Advancing Practice. Clinical Impact

The Graduate Diploma in Nursing Science (Burns Nursing) provides graduates with a rigorous grounding in the theoretical and practical components that underpin the practice of Burns Nursing. These skills are necessary to ensure that the burns nurse is able to provide comprehensive and appropriate burn care. This will be within the context of the local clinical environment whilst at the same time ensuring that the nurse has knowledge of advanced technologies and practices.

Students will also graduate with a sound knowledge of burn pathophysiology, epidemiology, burn types, first aid management, burn assessment and management, surgical intervention, skin substitutes, rehabilitation, prevention and education. The student will also have the opportunity to interact with burns nurses from many different burns units, both adult and paediatric, providing a unique opportunity for discussion on clinical practice. They will also develop a good understanding of the role of the burns nurse in disaster management via an online role play simulation ‘Disaster Down Under’.

The course therefore provides an opportunity to study in depth nursing and medical science that directs clinical practice in the burns care setting.

SPECIALTY CORE COURSES

Nursing & Medical Science in Burns Nursing I
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 1
This course will examine nursing and medical science in relation to burn management and the principles of burn nursing in the adult and paediatric setting. Topics will include anatomy & physiology, wound management, pathophysiology, pain management and surgical interventions.

Nursing & Medical Science in Burns Nursing II
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 2
This course will focus on the rehabilitation of the adult and paediatric burn patient with their family. The role and the future professional development of the burns nurse will also be addressed. Topics will include physical therapy, psychosocial care, discharge planning, and disaster management, burn prevention and education.

Burns Nursing I
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 1
This course will largely consist of field based nursing within the area of clinical practice supported by online discussions. Students will explore the specialist skills required for the management of the adult and child with a burn injury.

Burns Nursing II
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 2 (Students must have successfully completed Burns Nursing I before they can undertake Burns Nursing II)
This course will largely consist of field based nursing within the area of clinical practice, supported by online discussions. Students will explore the skills required for meeting the holistic needs for the management of the adult and child with a burn injury. The focus will be on case management, therapies and the transition of patients with a burn injury back into the community.

CORE COURSES

Developing Advanced Practice in Health Systems I
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course examines contemporary issues related to advanced nursing practice and considers the supports and constraints within which nurses practice. Topics include ethics of care, leadership, advocacy, evidence based practice, health service management, professional standards, health informatics and multicultural health care.

Developing Advanced Practice in Health Systems II
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course examines the evaluation of clinical practice through clinical audit. Students progress through a series of readings and activities that introduce clinical audit and then progressively work through the processes involved in the development, conduct and reporting of an audit of clinical practice.

Focused Reading in Clinical Nursing (for students granted advanced standing)
Units: 4 units
Teaching period: Semester 1 or Semester 2
This course examines contemporary clinical nursing practice through a critical review of the literature with a focus on acute care nursing practice. Students are required to follow a protocol to ensure scientific rigour and minimise potential bias.

It is intended that this program will enable the student to:

• understand and appreciate the theory that supports Burns Nursing practice
• understand, describe and analyse the assessment and management of burns
• develop a knowledge base that will complement clinical practice
• understand the concepts that make Burns Nursing unique
• become aware of current clinical issues in Burns Nursing
• develop an understanding of the pathologies involved in burns care.

Applicants must

1. be registered, or be eligible for registration, as a nurse in Australia or New Zealand, and
2. hold a degree of Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent; or, have at least two years experience as a registered nurse in the field of the specialisation to be undertaken.

This academic plan is offered to registered nurses currently employed full-time or for a minimum of 0.6 in the specialty setting.

• Discipline of Nursing