NURSING 1004 - Communication and Professional Nursing I

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

Communication and Professional Nursing I introduces students to the interrelated aspects of communication and professional behaviour in nursing. The ethical and legal boundaries of nursing practice are framed by the ANMC competencies. Assessments are an essential aspect of the course bringing a practical emphasis to often challenging and confronting situations in health. The inclusion of Team STEPPS principles encourages the development of students with contemporary skills in interdisciplinary communication and an acute awareness of preventing harm through poor communication. Students will also be given an opportunity to discuss death and dying in tutorials sessions prior to placement.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code NURSING 1004
    Course Communication and Professional Nursing I
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Nursing School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to B.Nurs students only
    Course Description Communication and Professional Nursing I introduces students to the interrelated aspects of communication and professional behaviour in nursing. The ethical and legal boundaries of nursing practice are framed by the ANMC competencies. Assessments are an essential aspect of the course bringing a practical emphasis to often challenging and confronting situations in health. The inclusion of Team STEPPS principles encourages the development of students with contemporary skills in interdisciplinary communication and an acute awareness of preventing harm through poor communication. Students will also be given an opportunity to discuss death and dying in tutorials sessions prior to placement.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Frank Donnelly

    Course Coordinator: Dr Frank Donnelly
    Phone: +61 8313 3639
    Fax: +61 8 8303 3594
    Email: frank.donnelly@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Room 3 - 23, Eleanor Harrald Building, Royal Adelaide Hospital


    School Office:
    Phone: +61 8313 3595
    Email: nursing_preregistration@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Eleanor Harrald Building, Royal Adelaide Hospital
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Develop effective communication skills between nurses and their patients, with members of the community and with other health professionals
    2 Appreciate the influence of human emotions, spirituality, body image, self-concept, sexuality, and death and dying on the health care of people.
    3 Identify the dynamics of cultural safety in nursing especially as they relate to the care of different cultural groups.
    4 Apply basic principles of effective group dynamics and consider concepts of problem based learning and critical thinking.
    5 Recognise the various roles nurses have in the provision of health care, the history of the nursing profession and the development of nursing knowledge.
    6 Identify the regulation of nursing practice and legislation governing the practice of nurses.
    7 Examine the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) competencies and professional codes of practice.
    8 Apply safety in practice with clear articulation of the principle of consent
    9 Discuss and justify ethics and guidelines for documentation, privacy and maintaining confidentiality
    10 Recognise occupational health issues relating to professional nursing practice.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1-6, 8
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 1, 3, 8, 9
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 1, 3-5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 4, 9
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 10
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 7, 9, 10
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 5, 7, 8
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 2-3
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Crisp, J. Taylor, C Douglas, C Ribeiro,G 2013 Fundamentals of Nursing. 4th Edition, Elsevier, Chatswood, NSW
    Recommended Resources
    Stein-Parbury, J 2013, Patient and Person: Interpersonal Skills in Nursing, 5th edn, Elsevier, Sydney

    http://cmap.ihmc.us/ Concept map freeware website
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Face to face - Face to face lectures offer synchronous learning opportunities and enable students to quickly clarify complex descriptions and terminology. Much of the content for this course is supported by textbooks with web page and e-learning supports. The School of Nursing supports the audio and video capture of lecture content as an aid to revision.

    Interactive tutorials – the importance of teamwork and communication in nursing and health care is emphasized through supported and interactive tutorials.

    Interdisciplinary communication vignettes – with an emphasis on professional and cultural safety a number of exemplars will consider the role of communication in ensuring professional practice and cultural safety. The School of Nursing will seek out interdisciplinary opportunities amongst other health care disciplines within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Please note this course runs across weeks 1- 6 of the semester. The course is completed to enable students to attend clinical placement, weeks 7-12. The workload for this course requires attendance at:

    • 2 x 1 hour lecture / week (1-8)
    • 1x1 hour tutorial / week (1-8)

    Lectures may be scheduled across mid-semester break. 

    Non-contact hours for assessment and tutorial preparation will be approximately 5 hours per week.
    Learning Activities Summary

    The tables below indicate the lecture and tutorial outlines for Communication and Professional Nursing 1. Other tutorials may be provided as required.

    Communication and Professional Nursing 1
    Lecture series
    1. History of nursing

    2. Theories of health and illness

    3. Nursing theory and knowledge

    4. Nursing roles and autonomy

    5. Legislation in nursing

    6. Consent

    7. Confidentiality

    8. Ethics in nursing

    9. NMBA (formerly ANMC) competencies

    10. Introduction to safety, quality and risk

    11. Introduction to principles of OHS&W

    12. Introduction to therapeutic communication

    13. Verbal and nonverbal communication

    14. Medical terminology and communicating across the team

    15. Team STEPPs
    Tutorial series
    1. Interdisciplinary roles in health care settings

    2. Team STEPPS - Communication in health care settings

    3. Self-concept

    4. Critical thinking

    5. Gender and sexuality

    6. Psychosocial development

    7. Death and dying

    Specific Course Requirements
    This course requires participants to reflect on a range of views and situations that confront the day to day reality of nursing practice. Students must ensure they attend lectures knowing they can comment and interact in a safe and non-discriminatory environment.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    The SGDE for 1st years students is detailed within the course Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice.
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Word Count (equivalent) Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    Peer group review – communication vignettes Formative 1-5
    Referencing for academic writing Summative 30% 1000 1, 9
    Concept map - legislation Summative 70% 2750 6-8, 10
    Assessment Detail
    ASSESSMENT 1: Peer group review
    Peer group review: small groups will be assigned a communication vignette taken from accompanying text books, selected SA Coroners findings and reality based scenarios provided by the clinical tutors. The emphasis on examination of the cases will be to identify and offer solutions to how or why a breakdown in communication occurred or how a cultural misunderstanding resulted from poor communication techniques. The use of the current SA Health communication framework, Team StePPS to frame responses will enable student to recognise current communication practices while on clinical placement. Each group will work to identify positive and negative aspects of the vignette and most importantly will communicating throughout the exercise.

    ASSESSMENT 2: Referencing / Plagiarism for academic writing
    Referencing for academic writing: students will need to complete a series of quizzes to identify plagiarism and correct referencing technique. The aim of the assignment is to establish sound academic writing habits early within the first year of the program. A series of passages will be taken from accompanying textbooks to illustrate the nature of precise language required for documentation in health care.

    ASSESSMENT 3: Concept map
    Concept map – legislation: on entry to a Bachelor of Nursing program students must be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. As this is often the first exposure of students to the many forms of legislation that inform professional nursing practice, a concept map assessment will encourage students to illustrate the relationship between law and practice. The theme of the map will be indicated from selected legal texts, government websites and a number of pre- selected journal and newspaper articles. A concept map rubric will be provided to further assist students in the development of the map. Previous examples from BNurs students will be provided as exemplars. This assessment is particularly useful prior to the student’s first clinical placement to emphasise the legal and professional boundaries that guide nursing practice. The construction of concept maps is a useful learning and revision strategy that students can adapt to support other learning needs.
    Submission
    Unless otherwise indicated all submission of assignments is to be through the assignments portal of MyUni. TurnItin will be used to check student assignments. Students MUST keep an electronic copy of all assignments submitted. Cover sheets are required for all assignments and can be accessed from the School of Nursing website. Extension of 1 week for submission of assignments can automatically be granted when an online request is submitted. (Please see Study Guide for details) Requests must be made before the due date of the assignment. In principle, all assignments should be submitted by the due date. Late submission without an approved extension will be penalised at the rate of 5% of available marks for each working day after the due date. Work submitted more than ten days after the due date may be returned unmarked. This action will be taken to prevent students who do get their work in on time being disadvantaged.
    The policy for applying for extensions is outlined in the School Manual and the Study Guides.
    Whenever possible staff will turn around marked assignments within 4 weeks or earlier.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

     Marking Guide - Concept map

    Category High Distinction Distinction Credit Pass Fail
    Critical thinking Demonstrates excellence in analysing, synthesising and evaluating information and ideas from multiple perspectives. Demonstrates proficiency in analysing, synthesising and evaluating information and ideas from multiple perspectives Demonstrates adequacy in analysing, synthesising and evaluating information and ideas from multiple perspectives. Demonstrates brief analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information and ideas from multiple perspectives. Demonstrates deficiency in analysing, synthesising and evaluating information and ideas from multiple perspectives.
    Quality of work Presents work of the highest quality Presents high quality work Presents work that is satisfactory Presents work that is barely satisfactory Presents work that is unsatisfactory
    Accuracy and relevance All core concepts (propositions) are clearly identified, relevant and accurate. Most core concepts (propositions) are identified, relevant and accurate. Core concepts (propositions) are identified although some elements are missing. Core concepts (propositions) are vague, irrelevant and inaccurate. Core concepts (propositions) are irrelevant and inaccurate.
    Concept map structure Hierarchy, branching and cross links reflect complex levels of meaning and identify all subconcepts Hierarchy, branching and cross links reflect complex levels of meaning although some subconcepts are missing Hierarchy, branching and cross links reflect satisfactory levels of meaning with some subconcepts missing Hierarchy, branching and cross links are poorly developed with most subconcepts missing Hierarchy, branching and cross links have not been developed with obvious subconcepts missing
    Clarity of Writing (Writing Technique) Sentence structure is always clear, clarity of discussion and precision of expression is of the highest quality, spelling and grammar always correct. Sentence structure is mostly clear, clarity of discussion and precision of expression is of the high quality, spelling and grammar mostly correct. Sentence structure is clear, clarity of discussion and precision of expression is satisfactory, spelling and grammar is correct. Sentence structure is only sometimes clear, clarity of discussion and precision of expression is of the low quality, spelling and grammar are sometimes correct. Sentence structure is rarely clear, clarity of argument and precision of expression of poor quality and the spelling and grammar are rarely correct 

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

    Students are to ensure they are familiar with the contents of the 2014 School of Nursing Student Handbook and Style Guide. A PDF of this document is available through MyUni.


    Student feedback from 2014 has suggested removing the discussion board from the formative assessment. Greater explanation of word count equivalent will be applied to the concept map assessment. A student example of concept map will be provided through MyUni.
  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.