93222 Clinical Practice 2A
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject provides the clinical foundations to the person-centred care of patients across the lifespan. The development of critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills related to health assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of nursing care, care of “the deteriorating patient”, patient safety, cultural competence, therapeutic communication, inter-professional communication, safe medication practices and relevant ethical and legal principles are integral to this subject. The clinical scenarios and patient stories on cancer control as well as the gastrointestinal and renal system align with those used in 93207 Foundations of Nursing 2A and have been chosen as they are National Health Priorities and represent a significant burden in terms of mortality and morbidity.
Students practice within the framework of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered Nurse Standards for Practice and the Patient Safety Competency Framework (PSCF).
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Perform comprehensive patient assessments using frameworks and techniques appropriate to the level of enrolment. RN Standard 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments |
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| B. | Develop person centred, evidence based plans of care in adherence with relevant policies and clinical practice guidelines. RN Standard 1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice |
| C. | Practice quality use of medicines related to the administration and management of intravenous medications and fluids and intramuscular injection. RN Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice |
| D. | Demonstrate a capability to undertake pain assessment to inform pain management strategies. RN Standard 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments |
| E. | Demonstrate a beginning level understanding of the key concepts of perioperative nursing that are essential for safe and effective patient outcomes. RN Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice |
| F. | Demonstrate a person-centred approach to the management and care of patients with acute and chronic wounds and stomas. RN Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Plans and provides care based on the best available evidence including clinical expertise and patients' individual needs, values and preferences. (4.3)
- The intellectual capacity to use theoretical knowledge to address complex and non-routine clinical issues (6.0)
- Uses clinical reasoning skills to accurately assess, interpret and respond to patient data in a systematic and timely manner. (6.2)
- Critically reflects on and learns from previous experiences to improve future practice. (6.3)
- The knowledge and skills required for safe and effective patient care (7.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, students will participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage you to engage with nursing care of adults in an acute care clinical setting.
Lectures
Online lectures are provided to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts.
Clinical skills, collaboration, communication and simulation
Students participate in clinical laboratory sessions that focus on integration of key concepts and skills. In these sessions, students are introduced to a range of nursing skills, including assessment and interventions and simulation activities. Simulation activities are practical learning experiences designed to give students exposure to a range of scenarios that may be encountered in practice. Activities include the use of audio-visual aids and clinical equipment set-ups with mannequins, teaching staff or students as simulated patients/consumers. Students learn and practice clinical and interpersonal skills in groups with case scenarios in the laboratories. These practice scenarios incorporate the development of professional communication skills including professional and therapeutic communication required for nursing practice. Students are provided feedback and with the opportunity to collaborate and develop skills to work effectively as a team member.
Patient stories and clinical case scenarios
Cases are used to help students explore health related scenarios. Cases depict patients/consumers and their families in an acute care surgical setting. Students use these scenarios to learn concepts, interpret information, form clinical judgements and develop creative solutions. Critical thinking is developed through analysis, interpretation of and reflection on issues or situations.
Clinical Placement
In this subject students complete XX hours of clinical placement. Placements are provided in a range of healthcare facilities in mostly metropolitan locations. Students provide nursing care within their scope of practice alongside multidisciplinary teams to develop and consolidate their knowledge, skills and attributes relevant to the clinical field.
All clinical placements are managed under the UTS Internships Management Policy and students must comply and act in accordance with the Student Rules, the Student Rights and Responsibilities Policy and the Equity, Inclusion and Respect Policy.
Content (topics)
- A-H assessment
- Pain assessment and management
- Patient-controlled analgesia management
- Assessment and management of fluid/electrolyte status
- Establishment and management of intravenous therapy
- Quality use of medicines - administration of intravenous medications via secondary line and burette
- Intramuscular medication administration
- Managing acute and chronic wounds
- Drain removal
- Suture/staple removal
- Stoma care
- Abdominal assessment
- Application of evidenced-based practice
- Preparing a person for surgery
- Application of anti-embolism stockings
- Post-operative care
- Fluid status assessment
- Nasogastric tube - management
- Subcutaneous medication administration
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Medication calculations
| Intent: | The purpose of this assessment item is to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of medication calculations including oral, subcutaneous and IV fluids. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): C This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 7.0 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | One 20 minute in-class test. |
| Criteria: | This quiz will be conducted during lab 2. |
Assessment task 2: Simulation in Practice
| Intent: | This written assessment will allow students to demonstrate their development of clinical reasoning, critical thinking skills and insight through reflection on a clinical simulation experience. See Canvas for further details. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A and B This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 4.3 and 6.3 |
| Type: | Reflection |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | 1000 words |
Assessment task 3: Final exam: Patient Scenarios
| Intent: | Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their clinical reasoning, judgment, and subject learning through this final exam. This assessment will be patient-focused and person-centered, and pose a series of multiple-choice and short-answer questions to students. These questions will focus on patient safety and will relate to the concepts explored during lectures and labs. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 4.3, 6.0 and 6.2 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | 90 minutes. |
Assessment task 4: Clinical Placement
| Intent: | Clinical Placement Pass/Fail |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): B This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 7.0 |
| Length: | 80 hours |
Minimum requirements
- Attend 100% of clinical laboratories
- Attempt all assessment tasks
- Achieve a minimum 50% overall mark
- Meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to clinical placement
- Completion of 80 hours of clinical placement with evidence of satisfactory clinical appraisal
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.