University of Technology Sydney

090056 Specialty Clinical Practice

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a 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 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 96320 Specialty Clinical Practice

Description

This subject has been designed to build students’ capacity to identify and evaluate the best available evidence to inform their knowledge and practice. It enables students to develop their clinical and professional capabilities in their chosen area of specialty practice through a body of integrated and clinically based learning strategies. The influence of historical and contemporary policies and practices on Indigenous Australians health and how they can be used to inform culturally appropriate practice are a key element of this subject. Students build upon existing clinical, cultural and professional skills and knowledge to extend their practice in line with specialty practice standards where appropriate.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Critically appraise your contribution to specialty practice and identify personal learning needs
B. Develop measurable and realistic strategies to achieve your identified personal learning needs
C. Identify, synthesise, evaluate and apply the best available evidence to practice in your chosen specialty field
D. Critically analyse how historical and contemporary policies and practices have influenced Indigenous Australians health
E. Apply knowledge of professional cultural capability, including current industry standards/guidelines, in order to work effectively with and for Indigenous Australians within your own context of practice

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)
  • Identify, and evaluate and apply the best available evidence for translation into practice to achieve optimal health outcomes (1.1)
  • Demonstrate comprehensive clinical judgement and clinical reasoning that is based on evidence and reflects relevant professional codes and guidelines (1.2)
  • Demonstrate professional capabilities to work effectively with and for Indigenous peoples and communities across the health profession (6.0)
  • Critically reflect on Indigenous Australian contexts to inform professional cultural capability to work effectively with and for, Indigenous Australians within the health and social care profession (6.1)
  • Critically reflect on ethical Indigenous research practices to work with and for Indigenous peoples within the health and social care professions (6.2)

Contribution to the development of graduate attributes

This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:

Critical thinking: Are reflective critical thinkers who examine and contribute to practice, policy and research to achieve clinical excellence and enhance health outcomes (1.0)

Leadership: Are visionary, innovative and responsive leaders (2.0)

Accountability: Are socially, culturally and ethically aware and accountable when engaging with health care consumers, families/significant others, interdisciplinary teams, communities, organisations and authorities (3.0)

Communication: Communicate effectively and professionally in diverse and dynamic situations (4.0)

Professional qualities: Embody the professional qualities appropriate to the scope of their role (5.0)

Indigenous cultural respect: 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.

Feedback and changes from previous offering from this subject
This subject had undertaken a complete refresh since its previous offering in order to meet industry expectations regarding the demonstration of professional cultural capability which contributes to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. We have also refined the portfolio assessment so that it is more targeted to building and assessing critical thinking and synthesis skills.

Content (topics)

Module 1: Postgraduate study and career planning
Postgraduate study: Opportunities and expectations
Critical thinking
Career pathways
Specialty vs advanced clinical practice
Developing your professional development portfolio aim and learning objectives
Regulation, scope of practice and the role of professional organisations

Module 2: Working with and for Indigenous Australians
Language and terminology
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' views of health
Cultural determinants of health
The role and responsibility of health professionals in culturally capable care
The burden of historical events, policy and practices on Indigenous Australians' health and well-being

Module 3: Evidence-based practice
The need for evidence-based practice (EBP)
The elements of EBP
Levels of evidence
Asking a relevant and appropriate clinical question
Identifying, synthesising, evaluating and applying the best available evidence

Module 4: Reflective practice and teamwork
Reflective practice & teamwork
Who is your professional self?
Models of reflective practice
Cognitive bias

Module 5: Portfolio evaluation and professional development
Pause, reflect and review
Resilience and wellbeing of self and others
Portfolio evaluation and self-assessment

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Learning Plan

Intent:

This assessment provides the platform to guide some of your study and assessment in this subject. It will prompt you to reflect on your professional practice and knowledge and assist you to identify specific learning needs as they relate to your specialty practice within the framework of a guided learning plan.The assessment also enables you to get early feedback to assist you with assessment 3

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B and C

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

1.1 and 1.2

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 10%
Length:

400-500 words +/- 10%

Assessment task 2: Professional cultural capability | Narrated presentation

Intent:

This assessment enables you to demonstrate your understanding of how historical and contemporary policies and practices have influenced Indigenous Australians' health and well-being. It also enables you to reflect on how you will apply your cultural awareness, knowledge and capability using relevant contemporary industry standards and guidelines, in order to inform your future professional practice. This assessment is also directly associated with meeting the Indigenous graduate attribute associated with your course of study.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

D and E

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

6.0, 6.1 and 6.2

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 45%
Length:

12 - 15 minutes

There is no minimum or maximum limit on the number of slides used.

Assessment task 3: CPD Portfolio

Intent:

This assessment follows on from assessment 1 and allows you to present, evaluate and reflect on the learning and assessment activities you have undertaken as part of your CPD portfolio. Each of these assessments are designed to assist you in developing critical skills required in the health care workforce including:

  1. The ability to read, think and write critically and concisely
  2. To identify, synthesise, evaluate and apply the best available evidence to practice in your chosen specialty field.

This assessment also contributes to your learning by requiring you to complete a clinical-based learning experience in order to facilitate your clinical development, whilst also meeting work-related and professional requirements and goals.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B and C

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

1.0, 1.1 and 1.2

Type: Portfolio
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 45%
Length:
  • Evidence Commentary: 700 words (excl. references, (+/- 10%)
  • Reflection on Commentary: 250 words (+/- 10%)
  • Description and reflection on each of the other two learning activities: 550 words each (+/- 10%)
  • Reflection on Learning Goal: 250 words (+/- 10%)

Recommended texts

Cusack, L., & Smith., M. (2020). Portfolios for Nursing, Midwifery and other Health Professionals (4th ed). Elsevier.

References

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.