NURSING 3005 - Nursing in Complex Settings (Perioperative)

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2020

This course describes the professional and legal issues associated with the role of the Registered Nurse in the perioperative setting. Careful preoperative assessment and patient identification are essential skills within the course. The post operative care phase is examined in respect of pain management, wound and drain care and a focus on the clinical signs and symptoms that suggest a patient condition is deteriorating. Students will need to use contemporary best practice guidelines to support their descriptions of perioperative nursing care across all ages.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code NURSING 3005
    Course Nursing in Complex Settings (Perioperative)
    Coordinating Unit Adelaide Nursing School
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Prerequisites NURSING 2011
    Restrictions Available to B.Nurs students only
    Course Description This course describes the professional and legal issues associated with the role of the Registered Nurse in the perioperative setting. Careful preoperative assessment and patient identification are essential skills within the course. The post operative care phase is examined in respect of pain management, wound and drain care and a focus on the clinical signs and symptoms that suggest a patient condition is deteriorating. Students will need to use contemporary best practice guidelines to support their descriptions of perioperative nursing care across all ages.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Mrs Jo Perry

    Jo Perry
    jo.perry@adelaide.edu.au
    +618 8313 2010

    Email contact is best due to this lecturer being part time.


    Adelaide Nursing School
    Level 4, AHMS Building
    University of Adelaide North Terrace Campus
    Phone: +61 8313 3595
    Email: nursing@adelaide.edu.au

    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes


    1.    Identify and describe NMBA competencies that relate to the perioperative environment

    2.    Describe roles and functions of staff in the perioperative environment. Define medico-legal aspects of perioperative nursing practice

    3.    Demonstrate understanding of patient identification and procedure matching

    4.    Identify and practice physical assessment skills required for the perioperative setting.

    5.    Develop comprehensive skills for postoperative assessment and epidural pain management

    6.    Understand and relate anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology to care of patients in the perioperative setting.  

    7.    Integrate perioperative considerations for special populations and across the lifespan

    8.    Discharge planning – general admission and postoperative discharge. Distinguish and manage post–operative and other complex wounds

    9.  Discuss general principles for interpreting x-rays and the intra hospital transfer of patients

    10.  Examine  health informatics and systems involving electronic health records (EPAS)

    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1,2,3,4
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    3,4,5,10
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    2,8,9,10
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1,2,3,6,10
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1,2,3
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-10
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Hamlin, L,  Davies, M, Richardson-Tench, M & Sutherland-Fraser, S, 2016, Perioperative Nursing – An Introduction, 2nd Ed
    Elsevier, NSW, Australia.


    Tollefson, J, Hillman, E, 2018 Clinical Psychomotor Skills, 7th Ed. Cengage Learning Australia, South Melbourne, Vic.

    Recommended Resources
    Readings as per Lectures and Modules outlined in Canvas
    Online Learning
    Lectures and tutorials for this course are recorded and posted online in Canvas. Assessments and other course activities are also
    online. Readings from journals and internet sources are also available online.

  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Each week there will be an online lecture and a face to face tutorial session. Attendance is recommended at all sessions in order to optimise learning. There is also a small group session each week on Problem Based Learning (PBL). Attendance is compulsory at these sessions and forms part of the assessment for this course. Throughout the course are skills sessions which also form part of the assessment.
    Workload

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

    The student will be expected to spend between 4-6 hours engaging with the activities of this course each week during the semester  on campus. Off campus work will include 3-4 hours of reading as well as viewing online lectures and viewing materials. Preparation of assignments is on top of this time commitment. Students are encouraged to plan well, since this course has a lot of content and requires extensive reading and preparation for sessions.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Online Lecture/Face to face tutorial weekly topics

    1 Course Introduction and Preoperative Care
    2 Laboratory Interpretation
    3 Perioperative Care
    4 Complex Wound Care
    5 Drains/Perioperative standards of care
    6 Anaesthetics and Recovery
    7 Professional issues in Perioperative care
    8 Wider perspectives of Perioperative nursing

    Online lectures (prerecorded)

    - Preoperative Care Portfolio requirements and examples

    Clinical skill activities

    - Preoperative interview techniques
    - Venipuncture/Labaratory interpretation
    - ANTT/Surgical ANTT/Complex Wound Care
    - Scrubbing, gowning, gloving
    - Anaesthetics and special patient populations
    - Hand hygeine and nursing informatics
    - Situational awareness
    - PACU/Xray/UWSD


    PBL sessions

    - Perioperative Case studies, incorporating aspects of care across the lifespan.







    Specific Course Requirements
    Clinical placement is complementary to this course, and it is expected that the students will be able to apply knowledge from the theory course to their clinical site.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    Problem Based Learning (PBL) occurs in small groups and is based around case scenarios. Attendance is compulsory. Each PBL case runs over several sessions, containing "stop points" for reflection and learning, and students will be expected to use their knowledge to analyse and critically plan care for the patient in each scenario. At the end of each PBL case, an evaluation of nursing care will occur.
  • 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

    Item Number Item Weighting Learning Outcomes
    1 Scrubbing, Gowning, Gloving Formative 1, 2
    2 Drug Calculation Test (HURDLE) NGP/NGF 1
    3 insulin Administration Quiz NGP/NGF 1,2
    4 Problem Based Learning 10% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
    5 Clinical Skills 50% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
    6 Examination 40% 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10


    Assessment Related Requirements
    The drug calculation test is a hurdle. That means that this piece of assessment must be passed before the student can pass the course.

    Students will be allocated to groups for skills sessions. Due to limited spacing it is very difficult to change people around between groups. Any switches must be approved by the course coordinator ahead of the session time.
    Assessment Detail
    Formative Assessment – SGG Skill
    This is a one hour clinical skills session where you learn and undertake the principles of scrubbing, gowning and gloving as per ACORN standards.

    Drug Calculation Test
    This is a Hurdle requirement of the course and students will be awarded either a Non Graded Pass or Fail for this aspect of the course. If you fail the hurdle, you will not be able to pass the course. Please note, failure to meet 100% accuracy will preclude students from administering medication in the clinical environment and will necessitate the implementation of an ‘Early Intervention Strategy’ for remedial work in drug calculations.
    This Drug Calculation Test is conducted under examination conditions, meaning that if you do not attend, you will need to apply for a supplementary assessment, and meet criteria for a supplementary assessment.


    Practical Skills Worksheets
    Each Skills session has a worksheet to complete and submit by the following week to capture the main points of learning attained.

    PBL Worksheets
    Each PBL session has a worksheet to complete and submit the following week to capture the main points of learning attained.

    Preoperative Assessment Portfolio
    You will be expected to follow the nursing process for this assignment. This includes aspects of assessment and intervention which you will perform to prepare the provided patient scenario for their surgery. You are to describe your nursing care from the encounter with the patient to completion of preoperative preparation. This includes all aspects of interaction, intervention and assessment you will perform.

    Examination
    The topics to be covered are those contained in the lectures and tutorials. Also, readings and skill information will be covered. Any covered topics from this semester may be included in the exam. Specific theme groups include:
    • Roles of nurses in surgery
    • Perioperative stages
    • Perioperative medications
    • Perioperative nursing interventions
    • Care of different types of surgical patients
    • Deterioration of the surgical patient
    Format
    • Multiple choice
    • Short answer
    • Case study – response set
    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. 

    To apply for an Assessment Extension, a student must submit an application for extension form prior to the assessment deadline. 

    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 final grade for this course will be a culmination of the 6 activities. Each activity must be assessed as a pass before a pass for the whole course will be given. Please note, just submitting written work and not performing other requirements such as PBL or skills will result in a fail grade for this course.

    Grading of written work will be guided by a rubric which you will have access to prior to submitting your assignment. Review of the originality report prior to submission is also highly recommended.

    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.

    Time and space are often issues when trying to fit clinical placement and theoretical learning in. In 2020, online lectures will be prerecorded so that students can view at their convenience. Tutorials to reinforce the lecture content will be utilised.

    Skills sessions worked best when there was interation and "hands on" activity. This will continue with suggested refinements in 2020.

    Students liked the smaller group work in the skills sessions, and also enjoyed having the opportunity to feedback in a timely fashion as to positive and negative aspects of the course.

    Students wanted more definitive guidance on the preoperative assessment portfolio as well. This assignment has been completely redesigned in order to address the format concerns that students raised. It will also be due earlier in the semester to create a 'break space' between this piece and the exam.

    Positive feedback included the use of the Intellilearn software for the drug calculation test, and this process has been refined.

    PBL was a popular aspect of this course, and will be restructured for flow reasons in 2020.
  • 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.