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Unit of study_

NURS5071: Contemporary Health Leadership

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Block mode] - Mallett Street, Sydney

The need for leadership across all clinical disciplines has been shown to be integral to safe practice and strong staff morale. Providing a clear and unambiguous framework for practice and fostering skills in moral stewardship is known to enable personal growth and strong clinical care. This unit explores a range of issues for clinicians including their legal and ethical obligations, concepts of accountability and collegiality, and strategies to increase resilience and emotional intelligence. It aims to equip students to take initiative, create supportive and sustaining clinical environments, have the courage of their convictions, and to celebrate curiosity.The Australian health care system has experienced significant clinical, structural and socio-political transformations over the last two decades (collectively referred to as reform). The need for stronger and more effective leadership has never been more evident, particularly at the clinical interface. The chronic recruitment and retention issues and the changed nature of the nursing workforce and health workforce generally, vis-�is different levels of carers with diverse skill mix, have constructed a healthcare environment in which experienced (advanced) clinicians are positioned at the core of leadership development. While the concept of leadership is not new, the provision of leadership in the clinical arena is now a central component of clinical practice for all health professionals, regardless of experience, education or position. As we increasingly experience a globalised world, we recognise that leadership is not the same in all contexts. This unit is structured on an innovative case-based approach. Through using case studies along with the theoretical constructs / perspectives, students are encouraged to critique the achievements and failures of real-time leadership scenarios (and the leaders). This approach to student learning moves away from the traditional 'constructivistic approach' to management education, which is both subjective and prescriptive (Darmer 2000). The case study method facilitates examination of real leadership scenarios through which students can gain greater insight into the challenges that confront leaders in complex environments and how these challenges impact decision-making processes.As a postgraduate unit of study, this unit pursues critical analysis of the context in which leadership occurs. In the process of completing this unit, students cover a broad range of topics and explore the literature from a number of disciplines including management, sociology and nursing. While this unit of study is broad, it is designed to allow students to gain a more detailed understanding of the multiple and often conflicting contexts in which health leadership is now situated.

Unit details and rules

Unit code NURS5071
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 Clare Davies, clare.davies@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Assessment 1: leadership analysis (Part A)
video
15% Week 05
Due date: 06 Sep 2020 at 23:59
5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4
Assignment Assessment 1: leadership analysis essay (Part B)
Written assessment
45% Week 09
Due date: 11 Oct 2020 at 23:59
3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Assessment 2: my leadership challenge
Written assessment
40% Week 13
Due date: 08 Nov 2020 at 23:59
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

  • Assessment 1 - leadership analysis video (part a): Identify someone from your professional environment who you consider has exercised leadership (do not name this person or your specific workplace). In a 5-minute video, provide an explanation of why you have chosen your leader and a critical analysis of the style of leadership with reference to relevant current and seminal literature (theoretical analysis).
  • Assessment 1 - leadership analysis essay (part b): Provide an in-depth critical analysis of the leadership of the person you have identified for assessment 1a, underpinned by the five perspectives identified in the unit of study conceptual framework (theoretical, contextual, relational, political and ethico-legal); and current and seminal peer-reviewed literature.
  • Assessment 2 - my leadership challengeFor this assessment item, you are required to analyse your own leadership and identify your leadership challenge. The purpose of this assessment item is for you to clearly distil the challenge you confront and to identify strategies and a plan to meet your challenge.
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 online Lecture and tutorial (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Study day 2 online Lecture and tutorial (7 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Study day 3 Lecture and tutorial (7 hr) LO4 LO5
Study day 4 Lecture and tutorial (7 hr) LO4 LO5

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 learning activities. *Please note. Due to Covid-19 regulations, the attendance requirements for this unit may change. Please refer to Canvas site for further information
  • 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 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 a high level of understanding of the established theoretical frameworks underpinning leadership, and the ability to analyse leadership context and behaviour from various theoretical perspectives
  • LO2. analyse the contemporary socio-political, organisational, and professional issues confronting leadership in the clinical setting, and evaluate the impact on leadership behaviour in relation to establishing and maintaining healthy organisation cultures, collegiality, and teamwork in both disciplinary and interdisciplinary contexts
  • LO3. analyse the relevant ethical and legal aspects governing clinical practice and their relationship to accountability boundaries that impact on decision-making and leadership behaviour.
  • LO4. evaluate the leadership behaviours of self and others, and demonstrate highly developed skills in reflection and decision-making.
  • LO5. demonstrate the capacity to utilise higher order critical thinking in the planning of innovative and creative leadership strategies

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 to assessments have been made this year following student feedback in last 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.