School of Nursing & Midwifery

Faculty of Health Sciences

Topic details

NURS2105 Nursing 4

Semester 2, 2008

Mode of study: Internal

Topic Coordinator: **insert topic coordinator

Topic outline
This topic uses frameworks of health assessment, illness trajectories and continuity of care to
consider the nursing care needs of people at different stages of the lifespan, with a particular
emphasis on the elderly. Students will continue to develop nursing competencies in the nursing
laboratories and on clinical placement. There will be focus on wound management, pain
management, risk assessment and infection control, and patient education. Clinical reasoning
and reflective practice skills will continue to be developed.

iFlinders
iFlinders is the University student portal, the online entry point to University web content. You
may login to iFlinders at https://i.flinders.edu.au and:
• access topic materials and resources—utilising Flinders Learning Online (FLO–previously
WebCT)
• access personal library details and search the library catalogue
• enrol in or withdraw from topics, register in classes, view timetable information, update
contact details, make payments and view results (Student Information System)
• read University announcements
• check your student email account
• access your personal diary/calendar.

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School handbook and A guide to clinical practice
Students may access the latest version of both the School handbook and A guide to clinical
practice online at: http://nursing.flinders.edu.au/students/index.php?id=46 and
http://nursing.flinders.edu.au/students/index.php?id=47
All first year internal students will receive a printed copy of the School handbook at the
beginning of the semester. All first year clinical students will also receive a copy of the A guide
to clinical practice. Continuing internal students should access these publications online.
External students may access the School handbook online. External students who do not have
Internet access may request a printed copy of the School handbook by telephoning the School
office on (08) 8201 3409.

Required textbook/s for this topic

It is recommended that students have their own copy, or access to, the following textbook/s for
study during this topic.

Nursing Foundations and Practice

Brown, D & Edwards, H (eds) 2005, Lewis’s medical-surgical nursing—assessment and
management of clinical problems, Australian edn, Mosby, Sydney.
Crisp, J & Taylor, C (eds) 2005, Potter & Perry’s fundamentals of nursing, Australian edn,
Mosby, Sydney.
Paul, R & Elder, L 1999, The miniature guide to critical thinking concepts and tools:
foundation for critical care, The Foundation for Critical Thinking, California.
Microbiology
Lee, G & Bishop, P 2005, Microbiology and infection control for health professionals, 3rd
edn, Prentice Hall, Sydney.
Pathophysiology
McCance, K & Huether, S, 2006, Pathophysiology. The biological basis for disease in
adults & children, 5th edn, Mosby, St Louis.
Pharmacology
Bryant, B, Knights, K & Salerno, E 2007, Pharmacology for health professionals, Mosby,
Sydney.
Or
Galbraith, A, Bullock, S & Manias, E 2004, Fundamentals of pharmacology, 4th edn,
Prentice Hall, NSW.
Or
Lehne, R 2004, Pharmacology for nursing care, 5th edn, WB Saunders Company,
Philadelphia.
Pain Management
Mitchell, J & Teitzel, R 2004, The assessment and management of acute and chronic pain
in Australian health care, 2nd edn, Mitchell Co, Adelaide.
Professional nursing competencies
ANMC National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse. These can be accessed
from: http://www.anmc.org.au

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Recommended reference books
The School of Nursing & Midwifery recommends that students have their own copy, or access
to, the following reference books for study.
Mosby’s dictionary of medicine, nursing and health professions. (Australian and New Zealand
edn)
Macquarie dictionary, 4th edn. (Australia’s National Dictionary)
Fox, Mem & Wilkinson, Lyn 1993, English essentials: the wouldn’t-be-without-it guide to
writing well, Macmillan Education, South Melbourne.
Lippincott 2005, Nursing Pharmacology made incredibly easy, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins,
Philadelphia.

Study Plan and Nursing Laboratory Workbook

A Study Plan and nursing laboratory Workbook for this topic have been prepared in printed
booklets which you will receive at the first lecture to the topic.
Limited copies may be available from the Library for use.
The Study plan and Workbook for this topic contain details of the learning activities you need to
carry out in order to complete your studies for this topic.
Your Study plan and Workbook may also be available online as electronic duplicates of your
printed copy. To access these online go to iFlinders: https://i.flinders.edu.au and login using
your FAN and password or go to Flinders Learning Online (FLO—previously WebCT):
http://learn.flinders.edu.au

Accessing your online study materials

If your Study plan and Workbook are online, you will find the ‘Study plan/materials’ link on the
homepage. Click on that link then access the icons to check for online resources.
When you click on a weekly icon, the ‘Table of contents’ (the column on the left) will have two
headings:
• ‘Study plan resources’ are resources mentioned in the study plan (if your topic has one).
• ‘Additional resources’ are links that the lecturer has recently added.
• If this topic has readings on eReserve, there will be a link to the Library list.
On the topic homepage you will also find links to the Topic information, Topic details and
Library.

Discussions and quizzes

‘Course tools’, in the far left column, contains links to important online tools. For example:
• discussion forums for this topic can be found under ‘Discussions’
• quizzes for this topic (if this topic has any) can be found under ‘Assessments’.

Regularly check your topic site

You should check your Flinders Learning Online (FLO) topic site at least weekly for additional
resources, announcements and discussions.

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Online readings
Readings for this topic may be provided online through the Library on eReserve and/or Reserve.
To access these go to: http://catalogue.flinders.edu.au/cgi-
bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?DB=local&PAGE=rbSearch and select your topic to search for
recommended and available readings.

Lectures
There will be lectures in weeks 1,3,5,7,9,11, and 12 of the semester, please check location and
time on the web.

Tutorials
The two-hour tutorial each week (until week 13) will involve discussing and analysing the
nursing care around a scenario of an acutely/chronically ill patient relating to that week, and
will incorporate all elements of topic outcomes throughout the semester.
A problem-based approach will be used and all students are expected to be actively involved in
tutorial discussions. Tutorials involve analysis and interpretation of relevant cues from the
patient scenario and therefore students are expected to analyse the scenario and research the
literature prior to class in order to:
• Identify patients’ clinical needs, nursing interventions and legal and ethical
considerations.
• Investigate the knowledge base necessary to plan, implement and evaluate
comprehensive nursing care.
• Critique the provided nursing and medical care and support such critique.
• Provide rationales for the nursing and medical care provided and recommended.
At the beginning of each tutorial, time will be allocated allowing students to work on their
Reflective Learning Logs where self assessment and goal setting are developed.

Lecturer Facilitation of Knowledge Development

In tutorials the lecturer will explore with students their present knowledge surrounding each
problem/diagnosis contained in each scenario. Discussion and the interpretation of the needs,
cues and other relevant information considering the entire scenario such as primary health care
perspectives, aetiological understanding, and all nursing management will take place. Further
issues related to ethical and legal considerations, pharmacological management and the role of
medicine and other health professionals will also be considered in the context of the nurse’s role
in patient care.

Workshop
The two-hour workshop each week will provide the opportunity for practice of nursing skills in
a risk-free and interactive environment. These skills will build on previous skills mastered in
first year and the first semester of second year. Additionally, the newly acquired skills discussed
in the weekly tutorials will also be incorporated and undertaken. Therefore the major purpose of
these practical sessions is to provide a context for the practice of clinical skills, development of
rationales and articulation of the relationship of clinical skills and knowledge to the overall
health requirements of the patient. Students are strongly encouraged to research the practical

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scenarios and develop criteria for evaluating their own and other student’s knowledge and skills.
Students will be divided into smaller groups for working through each workshop activity.
Support and critique within these groups is expected to take place in order to promote
confidence and learning.
Clinical skills will be assessed at the end of semester via an OSCE.
You can book a time with lab staff during the semester to practise skills.

Attendance requirements
Attendance at the tutorials and workshop is compulsory.
Failure to attend a minimum of 80% of each of these may result in a fail grade for the
topic.
Any missed sessions will require negotiation with your workshop or tutorial lecturer to ascertain
study and practice that requires completion; failure to do this may result in a fail grade for the
topic.

Clinical practice
Information regarding clinical practice can be found in the A guide to clinical practice booklet
available online at: http://nursing.flinders.edu.au/students/index.php?id=47
Clinical experience in NURS2105 is gained in a variety of clinical environments. This will
allow you the opportunity to recognise a range of influences on health and to explore and apply
the theoretical components and elements of the topic. It will also continue to allow you to
develop your clinical reasoning skills and consolidate your clinical skills.
All clinical practice is to be undertaken under the supervision of a registered nurse. In order to
pass the topic you must complete your clinical placement and be assessed to a satisfactory level
for this level of practice. Students will be expected to work a combination of late and early
shifts throughout their clinical placement.
Attendance in clinical placement is compulsory—any shifts missed without appropriate
explanation and negotiation may result in failure of the topic.
Attendance for all shifts is expected unless there are medical or compassionate grounds.
Please advise both the DEU and Principal Academic if you are unable to attend clinical.
Medical certificates are to be presented to the Principal Academic if you are ill and unable to
attend clinical.
Make up time will need to be negotiated with the Principal Academic, in liaison with the
Clinical Liaison, ward staff and student.

Fitness for Practice

Students are advised to read their School of Nursing & Midwifery School handbook for the
policy on ‘Fitness for Practice’. This is regarded as a personal responsibility.

Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) Enter Dates here

The majority of students will attend clinical placement for two days a week (for 8 weeks) during
the second half of the semester from weeks 6 to 14 (either on Tuesday/Wednesday or
Thursday/Friday). You will be required to work both early and late shifts. In this model second
year students engage in peer teaching/learning with 3rd year and 1st year students. All clinicians

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on the ward are their educators and a Principal Academic will support them from the university
and a Clinical Liaison Nurse from the DEU.
Students must attend the compulsory pre-clinical meeting with the Principal Academic on
…………. at an assigned room on campus where discussion of the clinical placement and
related matters will take place. Students must also attend the compulsory orientation day at
the appropriate clinical venue on…………

Block Clinical Placement Enter Dates here

Those students undertaking Block clinical placements will attend the clinical venue 4 days per
week for 4 weeks. You will be required to work both early and late shifts in a variety of acute
clinical care venues.
Students must attend the compulsory pre-clinical meeting with the Principal Academic on
…………. at an assigned room on campus where discussion of the clinical placement and
related matters will take place. Students must also attend the compulsory orientation day at
the appropriate clinical venue on…………

Further information
Further information regarding:
• senior academic management staff contacts
• University policies: plagiarism, appeals and complaints
• student information: academic counselling, copyright, leave from study, library services,
referencing, student associations, email, Student Learning Centre, Enrolment Services,
Student Welfare Office
• online learning (including iFlinders and FLO)
• nursing and midwifery pathways
• assignment processes: presentation, submission and extensions
• Flexible Learning Centre services
• Unibooks
is available in the School handbook, available online at:
http://nursing.flinders.edu.au/students/index.php?id=46.

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 Assignment details
Please refer to ‘Assignment processes’ in the School handbook, available online:
http://nursing.flinders.edu.au/students/index.php?id=46 for further information regarding
submission of assignments.
Assignments should be submitted with an ‘Assignment cover sheet’ attached and stapled where
indicated on the cover sheet. Assignments must be submitted through the chute located in the
Assignment/Reception area.
The School assignment office is located:
North Wing
Level 1
Sturt Buildings
The postal address is:
School of Nursing & Midwifery
Flinders University
GPO Box 2100
Adelaide SA 5001
Telephone: (08) 8201 3409
Email: nuassign@flinders.edu.au

There are three assessable components for this topic.

Assignment 1—Reflective Learning Log & Clinical Experience Record

Graded 20%
Weighting
Due Date 3 selected by staff to be assessed
Length 1500 words
Type Clinical Log & Clinical Experience
Record

Summary: The clinical experience record is the framework for assessment but is
superimposed on a developmental reflective log for assessment of the learning
outcomes of this nursing topic and applications from the other semester topics. Students
will do self assessment and goal setting moderated through tutorials and recorded in
their log. Students goal setting to carry over to next semester and will demonstrate the
ability to use the three phases of self-reflection for experiential learning (Boud &
Walker 1992). The reflective learning log will include weekly worksheets, patient-
centred skills and a template for reflection on experiential learning in nursing
laboratories and on clinical placement. Three of the worksheets and reflections will be
selected for assessment and will provide feedback for the final assignment.

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Assignment 2—Nursing case study

Graded 40%
Weighting
Due Date 2 weeks following the completion of their clinical
placement Need to rethink this as due date will
mean marking will not be complete before Exam
board
Length 3,000 words equivalent
Type Case-study

Summary: Students will choose one case study from the list found online and
develop a case study which includes acute care, discharge planning,
rehabilitation and education. Students will choose one major problem to discuss
in detail within the nursing plan of care, e.g. wound management; pain
management (approximately 1/3 of the case study). Students will be expected to
use literature to inform their clinical reasoning regarding the nursing care
required for their patient and refer to the standardised nursing languages when
formulating their care. They will relate their case to a stage in the lifespan and
the socio-cultural context of the patient.

Assignment 3—Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Graded 40%
Weighting
Due Date Week 14, 15 and 16 depends on student
Cohort size
Length 20 minute scenario
Type OSCE

Summary: Students will be required to demonstrate competency in a variety of nursing

skills related to a patient scenario, acquired over the last four semesters as well as a
particular competency in one of four main areas, i.e. wound management, patient
education, pain management, risk assessment and infection control.

Statement of assessment methods

Students’ attention is drawn to the Student related policies and procedures manual,
http://www.flinders.edu.au/students/current/policies.html, which outlines the University’s
Assessment Policy.
In the case of professional experience topics, information on the following will be provided to
students either in course booklets or in the form of separate hand-outs, prior to the

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commencement of their placements; the location of placements; supervisory arrangements;
duties to be undertaken; codes of behaviour and industry regulations and requirements;
assessment and reporting; health or other preliminary checks required by the placement
provider; provisions for inability to meet health or other required checks; provisions in the event
of unsatisfactory performance either by the student or the placement provider; and any other
requirements or conditions relating to the placement.
Topic number and title: NURS2105 Nursing 4
Year in which the topic is being taught: 2008
Date on which this statement was handed to students: Week 1
Duration of topic (Semester 1 and/or 2): Semester 2
Academic Organisational Unit(s) responsible for topic (Department/School):
School of Nursing & Midwifery.
Topic Coordinator: **Insert Topic Coordinator’s name
Contact number of Topic Coordinator: (08) 8201 **Insert telephone number

Details of assessable work in the topic. (Optional forms of assessment, where permitted, are also
detailed.):
Format of Proportion of Deadline for Penalties to be Date work is
each form of total marks submission applied if deadline expected to be
assessable is not met returned to
work students
Assignment 1 20% **insert due Failure to attend **Coordinator
Reflective date will result in a Fail to insert date
Learning Log grade. Failure to
& Clinical submit the form by
Experience November 2008
Record will result in an
Incomplete grade
for the topic.

Assignment 2 40% **insert due Fail unless students **Coordinator

Nursing Case date meets to insert date
Study supplementary
assessment criteria

Assignment 3 40% **insert due Fail unless students **Coordinator

OSCE date meets to insert date
supplementary
assessment criteria

The criteria for successful completion of the topic (including, where appropriate, the
achievement of a certain minimum level of competence in both the theoretical and practical
components of the topic and details of special requirements concerning particular elements or
aspects of the topic such as attendance/participation requirements, group activity) are as
follows:

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 • Students must pass both theoretical and clinical components of this topic.
• Theoretical assessment: In order to pass this topic a student must: 1) achieve a
cumulative grade of 50% or more from: Reflective Learning Log & Clinical
Experience Record; 2) achieve a grade of 50% or more from Nursing Case Study; 3)
achieve a 50% or more grade on the OSCE; 4) meet the ANMC competencies in their
clinical placement.
• Clinical Practice: In order to pass this topic, students must achieve a satisfactory
level of clinical competence in a clinical setting. All clinical practice days are to be
attended and students are to demonstrate reasonable progress through their
placement. Note: All students must pass and satisfy each domain of the ANMC
competencies. This entails the achievement, with a potential score of one
(independent), two (assisted), three (supported), for all competencies in each of the
four domains of the semester clinical record assessment. Students who progress
unsatisfactorily may be given the opportunity to undertake and redeem a clinical
learning contract. However, where unsafe, unethical, unprofessional, or unlawful
clinical practice is preformed, the students may be withdrawn from the clinical
placement by the Principal Academic or Clinical Teacher and given a Fail grade for
both the clinical and theoretical components of this topic. All students will be
required to make up all missed clinical days at the discretion of the principle
academic and topic coordinator. Students who are unable to attend the required
clinical days are to meet with the Topic Coordinator and Principal Academic to
discuss options and completion of this topic.
• Clinical Skills Assessment: Students whose performance and knowledge is
unsatisfactory will be given a clinical learning contract by their Principal Academic
which will need to be redeemed by week 16 of the semester. Those students not
achieving this contract will receive a fail grade for the topic.
• Clinical Assessment: Students are responsible for providing a copy of their
completed Clinical Experience Record to the School of Nursing & Midwifery
Assignments Office. Final grades for this topic will not be processed until a copy of
this report has been received. Students placed in remote and rural venues may
fax/post their report to the office bby the due date: Fax no. (08) 8276 1602.
• OSCE: All students must pass the practically based OSCE assessment in order to
displays clinical competence of the areas covered in this topic during the semester.
• Classroom sessions: Students missing tutorial and/or clinical laboratory sessions
without evidence of medical or compassionate grounds, will be required to submit
written or practical work appropriate to the missed sessions. Failure to make up
missed time will result in a fail grade for this topic.

Will scaling procedures be used in determining marks for each piece of work or for determining
the final topic grade? Yes / No **Topic Coordinator to decide
Details of scaling procedures: None / Details **Topic Coordinator to decide/provide details

May assessment exercises be resubmitted after revision for remarking? Yes / No **Topic
Coordinator to decide
The circumstances under which assessment exercises may be resubmitted, the form this may
take and the maximum mark obtainable are as follows:
• Supplementary assessment will be considered at the discretion of the lecturer if the final
mark for a student is between 45-49%. The maximum grade for a resubmitted assignment
will be a Pass. Students have the right to request re-marking of their work in accordance
with Flinders University Policy.

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Students who believe that their ability to satisfy the assessment requirements for this topic has
been or will be affected by medical, compassionate or other special circumstances and who
want these circumstances to be taken into consideration in determining the mark for an
assessment exercise may apply to the Topic Coordinator for special consideration. The preferred
method of application is: **Topic Coordinator to tick which one (copy tick here and paste)

 Email  Letter Other (please specify)

Telephone  In person

Supplementary assessment for this topic may be approved on the following grounds:
• Medical/Compassionate—a student may apply for supplementary assessment on
medical/compassionate grounds if the student believes that illness or other special circumstance has
significantly impaired or will significantly impair his/her performance. If the illness or special
circumstance prevents the student from sitting or performing to standard at the scheduled
supplementary examination, or from submitting by the agreed deadline a supplementary assessment
exercise, the student will be either: awarded a result in the topic of Withdraw, Not Fail (WN); or be
offered the opportunity to demonstrate competence through an alternative mechanism. If the illness
or special circumstance is demonstrated to persist up to the commencement of the next academic
year, then the student will be awarded a result in the topic of WN.
• Academic—a student will be granted supplementary assessment if he/she:

− achieves an overall result in the topic of between 45 and 49%, (or between 40 and 49%
where a student obtains a fail grade in the last 12 units required for completion of a
course) or the equivalent where percentage marks are not awarded;
− has completed all required work for the topic;
− has met all attendance requirements; and
− obtains at least a pass level grade in any specific component of assessment for the topic
where this is explicitly stated to be a formal requirement for the successful completion
of the course or topic.
A student with a disability, impairment, or medical condition who seeks reasonable adjustments
in the teaching or assessment methods of a topic on the basis of his/her disability may make a
request to the Topic Coordinator or the Disability Liaison Officer as soon as practicable after
enrolment in the topic. Any such adjustments must be agreed in writing between the student and
the Topic Coordinator and must be in accordance with related University policy. A student who
is dissatisfied with the response from the Topic Coordinator may appeal in writing to the
Faculty Board.

Authorised by
**there is no requirement to sign, **insert   date   TD   is
just insert TC's name completed ­ final

Topic Coordinator Date

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Calendar: Semester 2, 2008
Week Dates Program

1 28 July - 2 Aug Topic detail distributed at First lecture

Part 1 Nursing management of Musculoskeletal disorders

2 4-8 August Part 2 Nursing management of Musculoskeletal disorders

3 11-15 August Part 1 Nursing management of Cognitive and Perceptual

disorders

4 18–22 August Part 2 Nursing management of Cognitive and Perceptual

disorders

5 25–29 August Monday 20 August Compulsory DEU Pre Clinical mtg see
Placement notice board for locations.

Part 1 Nursing management of Metabolic disorders –

Diabetes Mellitus – Type 1

6 1- 5 September Part 2 Nursing management of Metabolic disorders–

Diabetes Mellitus – Type 2

DEU placement commence Confirm

7 8–12 September Nursing management of Renal disorders

8 15–19 September Nursing management Urological disorders

22–5 October Midsemester break (2 weeks)

9 6–10 October Monday 1 October—Labour Day Public Holiday

Nursing management of Gastrointestinal disorders

10 13–17 October Nursing management of Hepatobilary disorders

11 20–24 October Nursing management of Haematological disorders

12 27–31 October Part 1 Nursing management of Reproductive disorders –

Female focus

13 3 - 7 November Monday 29 October Compulsory Block Pre Clinical mtg

see Placement notice board for locations.

Part 2 Nursing management of Reproductive disorders –

Male focus

14 10–14 November Block Placement commences

15 17–21 November Assessment

16 24–28 November Assessment

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