Unit Outline

In this unit students will demonstrate their ability to care for patients with acute or chronic cardiac, cardiovascular or thoracic conditions. Nursing clinical decision making is explored as related to the assessment and management of a broad spectrum of related cardiac, cardiovascular or thoracic conditions. Students will be expected to enhance their knowledge and skill development through the implementation of a learning contract activity that enhances scope of practice. A particular emphasis in this unit will be placed on the physiological monitoring and diagnostic processes that support cardiac, cardiovascular and thoracic care.

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	Provide appropriate clinical decisions based upon an integrated assessment of the patient with acute or chronic cardiac or cardiothoracic conditions, which includes electrocardiographic or laboratory analysis.
2	Provide evidence of the ability to initiate early intervention during patient deterioration using a range of analytical skills.
3	Provide evidence of the ability to care for patients receiving advanced physiological support.
4	Provide education to patients with chronic cardiac or cardiovascular conditions.
5	A clinical portfolio that demonstrates your knowledge, skills and ability to critically reflect upon your practice and knowledge in emergent situations.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

The assessments and content were reviewed and redeveloped in response to student feedback.

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:	Patient or Client Teaching Episode	Week 5	20 %	LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Online discussion and final submission	Week 9	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Clinical Portfolio	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Patient or Client Teaching Episode

Task Description:

The task requires you to explore the practice of patient or client education. Plan, prepare and undertake a teaching episode. Reflect on and critically evaluate your development as a facilitator of learning for patients with acute or chronic cardiovascular conditions.

Task Length:

5-10 minute presentation and 250 word journal.

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Justifies the topic chosen for patient, family and others and intended learning outcome.	LO2, LO4
2	Prepares patient education materials that draw upon local and national standards and evidence-informed literature.	LO2, LO4
3	The journal draws any key themes and reflections of feedback during patient education episode and is written in an academic style with APA7 referencing and reference to scholarly literature.	LO2, LO4
4	Communicate effectively using appropriate professional language and terminology.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Online discussion and final submission

Task Description:

This assessment task provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your clinical decision-making capability using integrated assessment of the patient with acute or chronic cardiac or cardiothoracic conditions. For this assessment task, you will be allocated to a discussion space with fellow student members.

Task Length:

1600 words

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Contribute early and regularly to the discussion forum with responses to peers providing appropriate clinical decisions based upon an integrated cardiovascular assessment.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Integrated assessment is supported by evidence-informed literature to provide exemplary cardiovascular care.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Evaluates practice against local and national standards and evidence-informed literature.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Summary paper critically reflects on learnings from discussion posts with focus on the impact on future practice.	LO1, LO2, LO3
5	Communicate clearly and succinctly using the current APA style.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Clinical Portfolio

Task Description:

You are required to create and maintain a professional portfolio throughout your study whereby you gather evidence of your ability to complete cardiovascular nursing skills as well as reflect on learnings from your own practice.

Please note this is a staged assessment including clinical assessments (mandatory) and you must identify and submit details of your chosen clinical support person within 2 weeks of starting this unit.

Task Length:

Equivalent to 1800 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Reflect on clinical decision making based upon advanced knowledge of pathophysiology and critical analysis of health assessment data.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
2	Conduct comprehensive nursing assessments and interventions required in cardiovascular nursing (mandatory).	LO2, LO5
3	Critically analyse health assessment data to enable early recognition, escalation and management of the deteriorating patient with acute or chronic cardiac or cardiothoracic condition.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Critically reflect on the capability requirements of a cardiovascular nurse in your practice setting.	LO5
5	Writes in an academic style with current APA7 referencing and reference to scholarly literature.	LO5

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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Recommended Readings will be provided by your Unit Coordinator via the Reading List link in MyLO, or the unit Reading List on the University Library website.