Unit Outline

This unit emphasises the critical role communication, technology-enhanced care and collaboration plays in delivering compassionate, empathetic, equitable and safe nursing care. Through simulations and case studies including narratives, you will develop and apply therapeutic communication strategies that address the diverse needs of people in healthcare settings. You will also learn how technology can enhance care delivery for people and support coordination within multi-disciplinary teams, fostering a holistic and person-centred approach to care. By completing this unit, you will strengthen your ability to communicate effectively with people, their support networks and healthcare teams.

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	Use therapeutic communication to deliver empathic, compassionate and socially just nursing care in interactions with people and their support networks.
2	Apply communication practices to ensure respectful and safe nursing care within legal, ethical and professional frameworks.
3	Identify how digital health tools and nursing interactions support access, enhance health literacy and address the diverse needs of individuals in healthcare settings.
4	Examine how therapeutic and culturally safe communication supports collaboration in nursing practice with people, their support networks, and the multi-disciplinary team.
5	Identify the potential of technology-enhanced care strategies to improve safety, quality and person-centred nursing practices in diverse and complex healthcare environments.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Assessment Task 1: The assessment has been changed from a simulated communication interaction and reflective task to an in-class quiz. This change was made to reduce overall assessment workload and streamline assessment requirements.

Assessment Task 3: Students will now be provided with a generative AI output to evaluate, rather than sourcing one themselves. This change was made in response to student feedback regarding the environmental impact associated with generating AI outputs.

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:	Therapeutic Communication Quiz	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA)	Week 10	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Evaluating Health Information	Week 12	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Therapeutic Communication Quiz

Task Description:

The purpose of this assessment is to evaluate your understanding of communication skills that support effective practice in healthcare. The assessment has two parts. Part A is an in‑class assessment (Week 4) where you will demonstrate your knowledge of effective and ineffective communication, including how these align with legal, ethical, and professional standards. This will be based on a recorded, simulated therapeutic interaction. Part B is also an in‑class assessment (Week 5), where you will apply communication theory to practice by responding to short‑answer questions related to a second recorded, simulated therapeutic interaction.

Week 4 (Part A) and Week 5 (Part B)

Task Length:

Part A: 15 multiple choice questions, and Part B: 4 short-answer questions, 100 words each.

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply therapeutic communication techniques and frameworks, including non-verbal, verbal and paraverbal elements, to foster empathy, compassion and shared decision-making in nursing interactions.	LO1
2	Align communication practices with legal, ethical and professional standards to support individuals in person-centred nursing care.	LO2
3	Apply communication strategies to address the unique needs and preferences of an individual in healthcare settings.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA)

Task Description:

There are two components to the OSCA – a practical component where you will demonstrate effective communication, and a documentation component where you will demonstrate your written communication skills.
This OSCA will require you to demonstrate verbal, paralinguistic (para-verbal) and nonverbal communication skills in response to a given scenario. The scenarios provided are reflective of situations that occur frequently in practice in varying ways and are challenging situations to resolve in a solution–focused and person-centred manner. Capability in these skills will be applicable in many domains of nursing practice, including with other nurses, health care workers, families, and clients.

Task Length:

30 minutes

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Convey effective communication skills in interactions with people.	LO1
2	Adhere to legal, ethical and professional standards in nursing interactions.	LO2, LO3
3	Reflect on the communication strategies you used during the healthcare interaction.	LO4
4	Apply the appropriate framework of communication to the given scenario.	LO2, LO5

Assessment Task 3: Evaluating Health Information

Task Description:

This assessment requires you to select one of four of the provided scenarios. You will then research the scenario using both generative AI and traditional sources. In your paper you will compare and contrast the information that you have gathered. You will then need to formulate recommendations that meets the requirements of the scenario, and consider how you will apply this to your future nursing practice.

Task Length:

1200 words

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Critically compare genAI to other sources.	LO5
2	Apply the principles of health literacy to the recommendations for patient education.	LO3
3	Critique the use of generative AI in the health education of patients.	LO5
4	Demonstrate clinical judgement in evaluating and using generative AI to enhance safe, ethical, and effective nursing care across a range of healthcare contexts.	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 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.