Foundations in Acute & Critical Care 2

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

NBV Registration (Unrestricted)

Students must be employed at an affiliated clinical agency and provide documentation of clinical support arrangements necessary to undertake the professional practice portfolio prior to enrolment.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's courses. Students who feel their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

There is a continued emphasis on scientific principles and research evidence underpinning specialty nursing practice and further developing beginning skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, rational inquiry and self-directed learning to solve patient management problems encountered in specific critical care environments.

Students engage in field practice in specific critical care environments to address learning objectives that focus on relating assessment data to the underlying physiological and pathophysiological processes; differentiating the intended and unintended outcomes of therapeutic interventions; applying theoretical knowledge to technical skill development and evaluating the practice of caring for patients across the lifespan who are acutely and/or critically ill.

• integration of the theoretical content covered within the subject to develop new knowledge that supports safe practice as a beginning specialty nurse in acute and critical care;
• the ability to integrate knowledge and skills learnt in the subject to recognise and plan a response to patients experiencing alterations to health and wellness that occur in the specific context of acute and critical care;
• the ability to understand and evaluate specialised interventions as described in the subject content to provide a foundation for participating in the delivery of care at the beginning level of acute and critical care nursing practice;
• the capacity to use skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, rational inquiry and self-directed learning to apply knowledge learnt in the theoretical component of the subject to beginning level acute and critical care nursing practice.;
• an understanding of the changing knowledge base in the specialist area;
• the ability to apply scientific knowledge to understand skills and techniques applicable to the specialist area.

1. Written assignment of 2000 words due week 6 (25%)

2. Closed book, 3 hour written examination at the end of semester (35%)

Clinical Component 40%

3. A professional practice portfolio which must include evidence of clinical competency achievement and is equivalent to 3,000 words due by the end of semester (40%)

Students must achieve a pass in both the theoretical and clinical component in order to pass the subject.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of the subject students should have developed the following generic skills of the Melbourne graduate and postgraduate coursework student:

• a capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in oral and written modes of communication;
• a capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.

This subject has a multi-media tutorial component delivered via the University's on-line Learning Management System (LMS). Students must have access to appropriate computer facilities and the Internet.