Outline

Overview

This unit of study provides an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of professional nursing; "what it is and what it is not" (Nightingale, 1859) and to observe and explore the roles and relationships among nurses, patients and other health professionals within the health care setting. This unit will introduce students to the fundamentals of nursing care that include the physical, psychosocial and relational aspects of care across the lifespan and within diverse socio-cultural groups. To assist the student to develop an understanding of nursing practice they will be introduced to critical thinking and a clinical reasoning model focusing on assessment, planning, the implementation of comprehensive care interventions and how to evaluate person-centred care with patients as partners. In addition, students will develop a beginning level of competence and understanding of the essentials of communication, interprofessional education and digital health technologies.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	NURS5081
Academic unit	Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Astrid Frotjold, astrid.frotjold@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Astrid Frotjold, astrid.frotjold@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Jill Cooper, jill.cooper@sydney.edu.au
	Jennifer Hardy, jennifer.hardy@sydney.edu.au
	Gemma Saravanos, gemma.saravanos@sydney.edu.au
	Felicity Elias, felicity.elias@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Placement	Assessment 6: Off campus clinical assessment Clinical placement	0%	-	80 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Final exam (Record+)	Assessment 5: Final exam Exam with short -medium length answers	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 2: Skills for accurate blood pressure measurement module Online module	0%	Mid-semester break Due date: 24 Apr 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 30 Jun 2022	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 3: Practice development ePortfolio: Video 1 & 2 Development of two (2) clinical skills videos with critique.	20%	Multiple weeks Due date: 03 Apr 2022 at 23:59 Closing date: 01 May 2022	Maximum 10 minutes each
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Assessment 1: Interprofessional workshop online participation	0%	Multiple weeks	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 4: Fundamentals of care essay Essay	35%	Week 10 Due date: 06 May 2022 at 23:00 Closing date: 01 Jul 2022	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

Assessment 1 Introductory Interprofessional workshop: Students will work in interprofessional teams to foster effective collaboration for the future improvement of health outcomes. This workshop will provide an opportunity to build and develop students' understanding of role identification, effective communication and teamwork. Students will be required to participate in teams to complete activities that have been developed to promote collaborative practice. Following the activities there will be a debriefing session where students can reflect on their team performance and relate this to health care. Obtaining a satisfactory grade in this activity is a requirement for successful completion of this unit of study.
Assessment 2 Skills for accurate blood pressure measurement module: Students are required to complete the blood pressure module and achieve 70% or above in the three quizzes: Methods and Devices quiz, Clinical Scenario quiz and BP measurement practice located on the NURS 5081 Canvas site.
Assessment 3 Practice development ePortfolio: Students are required to work in a team of 3-4 to create two (2) clinical skills videos followed by a critique of your practice. Each video should be no more than 10 minutes in duration. Please note that this is a video of your practice session and does not have to be perfect. Following the completion of each video as a team you must complete a critique of your work.
Assessment 4 Essay: Critically discuss the following statement: According to Aitken et al. (2012) and Feo and Kitson, (2016) meeting patients' fundamental of care needs is essential for optimal safety, recovery and positive experiences within health care systems however fundamental care may be devalued due to the focus on tasks, an increased emphasis on productivity and reducing costs and the tendency for nurses performance to be assessed on objective activities (Voldbjerg et al. 2019).
Present a clear and coherent argument to support your viewpoint. Your essay must include an introduction and conclusion; sub-headings may be used
Assessment 5 Final Exam: A 2 hour short-medium answer exam will be held in exam week the content will cover content covered in lectures, tutorials and simulation studio sessions.
Assessment 6 Off campus clinical assessment: Performance during clinical experience weeks. For this unit, the clinical component will attract a satisfactory/unsatisfactory grade. Obtaining a satisfactory grade in clinical performance is a requirement for successful completion of this unit of study.

Detailed information for each assessment task can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

e 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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

As per assessment policy

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.

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 placements	Clinical practice (40 hr)
Week 01	1. Introduction to unit of study; 2. Infection control	Lecture (2 hr)
	Introduction/Infection control	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Infection control/hand hygiene, use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 02	1. Therapeutic Communication ; 2. Team Effectiveness/Interprofessional Education	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 02	Basic Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 03	1. Vital signs; 2. Adult Health Assessment	Lecture (2 hr)
	Health assessment and physical examination/clinical communication	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Temperature, pulse and respirations	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 04	1. Blood Pressure Health assessment; 2. Evidence Based Practice	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 04	Blood Pressure Management	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 05	1. Work, Health and Safety; 2.Keeping older people safe	Lecture (2 hr)
	medical Terminology/falls risk prevention	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Manual handling, patient transfer in bed and bed to trolley and patient positioning.	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 06	1. Fundamentals of Care 2. Paediatric health Assessment	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 06	Patient mobility: transfer bed to chair, mobilty aids	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 07	1.Clinical reasoning model/Framework for practice thinking; 2.Digital Health	Lecture (2 hr)
	Clinical reasoning model/Framework for practice thinking; Digital Health	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Bed making, occupied and unoccupied	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 08	1.Oral Care; 2. Pressure injury prevention	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 08	Bed bath, oral hygiene, eye care, urinary and faecal elimination care	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 09	1. Clinical communication and documentation 2. Professional standards, Code of ethics and Professional Conduct	Lecture (2 hr)
	Clinical reasoning, Clinical communication/handover	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Clinical simulation exercise	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 10	1. Historical and Contemporary Nursing 2. Digital Health Records	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 10	Patient admission, BGL, urinalysis	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 11	1. Revision; 2. Preparation for clinical experience	Lecture (2 hr)
	Assertive communication and Revision	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Clinical simulation exercise	Simulation laboratory (2 hr)
Week 13	Clinical placements	Clinical practice (40 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: 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.

Students must also attend 100% of all clinical simulation laboratories (CSL) and off campus clinical, which are supplemented with online and group activities.

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.

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

Crisp, J., Douglas, C., Rebeiro, G., & Waters, D. (Eds.). (2021). Potter & Perry's fundamentals of nursing (6th ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W.: Elsevier Australia.

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.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Demonstrate an understanding of Sydney Nursing School’s conceptual framework including the interactions between nursing, the person and their family, educational philosophy and contexts of care.
LO2. Articulate the role of the nurse in an interdisciplinary health care team.
LO3. Develop clinical reasoning skills to understand the thinking behind the provision of quality person centred care, recognising that patients are partners in their own care.
LO4. Perform, at a beginning level, a range of health assessment skills, fundamentals of comprehensive care skills, communication and documentation skills for individuals across the lifespan.
LO5. Demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of evidence-based practice and how it informs clinical knowledge in practice.
LO6. Articulate and apply foundational knowledge relating to Work Health and Safety issues in health care with a focus on preventing and controlling healthcare associated infection control practices and manual handling.
LO7. Develop an understanding of the role of digital health technologies in the health care setting.
LO8. Demonstrate satisfactory achievement in a professional experience placement as outlined in the NURS 5081 Clinical Record Logbook.

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 2.7. Actively fosters a culture of safety and learning that includes engaging with health professionals and others, to share knowledge and practice that supports person- centered care
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.2. Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 4.1. Conducts assessments that are holistic as well as culturally appropriate 4.2. Uses a range of assessment techniques to systematically collect relevant and accurate information and data to inform practice
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 3.2. Provides the information and education required to enhance people’s control over health 3.3. Uses a lifelong learning approach for continuing professional development of self and others
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 6.1. Provides comprehensive safe, quality practice to achieve agreed goals and outcomes that are responsive to the nursing needs of people 6.5. Practises in accordance with relevant nursing and health guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation 6.6. Uses the appropriate processes to identify and report potential and actual risk related system issues and where practice may be below the expected standards
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations
	Registered Nurses Standards for Practice - 1.1. Accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice 1.2. Develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice 1.3. Respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures 1.4. Complies with legislation, common law, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions 1.5. Uses ethical frameworks when making decisions 1.6. Maintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision- making, actions and evaluations 2.1. Establishes, sustains and concludes relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships 2.2. Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights 3.1. Considers and responds in a timely manner to the health and well being of self and others in relation to the capability for practice 3.3. Uses a lifelong learning approach for continuing professional development of self and others 3.4. Accepts accountability for decisions, actions, behaviours and responsibilities inherent in their role, and for the actions of others to whom they have delegated responsibilities 3.5. Seeks and responds to practice review and feedback 4.1. Conducts assessments that are holistic as well as culturally appropriate 4.2. Uses a range of assessment techniques to systematically collect relevant and accurate information and data to inform practice 5.1. Uses assessment data and best available evidence to develop a plan 5.2. Collaboratively constructs nursing practice plans until contingencies, options priorities, goals, actions, outcomes and timeframes are agreed with the relevant persons 6.1. Provides comprehensive safe, quality practice to achieve agreed goals and outcomes that are responsive to the nursing needs of people 6.2. Practises within their scope of practice 6.5. Practises in accordance with relevant nursing and health guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation 7.1. Evaluates and monitors progress towards the expected goals and outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

Some changes have been made to the sequencing and assessment of this unit in accordance with student feedback

Additional information

Sensitive materials in teaching: Please note that in this Unit of Study sensitive and potentially distressing or disturbing content will be presented and/or discussed from time to time. This may include reference to for example, of peopples experiences of health and illness and/or culturally sensitive issues. These topics are relevant to your learning in this unit of study 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

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

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

NURS5081: Introduction to Nursing Practice

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, 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

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect