Unit Outline

This unit explores the context of nursing within hospital and community settings. Students will examine the politics of power in nursing and the wider health arena. Specific areas include legal and ethical issues; career pathways; patient acuity; retention and education of nurses.

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.	Discuss the macro-political influences on the delivery of patient care in the healthcare system.
2.	Analyse the social and theoretical understanding of the micro-political effects of the healthcare context which can affect the ways in which nurses work.
3.	Discuss the tensions produced between the macro- and micro-political realities of healthcare in relation to the advancement of the nursing profession and the provision of quality patient care.
4.	Critically analyse the influence of various political factors on career advancement and the recruitment and retention of nurses in Australia.

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:	Online Discussion and Reflection	Week 7	50 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Essay	Week 13	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online Discussion and Reflection

Task Description:

Part 1: Online Discussions
For this assessment task, you will be required to actively engage with your online colleagues to discuss concepts related to the themes of macro- and micro-politics in healthcare.

Part 2: Reflection
You will summarise one of the issues raised in the discussion and write a scholarly reflection on how these concepts might apply within your own clinical context.

Task Length:

1000 words Online discussions and 1200 words Reflection.

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Engage in scholarly online discussions related to the themes of macro- and micro-politics in healthcare.	LO1, LO2
2	Write in the first person to describe, analyse and evaluate the event/s and experiences of self and others.	LO1, LO2
3	Critically analyse how the key themes relate to the topic and how they have challenged and informed your understanding.	LO1, LO2
4	Communicate clearly and succinctly using the current APA Style.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Essay

Task Description:

You will be required to write a scholarly discussion paper related to the themes of tensions and influences in the politics of healthcare.

Task Length:

1800 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

50 %

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.