University of Technology Sydney

93217 Foundations of Nursing Practice 3B

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 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 93214 Foundations of Nursing Practice 3A
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This is the capstone foundations subject for the program and provides an overview of studies to date and serves to consolidate the knowledge students have gained across the three years of the program. Knowledge of patient safety is revised using the Patient Safety Competency Framework (PSCF). Students draw on knowledge gained in previous subjects and apply their knowledge to case studies involving patients across the lifespan with complex and challenging needs, involving health breakdowns identified as National Health Priorities. This includes the planning and coordination of care backed up by evidence based rationales, professional and appropriate communication and conduct and the ability to make decisions based on an understanding of the legal and ethical principles that underpin nursing.

Current innovative topics in nursing are considered including informatics, genomics, climate change and delivering nursing care in complex situations such as disasters and pandemics.

A nursing researcher in the school is showcased in the subject to demonstrate the relevance and currency of nursing research.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Demonstrate an understanding of cultural safety to inform culturally competent nursing practice. (RN Standards of Practice 1.2,1.3,1.4, 2.2, 2.3, 2.7, 3.7. 4.1, 6.1)
B. Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of patient safety across all elements of the Patient Safety Competency Framework. (RN Standards of Practice 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
C. Demonstrate safe and quality use of medicines at a beginning practitioner level. (RN Standards of Practice 1, 3, 4, 5, 6)
D. Apply clinical reasoning and critical thinking skills to complex clinical scenarios to coordinate and plan appropriate nursing care. (RN Standards of Practice 1.1, 1.2,1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 4, 5, 7)
E. Develop an understanding of the need for continuing professional development and life-long learning in nursing. (RN Standards of Practice 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7)
F. Identify the ways in which Registered Nurses disseminate their research findings to their peers. (RN Standards of Practice 1.7, 2.7, 2.8, 3.2, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6)
G. Prepare and present a research poster to their peers. (RN Standards of Practice 1.1, 1.7, 2.7, 2.8, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 7)

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)
  • The embodiment of a professional disposition committed to ethical, equitable and legal nursing practice (2.0)
  • The ability to communicate and collaborate safely, compassionately and respectfully. (3.0)
  • The ability to provide patient care premised on the best available evidence (4.0)
  • The intellectual capacity to use theoretical knowledge to address complex and non-routine clinical issues (6.0)
  • The knowledge and skills required for safe and effective patient care (7.0)

Teaching and learning strategies

In this subject, you will participate in various teaching and learning strategies.

Online learning materials
This subject benefits from access to online resources, including podcasts, videos and learning modules. Students are provided with the resources to complete preparatory work to enable engagement during face-to-face tutorials.

Tutorials
Students will be supported and guided by a tutor and will work in groups to unpack the tutorial content using patient stories and clinical scenarios.

Students will be provided feedback from their tutor and peers with the opportunity to collaborate and develop interpersonal, communication and reflective skills.

Content (topics)

You will consolidate and extend your knowledge on the following topics:

  • Patients with complex healthcare needs
  • Clinical reasoning and clinical decision making
  • Palliative and end-of-life care
  • Digital health

You will be introduced to the following topics in preparation for professional practice:

  • Volunteer assisted dying
  • Organ donation
  • Climate change and planetary health
  • Sustainability in practice

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Check your knowledge – Patient Safety Quiz

Intent:

Adverse events in healthcare represent a major source of morbidity and mortality globally. The knowledge and skills nursing students develop during their undergraduate studies have a direct impact on patient safety. This assessment is designed to consolidate students learning and test their knowledge of patient safety to ensure that students graduate as safe and effective Registered Nurses.

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, 2.0 and 3.0

Groupwork: Group, group assessed
Weight: Mandatory task that does not contribute to subject mark
Length:

35 questions 40 minutes.

Assessment task 2: Continuing professional development and lifelong learning – it’s not just about maintaining registration

Intent:

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the means by which members of the nursing profession maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge, expertise and competence, and develop the personal and professional qualities needed throughout their professional lives. Due to the increasing complexity of the healthcare environment, nurses career development and level of patient care depends on their ability to further their education and skills. One way that this can be achieved is through attending and participating in nursing conferences. Presenting at a nursing conference encourages debate, insight, dissemination of findings, knowledge growth and development of professional practice.

This assessment is designed to develop students understanding that CPD is an important element of nursing practice and nurses’ life-long learning through the preparation and presentation of an e-poster.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

E, F and G

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

3.0, 4.0 and 7.0

Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 50%
Length:

1 x PowerPoint slide (A3 size) or PDF (A3 size) + 3-5 minute voice recording

Assessment task 3: Caring for a patient with complex healthcare needs – making sense of the complexity – clinical reasoning, critical thinking and decision making

Intent:

The purpose of this assessment item is to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their development of critical thinking, clinical judgment and clinical decision-making skills by using clinical reasoning to determine patient priorities and avoid cognitive errors.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C and D

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

1.0, 6.0 and 7.0

Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 50%
Length:

1500-2000 words

Recommended texts

Lemone & Burke (Eds). (2020). Medical Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Person-Centred Care 4th ed. Melbourne, Victoria: Pearson

Levett-Jones, T. (Eds) (2023). Clinical Reasoning: Learning to think like a nurse 3rd ed. Melbourne, Victoria: Pearson.

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: UTS Library, 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.