Unit Outline

This unit is designed to be experiential and practice-focused. It will build upon neonatal theoretical knowledge and focus on the complex healthcare needs of the neonate and their family/s when requiring specialised care. The skills required in practice to address complex neonatal nursing situations will be covered. You will examine neonatal complications and emergencies requiring nursing intervention, stabilisation and management during the neonatal healthcare journey that is evidence-informed, and culturally appropriate.

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	Utilise specialist knowledge to assess and manage complex neonatal health care needs that is evidence-informed, sensitive and culturally appropriate approach.
2	Critically analyse neonatal care practice to enhance patient care.
3	Assess neonatal complications and emergencies requiring intervention and coordination to determine a management plan.
4	Critically reflect on neonatal care practices, identifying strengths and areas for improvement in relation to current practices and professional standards.
5	Rationalise and communicate ethically and culturally appropriate clinical decision-making processes in neonatal care.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Amendments were made to:
1.   unit content to meet the needs of knowledge for delivering contemporary neonatal care,
2.   assessment tasks all updated to better align with students’ needs and ability to demonstrate knowledge and achievement of Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs),
3.   reading lists to align with current evidence for delivering contemporary neonatal care.

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:	Portfolio: Action Plan	Week 4	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Portfolio: Practice Skills Assessment and Professional Dialogue	Week 10	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Portfolio Task: Evaluation with professional reflection on practice	Week 12	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Portfolio: Action Plan

Task Description:

You are required to evaluate your professional knowledge, skills, and practice against the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) professional Standards for Practice to detect areas of strength and areas that need improvement. You should select at least one area for improvement and prepare an Action Plan on how you intend to address this by applying evidence-informed practice.
Please note you must identify and submit details of your chosen clinical support person within 2 weeks of starting this unit.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and articulate the specific areas where your professional skills and knowledge align with ACNN's expected standards, as well as knowledge gaps.	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
2	Develop a structured action plan outlining strategies to address identified gaps in professional skills and knowledge, as well as proficiency in areas where improvement is needed.	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
3	Utilise evidence-informed practice principles to support the selection of strategies and interventions outlined in the action plan.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO5
4	Critically reflect on the implications of identified gaps in professional skills and knowledge for patient safety and approaches to individualised family centred care.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 2: Portfolio: Practice Skills Assessment and Professional Dialogue

Task Description:

You are required to create and maintain a practice portfolio throughout your study, whereby you gather evidence of your ability to perform required neonatal skills in practice.
You are also required to complete the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) holistic assessment tool in practice with your clinical support, then participate in a one‑on‑one interactive professional discussion with your tutor. In this tutor discussion, you will demonstrate evidence-informed clinical insight, self‑awareness, and ethical judgement.

Task Length:

Practice Skills assessment and 10-minute oral interactive

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provide evidence of competence in performing assessments , interventions, and procedures required for neonatal patient care that is ethically and culturally appropriate.	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
2	Apply theoretical knowledge and principles to evaluate real-world scenarios in practice.	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Apply current practice guidelines in clinical decision-making.	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Apply critical thinking to evaluate and reflect on patient outcomes and your approach to individualised family centred care.	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
5	Demonstrates clinical insight, self‑awareness and ethical judgement.	LO1, LO4, LO5

Assessment Task 3: Portfolio Task: Evaluation with professional reflection on practice

Task Description:

This assessment task is designed to critically reflect and re-evaluate your professional knowledge, skills, and practice using the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN) professional Standards for Practice as your framework.
You are required to directly align your reflection to the goals set in your Action Plan demonstrating self‑awareness, and professional growth.

Task Length:

Equivalent to 1000 words

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Re-evaluate professional knowledge, skills, and practice using the ACNN professional Standards for Practice reflecting on professional growth.	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
2	Critically reflect on the effectiveness of implemented strategies in addressing identified professional gaps in neonatal care, evaluating how these strategies contribute to enhancing patient‑ and family‑centred care.	LO2, LO4, LO5
3	Demonstrates self‑awareness of ethically and culturally appropriate clinical decisions in neonatal care.	LO4, 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.