Admission and Unit Information - Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry)

This unit is conducted in an intensive compressed study mode and prepares students with a previous degree or approved overseas registered nurses to engage in an accelerated program of study by providing foundational / core learning activities to support their transition into second year units of the main Bachelor Nursing program.

This unit extends on the concepts and skills introduced in Year 1 nursing studies. The unit is theoretically aligned with Health Variation 1 and focuses on the role and skills of the nurse in assessing and caring for people across the lifespan who are experiencing acute but usually resolvable conditions which includes the perioperative experience. The unit integrates the perioperative experience with the National Health Priority areas relating to Arthritis and Musculoskeletal conditions; Cancer Control and Injury Management.

This unit enables nursing and midwifery students to investigate and discuss the concepts of health and illness in the context of culturally diverse communities. The unit promotes the attainment of critical knowledge and core principles necessary for students to become holistic, culturally sensitive and appropriately adaptable when meeting the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and people from other diverse cultural backgrounds. A case study approach provides a framework for students to explore the impact of different attitude and value systems relating to the health of people in Australia.

This unit provides the theoretical background knowledge for Professional Practice 3. It introduces the student to the fundamental principles of perioperative nursing care in supporting clients undergoing surgical interventions incorporating the related pathophysiology and pharmacology. In particular, nursing care of surgical interventions relating to the gastrointestinal, reproductive and musculoskeletal systems with a Health Priority Focus relating to Injury Control, Arthritis and Cancer Control will be the focus of case history reviews.

This unit introduces nursing and midwifery students to the major paradigms, research principles and concepts that inform critical analysis of literature and the basis of evidence based practice.

This unit provides the student with an opportunity to consolidate professional nursing practice skills in the Australian health care context and assist in meeting the minimum professional placement and practice hours required.

Professional Practice Experience 4 focuses on the care of people experiencing an acute exacerbation of a chronic condition. Principles and practices of nursing care will be undertaken in simulated and practice environments, particularly in the National Health Priority areas of cardiovascular disease, asthma, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and mental health. Theoretical underpinnings specifically related to this unit are found in Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 1, Health Variations 2, and Health Variations 3.

This unit will introduce students to the care of individuals with mental health and wellbeing problems. The National Mental Health Policy 2008 provides the population framework to focus on a complex range of determinants and consequences of mental health and illness in Australia. The principles of recovery and the professional use of self in everyday collaborative practice will be introduced and explored. The focus will be on an introduction to altered mood, perception and thinking and their impact on caring for individuals with depression, anxiety and substance use problems. Students will be caused to extend their knowledge of stress vulnerability, risk management and their impact on promoting mental health and wellbeing across the lifespan.

This unit explores the concepts of chronicity, disability, habilitation and rehabilitation in relation to chronic conditions, functional and intellectual disabilities and their implications for nursing practice. National Health Priority Case Studies drawn from across the lifespan will provide a focus for exploring pathophysiology, pharmacological interventions and nursing care related to chronic conditions of the endocrine, neurological and respiratory body systems. In addition, the nursing role in supporting those with physical and intellectual disability will be examined. This unit provides theoretical underpinnings directly related to Professional Practice Experience 4.

This unit uses National Health Priority case histories to further develop knowledge of pathophysiology, pharmacology and nursing implications for people across the lifespan who may experience acute exacerbations of chronic conditions. A major focus will be related to the nursing management of chronic conditions involving the cardiovascular and renal systems. Nursing management involving acute exacerbations of chronic conditions affecting the respiratory and musculoskeletal system will also be reviewed. This unit provides theoretical underpinnings for Professional Practice Experience 4.

This unit extends the concepts and skills previously covered in years one and two. The focus of this unit is to help equip nursing students with the skills required in assessing and caring for people across the lifespan who are experiencing acute life-threatening illness and end-of-life conditions. Through a Primary Health Care approach, the unit will use national health priorities of Cardiovascular Disease, Injury Prevention and Control, Cancer control and Mental Health to exemplify the inter-relationship between acute and chronic conditions and the palliative approach to life threatening illness.

This unit builds on the foundations of mental health and wellbeing established in earlier units. The relationship between stress and vulnerability will be explored within the context of the psychotic disorders schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Students will gain an understanding of how the principles of recovery, introduced in an earlier unit, are applied to caring for people with schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Altered mood, perception, and thinking will be explored and evidence-based assessment tools and biological and psychosocial interventions introduced for facilitating recovery towards mental health and wellbeing.

This unit introduces the theoretical background information required for Professional Practice 5 by providing the related pathophysiology, pharmacology and nursing implications to assist students in caring for people who experience an acute life-threatening and/or traumatic condition that may involve multiple systems failure. National Health Priority case histories used in the unit will focus on cardiovascular disease, injury prevention and control. Consideration will also be made in relation to habilitation and rehabilitation of these people who have experienced acute life-threatening or traumatic complex health issues.

This unit develops a student’s knowledge and skills in a palliative approach when caring for individuals and their families who are experiencing Life limiting illness. Case histories featuring a lifespan approach and that address the National Health Priority Areas will be used to illuminate the palliative approach as a model of care. Students will explore the benefits a palliative approach when supporting dying individuals with any life limiting illness. Students will also acquire the capabilities to develop self-care strategies to manage their own grief and loss. This unit provides theoretical underpinning for Professional Practice 5.

This unit provides a unique opportunity to consolidate and extend their skill base in preparation for graduate practice. Additional theoretical underpinnings specifically related to this unit are found in the units: Being a Registered Nurse/Midwife and Leadership in Nursing and Midwifery.

This unit explores the process of transition from student to professional practitioner. Students will gain an understanding of the congruence between the principles of Primary Health Care and professional regulatory frameworks. The role of the graduate nurse or midwife will be comprehensively explored through a detailed examination of the frameworks governing practice and professional conduct. This unit will build capacity in students to meet their professional responsibilities as practitioners in nursing or midwifery. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss career planning and ongoing professional development.

The unit explores fundamental concepts and issues related to leadership in nursing and midwifery. The unit focuses on exploration of contemporary, emerging and innovative approaches to leadership that may contribute to nursing and midwifery standards, person-centred practice, evidence-based leadership, critical reflection and critical thinking in dynamic healthcare contexts.

This unit provides students with the opportunity to review: the pathophysiological aspects of health breakdown in individuals; the knowledge of pharmacological processes within nursing practice; and to demonstrate competency in skills essential to the nursing management of individuals with various types of health breakdown. In addition, students will complete a four-week negotiated clinical practicum prior to graduate employment.