Course Title: Introduction to Speciality Nursing

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Speciality Nursing

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS2164

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2013,
Sem 2 2014,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 2 2016

NURS2164

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2017,
Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021

NURS2165

Hamilton Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2011

NURS2166

Sale Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

 Sem 2 2011

Course Coordinator: A/Prof Karen Livesay

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7070

Course Coordinator Email: karen.livesay@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.07.011


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

Required prior study (Pre-requisites)


Course Description

This course will introduce you to the care of the critically ill person in specialist settings. You will differentiate the context of the hyper acute patient from the acute patient and contextualise the speciality care setting. You will discuss the assessment and problem solving requirements for patient care and review the therapeutic interventions available to support physiological parameters during the patient care episode.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

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

  • PLO 1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice
  • PLO 2: Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships
  • PLO 3: Maintains the capability for practice
  • PLO 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments
  • PLO 5: Develops a plan for nursing practice
  • PLO 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice
  • PLO 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice

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


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

  1. Contextualise the requirements for care in specialist settings
  2. Examine and discuss the scope of practice of the nurse in specialist generalist settings
  3. Critically analyse assessment and problem solving strategies in specialist care settings
  4. Explore therapeutic management of physiological supports for the acute and non-acute patient.
  5. Demonstrate the application of pathophysiological concepts to patient management and nursing care


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 lectures, workshops, clinical laboratory sessions and simulation.

Lectures: Lectures and lecture notes are the principal mode of content delivery and will present you with the key concepts and information relevant to the understanding of hyper acute specialty nursing practice. You will be expected to participate in classroom discussions and to contribute to the learning experiences of your student colleagues.

Self-Directed Learning: You are expected to undertake self-directed learning activities to develop and consolidate knowledge throughout this learning experience. The 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 also 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 Echo360, Discussion Boards or workshops and group work. 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.


Overview of Assessment

All hurdle requirements for this course are indicated clearly in the assessment regime that follows, against the relevant assessment task(s) and all have been approved by the College Assoc Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching).

A hurdle requirement is necessary in order to demonstrate to the accrediting body (ANMAC) that students are competent and are being sufficiently assessed against practice-focussed professional standards throughout the course of their program.

Assessment Tasks

Early Assessment Task:

Weekly online multiple-choice tests

Weighting 20%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2 & 5

Assessment Task 2:

Mid semester review of evidence assignment

Weighting 30%

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

Assessment Task 3:

Case study Assignment

Weighting 50%

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

Hurdle Attendance at 80% of tutorial classes

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