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Unit of Study NRS72003 - Chronic Illness and Nursing Care (2019)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    Please be advised that this unit includes professional experience learning which has pre-placement provisions and associated placement expenses as detailed on the School of Health and Human Sciences Professional Experience page. Failure to comply with these pre-placement requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the stipulated Professional Experience Learning. The laboratory activities within this unit require students to fulfill certain vaccination compliance requirements prior to attending laboratory classes. As some vaccination protocols can take up to 5 months to complete, we encourage you to prepare now. SCU has incorporated a combined NSW and QLD vaccination procedure as students may need to attend laboratory classes in both states. Full details of vaccination compliance requirements for this unit are available at https://www.scu.edu.au/school-of-health-and-human-sciences/course-options/professional-experience/

Unit description

Explores nursing responses to changes in health status. Through case-based learning students will build upon and apply knowledge and skills related to chronic illness and disability. Practice in nursing laboratory sessions and simulated rehearsal prepares students for professional experience placement. 

Unit content

  • Introduction to chronic illness and disability across the lifespan
  • Nursing, narratives and cultural considerations for individuals, groups and carers
  • Nursing care for individuals with chronic illness and associated technologies relating to:
    • respiratory conditions – incentive spirometry, Oxygen therapies, Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
    • renal, urinary and gastrointestinal conditions – catheterisation, bladder irrigation, nephrostomy tubes, ileal-conduits, ureteric stent, principles of peritoneal and haemo-dialysis, stomal therapy
    • cardiovascular conditions – CPR refresher, management of cardiovascular risk factors (including hypertension, stroke, heart disease)
    • diabetes mellitus – sliding scale insulin 
    • dementia - management practices
  • Intravenous fluid and medication management
  • Intramuscular medication management
  • Concepts in chronic pain assessment and management
  • Palliative care/end of life care
  • Preparation for PEP3

As part of this unit students will complete 120 hours of professional placement.

Availabilities

Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour Session 1 Session 1
Gold Coast Session 1 Session 1
Lismore Session 1 Session 1

Learning outcomes and graduate attributes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
Learning outcome count Learning outcome description GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 identify the influence of social determinants and cultural factors on health and chronic illness
2 apply the principles of evidence based nursing to devise strategies and interventions to promote independence, wellbeing and quality of life for individuals with chronic illness
3 demonstrate integration of knowledge, safe patient management, and nursing skills relevant to chronic illness
4 conduct a comprehensive or focused health assessment depending on the situation for individuals with chronic illness or disability

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. identify the influence of social determinants and cultural factors on health and chronic illness
    • GA7:
  2. apply the principles of evidence based nursing to devise strategies and interventions to promote independence, wellbeing and quality of life for individuals with chronic illness
    • GA4:
  3. demonstrate integration of knowledge, safe patient management, and nursing skills relevant to chronic illness
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
  4. conduct a comprehensive or focused health assessment depending on the situation for individuals with chronic illness or disability
    • GA4:
    • GA6:
    • GA7:

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts
  • No prescribed texts.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.