The University of Adelaide
Course Outlines

NURSING 5104OL - Microbiology and Epidemiology

Online - Semester 2 - 2024

This course builds on the students' knowledge of basic microbiology and will consider the epidemiology of common infectious diseases seen within the Australian population. The role of the infection control nurse will be considered in relation to epidemiological research, education and disease surveillance. Microbiology topics included the diagnosis, transmission and surveillance of infectious diseases.

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  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code NURSING 5104OL
    Course Microbiology and Epidemiology
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Nursing School
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Online
    Units 6
    Contact Online
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Graduate Certificate in Nursing Science or Master of Nursing Science
    Assessment Academic Integrity Module, Portfolio A, Portfolio B
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Ms Yvette Salamon

    Course Coordinator: Yvette Salamon
    Phone: +61 8 831 32995
    Email: yvette.salamon@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Adelaide Nursing School, Adelaide Health & Medical Sciences Building
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Identify the structure and function of microorganisms, their habitats and growth requirements.
    2 Analyse the factors involved in pathogenicity and virulence of microorganisms and how this relates to the infective process
    3 Discuss the mechanisms of resistance to antimicrobial agents and the implications for control of infection in healthcare facilities
    4 Discuss the principles of epidemiology and statistical methods relevant to the practice of infection control
    5 Critique surveillance systems for healthcare associated infection and its application in a variety of healthcare settings
    7 Compare and assess local, national and international approaches to management of pandemics.
    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)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    		 1-9

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    		 2,4-9

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    		 3,4,8,9

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    		 3-5,7, 8

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    		 5, 6, 9

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    		 5-7,9

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    		 5,7-9

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    		 3,5,6,9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Required Texts
    Readings
    • The readings for this course are available electronically via MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
    Recommended Texts
    Online Learning
    MyUni
    All students enrolled in a postgraduate coursework nursing program have access to the Adelaide Nursing School– Postgraduate Coursework Student Centre on MyUni. If you would like the opportunity to network with other students, you can use the Communication features in the site. This site will also feature information about the latest news and events at the School of Nursing.

    Unified
    http://unified.adelaide.edu.au/
    UNIFIED is your one-stop shop for email, calendar, MyUni and Access Adelaide. It even allows you to search the Library.
    UNIFIED is available to all active students; with a single login you can access your student systems and personal information through a central website. Login with your Student ID ("a1234567") and Password.

    For more information, including easy to follow instructions visit https://unified.adelaide.edu.au/web/mycampus/home.

    Library Resources
    Help for Nursing Students
    The University of Adelaide Library has a website to help nursing students use the library and its resource (http://libguides.adelaide.edu.au/nursing).

    Remote student library service
    The University of Adelaide Library provides a document delivery and loans service to non-metropolitan students who do not visit a University of Adelaide campus to attend classes (www.adelaide.edu.au/library/docdel/external.html).
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course utilises flexible learning methods to enable it to be offered in an open learning format. Your Study guide and readings are provided via MyUni. You will need to purchase the prescribed texts. Each week you are directed to specific readings and the Study Guide contains interactive activities, which are designed to test and consolidate your knowledge and to develop your skills to critique. These readings and activities are designed to replace classes in the design of the course. Thus, working through them is vital to your successful completion of the course.

    Each topic corresponds to one week of study. A series of readings and activities are presented and you are advised to follow carefully what is required of you. You will be expected to undertake a substantial program of reading. A number of articles have been prescribed and these are contained in the Reader that forms part of the materials for this course. You are encouraged to read further and become familiar with accessing materials from libraries, databases and the Internet.
    Workload

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

    While all students work at a different pace it is expected that study for this course will be approximately 24 hours per week of your time. This is a rough guide and may vary for students who have not studied recently
    Learning Activities Summary
    Basic Principles of Microbiology

    Laboratory Diagnosis of Infection

    Infectious Disease Transmission - local and pandemic 

    Host/microbe Interactions and the Disease Process

    Managing Antibiotic Resistance

    Molecular Epidemiology and Outbreak Control

    Introduction to Epidemiology

    Basic Statistical and Epidemiological Methods

    Study Design

    Surveillance Methods

    Computing and Data Management

    Information Management

  • 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 Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    Academic Integrity Module Formative 0%
    Portfolio Part A Summative 50% 1-4
    Portfolio Part B Summative 50% 5-9
    Assessment Detail
    Academic Integrity Modules:
    Weighing: 0%
    It is important that all students understand how not to commit a breach of Academic Integrity and to avoid plagiarism therefore students need to understand the meaning of citation, paraphrasing, quotation, and referencing. The University has developed a course to ensure that students understand their obligations and to provide guidance on how to adhere to the policy. The Universities Academic Integrity Online Modules is made up of five short modules. Students are encouraged to work through the modules as many times as they need to ensure that they have a thorough understanding of these guidelines. The modules are used as a formative assessment that has no percentage allocated to a final grade

    Portfolio A - Microbiology
    Weighting: 50%
    Topic: The focus of Portfolio A's activities will be on Microbiology and will reflect the activities found in the weekly modules of the course. The answers will normally be short answer questions unless the students feels that they would prefer an alternative format such as a table. All of the activities will need to be researched and supported by contemporary sources

    Portfolio B - Epidemiology
    Weighting: 50%
    Topic: The focus of Portfolio B's activities will be on Epidemiology and will reflect the activities found in the weekly modules of the course. The answers will normally be short answer questions unless the students feels that they would prefer an alternative format such as a table. All of the activities will need to be researched and supported by contemporary sources
    Submission
    Assessments, unless otherwise stated in your Study guide, are to be submitted electronically via Assignments in MyUni on the due date identified in this Study guide. Instructions for assignment submission are available for all students under Tutorials at www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/.

    An assessment submitted via MyUni must be submitted as a .doc, .docx or .rtf file. If submitting a PowerPoint presentation for marking, the .ppt or .pptx must be submitted as .pdf file. It is also important to submit your file under your name, such as surname.firstname. MyUni stamps all the other details against your filename once you submit your assessment.

    Turnitin is used to submit all assignments in this course. Turnitin is a plagiarism software tool that enables the student to identify any matching text before final submission

    An Assignment Coversheet must be submitted with each assessment. The coversheet should be the first page of your assessment. A word version of the Assignment Coversheet is available to download at www.health.adelaide.edu.au/nursing/students/resources. The Plagiarism Statement must be signed and dated for your assessment to be marked (please note the details stated on the Assignment Coversheet). More information on avoiding Plagiarism is available at www.adelaide.edu.au/clpd/plagiarism/.
    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.

    Plagiarism
    Students are reminded that plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty constitute a serious offence and can result in disciplinary procedures. Students are advised to read the policy Academic Honesty and Assessment Obligations for Coursework Students Policy & Coursework Students: Academic Dishonesty Procedures policy, available at www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/230/. The following definitions should be noted.

    Referencing: providing a full bibliographic reference to the source of the citation (in a style as determined by the School).
    Quotation: placing an excerpt from an original source into a paper using either quotation marks or indentation, with the source cited, using an approved referencing system in order to give credit to the original author.
    Paraphrasing: repeating a section of text using different words which retain the original meaning.
    Please note: changing just a few words does not constitute paraphrasing.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide (https://access.adelaide.edu.au/sa/login.asp)

    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.

    In line with student feedback minor changes to the balance of assessment items have been enacted so that the weighting for essay has been increased and the quiz assessment decreased proportionately.
  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

  • 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.
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The University of Adelaide
Adelaide, South Australia
5005 Australia

Australian University Provider Number PRV12105
CRICOS Provider Number 00123M


Telephone: +61 8 8313 4455

Coordinates: -34.920843, 138.604513

Authorised by:Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:Course Outlines Administrator