Unit Outline
NUR353
Complex Care
Semester 1, 2026
Catherine Teare
School of Nursing
Health (Portfolio)
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
Unit Coordinator
Catherine Teare
Email: Catherine.Teare@utas.edu.au
 
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
The focus of Complex Care is on recognition of acute deterioration, urgency of care, patient management and pharmacology for patients with complex and acute diagnoses. Complex Care synthesises your knowledge of disease states to acute deterioration and examines the implications of deterioration to body systems and patient outcomes across the lifespan. You will apply clinical reasoning skills and are required to recognise, interpret, analyse and record data relevant to the acutely deteriorating patient, in accordance with the NSQHS Standards and evidence-informed practice. 
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
Apply the framework of clinical reasoning and person-centred care in the recognition of urgency of care.
2
Determine the indication and quality of use of medications in the context of acute patient states.
3
Apply knowledge of the relationship between pathophysiology of disease and indication for specific interventions.
4
Evaluate the role of the NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice and the NSQHS Standards in the context of caring for acute and complex patients.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
CXA144 Pathophysiology for Health Care or CXA240 Pathophysiology for Health Care 1
Alterations as a result of student feedback
There has been no changes as a result of student feedback.
 
 
Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Independent Learning
Online Independent Learning - 8 hours.
8
StudyPeriod 12 times
Practical
3 hour practical.
3
Study Period 6 times
Other
Test - 30 minute OSCA
0.50
Study Period 1 time
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.
 
 
 
 
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:
Quiz Series
Week 2
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Nursing Care Plan
Week 9
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA)
Week 12
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Quiz Series
Task Description:
In this assessment task, you will complete two in-class quizzes during the semester. Each quiz will consist of 15 randomly allocated questions and will be conducted under timed conditions, with 30 minutes provided for completion. The quizzes will assess understanding of material from both the online content and in-class activities.

Due Dates:
Week 2 and Week 6
Task Length:
30 minutes
Due Date:
Week 2
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Determine the indication, appropriate use, and quality of medication administration in the context of acute patient presentations
LO2
2
Apply knowledge of disease pathophysiology and its relationship to specific interventions.
LO3
3
Apply clinical reasoning to prioritise nursing interventions
LO1, LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Nursing Care Plan
Task Description:
You will be presented with a patient scenario during your first on-campus class. You are required to complete a nursing care plan based upon this scenario. The purpose of this assessment task is to demonstrate your ability to use clinical reasoning to assess, plan, and evaluate person-centred nursing care in response to a realistic patient scenario.
Task Length:
1500 words
Due Date:
Week 9
Weight:
40 %
 
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply clinical reasoning to the context of patient deterioration.
LO1
2
Analyse pharmacological management in relation to disease pathophysiology.
LO2
3
Integrate person-centred care principles by identifying and responding to the individual’s needs within the nursing care plan.
LO1, LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Objective Structured Clinical Assessment (OSCA)
Task Description:
You will be required to demonstrate assessment and evidence-informed interventions for a patient experiencing acute deterioration, under direct observation.
Task Length:
30 minutes
Due Date:
Week 12
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Demonstrate an assessment and indicated interventions.
LO1, LO4
2
Recognise, and respond to patient deterioration.
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Explain and rationalise interventions based on cues collected, physiological reasoning, and evidence informed practice including pharmacology.
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
 
 
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.
 
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
Amerman, EC. (2019). Human Anatomy & Physiology (2nd Global Edition), Pearson Education.
 
Recommended reading materials
Tiziani, A. (ed). (2022).  Harvard's Nursing Guide to Drugs (11th ed). Elsevier. 
LeMone, P., Bauldoff, G., Gubrud-Howe, P., Carno, M.-A., Levett-Jones, T., Dwyer, T., Moxham, L., Reid-Searl, K., Berry, K., & Carville, K. (2023). LeMone and Burke’s Medical-Surgical Nursing. (5th ed.). Pearson Education Australia.
Bullock, S., & Manias, E. (2022). Fundamentals of Pharmacology (9th ed). Pearson.
Recommended Readings will be provided via the unit Reading List on the University Library website.
 
Other required resources