Principles of Care for the Emergency Patient

Unit Outline (Higher Education)

   
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Effective Term: 2025/04
Institute / School :Institute of Health and Wellbeing
Unit Title: Principles of Care for the Emergency Patient
Unit ID: HEALE6401
Credit Points: 15.00
Prerequisite(s): (HEALT6003)
Co-requisite(s): Nil
Exclusion(s): Nil
ASCED: 060309
Other Change:  
Brief description of the Unit

The purpose of this post-graduate unit is to enable Registered Nurses to acquire advanced clinical assessment skills based on a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of illness and injury common to the acutely unwell patient across the lifespan in the emergency setting. This unit will adopt a systems approach to enable the student to provide safe and high quality emergency nursing care.

Grade Scheme: Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF)
Work Experience Indicator:
No work experience
Placement Component: No
Supplementary Assessment:Yes
Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment
Course Level:
Level of Unit in CourseAQF Level(s) of Course
5678910
Introductory                                                
Intermediate                                                
Advanced                                        
Learning Outcomes:
Knowledge:
K1.

Critically analyse and describe the applied pathophysiology as related to an acutely unwell patient with a condition that results in alterations or failure of various body systems across the lifespan.

K2.

Demonstrate in depth understanding of advanced nursing assessments using a systematic approach that enables clear decision making of nursing interventions and collaborates on medical interventions.

K3.

Evaluate the theoretical basis for the diagnostic, therapeutic and preventative techniques associated with the care of the acutely unwell emergency patient across the lifespan.

Skills:
S1.

Perform focused, systematic and methodical advanced patient assessments that informs nursing interventions.

S2.

Practical application of sound theoretical knowledge that informs clinical and practical skills related to the care of the acutely unwell emergency patient.

S3.

Demonstrate the ability to apply analytical skills to the data gained from nursing assessment, monitoring and laboratory findings to evaluate therapeutic interventions.

Application of knowledge and skills:
A1.

Demonstrates safe clinical assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation skills in time critical and complex patients commensurate with the competency standards of specialty professional organisations and regulatory bodies.

A2.

Application of leadership attributes and professional practice consistent with the National Safety and Quality Standards (NSQ) in the care of the emergency patient

A3.

Gain the ability to engage in life-long learning through reflective practice and seek learning opportunities to keep abreast of digital and non-digital advances in healthcare and engagement.

Unit Content:

Practice Standards for the Specialist Emergency Nurse (2020), National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (2017-2019), Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016) and International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics for Nurses (2012) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit. Topics may include: Understanding advanced pathophysiology of acute conditions in the context of the emergency patient. Advanced systematic assessment of the acutely unwell patient.  Application of advanced monitoring and diagnostics in the care of the acutely unwell patient

Graduate Attributes:
Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.

FED TASK and descriptorDevelopment and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit
Level
FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal

Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in:

• Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods

• Active listening for meaning and influencing 

• High-level empathy for others

• Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills

• Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams 

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 2
Leadership

Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: 

• Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments

• Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth

• Inspiring and enabling others

• Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others

• Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems 

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity

Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in:

• Reflecting critically on complex problems

• Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information

• Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas

• Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry

• Proposing creative solutions in problem solving  

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy

Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: 

• Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level

• Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media 

• Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research

• Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups

• Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities 

1 - Yes
FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset

Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in:

• The responsible conduct of research

• Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts

• Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen

• Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable 

• Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life.  

1 - Yes
 Learning Outcomes AssessedAssessment TasksAssessment TypeWeighting
1.K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A3

Application of theoretical knowledge and skills related to critical pathophysiology and advanced nursing assessment including nursing and medical interventions that are applied in the care of the acutely unwell emergency patient.

Online Quizzes

10-20%

2.K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3

Application of advanced health assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of professional emergency nursing care of the deteriorating patient using a case study approach.

Case study

30-50%

3.K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A3

Application of theoretical knowledge and clinical reasoning for different clinical contexts related to the acutely unwell emergency patient.

Written Test

40-60%

Adopted Reference Style:
APA  ()

Professional Standards / Competencies:
 Standard / Competency