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Unit of study_

SNGP3010: Law and Ethics in Health Care

Semester 1, 2020 [Block mode] - Singapore

This unit of study explores the legal and ethical dimensions in health and social care, with a particular focus on nursing. This module will enable students to gain a critical understanding and applied appreciation of health-related law and ethics, whilst exploring its application and affect on nursing practice. Topics covered in this unit include government regulation of health care, including resource-allocation and professional practice, as well as legal issues relating to professional liability (consent, negligence, confidentiality and autonomy). This unit of study also considers traditional and contemporary ethical theory, moral decision making, articulating moral arguments, critiquing arguments, and exploring values in ethical decision-making. In doing so, this unit of study also explores the values held by professionals, as the concepts of rights and responsibilities increasingly impact on professional nursing practice.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SNGP3010
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 Murray Fisher, murray.fisher@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Murray Fisher, murray.fisher@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Assessment 4: Online examination
Long answer/Essay style
45% Formal exam period
Due date: 10 Jun 2020 at 10:00
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Online task Assessment 1: Online quiz
MCQ
10% Week 04
Due date: 26 Mar 2020 at 17:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment group assignment Assessment 2: Formative exercise
Individual assignment with peer review.
0% Week 07
Due date: 10 Apr 2020 at 17:00
300 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment Assessment 3: Essay
Individual essay
45% Week 09
Due date: 01 May 2020 at 09:00
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

  • Online quiz: This assessment consists of 40 multiple-choice questions. All questions will come from a question bank and will be randomised. Instructions for completion of the quiz appear on the eLearning site for this unit of study in the ‘Assessments’ folder.
    Only one attempt at the quiz is permitted.
  • Formative Group Exercise: You are to write a definition of what is meant by professional boundaries as it applies to the Code for Nurses and Midwives and provide examples of what may constitute as a boundary violation. Following submission you will peer review  two allocated  submissions (due 5pm Friday 17 April). In your peer review you will provide comments regarding the comprehensiveness and accuracy of the definition and the exhaustiveness of the examples given. 
  • Essay: This assessment requires the student to discuss the importance of professional boundaries as it applies to the  regulation of nurses, and discuss the underlying ethical principles as they relate to protecting the public.
  • Examination: The examination will consist of long answer/essay style questions from across the unit content. 

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 03 1. Introduction to UOS; 2. Lecture 1: Reorientation to legal and ethical issues for nurses Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Lecture 2: The importance of regulation Lecture (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Lecture 3: The importance of ethics Lecture (3 hr) LO5
Lecture 4: Consent, negligence and information giving Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Lecture 5: Confidentiality, privacy, documentation and medications Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Lecture 6: Contemporary issues Lecture (3 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 07 Tutorial 1: case studies Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial 2: case studies Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Tutorial 3: revision and examination preparation Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: The sessions for this unit of study are covered in block mode. Attendance at the study blocks is compulsory. It is expected that each student will actively engage with the unit of study materials, which are designed to assist students to achieve the learning outcomes and subsequently successfully complete this unit.
  • 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.

Required readings

The following textbook is suggested, but not prescribed, for this unit of study as some of the guided reading and activities are referenced to this text.

Staunton, P.J., & Chiarella, M. (2016) Law for nurses and midwives (8th ed.). Sydney: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.

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. understand the structure of the government that regulates the jurisdiction in which they work, the legal system in that jurisdiction and the legal tradition from which it has evolved and the different ways that law is made
  • LO2. engage in an in-depth analysis of the Principles included in the Code and their relevant practice statements and a well-developed ability to apply this to clinical practice
  • LO3. articulate how the layers of health policy, from governmental policy to organisational policy, intersect with the jurisdiction's legal framework
  • LO4. demonstrate a highly-developed understanding of the principal legislation in their jurisdiction for organising and regulating health professionals, including the rights and obligations of those working in the health system
  • LO5. demonstrate essential knowledge of the major ethical theories and ethical issues impacting both nursing practice and the delivery of good health care.

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.

Some minor changes to this unit of study have been made following student feedback. A formative assessment has been added and is directly related to the major assignment. This will guide students better and provide interactive peer review. The exam has been altered to be more applied knowledge.

Teacher consultation guidelines: Questions about this unit should be directed to AssociateProfessor Fisher, the unit of study coordinator.
Canvas discussion board is the preferred method and in most instances you will receive a reply within 24–36 hours, with the exception of weekends. However, a reply might take a little longer as Murray travels a great deal and may be away from the Faculty.

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.