Unit Outline

This unit of study extends students understanding of acute illness and how this is applied in the context of complex health conditions. Students will apply advanced health assessment prioritisation and clinical decision-making skills in high acuity practice environments for safe, quality person and family centred care. This unit focuses on enabling students to develop integrated advanced clinical capabilities for high acuity nursing practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Critically analyse the concepts and theory around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or high acuity deteriorating patient.
2.	Apply concepts and theories around recognition, response and management of the acute, complex and/or high acuity deteriorating patient.
3.	Demonstrate high acuity capabilities required to care for acutely ill adults or children in clinical nursing environments.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Regular monitoring and review have been undertaken.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Essay	Week 5	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Quiz	Week 9	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Practice Profile	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Essay

Task Description:

For this assessment task, you will be required to select a clinical practice protocol utilised in your practice setting. The protocol should relate to an advanced area of nursing practice.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Clinical protocol chosen demonstrates relationship to evidence informed high acuity nursing practice.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Critiques protocol and nursing practice against quality evidence.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Evidence of nursing practice self-reflection and nursing practice recommendations are supported by justification.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Communicate clearly and succinctly using the current APA Style.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Quiz

Task Description:

The purpose of the quiz examines your understanding of unit content which is being explored over the semester.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	0.5 of a mark will be awarded for each correct answer	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Practice Profile

Task Description:

This assignment will require you to complete and gather evidence of your capability as a nurse working with high acuity patients. You will submit artefacts which reflect advanced nursing practice.

Due Dates:
Part 1: Week 2
Part 2: Week 7
Part 3 & 4: Week 13

Task Length:

2500 word equivalence

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Submit In Practice Support Agreement; Submit evidence of advancing capability related to high acuity nursing practice demonstrated by experience in clinical reasoning and technical skill acquisition detailed in your practice profile document.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Documented evidence of successfully performing a beside high acuity case appraisal, covering seven defined aspects of care and demonstrating the advanced clinical reasoning capabilities to effectively negotiate, prioritise & evaluate high acuity care	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Evidence of proactive professional reflection to critically evaluate one’s own nursing practice and respond proactively to learning and practice needs in the context of high acuity nursing.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Communicate clearly and succinctly using the current APA Style.	LO1, LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes and achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.