NURSING 7200 - Nursing Science

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2023

This course will introduce cultural, health beliefs and practices, epidemiological, immunological, pharmacological, and psychological and social science concepts that are relevant to nursing care.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code NURSING 7200
    Course Nursing Science
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Nursing School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 4 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available to M.Clin Nurs students only
    Assessment Writing/Referencing Diagnostic, Psychosocial Health Assessment/Critical Reflection, Hand Hygiene Certificate, Case Scenario
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Claire Verrall

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Effectively communicate with clients, community members, nursing colleagues and other health professionals, including managing conflict
    2 Identify epidemiological terms and concepts and discuss the importance of epidemiological data in health care including how diseases can be transmitted and effective principles to control infection
    3 Discuss culturally sensitive and safe health care for clients from culturally diverse backgrounds and acknowledge individual variances in beliefs and practices
    4 Discuss the concepts of caring, stress and coping as it pertains to clients receiving nursing practice and identify indicators of stress and strategies to assist in their reduction
    5 Discuss the concept of a person centred approach as an underlying prinicple when providing nursing care
    6 Identify relevant activities of daily living for a patient with a selected health problem
    7 Discuss primary health in an Australian healthcare context and discuss the nurse’s role in health promotion and illness prevention
    8 Identify determinants of health within Australian and global populations
    9 Identify the basic classifications of drugs and distinguish between pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics
    10 Consider the administration of oral medications and recognise and respond to adverse drug reactions.
    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.

    2,4-5, 10

    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.

    6-7, 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.

    1, 5

    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.

    1,2

    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.

    3, 8

    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.

    1, 3, 8

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

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

    2

    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.

    3-4, 6
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Crisp, J Taylor, C, Douglas, C & Rebeiro, G, 2017 Potter and Perry’s Fundamentals of Nursing 5th edn, Mosby Elsevier, Australia.

    Broyles, B Reiss, B Evans, M McKenzie G Pleunik, S Page, R 2017 Pharmacology in Nursing 2nd edn, Cengage, South Melbourne

    Lee, G & Bishop, P 2016, Microbiology and Infection Control for Health Professionals, 6th edn, Pearson Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forest.
    Recommended Resources
    Harris, P, Nagy, S & Vardaxis, N (eds) 2014, Mosby's Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing & Health Professions, 3rd edn, Mosby, Sydney.

    McMurray, A & Clendon, J, 2014, Community Health and Wellness, 5th Edition: Primary health care in practice, Mosby Australia.
    Online Learning
    Online resources will be made available through Canvas. 
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course uses a blend of lectures, tutorials and workshops to identify situations that impact the daily environment of nursing practice. Students are encouraged to consider their ‘arrival’ at the career of nursing and to actively reflect on what they consider to be the professional skills and attributes. Role plays and self -directed learning opportunities help to facilitate the reflective nature of this course.
    Workload

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

    The workload for this course requires attendance at:
    • 1 x 2 hour tutorial / week

    Non contact hours for assessment and tutorial preparation will be 6-9 hours per week.
    Learning Activities Summary
    The tables below indicate the lecture and tutorial outlines for Nursing Science. Please refer to the timetable above for details on class and time. Other tutorials may be provided as required.

    Nursing Science
    Lecture Series
    Science of Caring 
    Epidemiology in health care
    Introduction to infection control
    Principles of disease transmission
    Asepsis and sterile fields 
    Introduction to pharmacology
    Pharmacology legislation and classification of drugs
    Pharmacodynamics
    Pharmacokinetics
    Administration of medications
    Adverse reactions to medications
    Stress and illness
    Tutorial Series
    Writing/referncing diagnostic test
    Infection control
    Cultural awareness workshop
    Primary Health Care
    Pharmacology dynamics and kinetics 
    Preparation of medications for administration
    Specific Course Requirements
    There are no specific course requirements.
  • 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
    Writing/Referencing Diagnostic Formative NGP 1
    Psychosocial Health Assessment/Critical reflection Summative 40% 1, 4-7
    Hand Hygiene Certificate Summative 10% 2,5,6
    Case Scenario Summative 50% 1-7, 9-10

    Assessment Related Requirements
    The drug calculation test must be passed with 100% accuracy. Students who are concerned about their mathematics skills should seek assistance early in the program. 
    Assessment Detail
    ASSESSMENT: WRITING/REFERENCE DIAGNOSTIC 
    Weighting: NGP
    Length: 30 mins (300 word equivilent)
    Students are required to complete a writing/referencing submission completed during the first tuorial to identify areas that may need revision in order to develop an understanding of academic writing and referencing.

    ASSESSMENT 1: HAND HYGIENE CERTIFICATE
    Weighting: 10% (500 word equivilent)
    This is an online module that will generate a certificate of completion.  Students are required to upload their certificate onto MyUni.

    ASSESSMENT 2: PSYCHOSOCIAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT/CRTICAL REFLECTION

    Weighting: 40%
    Length: 1500 words (750 Health Assessment +750 Critical Reflection)

    This assessment has two elements:

    1.  Psychosocial Health Assessment 
    Using a pre-supplied Pro-forma students will conduct and record a psychosocial health assessment of an adult, this person can be a relative, a friend or a colleague.

    2.  Critical Reflection
    Following completion on the interview students will select one of the following three areas;  listening, questioning or empathy.  They will replay their interview recording and identify one positive and one negative example that they demonstatrated relevant to their selected area (only one area). Using a reflective model, students are then required to critically reflect over their chosen examples and make suggestions that will improve their future practice. Examples need to be supported with the literature.

    ASSESSMENT 3: CASE SCENARIO
    Weighting: 50%
    Length: 1750
    This assessment requires students to reveiw a patient case study on Canvas adressing the key points noted.  This case scenario should include an introduction, main body and conclusion.  All key points need to be researched and supported by suitable literature.  Diagrams, pictures and graphs to support and illustrate the report may be included (these do not contribute to the word count).  All references need to be in line with the School Style and Referncing Guidelines (Harvard).

    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. 

    Extensions are generally awarded for no more than 10 working days unless there are exceptional circumstances.

    To apply for an Assessment Extension, a student must submit an application for extension form prior to the assessment deadline. You will find this on the School of Nursing Website or use the link provided here.

    See the Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/3303/.
    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.

    The following marking guides will be used for the assignments:

    Marking Guide - Patient case study - refer to guide within MyUni

    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.

    • More interactive tutorials and lectures, student attendance is low. Content has been reviewed, student attendance may be assisted by this, but is also reliant on many other factors.
    • Less infection control lectures as it is covered by all other classes. The only other infection control specific criteria is included within Clinical Nursing Practice I where the theory learnt in Nursing Science is integrated with practice.


    For 2020 continue to provide interactive tutorials which were successful in 2019.

    Alignment of content to reduce duplication was completed in early 2019. Some content will always be repeated given the opportunity for reinforcing learning. 

  • 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.