Preparing for Advanced Practice Nursing (NURS90133)

Intended learning outcomes

Following completion of this subject it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Clearly articulate and apply principles of decision making and diagnostic reasoning in clinical practice
• Recognise the impact of bias on decision making and discuss strategies to minimise the negative effects in clinical practice
• Understand the function of a clinical governance in reducing clinical risk and identify strategies used in their service to minimise risk and improve patient safety
• Demonstrate ability to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of available diagnostic tools and consider the implications for clinical decision-making
• Demonstrate judicious use of diagnostic investigation to supplement the health assessment and inform clinical decisions
• Interpret the results of diagnostic investigations in the context of other client health data
• Integrate patient/client health and social data, basic science and research data to make a patient/client focused assessment of their health needs
• Use highly developed cognitive, analytic, problem-solving and diagnostic reasoning skills to interpret health assessment findings to interpret assessment findings in complex and unfamiliar circumstances
• Understand the role that health informatics have on the availability and integration of health care data, the provision of decision support and patient safety and access to powerful clinically orientated data sets.

Generic skills

• Highly developed cognitive, analytic and problem-solving skills in the discipline area, characterised by flexibility of approach;
• The ability and self-confidence to comprehend complex concepts, to express them lucidly, whether orally or in writing, and to confront unfamiliar problems;
• Where appropriate, advanced working skills in the application of computer systems and software and a receptiveness to the opportunities offered by new technologies;
• An ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline;
• Advanced skills and techniques applicable to the discipline;
• Advanced competencies in areas of professional expertise and/or scholarship;
• The capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning;
• The capacity to value and participate in projects which require team-work;
• A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.