Outline

Overview

This unit of study will examine the integration of theoretical and clinical components of nursing knowledge to enable the provision of care to acutely ill patients. From a person-centred care perspective the responses of individuals and their families to an acute disruption in health will be explored. The content of this unit relates to medical/surgical nursing and focuses on the themes of disruptions to health, the impact of illness and surgery, the process of nursing care, especially in the peri-operative phase for individuals and their families, based on an evidence-based approach to nursing care. Legislation and legal responsibilities and nursing actions in relation to treatment, surgery and medication administration are also examined in this unit.

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	Astrid Frotjold, astrid.frotjold@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small test	Clinical assessment: medication Medication calculations	0%	-	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Final exam (Record+)	Final exam Short and medium length answers	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Multiple choice quiz Online multiple choice quiz	15%	Multiple weeks	5 questions per quiz
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	Clinical placement (off campus) Clinical placement evaluation	0%	Multiple weeks	80 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Educational powerpoint presentation Educational Powerpoint presentation with note pages view	40%	Week 08 Due date: 05 Oct 2020 at 23:59	12 slides with note pages 150-200 words
Outcomes assessed:
Skills-based evaluation	Clinical performance appraisal (on campus) Clinical skills evaluation	0%	Week 10	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Educational Powerpoint presentation with note pages view: You are required to develop an educational powerpoint presentation with note pages view to communicate information to Registered Nurses working with you on a surgical ward. You will need to seek evidence from sources such as research papers, systematic reviews, scholarly articles, textbooks, and medical-health related websites to ensure comprehensive evidence-based support for your topic. (note pages view should be between 150- 200 words per slide). You may choose from a number of topics (see topic selection below).

The presentation must include the following:
Introduction – establish the significance/rationale for the presentation
Learning outcomes
Educational content supported with evidence-based information in note pages view and photographs/diagrams to enhance the presentation
Conclusion
Reference list
Each presentation will be assessed on the quality of the information presented as well as visual literacy (ability to attract the reader’s attention, convey information and generate discussion). A marking rubric will be provided on NURS 1008 CANVAS site to guide the formatting and support the content as outlined above. The presentation is to be succinct and referenced using APA 6th ed. The presentation is for submission only and will not be presented in class.

Topics: choose from one (1) of the following topics:
Postoperative management of pain and discomfort
Potential for alteration in respiratory function postoperatively
Potential for wound infection in the patient undergoing open heart surgery
Pre-operative patient education for a patient undergoing cardiac surgery
Transition of care for a patient post cardiac surgery
Medication safety

Online multiple choice quiz: Tutorial and lecture content weeks 3, 5, 7 in tutorial session. Quiz prior to clinical simulation lab weeks 2, 3, 5, 6 & 8.

Written examination: The goal of this assessment is to demonstrate, in writing, an understanding of the evidence base for various aspects of care of the person with an acute disruption in health. This assessment is related to all areas of content covered in this unit of study.
Clinical medication calculation assessment: The goal of this assessment is for students to demonstrate the ability to correctly calculate medication dosages.
Clinical performance appraisal (on campus): During the assessment, students will be required to respond appropriately to a patient scenario by demonstrating the appropriate nursing practice developed and practised throughout the semester, as well as those learned throughout previous nursing practice units.
Clinical placement (off campus): Students will be assessed on their performance during clinical experience weeks.

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 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.

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

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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
Multiple weeks	Clinical placement	Clinical practice (80 hr)
Week 01	1. Introduction to unit of study; 2. Introduction to medication administration	Lecture (2 hr)
	1. Introduction to medication administration; 2. Medication calculations	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Administration of oral medications	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 02	1. Consent to treatment; 2. Introduction to surgical interventions: roles of perioperative nurse	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Administration of scheduled medications: eye/ear/topical medications	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 03	1. Caring for different patient groups; 2. Intraoperative care and patient safety	Lecture (2 hr)
	Preoperative assessment and preparation	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Intravenous fluid administration	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 04	Respiratory management of the surgical patient	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Preoperative care simulation	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 05	1. Nursing care of the cardiac surgical patient;	Lecture (2 hr)
	Postoperative assessment and care: IVF, IDC, oxygen and breathing exercises	Tutorial (2 hr)
	1. Hand washing (surgical/non-surgical); 2. Gowns and gloving	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 06	1. Wound management; 2. Patient education	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Aseptic technique	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 07	1. Acute pain management; 2. Postoperative care	Lecture (2 hr)
	Postoperative and management	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Postoperative care	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 08	1. Death and dying; 2. Transition of Care	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Removal of sutures and clips	Science laboratory (2 hr)
Week 09	Medical assessment and revision	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Simulation exercise	Science laboratory (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students undertaking this unit of study are required to attend 90% of all lectures and tutorials, and 100% of all clinical simulation labs and off campus clinical, which are supplemented with online and group activities. These clinical hours must be reported to the Nurses and Midwives Board of NSW as a requirement for registration on completion of the nursing program.
Referencing guide: 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.

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. demonstrate safe and efficient performance of nursing practice activities associated with a variety of common acute disruptions to health in simulated and clinical settings
LO2. use the professional language associated with a variety of common acute disruptions to health and be able to communicate effectively with patients, families, colleagues, and other healthcare professionals
LO3. demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge related to the nursing processes of care in adults and the elderly experiencing an acute disruption to health
LO4. demonstrate an ability to critically analyse research-based evidence related to the processes of nursing care for persons undergoing a perioperative experience
LO5. integrate and apply the legal principles that underpin the administration of medications across clinical practice settings.

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.

Evaluations to unit of study have been reviewed and minor changes to assessment type have been made.

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

NURS1008: Acute Care Nursing Practice

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

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links