FMHU5007: Semester 1, 2025

Units FMHU5007 Semester 1 2025 [Online]

Unit outline_

FMHU5007: Safety and Quality in Healthcare

Semester 1, 2025 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This unit of study pursues a critical analysis of errors in healthcare, starting with the theoretical constructs and practical applications underpinning professional standards, regulation, clinical governance and accreditation in health care organisations. Many factors influence a culture of safety and quality in the clinical environment across domains of organisational safety, teamwork, management accountability and consumer involvement. These factors and how they can impact patient care and quality improvement initiatives will be examined in this unit of study utilising a better practice (quality/continuity of care/health outcomes/governance) framework.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Clinical experience as a registered health professional and/or employment for in a health service management role or health policy role.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	John Rihari-Thomas, john.rihari-thomas@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Tutorial quiz	Assessment 1: Module 1 quiz Multiple choice, 5 questions, 2 marks each.	10%	Week 02 Due date: 09 Mar 2025 at 23:59	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Assessment 2: Module 2 Quizzes 2 x quizzes, 10 marks per quiz. Multiple choice questions, 5 questions per quiz, 2 marks per question.	20%	Week 06 Due date: 06 Apr 2025 at 23:59	1 hour per quiz
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Assessment 3: Quiz and short answer questions 5 questions, 6 marks each. 500 - 1000 words total excluding references.	30%	Week 09 Due date: 04 May 2025 at 23:59	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 4: Module 4 - response to task Written submission based on students choice of one of three categories around 'improving healthcare'.	40%	Week 12 Due date: 25 May 2025 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Result	Mark range	Description
High Distinction	85-100
Distinction	75-84
Credit	65-74
Pass	50-64
Fail	0-49	The learning outcomes of the unit of study have not been met to a satisfactory standard

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Module 1: Understanding Quality and Safety in Healthcare	Independent study (22 hr)
Week 03	Module 2: Professional and ethical practice	Independent study (44 hr)
Week 07	Module 3: Understanding systems and the effect of complexity on patient care	Independent study (33 hr)
Week 10	Module 4: Improving Healthcare.	Independent study (44 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of the background and established theoretical frameworks of quality and safety in health care, from Australian and international perspectives, including legal and professional regulation.
LO2. LO2. Explore, describe and synthesise the nature of health care error including the role of human factors, cultures, communication and leadership in healthcare.
LO3. LO3. Demonstrate knowledge, analysis and critical thinking about the concepts of clinical governance, methods of error detection and investigation.
LO4. LO4. Demonstrate understanding and assessment of strategies to prevent future adverse events including research translation, learning from error, learning from excellence and clinical practice improvement methodology

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

FMHU5007 Safety and Quality in Healthcare has now replaced the previous Units of Study NURS5070 and CEPI5200. The unit has been revised and updated for a faculty wide relevance for all healthcare professionals.

Additional information

This unit is specifically designed for health professionals working in health care. It will equip participants with underpinning knowledge about patient safety. The unit modules cover quality and safety principles, professionalism and ethics, the blame culture, risk information, health care as a system, the impact of adverse events, methods to measure and make improvements in health care. The modules, tools and the discussions are designed to enable participants to change behaviour by understanding the main causes of adverse events. The unit provides foundation knowledge around quality and safety. Governments around the world are concerned to address unsafe care. The course will prepare health professional to understand the complexity of health care and take steps to minimise the opportunities for errors and address vulnerabilities in the system.

Enrolment eligibility is based on experience in working in hospital environments as a registered health professional, or a health service management, policy or governance role. This is 'assumed knowledge'.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

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