1809NRS Effective Nursing Practices, 2021

Written Assignment
1500 words
Weighting:40%
Due Date: Monday 15th February 2021 at 10:00hrs

Nurses are required to have sound theoretical knowledge and be able to integrate theory to
practice through assessment and provision of safe, competent, culturally appropriate, evidence-
based care (Lubbe & Roets, 2014)1.

Aim:
The aim of this assignment is for you to think critically about professional patient-centred nursing
care and integrate your scientific knowledge about infection control practices and patient safety
including cultural safety.

Task Instructions:
In response to the following case study, you are required to write a 1500-word structured essay in
which you:

• Describe norovirus and it’s causes, explain its mode of transmission, and discuss specific
health risks for the elderly.
• Discuss the infection prevention and control precautions specific to norovirus within clinical
healthcare environments.
• Discuss another risk assessment required for the patient in the case study [‘Uncle Dougie’]
that is not limited to norovirus (e.g., pressure injury assessment, nutritional status, fluid
balance charts), including a rationale for the assessment, and possible nursing care required
considering appropriate cultural aspects when providing this nursing care.

Note that your essay must be supported by current scholarly literature (at least 10 references)
published between 2015 – 2020 (inclusive).

Case Study:
Mr. Doug Sultan (Uncle Dougie) is an 88-year-old Aboriginal Elder who is a resident of Sunny Side
aged care facility. He is a widower with two daughters, one of whom lives nearby and visits daily.
Many of Uncle Dougie’s relatives also visit regularly. He is underweight for his height, unsteady when
mobilising and uses a walking frame.

Uncle Dougie has been complaining of abdominal pain recently and has had three episodes of
diarrhoea since breakfast. Another resident, Mrs. Betty Keogh, also states that she feels unwell with
abdominal pain and has also vomited.

A common reason for vomiting and diarrhea in residential aged care facilities is norovirus, and it is
therefore assumed that this is the cause of the recent illness of the two residents.

1
Lubbe, J. C., & Roets, L. (2014). Nurses' scope of practice and the implication for quality nursing care. J Nurs
Scholarsh, 46(1), 58-64. doi:10.1111/jnu.12058
Other elements:

• Always refer to the Griffith Health Writing and Referencing Guide. Ensure your assignment
format strictly adheres to these guidelines.

• Ensure that you use scholarly literature2 (digitised readings, research articles, relevant
Government reports and text books) that has been published within the last five [5] years
(between 2016 – 2020 (inclusive).
• Provide a clear introduction and conclusion to your structured essay.

• You may use headings to organise your essay if you wish.

• Unless otherwise instructed, write in the third person.

• Use academic language3 throughout.

• Refer to the marking rubric when writing your assignment. This will assist you in
calculating the weightings of the sections for your assignment.
• Assemble all pages into one document (MS Word or pdf)

• Submit your assignment via Turnitin as per the instructions on your

Learning@Griffith course site. [Submit in the ‘FINAL Written Essay’ assessment
tab].

Finally: Check and save a copy of you work and Submit on-line via the relevant submission point
under the Assessment tab on the course site. There is a draft submission point for you to check
your text matching, remember this can take a few days in a high demand time.

2
Scholarly or peer-reviewed journal articles are written by scholars or professionals who are experts in their
field, as opposed to literature such as magazine articles, which reflect the taste of the general public and are
meant as entertainment.
3
Everyday language is predominately subjective. It is mainly used to express opinions based on personal
preference or belief rather than evidence. Written academic English is formal. It avoids colloquialisms and
slang, which may be subjective to local and social variations. Formal language is more precise and stable, and
therefore more suitable for the expression of complex ideas and the development of reasoned argumentation.
 1809NRS Effective Nursing Practices MARKING RUBRIC
Outstanding Good Satisfactory Limited
Norovirus 2 1.5 1 0 – 0.5
(Describe) Accurate and concise definition of Accurate definition of Norovirus; Definition of Norovirus is included Norovirus is not defined, or
Norovirus; accurate use of accurate use of terminology; but may lack clarity or is too wordy; definition is inaccurate or includes
terminology; accurate identification accurate identification of some identification and basic descriptions incorrect terminology; insufficient or
and concise description of a range of causes of Norovirus but descriptions of some common causes of inaccurate identification of causes of
causes on Norovirus. lack depth or are not concise. Norovirus; may be some inaccuracies Norovirus.
in detail or incorrect/inconsistent
use of terminology.
Norovirus mode of 2 1.5 1 0 – 0.5
transmission Accurate identification and succinct Accurate identification of some of Identification of modes of spread is Modes of spread have not been
(Explain) explanation of a range of modes of the modes of spread/transmission; included but not all modes identified or identification is
spread/transmission; examples from however, explanation lacking some identified. Further explanation and inaccurate or includes incorrect
the case study provide context for context from the case study or is not context are required to provide explanation.
the explanation. concise. clarity on how Norovirus is spread.
Norovirus health 3 2 1.5 0–1
risks for the elderly Insightful and concise discussion Informative discussion about a range Discussion of risks that are specific to Risks that are specific to the older
(Discuss) about a range of risks that are of risks that are specific to older the older patient is included but patient have not been discussed or
specific to older patients, including patients, discussion of why and how limited risks discussed. Discussion of discussion is inaccurate or does not
why and how they are risks; the case they are risks lacks depth or is not why and how they are risks lacks include discussion as to why and how
study is used to provide context and concise; the case study is used to depth or is not concise; the case they are risks.
examples to support the discussion. provide context and examples to study has not been used to provide
support the discussion. context or examples to support the
discussion.
Infection prevention 9 - 10 7-8 5-6 0-4
and control Insightful and accurate discussion Informative and accurate discussion Discussion of infection control Infection control precautions have
precautions about a wide range of infection about a range of infection control precautions is included but limited not been discussed or discussion is
control precautions required to precautions required to manage precautions discussed. Discussion inaccurate or includes incorrect
(Discuss)
manage Norovirus spread; discussion Norovirus spread; discussion linking linking to the case study and to the terminology; insufficient discussion
links regularly and clearly to the case to the case study and to the clinical clinical environment lacks depth or is related to the clinical environment.
study and to the clinical environment lacks depth or is not not concise; may be some
environment; accurate terminology concise; accurate terminology used inaccuracies in detail or
used with scholarly literature with scholarly literature supporting incorrect/inconsistent use of
supporting and adding value to all and adding value to all discussion terminology.
discussion points. points.
Risk Assessment 9 - 10
(Discuss) Accurate identification of, and
discussion about, an appropriate
‘other risk assessment’ that is
specific to the patient in the case
study; discussion includes a clear
rationale for why assessments are
required; scholarly literature
supports and adds value to the
discussion.
Cultural aspects of 2 1.5
care Accurate and concise description of a
(Describe) range of cultural aspects of nursing
care, with specific reference to the
patient in the case study; consistent
use of appropriate and respectful
language when referring to First
Peoples and their Elders.
Presentation & 6 5
Structure An outstanding level of presentation
& structure has been shown as
evidenced by:
• Consistent use and application
of the assignment presentation
formatting guidelines.
• Spelling and grammar are
accurate throughout.
• Sentence & paragraph structure
is accurate and thoughtful.
• Consistent use of academic
language.
7-8
Accurate identification of an
appropriate ‘other risk assessment’
that is specific to the patient in the
case study; discussion of the
rationale for why assessments are
required lacks depth or is not
concise; scholarly literature supports
and adds value to the discussion.
Accurate description of a range of
cultural aspects of nursing care, with
specific reference to the patient in
the case study; consistent use of
appropriate and respectful language
when referring to First Peoples and
their Elders. However, descriptions
lack depth or are not concise.
A good level of presentation &
structure has been shown as
evidenced by:
• Consistent use and application
of the assignment presentation
formatting guidelines.
• Spelling and grammar are
appropriate for the majority,
with only minor errors.
• Sentence & paragraph structure
is appropriate for the majority,
with only minor errors.
• Consistent use of academic
language.
5-6
Identification and discussion made
regarding a ‘other risk assessment’
but the risk assessment is not
specific to the patient in the case
study or discussion of the rationale
for why assessments are required
lacks depth or is not concise or there
are some inaccuracies in detail.
1 0 – 0.5
Description of cultural aspects of
nursing care is included but may lack
clarity or is too wordy; may be some
inaccuracies in detail or
incorrect/inconsistent use of
appropriate and respectful language
when referring to First People and
their Elders.
4 0-3
A satisfactory level of presentation &
structure has been shown as
evidenced by:
• Use and application of the
assignment presentation
formatting guidelines.
• Spelling and grammar are
appropriate for the majority,
but with some consistent
errors.
• Sentence & paragraph structure
is mostly appropriate with a few
errors noted.
• Use of academic language
appropriate with some errors.
0-4
A ‘other risk assessment’ has not
been identified and discussed or
discussion is inaccurate or is not
related to the case study
patient/older person.
Cultural aspects of nursing care are
not described, or description is
inaccurate or includes inappropriate
language when referring to First
People and their Elders.
A limited level of presentation &
structure has been shown as
evidenced by:
• Limited or no use of the
assignment presentation
formatting guidelines.
• Spelling and grammar are not
always appropriate, with
several consistent errors.
• Sentence & paragraph
structure is not always
appropriate, with several
consistent errors.
• Use of academic language is
not always appropriate, with
several consistent errors.
Referencing & Use 5 4
of Evidence Outstanding referencing & discerning
use of evidence are evidenced by:
• APA 7 referencing is accurate
with no errors in text and/or in
the reference list.
• Essay is supported by more
than 10 different and
appropriate scholarly sources.
• Evidence/sources consistently
support ideas and add value to
the essay.
A good level of referencing and use
of evidence are evidenced by:
• APA 7 referencing is accurate
for the majority with minor
errors in text and/or in the
reference list.
• Essay is supported by more
than 10 different and
appropriate scholarly sources.
• Evidence/sources consistently
support ideas and add value
to the essay.
3 0-2
A satisfactory referencing and use of
evidence are evidenced by:
• APA 7 referencing is mostly
accurate but with some
consistent errors in text
and/or in the reference list.
• Essay is supported by 10
different and appropriate
scholarly sources.
• Evidence/sources support
ideas and add value to the
essay.
Limited use of referencing and use of
evidence are evidenced by:
• APA 7 referencing not
accurate with several
consistent errors in text
and/or in the reference list.
• Essay is supported by less
than 10 different and
appropriate scholarly
sources.
• Evidence/sources not always
used to support ideas or add
value to the essay.