Course Title: Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2024

Course Code: NURS5412C

Course Title: Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5417 - Diploma of Nursing

Course Contact: Suzie Cicero

Course Contact Phone: 03 9925-1812

Course Contact Email: suzie.cicero@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Prem Kaur Program Coordinator, Nursing RMIT City Campus prem.kaur@rmit.edu.au    

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

Nil

Course Description

In this course you will learn the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required, within the scope of practice, to perform preliminary and ongoing physical health assessments of all body systems, gathering data that contributes to an individualised health plan of care.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

HLTENN037 Perform clinical assessment and contribute to planning nursing care

Element:

1. Perform admission assessment.

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Introduce self and explain processes before commencing nursing assessment activities.

1.2. Collect and record admission information including gender, age, cultural, religious and spiritual information in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, and practice standards.

1.3. Perform baseline clinical assessment and document findings including vital signs.

1.4. Interpret and analyse objective and subjective assessment data against normal range.

1.5. Record lifestyle patterns, health history and current health practices.

1.6. Clarify emotional and physical needs of the families and carers.

1.7. Document and communicate alterations and deteriorations of health status.

Element:

2. Contribute to plan of nursing care.

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Analyse health history and health assessment to identify risks, likely impacts on daily living activities and care needs.

2.2. Use a problem-solving approach to assist comprehensive nursing care planning.

2.3. Clarify and reflect the person’s interests and physical, emotional and psychosocial needs in nursing care planning and documentation.

Element:

3 Evaluate and modify plan of nursing care.

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Analyse, evaluate and review nursing care planning decisions with registered nurse and multidisciplinary health care team.

3.2. Confirm with the person, families or carers that planned nursing care reflects their needs including their uniqueness, culture, religious beliefs and management of stress.

3.3. Ensure plan of nursing care is based on principles of contemporary, evidence-based practice and incorporates risk assessment.

3.4. Review and evaluate plan of nursing care to ensure care needs are met.

Element:

4. Perform discharge procedures.

Performance Criteria:

4.1. Collect discharge planning data.

4.2. Contribute to nursing assessment and document issues to facilitate discharge.

4.3. Identify community support services and resources to assist in discharge planning.

4.4. Check to ensure discharge requirements are planned and updated including follow up requirements, discharge prescriptions, My Healthcare Record, referrals and reports for ongoing treatment to health practitioners.


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements. 


Details of Learning Activities

In this course, you will learn fundamental nursing concepts and procedures: how to take and record vital signs, clinical skills in assessment, and interventions to plan nursing care. Learning activities in this unit include the following: 

  • Classroom teaching - introducing you to key concepts within the course
  • Labs - provide practice and simulation
  • Clinical experience - provides you with practical experience in a nursing health care environment 
  • Self directed learning - such as reading to expand your knowledge and understanding of information delivered

All learning activities that you will undertake within the course are designed to provide you with the practical skills, knowledge and attitudes required to perform to the standard expected in the health industry. 


Teaching Schedule

Week, Session

Topic and Activity

Week 1, Session 1 

Lesson 1A: Introduction to Health Assessment and Patient Centred Care 

Lesson 1B: Growth and Development 

Week 2, Session 2 

Lesson 2: Clinical Assessment – Vital signs 

Week 3, Session 3 

Lesson 3: Clinical Assessment – Neurovascular, Pain, BGL, Urinalysis and BMI  

Week 4, Session 4 

Lesson 4: Neurological observation and Admission & Discharge  

Week 5, Session 5 

Lesson 5: Interpreting and analysing a person’s health information.  

Week 6, Session 6 

Lesson 6: Primary and secondary survey  

Week 7, Session 7 

Lesson 7: Recognising and responding to a deteriorating patient  

 

Week, Session

Topic and Activity 

Week 2, Lab 1 

Lab 1: Vital signs  

Skill 1: Accurately record and report vital sign measurements (Respiratory rate, Oxygen saturation, Blood pressure, Heart rate, Temperature)  

Skill 2: Conduct a pain assessment. 

Week 3, Lab 2 

Lab 2: Neurovascular assessment, BGL and Urinalysis  

Skill 1: Perform Neurovascular Observation. 

Skill 2: Blood Glucose Level Monitoring  

Skill 3: Performing Urinalysis 

Week 5, Lab 3 

Lab 3: Nursing admission and discharge, Neurological observation and skin assessment 

Skill 1: Performing nursing admission and discharge.  

  • Assess general patient assessment by questioning and collecting data.  
  • Establishing therapeutic nurse-patient communication  
  • Measuring BMI to identify individual at risk for obesity-related diseases. 

 

Skill 2: Perform Neurological Observation  

Skill 3: Perform Skin assessment. 

Skills Practice – Lab 1 and 2 skills 

Week 6, Lab 4 

Lab 4: Scenario based practice lab.  

Part A:  1. Admission 2. Skin Assessment 3. Vital signs 4. Pain assessment 

Part B:  1. Neurological Observation 2. Neurovascular Observation 3. Blood Glucose Level Monitoring 4. Performing Urinalysis 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Refer to individual Canvas modules. 


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral/written presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS.

During the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), you will complete 400 hours of compulsory unpaid clinical placements, across four phases (semesters).  Aged Care 120 hours, Mental Health and Primary Health 80 hours each and Acute Care 120 hours.

You must meet all the unit/course requirements before you are eligible for clinical placement, this includes immunisations, NDIS check, Working with Childrens and Police check. If you do not meet these requirements, you may incur a penalty in the form of a fine.


Assessment Tasks

The assessment methods being used for this unit are outlined below: 

Task 

Method and Type 

Ungraded 

 

Due Date 

Questioning 

Product Based 

Observation 

Knowledge Assessment - Task 1  

Short Answer Questions

 

 

S/ NYS 

TBC

Simulation Practical Assessment - Task 2 Part A 

 

 

Practical Skill 

S/ NYS 

TBC

Simulation Practical Assessment - Task 2 Part B 

 

 

Practical Skill 

S/ NYS 

 

TBC

Case Study – Task 3 

 

Practical Skill 

 

S/ NYS 

TBC

Clinical Placement Task 4 

 

 

Practical Skill  

S/ NYS 

TBC


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Student Attendance 

All students are required to: 

  • Attend and participate appropriately in all scheduled activities.
  • Complete pre-class preparation e.g., recommended reading and learning activities on Canvas.
  • Study all material provided to maximise chances of meeting the Unit's objectives.
  • Meet the 80% attendance requirement for lectures. Evidence in the form of a medical certificate or statutory declaration must be provided if one cannot attend. It will be the student's responsibility to 'catch up'. It is the student's responsibility to seek assistance from their educator.
  • All students must demonstrate 80% engagement with the learning resources provided. This includes but is not limited to the Canvas practice knowledge quizzes, which must be completed on time. Canvas analytics will be used to identify student engagement.  This can affect student progression.
  • All students must meet the 100% attendance requirement for practical sessions. Evidence in the form of a medical certificate or statutory declaration must be provided if one cannot attend to qualify for a make-up session. The 'make-up' session time and date will be at the discretion of the RMIT Nursing Program Coordinator. Non-attendance to the make-up session without evidence to support the non-attendance can result in no further opportunity.
  • Failure to meet the 100% practical sessions attendance requirement can result in exclusion from the clinical skills assessments, leading to a Not Yet Satisfactory result and ultimately Not Yet Competent.
  • Four hundred (400) clinical placement hours must be completed by the end of the program to meet the program requirements. 

Clinical Placement 

Please note an opportunity to repeat clinical placement is not guaranteed and will be at the discretion of the Program Manager.  The above requirements will be considered in the decision making. 

  

Important information regarding Assessment Tasks: 

Refer to individual assessment task instructions for information on when and how to submit and specific assessment conditions. 

Assessment Attempts: 

Self-marking quizzes:

Student will be permitted 3 attempts to complete self-marking assessments.  if a student requires guidance, it is their responsibility to reach out to the Lead Campus Educator Guidance can be requested from your educator. 

All other assessments: 

You are permitted 2 attempts on written and practical assessments. 

Resubmissions are not automatic and will only be approved at the discretion of the Program Coordinator, after consultation with the teacher. Attendance and course engagement will be taken into consideration when deciding. 

All resubmissions must be completed and submitted no more than 7 days after your work has been assessed. 

 

Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer:

If you think you have some or all of the knowledge and competencies described, please discuss the Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer options with may be available to you with your Course Coordinator: 

For more information go to: 

RMIT Connect 

  

Please read the following thoroughly by clicking the links: 

Special consideration 

Use the special consideration process if your circumstances are such that you cannot fulfil assessment requirements. For example, if you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by a due date. 

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview