Outline

Overview

This unit of study uses a blended-learning format to focus on the different ways in which individuals subjectively experience health, illness and care across the lifespan. Attention will be drawn to factors arising in illness and lived experiences, such as issues of self-identity and biographical disruption. Social attitudes to illness and mental health issues including stigma and discrimination, and how these can impact on the individual experience will also be explored. With this knowledge, the nurse-patient, nurse-family/carer relationships and the culture of nursing will be critically examined in terms of the impact on the care of people who come from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and age groups, as partners in their own care. These include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, people from diverse cultural backgrounds and people living with mental health issues or dementia. Person-centred and family/carer and community centred frameworks of care will be explored. Central to these are an understanding of emotional intelligence, cultural safety, therapeutic communication, compassion and empathy, and the application of these in clinical nursing practice to respond to patients, families, carers and communities experiencing illness, distress or hardship. Communication and shared decision-making in interdisciplinary healthcare teams will be addressed. Students will also consider theories and approaches to managing conflict in nurse-patient or nurse-family/carer relationships.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	NURS1002
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Karen Elliott, karen.watson@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Peer or expert observation or supervision	Assessment 5: Off-campus clinical placement Clinical skills evaluation	0%	Multiple weeks	80 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
In-class quiz	Assessment 2 Early Feedback Task: Quiz MCQ Quiz #earlyfeedbacktask	10%	Week 02 Due date: 14 Aug 2025 at 16:00	20 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Assessment 1A: Mental Health First Aid Pre-workshop Mental Health First Aid online modules.	0%	Week 03 Due date: 20 Aug 2025 at 23:59	2 hours	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Case studies	Assessment 3A: Research Search Skills Research Search Skills Assessment	10%	Week 04 Due date: 28 Aug 2025 at 16:00	20 Minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Case studies	Assessment 3B: Application of Search Skills Application of Search Skills, Week 4	15%	Week 04 Due date: 28 Aug 2025 at 16:00	N/A	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Assessment 1B: Mental Health First Aid Post-workshop quiz and upload of completion certificate	0%	Week 05 Due date: 04 Sep 2025 at 23:59	30 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-person written or creative task	Assessment 3C: Application of Communication Skills Team work assessment	15%	Week 08 Due date: 25 Sep 2025 at 16:00	During tutorial time	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Assessment 4: Final Report Illness experience report, three completed CASP templates and application to practice video recording	50%	Week 09 Due date: 08 Oct 2025 at 23:59	1100 word report; 3xCASP; 5 min video	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Assessment 1: Mental Health First Aid

To develop skills, knowledge and conifidence in supporting a person experiencing a mental health problem

Part A pre-requisite learning for mential health first aid training

Part B tests mental health first aid knowledge post training

Assessment 2: Multiple Choice Quiz (EFT):

Multiple choice quiz worth 10% will assess student understanding of the unit content. To complete the Quiz you will need to have studied associated readings, lectures and tasks for week 1 and 2.

Assessment 3: Clinical-Team Challenges:

To develop the ability to work in nursing teams students will engage teams to solve real-world nursing issues.

Part A tests individual literature searching skills

Part B tests team application of literature searching

Part C tests team application of communication skills

Assessment 4: Illness Experience Report:

The structured report will include literature search results on a selected topic, selection of relevant primary qualitative peer reviewed articles, completed critical appraisal template of selected papers, recommendations, and a video recording summary of application to practice.

Assessment 5: Clinical placement:

Students who complete this assessment successfully will demonstrate safe, efficient and effective performance of nursing practice and communication activities associated with patients in primary care settings (80 hours).

Please note: Each student is required to submit all assessment items, and each submission needs to be of an assessable standard, in order to be eligible to pass this unit. 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.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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 University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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	1. Introduction to unit of study; 2. Data base searching	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Unit overview & Skills development: Library search and literature appraisal workshop. EFT in-class quiz	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 02	1. Illness/lived experience research: what is it, why is it important and what’s it got to do with person-centred care? 2. Personal experiences of illness	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 03	Therapeutic Communication & Emotional Intelligence	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Clinical-Team Challenge: Part 1 & 2, Literature Search and Application	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 04	Communicating with people with dementia	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 05	Mental Health First Aid face-to-face component	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 05	Communication issues in nursing - people in ICU	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	1. Communication Skills Training. 2. Report preparation	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 06	1. Communication skills review 2. Essay preparation	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 07	Conceptualising the nurse-patient relationship	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Application of Communication Skills (simulation)	Workshop (3 hr)
Week 08	Compassion and empathy in nursing. What it is and why it matters?	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 09	Illness/lived experience tying it all together	Lecture (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: It is expected that all students participate and fully engage with this unit of study by attending all teaching-related activity (e.g. lectures, tutorials, laboratories, workshops), being prepared for tutorials and laboratories or workshops, contributing to discussions in class and online, and providing and receiving feedback in a respectful and professional manner.

In line with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) approved curriculum, students are required to attend a minimum of 90% of all tutorials and 100% of any clinical simulation laboratories or workshops, and should engage with lecture content synchronously or asynchronously, in line with delivery mode and timetable. Students who are absent for more than 10% of classes in a particular unit of study in any one semester, without permission or approval from the Unit of Study Coordinator, are likely to be deemed to have failed that unit of study.

Please note: Clinical placement is required to be completed within 8 months of the theoretical component or you will receive an absent fail for the Unit of Study, see:

Clinical Placement Provisions

10(7) Students who do not satisfactorily complete a unit specific clinical placement within eight months of completion of the theoretical component of the associated unit of study will receive an absent fail grade for the unit of study.

This means your non-attendance for this allocated placement will result in an Absent Fail grade for the unit. The rules relating to your degree are externally accredited by ANMAC so there is little flexibility, and these are designed to support application of theory to practice and ultimately patient safety.

Referencing style: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 7th Edition, 2020 as its official referencing style. This is an author-date style of referencing.

Assignment submission and formatting guidelines: Please note: Each student is required to submit all assessment items, and each submission needs to be of an assessable standard, in order to be eligible to pass this unit. Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Unless the unit coordinator has indicated otherwise, please make sure your submitted assessments are formatted as follows:

font: use Calibri or Times New Roman in 11 - 12 point
double line spacing
margins: 2.5cm each side
use page numbers
refer to assessment instructions for use of title and headings

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

These are listed on the canvas site

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. appraise and engage in research and critically examine evidence - both quantitative and qualitative, in order to determine evidence-based conclusions to support beginning level practice.
LO2. demonstrate information literacy in the searching out and appraising of the qualitative research literature on illness and lived experience to determine evidence based and person-centred and family/carer and community centred approaches to care.
LO3. consider features of nursing and midwifery professional culture, as well as clinical practice and service delivery factors, that impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
LO4. identify and explore the relationship between ethical reasoning, illness experience and person-centred and family-centred practice within a cultural safety framework that recognises and engages with the values, beliefs and illness experience of individuals, families, and communities as partners in care in a socially and culturally diverse healthcare context.
LO5. demonstrate an ability to think critically about the ways in which patients, families and nurses can relate to, and interact with, each other, and an understanding of the relationship between trust, accountability and vulnerability and the associated professional responsibilities of a registered nurse.
LO6. demonstrate beginning skills in therapeutic listening and micro-skills in communication and conflict management with socially and culturally diverse patients, families/carers and communities, and within interprofessional healthcare teams.

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.

Communication assessments are in smaller group

Additional information

Sensitive materials in teaching: Please note that in this Unit of Study sensitive and potentially distressing or disturbing content might be presented and/or discussed from time to time. This may include reference to for example, discrimination, assault, suicide, illness, death and dying or culturally sensitive issues. These topics are relevant to your learning and your knowledge and skill development for nursing practice.

You will be advised before the information/topic is presented. If you are participating in the teaching session/activity online, you are advised to use headphones and ensure that anyone not participating in the session cannot see images that you may be watching on your device. If the nature of the content makes you feel uncomfortable or distressed, it is important that you contact the unit coordinator or another member of the academic team to discuss this with them.

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

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

NURS1006: Understanding Experiences of Illness

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links