilities in preparation for placement. As a part of participation you may be filmed for learning, teaching, reflection and assessment and this is considered an inherent part of our learning and teaching program. Recordings will be maintained in accordance with our assessment, document retention and privacy policies.


Overview of Learning Resources

The learning resources associated with this course will include targeted readings taken from a range of both primary and secondary sources. Where possible all selected material will be digitally available to you. Lecture material may be delivered using a variety of flexible learning modes such as Lectopia/Echo360, Discussion Board or workshops. These modes will be utilised at the discretion of your lecturer. RMIT will provide you with additional resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems accessed via your myRMIT site.

A library subject guide is available at http://rmit.libguides.com/nursing 


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Early Assessment Task:  Online Multiple choice and short answer quiz (x 3)

All questions are taken from the content of the course from preceding weeks.   

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Video presentation on Palliative Care topic

Weighting 35%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 3: Assignment - Case study based 

Weighting 50%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5