Course Title: Professional Development in Aged Care Health Practice

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Professional Development in Aged Care Health Practice

Credit Points: 12.00

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
NURS2068	Bundoora Campus	Postgraduate	150H Health Sciences	Face-to-Face	Sem 2 2006, Sem 2 2007, Sem 2 2008

Course Coordinator: Dr Keri Chater

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9397 5245

Course Coordinator Email: keri.chater@rmit.edu.au

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Students need to be working a minimum of 16 hours/week exposure in an appropriate specialty/field area or have past experience in the field.

Course Description

This course will complement the theoretical components undertaken in the specialty courses assisting students in analysing and synthesizing this knowledge through reflective practice.
The course provides students with a variety of opportunities for professional development. Students will be able to develop an understanding of the effects of political, economic, legal cultural and ethical issues on the health care of individual(s) and communities. Students will also have the opportunity to develop an appreciation of effects policy on aged care practice. Through critical examination of the clinical/field practice area, students will be able to develop an awareness of the importance of evidence-based best practices that will enhance the health of individual(s) and communities.

Key areas:
• Development of Australian Aged Care System;
• Policy and practice in aged care;
• Self directed project.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The dimensions of capability developed in the course include:
Advanced knowledge in specialised area;
Professional responsibility and accountability to make ethical decisions;
Apply an evidence-based approach to advanced practice;
Operate as a team member to lead, manage and contribute to an enabling environment that promotes safety, health and human dignity;
Engaging in reflective practice and professional development of self and others.

Managing a project to completion

At the completion of the course you should be able to:
• Develop an understanding of the importance of research in aged care nursing;
• Be aware of various techniques for data gathering;
• Apply selected aged care theories, processes, skills and strategies to the planning, implementation and evaluation of a project in the aged care environment;
• Critically analyse current aged care policy in relation to selected area;
• Identify political, economic ethical and legal issues relevant to the topic;
• Develop/review a policy in the workplace;
• Design an educational package for aged care nurses;
• Identify and investigate the impact of your project on the work place;
• Use reflective practice techniques to analyse and synthesise knowledge relevant to your selected area;
• Use specific techniques to evaluate the project;
• Maintain an E-Journal demonstrating your reflective practice throughout the project.

The underpinning knowledge and skill developed in the course includes:
• Identify the role of research in aged care practice;
• Demonstrate the capacity to transfer academic knowledge to the clinical environment;
• Identify an area of aged care nursing that may benefit from research scrutiny Develop skills in undertaking a review of the specific area identified;
• Include policy, legal and ethical implications in project development and management Be capable of continuous critical reflection throughout the process of project development. Identify the role of research in aged care practice;
• Demonstrate the capacity to transfer academic knowledge to the clinical environment;
• Identify an area of aged care nursing that may benefit from research scrutiny Develop skills in undertaking a review of the specific area identified;
• Include policy, legal and ethical implications in project development and management Be capable of continuous critical reflection throughout the process of project development.

Overview of Learning Activities

Lectures

Online guided learning

E-Journaling 

Directed learning exercises
Additional readings.

Overview of Learning Resources

Guided tutorials
E-journaling
University library and IT support
Selected community resources

Overview of Assessment

Self evaluation of E-journaling
Submission of project