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Unit of study_

NURS5058: Navigating the Cancer Experience

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

This unit of study will examine the diagnoses and treatment of cancer as experienced by the patient and their family. Students will examine how culture, age, socio-political situations and health beliefs can influence the cancer experience. Interpersonal communication as an integral component of the therapeutic work of nursing will be interactively explored. Students will examine how our understanding impacts clinical practice and health care delivery, and will explore the interface between the social context of the lived experience of illness and that experienced within the context provided by current approaches to health care service delivery. Approaches to patient management within the total patient experience will focus on collaborative decision-making and the ways in which synthesised evidence informs patient care.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS5058
Academic unit Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Shannon Philp, shannon.philp@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 3: presentation and notes
Submitted powerpoint presentation
25% STUVAC
Due date: 11 Nov 2022 at 23:59
10 slides
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 1: essay
Written assessment
35% Week 06
Due date: 09 Sep 2022 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Assignment hurdle task Assessment 2: critical analysis
Written assessment
40% Week 09
Due date: 07 Oct 2022 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
hurdle task = hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1 - essay: For this essay you are required to choose a vulnerable population (e.g. culturally and linguistically diverse people, adolescents and young adults, remote and rural locations), and using the literature, discuss this population’s experience of cancer.
  • Assessment 2 – critical analysis: Four (4) scenarios on aspects of cancer and haematology nursing practice are to be accessed from the unit of study eLearning site. Using relevant literature to support your answers, critically analyse each scenario. 
  • Assessment 3 - presentation and notes: Develop a presentation and notes pages which could be used as a teaching tool in your workplace, to educate your colleagues about the population you have identified in assessment 1.
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 05 Study day 1 Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Study day 2 Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Study day 3 Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Study day 4 Lecture and tutorial (6 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

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

There are no required readings for this unit.

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 an appraisal of clinical situations and application of appropriate communication strategies in clinical practice
  • LO2. demonstrate a critical evaluation of differences in the presentation of the experience of cancer from the clinical perspective and from the lived experience
  • LO3. demonstrate an ability to discuss the needs of vulnerable populations in relation to cancer care and the application of this into their clinical practice
  • LO4. demonstrate an ability to appraise the delivery of health care in the light of the broader social perspective of illness experience.

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.

Changes have meet made to the study day content since the unit was last offered.

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.