NURSING 7138 - Haematology/Oncology Nursing I

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015

This course of study aims to increase a student's theoretical knowledge of the disease process and treatment of cancer. It will examine the concepts of epidemiology, aetiology and pathology of cancer along with contemporary and emerging treatment modalities and their effects. The cancer journey is considered with a focus on developing understanding of the patient experience. Skills acquirement within the students clinical environment is an integral part of this course.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code NURSING 7138
    Course Haematology/Oncology Nursing I
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Nursing School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Flexible delivery mode; 2 day workshop; weekly, one hour tutorials via the online classroom
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to M.NursSc students only
    Assessment Essay, portfolio, presentation and online participation (80% attendance required)
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Kate Cameron

    Course Coordinator: Kate Cameron
    Phone: +61 8 8222 2991
    Email: kate.cameron@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: School of Nursing, The University of Adelaide

    School Office/Student Liason
    Phone: +61 8 8313 3595
    Email: nursing.studentliason@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 3, 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 Explain the concepts and pathophysiology of cancer development
    2 Apply the concepts of epidemiology in relation to cancer and cancer prevention and screening
    3 Apply a knowledge base of therapeutic goals, approaches, indications, nursing implications, mechanisms, and action and safety issues for cancer treatment modalities to patient care.
    4 Discuss the use of complementary therapies by patients with cancer
    5 Describe and analyse issues related to cancer survivorship and the experience of cancer as a chronic disease.
    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. 1-5
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 3-5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3-5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 3
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 3-5
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 3-5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Texts
    Henke Yarbro, C, Wujcik, B M & Holmes Gobel, B 2010, Cancer nursing, principles and practice, 7th edn, Jones and Bartlett Sudbury, Massachusetts.

    Abeloff, MD, Armitage, JO, Niederhuber, JE, Kastan, MB & Gillies Mckenna, W 2008, Abeloffs’ clinical oncology, 4th edn, Churchill Livingstone. (Available online through the Barr Smith Library)
    Copies of the 6th edition are available from the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science Library and the Barr Smith Library. In addition, journals specific to the area of oncology nursing are readily available in most libraries and these, along with other nursing journals, provide current information on issues relating to oncology nursing.

    Reader
    The readings for this course are available electronically via MyUni.
    Please note: it is your responsibility to organise printing should you prefer a hard copy of the reader.
    Online Learning
    Online Classroom
    The online classroom (OC) technology will be used for weekly classroom sessions during this semester. You need to familiarise yourself with this technology to become reasonably comfortable with using it prior to the start of the semester.

    Hardware requirements

    To connect to the OC you will require:
    • a computer – either a PC-based or a Macintosh-based machine with Windows or OS-X with Java
    • Internet access – there seems to be little difference between broadband and dial-up connections other than the speed of the initial connection. You will need to select your connection type when you first log-in.
    • a multimedia headset – it must have both earphones and microphone (These are available in computer variety stores for about $25).
    If you are going to utilise a computer and internet connection from your workplace, you need to discuss this with your employer. You will also need to establish with your workplace IT department if there are any firewalls that need to be negotiated to allow connection to the OC. If your IT department need further clarification on this they can contact your course coordinator.

    MyUni

    All students enrolled in a postgraduate coursework nursing program have access to the School of Nursing – 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 (www.library.adelaide.edu.au/guide/med/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 is offered as a mixed mode course. You will be required to attend a two day mid-semester workshop. Participation in the online tutorials conducted each week is essential for learning in this course.
    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.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The course content will include the following:
    1. Cell biology, metastasis, and genetics and cancer
    2. Haematopoiesis and immunology
    3. Prevention and screening
    4. Diagnosis and staging of cancer
    5. Surgery in cancer treatment
    6. Cancer assessment and support, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, apheresis, consumer considerations
    7. Haematopoietic cell transplantation
    8. Fertility interventions
    9. Targeted and biologic therapies in cancer treatment
    10. Palliative care
    11. Complementary therapies
    12. Cancer survivorship
  • 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 Due
    Portfolio of activities A Formative 0% 1 Week 3
    Online presentation Summative 30% 3 Week 7/8
    Portfolio of activities B Summative 70% 2-5 Week 13
    Clinical learning diary Summative Pass/Fail 3-5 Week 12 (50% of the diary must be completed)
    Assessment Detail

    Assessment 1
    Portfolio of Activities Part A

    Not weighted
    400 words
    Students are expected to submit a compiled document of portfolio activities from the study guide. They are encouraged to plan their work and complete activities on a week by week basis.

    Assessment 2
    Presentation
    30%, 20min (2500 word equivalent)

    Assessment 3
    Portfolio of Activities B – 70%, 4800 words
    Students are expected to submit a compiled document of portfolio activities from the study guide. They are encouraged to plan their work and complete activities on a week by week basis.

    Assessment 4
    Professional portfolio of practice – Clinical learning diary, pass/fail
    Submission
    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.

    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.

    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.

  • 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.