Cancer and Palliative Care Nursing 2

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in one of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice (Cancer and Palliative Care). This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses. Please contact the School of Melbourne Custom Programs for more information.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, 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 the Disability Liaison Unit:
http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is designed to build on the knowledge and skills learnt in Cancer & Palliative Care Nursing 1to consolidate and extend the integration of theoretical aspects of specialty nursing for the beginning specialty Cancer & Palliative Care nurse.
It expands the student's knowledge with regard to the high prevalence and high risk conditions encountered in cancer and palliative care practice settings, the complexity of disease processes, treatments (including pharmacology), symptoms and symptom management, and subsequent nursing assessments, interventions and supporting technical skills. Students also learn how to anticipate, identify and manage oncology and palliative care emergencies. There is a continued emphasis on scientific principles and research evidence underpinning practice and further developing skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, rational inquiry and self-directed learning to work with people affected by cancer to find quality solutions in specialty practice

Students will be expected to be able to demonstrate their beginning specialty nursing practice through:
1. Discussion of the theoretical content covered within the subject to develop knowledge of cancer control issues for high prevalence and high risk conditions
2. Integration of knowledge learnt in the subject to be able to identify incidence and plan a response to, patients experiencing cancer and / or palliative care emergencies;
3. Demonstrate by applying scientific knowledge, an understanding of the skills and techniques that characterise advanced specialist nursing as described in the subject content to provide a foundation for participating in the delivery of specialist Cancer and Palliative Care nursing;
4. Demonstrate capacity to use skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, rational inquiry and selfdirected learning to plan care with people affected by cancer and/or needing palliative care.

Written assignment (1000 words) Week 5 - 20%
Written assignment (2000 words) Week 10 - 30%
4 Closed Book tests (Weeks 4, 7, 9, 12) - 50%

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 graduate coursework student:
1. A capacity to articulate their knowledge and understanding in written modes of communication;
2. A capacity to manage competing demands on time, including self-directed project work.
3. An ability to evaluate and synthesize the research and professional literature in this discipline