University of Technology Sydney

92477 Introduction to Specialty Practice: Paediatric Nursing

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:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): (92438 Medical Surgical Nursing OR 92450 Medical Surgical Nursing (Graduate Entry) OR 92024 Medical Surgical Nursing (Graduate Entry) OR 92322 Medical Surgical Nursing OR 92454 Medical Surgical Nursing)) OR ((93211 Clinical Practice 2B OR 93225 Clinical Practice 2B) AND (93207 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2A OR 93200 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2A) AND (93224 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2B OR 93210 Foundations of Nursing Practice 2B) AND (93214c Foundations of Nursing Practice 3A OR 93228c Foundations of Nursing Practice 3A)
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.

Description

This subject has been designed to enable students to gain knowledge and clinical nursing skills in an area of interest to them. Through this experience, students have the opportunity to develop their expertise in the specialty of paediatric nursing (caring for sick children and their families) and to understand the experience of illness and hospitalisation from the perspective of the child and family. This subject extends the student's paediatric knowledge and experience and gives students the opportunity to determine their preference for the specialty of paediatric nursing. It also has the potential to assist students in their quest for future employment.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Demonstrate the capacity to assess, plan, deliver and evaluate both clinical nursing care and therapeutic interventions of sick children, in partnership with their families (RN Standards for Practice 1.1,1.4,1.6,2.1,2.2,2.3,2.5,2.6,3.1,4.1,4.2,4.3,5.1,5.2,6.1,6.2,6.5,7.1)
B. Identify the contribution of the interprofessional healthcare team in providing safe clinical care (RN standards for Practice 1.1,1.4,2.1,2.2,2.6,2.7,3.3,3.4,7.3)
C. Demonstrate an understanding of the relevant developmental, legal, ethical, social and environmental factors that impact the delivery of best practice nursing care to children and families (RN Standards for Practice 1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5,5.1,5.2,5.5,7.1,7.3)
D. Recognise the importance of promoting and maintaining the wellbeing of infants and children, including responsibilities related to child protection and mandatory reporting (RN Standards for Practice 1.1,1.2,1.4,2.2,2.3,2.5,4.1,4.3,5.1,5.2,6.1,6.2,6.5)
E. Examine the concept of family and family-centred care in contemporary Australian society and recognise common issues faced by vulnerable families (RN Standards for Practice 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4,1.5,3.1,3.2,4.1,4.2,4.3,4.4,5.1,5.2,5.5)

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:

  • The ability to plan and provide care that is respectful of each individuals’ needs, values and life experiences (1.0)
  • Demonstrates an ability to provide holistic and compassionate care that takes into account people's lived experience, views and feelings. (1.1)
  • Works in partnership with patients including them in decisions related to their care. (1.2)
  • Demonstrates accountability and responsibility while working within professional codes and standards. (2.1)
  • The ability to communicate and collaborate safely, compassionately and respectfully. (3.0)
  • Works in partnership with healthcare providers and other stakeholders toward common goals that prioritise patients' values, needs and preferences. (3.3)
  • Plans and provides care based on the best available evidence including clinical expertise and patients' individual needs, values and preferences. (4.3)
  • Demonstrates technical and non-technical skills in the provision of safe effective, legal and ethical nursing care. (7.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is designed for students who would like further paediatric nursing experience and/or would like to pursue a career in paediatric nursing. In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage engagement with sick babies, children, adolescents and their families.

Lectures and Online Learning Materials
This subject benefits from both the real time delivery of content and access to resources via Canvas, including podcasts, videos and learning modules. Face to face lectures enable students to engage with experts within the field of contemporary paediatric nursing, and the guest lecturers will help students put theory into practice by sharing their professional clinical journey. Class sessions help students to quickly clarify complex descriptions and terminology, and engage with sensitive or confronting topics such as paediatric oncology and palliative care.

Pre-session Learning
Students access online learning resources such as podcasts, videos and literature prior to attending face-to face sessions to facilitate discussion in class resulting in shared learning, experiences and reflections.

Clinical Scenarios
In laboratories, students are introduced to a range of case scenarios based on infants, children and adolescents with acute conditions. Cases are used to help students collaborate and to learn concepts, interpret information, form clinical judgements and develop solutions. Critical thinking is developed through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations.

Simulation and Debrief
Use of low and high fidelity simulation will be used to immerse and engage students into the most common paediatric scenarios as identified in the NSW Health Clinical Practice Guidelines. This format supports and encourages communication skills, collaborative learning, critical analysis and judgement, formulation and implementation of interventions and evaluation. Debriefing will be carried out as part of the simulation process to enable reflective learning and reflective practice, and provides opportunities for regular and timely feedback.

Regular Feedback
Interactive critical-thinking based case studies will be used to provide opportunities for students to practice their existing and newly acquired skills, and to identify areas for improvement. Feedback will be provided on assessments to ensure students can identify areas for development and areas of sufficient expertise.

Clinical Placement
In this subject, the following students are not required to complete a clinical placement for the Introduction to Specialty Practice subject:

  • Students enrolled in the STM91471 Bachelor of Nursing Standard Program in 2021 or thereafter
  • Students enrolled in the STM91472 Bachelor of Nursing Enrolled Nurse Accelerated program in 2022 or thereafter.

Content (topics)

Nursing care of children with acute and chronic illnesses including, congenital, psychosocial and physical health conditions (respiratory, sepsis, trauma, mental health) and care of children requiring surgery, intensive care, palliative care and care of the sick newborn/neonate.

Growth and development in the context of acute care paediatric health services and the importance of developmentally appropriate care and family-centred care.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Domestic and Family Violence Online Module and Quiz

Intent:

Students will develop their understanding of domestic and family violence in Australia, as well as the role of the Paediatric/C&FH nurse in the assessment and support of vulnerable families.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

D and E

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

1.0 and 1.1

Type: Quiz/test
Weight: 10%
Length:

Part A- Self-paced online module
Part B- 10 minutes for quiz attempt. Only 1 attempt permitted.

Assessment task 2: Multiple Choice Quizzes

Intent:

The purpose of this assessment is to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to interpret data and make clinical decisions in caring for sick children and their families. It is expected that students will draw upon the subject content from previous weekly preparation activities, lectures and laboratory activities to demonstrate their understanding.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C, D and E

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

1.2, 2.1, 3.3 and 4.3

Type: Quiz/test
Weight: 30%
Length:

Each quiz will have an allocation of 20 minutes. Quizzes will be available for students to complete at 3 different time intervals each week. Students must only attempt each quiz once at their preferred time. Please see futher information for available times.

Assessment task 3: Practical Case Study Assessment

Intent:

The purpose of this assessment is for students to demonstrate sound clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills in the provision of safe and effective nursing care to unwell children and their families.

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):

2.1, 3.0 and 7.1

Type: Laboratory/practical
Weight: 60%
Length:

Assessment period is 90 minutes.

Assessment task 4: Clinical Placement

Type: Laboratory/practical
Length:

80 hours

Recommended texts

The following textbook is recommended as a reference for those students considering paediatric and/or family nursing and/or midwifery. (NB: it is not otherwise necessary to purchase this textbook as all reading material is provided).

Hockenberry, M. J., & Wilson, D. (eds) (2018). Wong’s Nursing Care of Infants and Children, 11th edn, Elsevier Mosby, St. Louis.

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: 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.