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Contemporary Nursing (NURS90057)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 (Extended) |
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Fees | Look up fees |
In this subject, students further develop their knowledge and understanding of unique health issues affecting specific individuals and patient populations cared for across diverse and contemporary practice contexts. The subject explores contemporary models of nursing practice, inter-professional care and primary health care designed to address the health care needs of specific populations. Examples of specific health issues addressed in this subject may include: communicable diseases; men’s and women’s health; child/adolescent health; trauma care; end-of-life care; disaster nursing; refugee health; sexual health; and bariatrics. The contemporary and expanding role of nurses will be explored across diverse contexts such as general practice nursing, community nursing, school nursing, case management and the nurse practitioner.
The subject aims to enable students to develop deeper and broader knowledge about health issues affecting individual patients and their families as they interact with the health care system. Students may engage with the care of patients in any number of settings locally, nationally and in the international context such as:
• Mental health care
• Acute/critical care
• Child, adolescent and family care
• Older adult care
• Cancer and palliative care
• Practice nursing
• Community nursing
Students will develop specific individualised learning objectives related to their chosen area of practice and to their personally identified learning needs. Throughout the subject, for all students, emphasis will be placed on health assessment for implementing and evaluating physical and psychosocial care across the illness/wellness trajectory and the enhancement of knowledge and skills in therapeutic communication will be promoted. Students will become familiar with interventions required to establish and maintain patient stability, and interventions initiated by nurses at a beginning level of practice will be examined in terms of the research evidence underpinning practice. The ethico/legal aspects of care particularly relevant to the chosen area of engagement will be explored.
Intended learning outcomes
At the completion of this subject students should be able to:
In addition, students should be able to demonstrate that they have met their own individualised learning objectives.
- demonstrate the ability to understand, apply and evaluate assessment data of patients experiencing alterations to health status in the chosen area of specialty nursing;
- demonstrate the ability to adjust care and priorities in changing situations;
- demonstrate knowledge of pharmacology and medication administration specific to the chosen area of specialty nursing
- demonstrate competent skills in therapeutic nurse/patient communication;
- understand the legislation and funding arrangements relevant to the chosen area of speciality nursing and the implications of this for leadership and management skills when a Division 1 Registered Nurse;
- apply scientific knowledge to explain the rationale for interventions applicable to the chosen specialty area;
- use research findings to support or critique current practice in the chosen specialty area of practice;
- understand the impact of the chosen area of specialty nursing on resource management and sustainability.
Generic skills
At the completion of these subjects, students should be able to demonstrate:
- the capacity for information seeking, retrieval and evaluation;
- critical thinking and analytical skills;
- an openness to new ideas;
- cultural sensitivity;
- planning and time management skills;
- the ability to work effectively in an interprofessional team;
- the ability to communicate knowledge through classroom and web-based discussions and written material;
- a capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in written modes of communication;
- a capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
NURS90053 | Clients with Complex Health States | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
NURS90066 | Foundations of Nursing | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
6.25 |
NURS90052 | Nursing Science 3 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
NURS90059 | Nursing Research | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
NURS90130 | Nursing Assessment & Care | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
NURS90131 | Clients with Acute and Chronic Illness | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
25 |
NURS90129 | Nursing Science 1 | Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
NURS90125 | Nursing Science 2 | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
(or the pre-2019 version of these subjects NURS50004 Nursing Assessment & Care, NURS50007 Clients with Acute and Chronic Illness, NURS50003 Nursing Science 1 and NURS50006 Nursing Science 2).
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
This subject requires all students to actively and safely participate in clinical activities. Students who feel their disability may impact upon their participation are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Nursing Course Coordinator and Student Equity and Disability Support.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Learning contract
| Week 6 | 20% |
Reflection - due week 1 of examination period
| During the examination period | 80% |
Professional Placement Experience Placement Appraisal (Pass/Fail) - due week 1 of examination period Hurdle requirement: Attendance at all professional placement experience days is compulsory | During the examination period | N/A |
Presentation of Learning's. Last week of semester
| Late in the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 2 (Extended)
Coordinator Heather Buttigieg Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours lectures/tutorials/seminars/workshops. A minimum of 80 hours professional placement experience. Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 27 July 2020 to 7 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 7 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Students are directed to seek information specific to the location of their specialty placement
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Master of Nursing Science - Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022