Unit Outline
NUR132
Foundations of Nursing 1
Semester 1, 2026
Joy Pertile
School of Nursing
Health (Portfolio)
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Joy Pertile
Email: Joy.Pertile@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Foundations of Nursing 1 introduces you to the foundational knowledge and skills required of registered nurses by examining a person-centred approach to nursing care from two different perspectives. The first and second modules introduce culturally safe healthcare practice. You will explore the diversity of races, ethnicities, religions, sexualities, genders and abilities in Australia, acquiring the skills and knowledge required to respond to diverse populations.  In the third and fourth modules, you will be introduced to the clinical reasoning cycle. You will assess, interpret and document vital signs and acquire the knowledge and skills to ensure best practice in supporting person-centred care with activities of daily living.
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
Identify the experiences of health, wellbeing, health services and health outcomes from diverse perspectives.
2
Explain culturally safe models of health care and your own future health care practice with diverse populations.
3
Assess and interpret vital signs across the lifespan.
4
Apply clinical reasoning to provide person-centred care in nursing practice.
5
Communicate relevant data, concepts and information effectively in verbal, written and digital format.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
As a result of 2025 student feedback, the number of assessment items has been reduced to create a more streamlined and coherent learning experience. 
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
2 hour workshop
2
Study Period 6 times
Independent Learning
Online Independent Learning - 8 hours.
8
StudyPeriod 12 times
Workshop
1 hour workshop
1
Study Period 6 times
Practical
2 hour practical
2
Study Period 6 times
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
Attendance in this unit is essential for developing the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours required for safe and effective practice. This unit relies heavily on interactive learning, group work and clinical simulations that cannot be fully replicated through independent study or online resources.
Regular attendance ensures you:
1. Engage actively with unit content and your peers.
2. Develop clinical reasoning and communication skills.
3. Participate in hands-on activities and simulations vital for patient care.
Consistent attendance also fosters a sense of responsibility and professionalism, both of which are core attributes for future nurses.
Mandatory Attendance Guidelines
1. Minimum Attendance Requirement
   You must attend at least 80% of all workshops and laboratories for the unit.
2. Monitoring and Recording
   Attendance will be recorded during each session. It is your responsibility to ensure your attendance is noted.
3. Absence Notification
   If you are unable to attend due to illness or other valid reasons, you must notify the unit coordinator prior to your class and provide supporting documentation (e.g., medical certificate).
4. Consequences of Non-Compliance
   Students who do not meet the 80% attendance requirement may be ineligible to sit the final assessment (OSCA) and therefore unable to pass the unit.
5. Professional Conduct
   You are expected to be punctual and actively participate at all times. Arriving late or leaving early may be recorded as an absence.
 
 
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:
Quizzes
Week 3
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Healthcare scenario case study analysis and critical reflection
Week 6
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO5
Assessment Task 3:
Objective structured clinical assessment (OSCA)
Week 13
40 %
LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Quizzes
Task Description:
This assessment task will be conducted during the workshops (in-class). You will answer ten multiple choice questions randomly generated.

Due date: During workshops
Weeks 3 and 4, 9 and 11
Weight: 20% (4 quizzes X 5%)
Task Length:
Completion of ten multiple choice questions in four in-class quizzes.
Due Date:
Week 3
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify how the social determinants of health and intersectionality influence health and wellbeing in diverse Australian contexts.
LO1
2
Identify links between discrimination and health outcomes for people from diverse populations.
LO1, LO2
3
Apply clinical reasoning to select appropriate nursing interventions that reflect person-centred care principles.
LO3, LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Healthcare scenario case study analysis and critical reflection
Task Description:
This assessment has two components.

1) During class, you will be allocated a healthcare scenario case study.
You will answer a series of short-answer questions related to the case study.
You will undertake the activity in class, and will not have access to any notes, your laptop, or any other devices.
This component will take place in week 6.

2) You will select one of five healthcare scenario case studies.
In response to your chosen case study, you will develop a critical reflection on how your own culture and positioning shape your response to the healthcare scenario case study.
You will present this reflection as a narrated video. The video will include PowerPoint slides that summarise the key points of your self-reflection. Any information, ideas or material you take from outside sources must be appropriately referenced.
This component of the task will be due in week 7.
Task Length:
700 words and 5-7 minute video
Due Date:
Week 6
Weight:
40 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explain the links between cultural safety and health professional skills and behaviour.
LO2
2
Apply the principles of cultural safety to evaluate a healthcare scenario.
LO1, LO2
3
Demonstrate how self-awareness and self-reflection are critical to your role in supporting culturally safe healthcare.
LO1, LO2
4
Use key unit concepts to support self-reflection discussions.
LO2
5
Communicate clearly in written and verbal format with appropriate referencing.
LO5
 
Assessment Task 3: Objective structured clinical assessment (OSCA)
Task Description:
In this practical assessment, you will be required to deliver patient care in a simulated clinical setting. This will include the accurate measurement and documentation of vital signs.
Throughout the assessment, you are expected to demonstrate a sound understanding of clinical reasoning and effective communication. This includes applying theoretical knowledge to practice, responding to questions, and engaging in an inclusive and respectful manner.
This task will require you to draw upon the full scope of learning from across the unit. Therefore, to be eligible to undertake this assessment you must have attended and participated in at least 80% of the workshops and practical sessions across the semester.
This assessment is a hurdle task. You must pass this assessment to pass the unit.
Task Length:
35 minutes.
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Accurately assess and documnet vital signs (ungraded pass/fail).
LO3, LO4
2
Apply relevant knowledge and skills effectively and communicate understanding.
LO2, LO4, LO5
3
Accurately respond to questions related to the documented vital signs and/or skills demonstrated by applying principles of clinical reasoning.
LO3, LO4, LO5
4
Demonstrates respectful, inclusive, and person-centred communication.
LO2, 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, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater and pass any hurdle tasks and meet the attendance requirement.
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.
 
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.
 
 
 
Required Resources
Required reading materials
Berman, A., Snyder, S. J., Levett-Jones, T., Burton, P., & Harvey, N. (2021). Skills in clinical nursing (Second edition.). Pearson Australia. (eText available)
 
Recommended 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.
 
Other required resources