Unit rationale, description and aim
The Registered Nurse plays a central role in the provision of health care for people who experience health alterations which result in progressive decline in health and ultimately death. Health alterations occur across a range of settings and it is a requirement that the nurse is able to provide care for people experiencing these alterations. This unit is required by students to assist their ongoing development of theoretical knowledge underpinning palliative care for the person, family and significant others who are experiencing a life limiting illness.
This unit will enable students to develop the knowledge and skills required to enable provision of quality, holistic, evidence based nursing care of the person and family with a life limiting illness. Key principles that underpin best practice will be demonstrated by the use of evidence-based case studies. The nurse’s role in the provision of palliative care will be explored across a variety of settings and patient journeys within a context interprofessional care. The content contained within this unit is instrumental in informing nursing students’ future clinical practice across a variety of settings.
The aim of this unit is to support students to develop an understanding of an evidence based palliative care within a range of care settings, the trajectory of the illness and the lifespan of the person.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Articulate advanced understanding of developmental...
Learning Outcome 01
Critically apply the models of nursing across the ...
Learning Outcome 02
Implement critical thinking and clinical reasoning...
Learning Outcome 03
Critically reflect on the lived experiences of the...
Learning Outcome 04
Critically evaluate the quality use of medicines, ...
Learning Outcome 05
Critically apply legal and ethical principles rela...
Learning Outcome 06
Content
Topics will include:
- Principles of a palliative approach
- Philosophy and definition of palliation
- National Palliative Care Standards
- Community perceptions about death, dying and bereavement in contemporary society across cultures
- Values and beliefs about death and dying and impact on care interactions
- Dying trajectories and impact of differing diagnosis e.g., cancer; chronic disease
- Promoting dignity in care relations
- Role of the family in palliative approaches
- Role of the nurse and interprofessional team in a variety of settings
- Caring for self and others including the impact of personal stressors; the experience of loss and grief and bereavement care
- Communication in a palliative approach
- Skills of effective communication
- Respect for the diverse human and clinical responses of each person and their family
- End of life discussions and issues including advanced care planning, organ donation and the role of family conferences
- Role of culture and the impact on the interpersonal relationships between the person, family and nurse
- Principles for practice
- Concept of promoting comfort and alleviating suffering
- Assessment and evidence-based management of common symptoms
- Treatment options
- Pharmacology
- Complementary therapies
- Supportive interventions (spiritual, social, psychological)
- Person centredness in caring
- Role of interprofessional team and sectorial partnerships
- Applying the clinical reasoning cycle in palliative practice
Optimising function in a person with a life limiting illness
- Identification of needs
- Concept of promoting independence across the dying trajectory
- Role of rehabilitation
- Interventions (physical, psychological and social) to promote function
Assessment strategy and rationale
A range of assessment items consistent with University assessment requirements and policy will be used to ensure students achieve the unit learning outcomes and attain the graduate attributes.
Third year students continue their transition towards independent learning. In this unit, there are two 50% assessment items, therefore the importance of each item is higher in terms of achievement of unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes. The professional development resource is aimed at new graduate level nurses working in a palliative care setting. Using palliative care content, the students adopt the level of expectation and knowledge of the new graduate in considering their practice. The written critique requires students to demonstrate an understanding of how theory translates into care and how evidence underpins best practice. Skills necessary for graduate practice include critically appraising and synthesising evidence to drive best practice. An understanding of graduate knowledge and expectations will assist with the transition for student to graduate practitioner.
These assessments are required to build student knowledge and skills which, by the conclusion of this programme, will enable the student to graduate as a safe and effective nurse.
Overview of assessments
Professional Development Resource Enables stude...
Professional Development Resource
Enables students to demonstrate their understanding of the palliative approach and the promotion of best practice in the clinical area.
50%
Written Critique (2,000 words) This assessment e...
Written Critique (2,000 words)
This assessment enables students to articulate an understanding of how theory translates into care and how evidence underpins best practice within the palliative approach.
50%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Modes of delivery in this unit include lectures, tutorials, online activities and self-directed study. Consistent with adult learning principles, the teaching and learning strategies used within these modes of delivery will provide students with foundational knowledge and skills relevant to professional nursing practice. These strategies will also support students in meeting the aim, learning outcomes and graduate attributes of the unit and the broader course learning outcomes. Learning and teaching strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively with peers.
Students exiting university need significant life-long learning skills to deliver sound, ongoing, evidence-based graduate practice as a member of the professional workforce. To embed life-long learning skills students must demonstrate increasing reflective capacity to identify what is being done well and what requires additional work in progressing toward required learning outcomes. Located in the third year of the programme, this theory unit includes some face-to-face teaching hours and an increased online component of learning. Online lectures are utilised to convey content and central principles while tutorials provide an opportunity to consolidate students’ understanding of content through collaboration and discussion. Tutorials deliver interactive and student-driven learning sessions to extend the community of learners, and increase their self-reliance, critical reflection and debate. Online materials provide students with the opportunity to undertake directed, self-motivated study and continue to transition to independent study and life-long learning.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards for Practice
In connection to the learning outcomes, these are the national Registered nurse standards for practice for all RNs. Together with NMBA standards, codes and guidelines, these Registered nurse standards for practice should be evident in current practice, and inform the development of the scopes of practice and aspirations of RNs.
Relating toThinks critically and analyses nursing practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toAccesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings, for safe, quality practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toDevelops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toRespects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toComplies with legislation, regulations, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toUses ethical frameworks when making decisions
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toMaintains accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation of assessments, planning, decision-making, actions and evaluations, and
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toContributes to quality improvement and relevant research.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toEngages in therapeutic and professional relationships
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toEstablishes, sustains and concludes relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toCommunicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toRecognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toProvides support and directs people to resources to optimise health-related decisions
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toAdvocates on behalf of people in a manner that respects the person’s autonomy and legal capacity
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toActively fosters a culture of safety and learning that includes engaging with health professionals and others, to share knowledge and practice that supports person-centred care
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO3, LO4
Relating toMaintains the capability for practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toConsiders and responds in a timely manner to the health and wellbeing of self and others in relation to the capability for practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toProvides the information and education required to enhance people’s control over health
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toUses a lifelong learning approach for continuing professional development of self and others
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toAccepts accountability for decisions, actions, behaviours and responsibilities inherent in their role, and for the actions of others to whom they have delegated responsibilities
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toIdentifies and promotes the integral role of nursing practice and the profession in influencing better health outcomes for people.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toComprehensively conducts assessments
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toConducts assessments that are holistic as well as culturally appropriate
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toUses a range of assessment techniques to systematically collect relevant and accurate information and data to inform practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toWorks in partnership to determine factors that affect, or potentially affect, the health and wellbeing of people and populations to determine priorities for action and/ or for referral, and
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toAssesses the resources available to inform planning.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toDevelops a plan for nursing practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toUses assessment data and best available evidence to develop a plan
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toDocuments, evaluates and modifies plans accordingly to facilitate the agreed outcomes
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO6
Relating toProvides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toProvides comprehensive safe, quality practice to achieve agreed goals and outcomes that are responsive to the nursing needs of people
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO2, LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6
Relating toEvaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating toEvaluates and monitors progress towards the expected goals and outcomes
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating toRevises the plan based on the evaluation, and
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Relating toDetermines, documents and communicates further priorities, goals and outcomes with the relevant persons.
Relevant Learning OutcomeLO1, LO2, LO3, LO4