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Unit of Study NURS2006 - Chronic Illness and Nursing Care (2023)

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Unit Snapshot

  • Enrolment information

    This unit contains professional experience learning/laboratory activities that require students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in you being unable to undertake the Professional Experience Learning and/or stipulated Laboratory Activity which may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements Please note: Full Covid-19 vaccination is a mandatory requirement associated with the placement element of this unit of study. This requirement has been stipulated by the placement providers. It is strongly recommended that only students who meet this requirement enrol in this unit.

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 160 hours of professional placement.

Availabilities

Not currently available in 2023

Learning outcomes

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:

identify the influence of social determinants and cultural factors on health and chronic illness

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

demonstrate integration of knowledge, safe patient management, and nursing skills relevant to chronic illness

conduct a comprehensive or focused health assessment depending on the situation for individuals with chronic illness or disability