090049 Comprehensive Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
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particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): (090050 Evidence for Informing Practice AND 090056 Specialty Clinical Practice AND 090047 Applied Pathophysiology in Practice AND (96326 Improving Safety and Quality in Healthcare OR 096326 Improving Safety and Quality in Healthcare))
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 96318 Comprehensive Physical Assessment and Diagnostic Reasoning
Description
This subject is designed to build on students' existing physical assessment skills, with the aim of developing their diagnostic reasoning skills and progressing their advanced nursing practice. The focus is on developing assessment skills, required to critically analyse patient health data, in order to diagnose and identify priorities of treatment and develop appropriate management plans. Students will have the opportunity to practice health assessments, develop diagnoses, prioritise care, and solve complex problems. Opportunities to promote development will incorporate simulation, virtual reality and individual clinical settings. With a strong focus on critical thinking, communication and professionalism, this subject provides students with a foundation to move into highly skilled and advanced nursing practice.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Synthesise and interpret patient health data including patient history, physical assessment and diagnostic data. |
|---|---|
| B. | Articulate and justify differential diagnoses based on comprehensive physical assessments and advanced diagnostic reasoning. Correlate normal and abnormal physiological and psychological knowledge with assessment findings. |
| C. | Formulate and communicate an effective management plan in partnership with the patient, family/significant others and interdisciplinary team. |
| D. | Identify and prioritise the focus of assessment and management to prevent life threatening situations. |
| E. | Critically appraise patient circumstances in relation to social and cultural histories and promote a person- centred approach to assessment and management. |
| F. | Consider unique priorities of assessment, diagnosis and management in Indigenous Australians. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Are reflective critical thinkers who examine and contribute to practice, policy, and research to achieve clinical excellence and enhance health outcomes (1.0)
- Are visionary, innovative and responsive leaders (2.0)
- Communicate effectively and professionally in diverse and dynamic situations (4.0)
- Embody the professional qualities appropriate to the scope of their role (5.0)
- Demonstrate professional capabilities to work effectively with and for Indigenous peoples and communities across the health profession (6.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
Orientation activities
Preparation for the session - You are expected to undertake activities during orientation week. These activities are designed to introduce you to the subject and your peers, and will assist you to prepare for the subject's assessment tasks.
Independent learning activities
Relevant readings, videos and activities will be made available online relevant to the topic of the week. This will support your ability to progress successfully throughout the subject and complete assessment items effectively. The online material aims to enhance your understanding of the topic or delve deeper into a more specific area, compare experiences and ideas with others and gain feedback. Information and links to all these learning activities can be accessed via Canvas as well as the subject outline.
Zoom meetings
You are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled Zoom meetings as they will prepare you for the subject’s assessment tasks. Additionally, they provide opportunities for group activities, discussion, self-assessment, peer review and formative feedback from the subject coordinator and your teaching team. The schedule for this subject’s zoom meetings is below in the program section.
Feedback
Feedback in this subject takes several forms including self-assessment, peer review, automatic feedback from interactive activities and from the teaching team. Formative feedback throughout the subject aims to increase your performance in summative assessments.
Content (topics)
This subject will cover the following topics:
History Taking and Communication
- Health interview and history taking
- Psychological and social considerations
- Cultural considerations
- Rapid A-G assessment
Physical Assessment, Investigations and Diagnosis
- Neurological
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- Abdominal
Communication, Consultancy and Referral
- Synthesising health assessment data
- Communicating findings
- Consultancy, referral and transfer
- Patient education and communication
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Complex Case Study Report
| Intent: | This assessment task aims to develop your ability to perform a comprehensive physical and/or psychological assessment and articulate advanced diagnostic and clinical reasoning skills to formulate differential diagnoses, and a management plan in consultation with the patient, their family/significant others, and the interdisciplinary team. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Case study |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2300 words +/- 10% |
| Criteria: | Marking criteria is available in Canvas |
Assessment task 2: Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
| Intent: | The intent of this assessment is for you to draw on the acquired knowledge, skills and clinical reasoning developed during this subject. You will be assessed through a virtual clinical scenario where you will have an opportunity to demonstrate your knowledge relating to; comprehensive physical assessment, synthesis and interpretation of assessment data, clinical decision making, reasoning and judgement, and person centred communication. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 60% |
| Length: | Length: Five stations, requiring variations of short answer responses, drag and drop activities and two recorded communication videos. |
| Criteria: | Marking criteria is available in Canvas |
Required texts
Cox, C. (2019). Physical Assessment for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals (3rd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. Talley, N.
O'Connor, S. (2019) Clinical examination: 2 volume set. (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Students are advised to acquire their own copies of this text which is available to purchase in electronic format and/or hardcopy. An e-copy may be available from the UTS library as well as access via open and closed reserve.
All additional readings, other than textbooks, will be available via links from within Canvas.
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.
The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for managing your studies alongside your health condition. If you’re unsure whether you need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early and we can provide advice on how our service can assist you. Make an appointment with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au.
The Financial Assistance Service can assist you with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.