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Unit of study_

NURS5055: Intensive Care Nursing Practice

Semester 2, 2022 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Critical illness is associated with rapidly changing clinical presentations consequently nurses providing care for the critically ill must integrate complex physiological knowledge with advanced assessment skills in order to make sound clinical decisions. In this unit of study students will explore a variety of clinical presentations including those associated with single and multiple organ failure; traumatic injury; and chronic and complex illness. Management of these clinical conditions will be explored, specifically focusing on the evidence-base of interventions and their influence on patient outcome. Critical illness is also associated with short and longer term consequences for psychosocial wellbeing of both the patient and their family. As such, an emphasis will be placed on the experience of critical illness, psychosocial recovery and the influence of critical illness on the family unit.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS5055
Academic unit Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
NURS5059
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Agness Tembo, agness.tembo@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam hurdle task Assessment 2: written examination
Written examination
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 1 (part A): evaluating information for intensive care practice
Written assessment
25% Week 04
Due date: 26 Aug 2022 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 1 (part B): evaluating information for intensive care practice
Written assessment
35% Week 10
Due date: 14 Oct 2022 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
hurdle task = hurdle task ?
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1 (part A) - evaluating information for intensive care practice: Assessment 1a requires you to work through the Information for Practice Thinking module available on the eLearning site for this unit of study. Assessment 1a comprises three activities which are focused on evaluating the design of quantitative and qualitative research.
  • Assessment 1 (part B) - evaluating information for intensive care practice: Assessment 1b requires you to select one paper from the provided list of published research papers relevant to contemporary intensive care nursing practice. You will undertake a review of the selected paper that would be suitable for publication in a journal.
  • Assessment 2 - written examination: The examination will be based on a case study of a common presentation to general intensive care. Students will be provided with information that is normally available to clinicians including, but not limited to, a clinical history, treatment, and physiological parameters. Questions will focus on your ability to critically apply knowledge to the case, and explain, analyse or justify clinical decisions and management strategies. You will be asked to provide both short answers (one to two sentences) and longer written explanations (100-300 words).

Please note: Each student is required to submit/attend all assessment items in order 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.

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 Study day 1 Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)  
Study day 2 Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)  
Week 07 Study day 3 Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)  
Study day 4 Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students undertaking this unit of study are required to attend four on-campus study days which are supplemented with online and group activities.

The Sydney Nursing School Resolutions specifically outline attendance requirements. Resolution 7.2 states that 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. 

It is expected that all students participate and fully engage in the content of this unit of study by attending lectures, tutorials and laboratories, being prepared for tutorials and laboratories, contributing to discussions in class and online, and providing and receiving feedback in a respectful and dignified manner.

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 formatting guidelines: 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

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

  • Aitken, L., Marshall, A., & Chaboyer, W. (Eds.) (2015). ACCCN’s Critical Care Nursing. (3rd Ed)Sydney, Australia: Elsevier. (available as an eBook via University Library).
  • Schneider, Z., Whitehead, D., LoBiondo-Wood, Haber, J. (2016) Nursing & Midwifery Research: Methods and appraisal for evidence-based practice. (5th Edn) Sydney, Australia: Mosby-Elsevier (available as an eBook via University Library).

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. engage in debate on research examining clinically meaningful outcomes and the impact of this focus on a research-base for intensive care nursing practice
  • LO2. (critically) analyse the plausibility of original research as a source of information on which to base clinical practice and decisions relevant to intensive care nursing practice
  • LO3. integrate knowledge of physiological processes, research evidence, and patient assessment data to explain the context, and justify the delivery of interventions in the critical-care setting
  • LO4. demonstrate theoretical knowledge that facilitates safe and effective nursing practice as a capable member of the multi-disciplinary team caring for physiologically dependent patients.

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses - ACCN
1. Standard 1: Functions within professional and legal parameters of critical care nursing practice.
12.1. Element 1: Maintains an informed position in relation to current research studies and incorporates evidence-informed practice into the critical care setting.
12.2. Element 2: Promotes and participates in quality activities to improve critical care patient outcomes.
LO2
Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses - ACCN
12. Standard 12: Engages in and contributes to evidence-based critical care nursing practice.
12.1. Element 1: Maintains an informed position in relation to current research studies and incorporates evidence-informed practice into the critical care setting.
12.2. Element 2: Promotes and participates in quality activities to improve critical care patient outcomes.
LO3
Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses - ACCN
12. Standard 12: Engages in and contributes to evidence-based critical care nursing practice.
12.1. Element 1: Maintains an informed position in relation to current research studies and incorporates evidence-informed practice into the critical care setting.
12.2. Element 2: Promotes and participates in quality activities to improve critical care patient outcomes.
13. Standard 13: Collaborates with the critical care team and other health professionals to achieve desired outcomes.
LO4
Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses - ACCN
1.5. Element 5: Contributes to the formation of policies and protocols to ensure safe patient outcomes.
11.2. Element 2: Analyses alterations in physiological parameters and intervenes appropriately.
11.3. Element 3: Anticipates, evaluates and responds effectively to physiological deterioration and emergency situations.
12. Standard 12: Engages in and contributes to evidence-based critical care nursing practice.
12.1. Element 1: Maintains an informed position in relation to current research studies and incorporates evidence-informed practice into the critical care setting.
12.2. Element 2: Promotes and participates in quality activities to improve critical care patient outcomes.
13. Standard 13: Collaborates with the critical care team and other health professionals to achieve desired outcomes.
13.1. Element 1: Establishes and maintains collaborative and constructive relationships with colleagues in critical care and in the broader health care team.
Practice Standards for Specialist Critical Care Nurses -
Competency code Taught, Practiced or Assessed Competency standard
1.5 A Element 5: Contributes to the formation of policies and protocols to ensure safe patient outcomes.
10.1 A Element 1: Formulates and implements an integrated plan of care incorporating specialised knowledge to achieve desired patient outcomes.
11.1 A Element 1: Initiates pre-emptive interventions in order to avoid complications.
12.1 A Element 1: Maintains an informed position in relation to current research studies and incorporates evidence-informed practice into the critical care setting.
12.2 A Element 2: Promotes and participates in quality activities to improve critical care patient outcomes.
14.1 A Element 1: Assesses own abilities and engages in activities to enhance personal and professional development.
2.1 A Element 1: Applies knowledge of, and advocates for, the rights of patients and their families in critical care settings.
4.1 A Element 1: Demonstrates an accurate knowledge of contemporary ethical issues underpinning critical care nursing practice, and complies with the profession's code of ethics and code of conduct.
4.2 A Element 2: Contributes to multidisciplinary ethical discussion and decision-making processes or frameworks within the critical care setting.
5.2 A Element 2: Practices with cultural sensitivity and awareness of social factors to enhance patient and family patient and family wellbeing.
5.4 A Element 4: Meets the comfort needs of patients and their families.
8.1 A Element 1: Acts on assessment findings to appropriately initiate, monitor and manage therapeutic interventions.

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

There are no changes made to this unit.

More information can be accessed on Canvas.

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.  

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

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.