Foundations in Cancer & Palliative Care2

This subject is not offered in 2016.

In addition to the subject contact hours, students are expected to devote approximately 9 hours a week to this subject. Students can anticipate a time commitment of approximately 24 hours per week concurrent field practice.

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 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.

A Pass in the following subject prior to enrolment:

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This subject requires students to actively and safely contribute to clinical activities. Students who think their disability will impact on meeting this requirement are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Nursing Course Coordinator and the Disability Liaison Unit.

This subject is designed to build on the knowledge and skills learnt in Foundations in Cancer & Pall. Care 1 to consolidate and extend the integration of theoretical and practical aspects of specialty nursing for the beginning specialty Cancer & Palliative Care nurse.

It expands the student's knowledge with regard to the range of patient's 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 beginning skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, rational inquiry and self-directed learning to solve patient management problems in specialty practice.

Students engage in field practice to address learning objectives focusing on relating the underlying physiological and pathophysiological processes to assessment data; differentiating the intended and unintended outcomes of therapeutic interventions in specialty practice; applying theoretical knowledge to technical skill development and evaluating the practice of caring for patients in the Cancer and Palliative Care practice settings.

Students will be expected to be able to demonstrate their beginning specialty nursing practice through:

• the ability to integrate theoretical content covered within the subject to develop new knowledge that supports safe practice as a beginning specialty nurse in Cancer and Palliative Care settings;
• 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 Cancer and Palliative Care settings;
• 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 Cancer and Palliative 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 Cancer and Palliative Care nursing clinical 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.

Theoretical Component 60%

1. Written assignment of 2000 words (25%) - Due mid semester

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

Clinical Component 40%

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

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

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A list of recommended texts will be supplied to students on enrolment in 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.