Outline

Overview

Health assessment of individuals, families and groups is the foundation of accurate nursing judgements and is a process that occurs with each nurse-patient encounter. This represents the first two steps in the nursing assessment process of the Framework for Practice Thinking. In this unit of study, the student will be introduced to the theoretical and practical aspects of health assessment. Ways in which holistic assessment assists in making clinical judgements that form the basis for comprehensive care planning, implementing and evaluating nursing care will be addressed. Processes and mechanisms to collect physiological, psychosocial, developmental, sociocultural and spiritual data, in both objective and subjective forms, will be explored. Students’ skills in the use of health assessment tools will be introduced and developed.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	NURS1002
Academic unit	Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	NURS1004. Students unable to take NURS1002 and NURS1004 concurrently are advised to attempt NURS1004 before undertaking NURS1002.
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Jay Balante, jay.balante@sydney.edu.au
Laboratory supervisor(s)	Belle Bruce, belinda.bruce@sydney.edu.au
Laboratory supervisor(s)	Su Aung, su.aung@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Elizabeth Cleary, elizabeth.cleary@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Belinda Clough, belinda.clough@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Final exam Written examination	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz MCQ	15%	Multiple weeks	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	Clinical placement Professional experience placement	0%	Multiple weeks	80 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Skills for accurate blood pressure measurement module MCQ	0%	Week 03 Due date: 21 Mar 2021 at 23:59	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case Study Report Case study	40%	Week 06 Due date: 18 Apr 2021 at 23:59	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Clinical performance appraisal (CPA) Clinical skills assessment	0%	Week 10	45 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Report: Students will submit a written report on a case study, as well as a reflection on their understanding of the University’s policy on Academic Honesty.
Final exam: The exam structure will be in the format of case scenarios with associated short/long answer questions with content. taken from lectures, tutorials, clinical simulation laboratories, and readings.
Skills for accurate blood pressure measurement module: Students are required to complete the compulsory blood pressure module on Canvas and three quizzes on the topics of methods and devices, clinical scenario and BP measurement practice.
Tutorial Quizes: Students undertake a 15 minute quiz at the begining of the tutorials in weeks 1,4,6,8 and 11
Clinical Performance Appraisal (CPA): The Clinical Performance Appraisal (CPA) is a simulated clinical exam used to evaluate student competence in performing core clinical skills.
Clinical placement: Students will undertake a clinical placement in a facility off-campus. Students will also complete a clinical logbook documenting the satisfactory performance of nursing skills.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week -01	Unit of study introduction; Concepts of measurement: validity and reliability of clinical data	Lecture (2 hr)
	Navigating Canvas; Understanding Academic Honesty	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Introduction and orientation to the clinical simulation labs; Undertaking a nursing health history	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 01	Health assessment and the physical examination	Lecture (2 hr)
	Physical examination and A-G assessment: theoretical context	Tutorial (2 hr)
	General survey; physical examination techniques; using A-G tool	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 02	Critical thinking and decision making; DETECT and Between the Flags	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Introduction to assessment of vital signs - temperature, pulse and respiration; Clinical communication - ISBAR	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 03	Assessment of the thorax, respiratory system and ventilation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Respiratory assessment - rate, rhythm, auscultation of breath sounds and percussion of the thorax. Monitoring SaO2 and peak flows	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 04	Assessment of oxygenation and oxygen transport	Lecture (2 hr)
	Respiratory assessment case studies	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Assessment of blood pressure and auscultation of heart sounds; Introduction to electronic medical record (eMR)	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 05	Assessment of cardiac system and control	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Assessment of hemodynamic state	Lecture (2 hr)
	Cardiac assessment case studies	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Undertaking a 12-lead ECG; Assessment of pulse and introduction to peripheral vascular assessment	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 07	Assessment of temperature	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Assessment of falls risk and pressure injury risk; Assessment of pain and temperature; Vital signs taking & recording data	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 08	Neurological and neurovascular assessment	Lecture (2 hr)
	Neurological and neurovascular assessment case studies	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Introduction to Glasgow coma scale assessment, neurovascular assessment	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 09	Assessment of fluid and electrolytes	Lecture (2 hr)
	Abdominal assessment; nutritional assessment (Online - Self-directed learning)	Independent study (2 hr)
	Assessment of fluid balance, urine analysis, and blood glucose assessment; Revision of clinical skills	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 11	Mental status assessment	Lecture (2 hr)
	Unit review and exam preparation	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Basic life support	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 12	Clinical placements	Clinical practice (40 hr)
Week 13	Clinical placements	Clinical practice (40 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: In undertaking this unit of study you are required to attend 90% of all lectures and tutorials, and 100% of all clinical simulation laboratories and off-campus clinical, which are supplemented with online and reading activities. These clinical hours must be reported to the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia as a requirement on completion of the nursing program.
Referencing: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 6th Edition, 2010 as its official referencing style. This is an author-date style of referencing. The key mechanics of the style for crediting sources are covered in Chapter 6 of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (2010), only 23 pages, and examples are given in Chapter 7. Here is the full reference for the manual: American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association

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.

Required readings

See “Reading List” on NURS1002 Canvas site for 2021 readings.

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.

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

LO1. demonstrate a beginning understanding of the content and purpose of comprehensive health assessment of individuals across the life span.
LO2. develop an understanding and the skills to apply the first two steps in the nursing assessment process of the Framework for Practice Thinking.
LO3. discuss the purpose of observation, interview and physical assessment skills, and differentiate between objective and subjective health assessment data.
LO4. at a beginning level, apply normal and abnormal assessment data to human anatomy and physiology.
LO5. during the professional experience placement, perform, at a beginning level, a range of observation, assessment, communication and documentation skills in partnership with patients and consumers in a culturally safe manner (within scope of practice and under the direct supervision of a Registered Nurse).

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.2. Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights 2.3. Recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life 2.9. Reports notifiable conduct of health professionals, health workers and others 3.5. Seeks and responds to practice review and feedback
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.1. Establishes, sustains and concludes relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships 2.2. Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights 2.3. Recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life 3.5. Seeks and responds to practice review and feedback 4.2. Uses a range of assessment techniques to systematically collect relevant and accurate information and data to inform practice 6.2. Practises within their scope of practice 6.5. Practises in accordance with relevant nursing and health guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.3. Recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life 3.4. Accepts accountability for decisions, actions, behaviours and responsibilities inherent in their role, and for the actions of others to whom they have delegated responsibilities 6.2. Practises within their scope of practice 6.5. Practises in accordance with relevant nursing and health guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.2. Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights 2.3. Recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life 3.4. Accepts accountability for decisions, actions, behaviours and responsibilities inherent in their role, and for the actions of others to whom they have delegated responsibilities
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.1. Establishes, sustains and concludes relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships 2.2. Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights 2.3. Recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life 3.1. Considers and responds in a timely manner to the health and well being of self and others in relation to the capability for practice 3.5. Seeks and responds to practice review and feedback

Responding to student feedback

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

The tutorial and clinical simulation structure, and the case study report format were updated.

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

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

NURS1002: Health Assessment

Semester 1, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect