Health Assessment for Adv. Practice 2

This subject is not offered in 2013.

Students are required to have concurrent employment as a Registered Nurse and be engaged in or working towards an advanced practice role in their area of specialisation.

The student is required to provide documentation of employer support and appropriate multidisciplinary involvement to demonstrate clinical supervision, mentorship and assessment of clinical competencies in their workplace in preparation for advanced nursing practice.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

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 programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Aim: The aim of this subject is to extend the students’ assessment skills to include assessment strategies that are associated with nurse practitioner practice in their specialty area of clinical practice.

This subject will build on the knowledge and skill developed in Health Assessment for Advanced Practice 1. The subject will concentrate on the use of diagnostic investigations to aid patient / client assessment and diagnosis. The focus of the subject will be on the interpretation of diagnostic results in complex and uncertain situations. Students will have the option of selecting relevant assessment and diagnostic approaches and/or tools for their own area of specialisation. These topics include: cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, cognitive and developmental, abdominal, alimentary and nutritional, genitourinary, musculoskeletal integument and psychosocial assessment. In addition, Students will also address the importance of consultation with other clinicians within multidisciplinary teams.

The subject will provide a number of strategies to assist the students to develop advanced health assessment skills. On campus tutorials and workshops, reading and resource material will be provided to assist students to develop the necessary knowledge and skills for advanced health examination and patient assessment. Students will use clinical mentors in their practice environment to support their learning, in particular development of practical assessment skills, use of diagnostic tests and interpret findings in relation to undertaking a physical health assessment.

The subject is designed to support students to meet the ANMC Competency Standards for Nurse Practitioners (2006).

This subject is a mandatory component of the Nurse Practitioner pathway of the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice and is not available to other students.

Following completion of this subject it is expected that the student will be able to:

• Recognise the increased scope of assessment associated with the nurse practitioner role in relation to their own area of specialisation;
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in utilisation of health assessment and examination techniques including relevant diagnostic tools;
• Interpret the results of diagnostic investigations in the context of other client health data;
• Utilise diagnostic investigations judiciously to inform client assessment and treatment regimens;
• Interpret assessment findings in complex and unfamiliar circumstances;
• Integrate knowledge of scientific research based underpinnings of health and illness and highly developed cognitive, analytic, problem-solving and diagnostic reasoning skills to interpret health assessment findings;
• Collaborate with colleagues to ensure the best possible outcome for the client.

1. Written assignment of 2000 words (40%) - due week 6
2. Four patient health assessments each equivalent to 750 words (60%) - due throughout the semester Each patient health assessments should include: Supervisor assessment of patient assessment using the mini-CEX clinical assessment tool and Documented patient case notes which include diagnostic tests and results interpretation

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

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

• Highly developed cognitive, analytic and problem-solving skills in the discipline area, characterised by flexibility of approach;
• The ability and self-confidence to comprehend complex concepts, to express them lucidly, whether orally or in writing, and to confront unfamiliar problems;
• Awareness of advanced communications technologies and modalities, sound working skills in the application of computer systems and software, and receptiveness to the expanding opportunities of the ‘information revolution';
• An ability to evaluate and synthesise the research and professional literature in the discipline;
• Advanced skills and techniques applicable to the discipline;
• Advanced competencies in areas of professional expertise and/or scholarship;
• The capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning;The capacity to value and participate in projects which require team-work.