Advanced Nursing Practice in Context

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2013:

Field work

Students are expected to devote approximately 6-10 hours per week to this subject. 72-120 hours.

The student is 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 must also provide documentation of appropriate clinicial mentorship to undertake activities to expand their current scope of practice within their workplace or related agencies.

It is recommended that Health Assessment for Advanced Nursing Practice 1 and 2 is completed 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.

This subject focuses on knowledge and clinical skill development for an expanded scope of practice in an area of specialty practice.

The core content of this subject will include defining scope of practice and advanced practice nursing roles.

An exploration of advanced practice, expansion of speciality practice, and the role of the nurse practitioner including the regulatory, professional, ethical and practical influences on scope of practice will be explored. In this context, students will consider the implications of mentorship, clinical supervision and clinical governance models before embarking on a project that expands their own scope of practice.

The core content will prepare students to undertake a project that will allow them to apply relevant theory related to advanced practice nursing to their own specialty context. The project will expand their current nursing knowledge and skills to an advanced practice level.

The focus of the project will be on developing the capacity to apply evidence to nursing assessment and management strategies, developing sophisticated assessment, problem-solving, planning and technical skills for client groups that are specific to their designated specialty. For those students undertaking the NP pathway, the contract will include the development of advanced diagnostic reasoning skills, including the use of relevant diagnostic tools. Project development, implementation and evaluation strategies for the treatment plans that address specific extensions to practice will be incorporated in the project. The assessment, investigation and treatment plans should be client focused (eg. culturally sensitive, socioeconomically relevant, sustainable and negotiated with the client and other members of the health care team.

With collegial support from a multidisciplinary team and the subject coordinator, students will develop a learning contract to articulate their project. The ANMC Competency Standards for Nurse Practitioners and where relevant competency standards for advanced practitioners issued by specialty professional groups will be used to guide the project aim, contract development and completion. Students will demonstrate achievement of knowledge and skills described in the contract through compilation of a practice portfolio.

This subject will assists students to develop the capacity to identify their own clinical learning and development needs and access a range of resources to enable them to meet their objectives.

This 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.

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

• Define advanced nursing practice and scope of practice focusing specifically on the nurse practitioner role and applying this knowledge to their practice context.
• Understand the legislative, regulatory, and professional influences on scope of practice and nurse practitioners and apply these to their practice context
• Develop an understanding of the relationship between competence and scope of practice, including the importance of mentorship and supervision.
• Demonstrate the ability to identify clinical learning needs and develop strategies to address these learning needs
• Negotiate clinical learning needs with multi-disciplinary health care professionals to ensure appropriate clinical supervision for development of advanced practice skills and knowledge.
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of how the physical, psychological, social, emotional and cultural influences on health and illness contribute to the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of therapeutic interventions at an advanced practice level for specific client groups in practice context;
• Use evidence and highly developed cognitive, analytic, problem-solving and diagnostic reasoning skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate culturally appropriate treatment plans and therapeutic interventions at an advanced practice level for specific client groups in practice context;
• Demonstrate the capacity to collaborate with a multidisciplinary team and utilise appropriate referral pathways to optimise patient outcomes.
• Demonstrate technical proficiency in advanced nursing practice techniques, and use of and interpretation of diagnostic tools;
• Demonstrate comprehensive pharmacological knowledge through the development of a formulary to be used in advanced nursing practice for specific client groups in practice context.

1. Learning contract equivalent to 500 words (10%) - due week 3
2. One online quiz equivalent to 500 words (10%) - due week 6
3. Professional practice portfolio equivalent to 4000 words (70%) - due at the end of semester
4. 10 minute portfolio presentation (10%) - due at the end of semester

n/a

References and recommended readings are supplied according to the requirements identified in the collaborative competency based learning contract.

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:

• 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;
• Where appropriate, advanced working skills in the application of computer systems and software and a receptiveness to the opportunities offered by new technologies;
• 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;
• A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.