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Unit of study_

NURS1005: Interruptions to Normal Physiology

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Normal day] - Mallett Street, Sydney

This unit of study will provide students with a contextual link between human physiology and alterations to physiological processes and pathophysiological phenomena experienced by patients in clinical settings. This will involve further exploration of the homeostatic control of body processes and how compensatory mechanisms manifest. The topics of oxygenation, protection, metabolism, neuro-endocrine regulation, and elimination will be explored in the context of disease and disorders associated with these processes. This will extend students' understandings of complex physiological alterations and pathophysiology.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS1005
Academic unit Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
NURS1001
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Vanessa Kerstine Olsen, vanessa.olsen@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Vanessa Kerstine Olsen, vanessa.olsen@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Claudia Harper, char3436@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Final examination
Short answer and MCQ
45% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Small test Assessment 1: Midsemester Test
Multiple choice examination consisting of 15 questions.
15% Week 05
Due date: 02 Sep 2020 at 11:00
15 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assessment 2: Case Study
Case study assessment
40% Week 08
Due date: 27 Sep 2020 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Formative Assessment:

  • Online modules: Students are required to complete the online modules weekly.

Summative Assessment:

  • Mid-semester test: This quiz will test the key concepts taught in weeks 1-4 and include the topics of metabolic reactions, biomolecules and energy production, digestive physiology and related alterations, respiratory physiology and related alterations, and cardiovascular physiology and related alterations.
  • Case study: Students will be given a case study and which they are expected to analyse, and answer a series of questions examining the alterations in physiology observed in the patient.  This assessment will examine your pathophysiology knowledge and critical thinking skills.
  • Examination: The examination will cover all aspects of the unit of study. The examination will assess the students’ understanding of alterations of physiological processes and pathophysiological phenomena in the health care setting.

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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard. 

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard. 

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Introduction; 2. Metabolic reactions, biomolecules and energy production Lecture (2 hr)  
Week 02 1. Digestive physiology; 2. Alterations to digestive physiology Lecture (2 hr)  
Alterations in metabolism and energy production Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 03 1. Respiratory physiology; 2. Alterations in ventilation and respiration Lecture (2 hr)  
Diseases of the respiratory system Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 04 1. Cardiovascular physiology; 2. Alterations in cardiac contraction and conduction Lecture (2 hr)  
Cardiovascular disease Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 05 1. Blood physiology and blood dyscrasias; 2. Non-specific and specific immunological responses, infection and fever Lecture (2 hr)  
Blood dyscrasias, infection and fever Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 06 1. Neural physiology; 2. Alterations to neural physiology Lecture (2 hr)  
Alterations in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 07 1. Endocrine physiology; 2. Alterations to endocrine physiology Lecture (2 hr)  
Endocrine disorders Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 08 1. Renal physiology and altered renal physiology; 2. Fluid and electrolyte balance and alterations to fluid and electrolyte balance Lecture (2 hr)  
Renal disease Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 09 1. Obesity; 2. Review Lecture (2 hr)  
Obesity Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: If students are absent without leave for more than 10% of classes in a particular unit of study in any one semester, the Dean may call upon them to show cause why they should not be deemed to have failed that unit of study.
  • Referencing style: 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.

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

Craft, Gordon, Huether, McCance and Brashers. Understanding Pathophysiology: ANZ Edition (current ed.) Elsevier, Sydney (Electronic edition preferred) 

Please note that more detail regarding weekly readings is available on the NURS1005 unit of study CANVAS site.

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. extend the knowledge base related to more complex human physiology
  • LO2. discuss homeostatic control and how compensatory mechanisms influence bodily functions during health and illness
  • LO3. understand the altered physiology of bodily functions during health and illness
  • LO4. further integrate the relationship between patient physical assessment data and pathophysiological clinical manifestations.

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

The assessments in this unit have been modified so as to remove the group assessment. This is to help maintain student safety during the COVID19 epidemic.

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.