Assessment strategy and rationale

The assessments are constructively aligned to the 6 learning outcomes of unit NRSG373 and the learning outcomes of the program and graduate attributes.

NRSG373 has 160 hours of professional experience placement that students are required to complete. Completing 100% of professional experience shifts is a requirement to pass this unit.

Students are required to submit a medical certificate or statutory declaration for any professional experience placement hours missed. Instructions on submitting this documentation is available in the Student Placement Experience Manual. All hours missed due to non-attendance at professional experience placement must be completed prior to successfully completing the unit. An interim grade of “IP” will be made if 100% attendance at the professional experience placement is not achieved. Successful completion of your nursing degree requires a minimum amount of 800 hours of professional experience placement, and this must be completed incrementally throughout your program of study.

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. Competence during professional experience placement will be assessed using the Australian Nursing Standards Assessment Tool (ANSAT).

In real world practice, it is a requirement that the registered nurse has the ability to complete error-free medication calculations. This requirement exists because errors in the calculations of drug dosages can have severe adverse health consequences for patients. NRSG373 requires a mandatory pass grade for the ANSAT assessment component of professional experience placement because in nursing, professional competence is a necessary job requirement. Achieving pass grade as a standard for the clinical skills portfolio is also mandatory. The clinical skills portfolio will support student employment applications as well as the continuing professional development required for registration as a nurse. To achieve a pass grade for NRSG373, all four (4) of the above hurdle tasks must be completed successfully.

These assessments are required to build student knowledge and skills which, by the conclusion of this program, will enable the student to graduate as a safe and effective nurse. For these assessments:

• Drug Calculation is an “Ungraded Hurdle” (PASS/FAIL, noting a Pass for this task requires 100% for the exam) with three attempts permitted. This assessment is conducted as an invigilated exam. If the student is unsuccessful on the first attempt, remediation is given prior to a second and third examination attempt. Successful achievement of 100% is required for eligibility to attend professional experience placement. The National Assessment Review Committee may, in exceptional circumstances, grant one further attempt ‘only’.
• Clinical Portfolio is an “Ungraded Hurdle” (PASS/FAIL) with multiple attempts prior to the published due date, when students must submit a completed Clinical Portfolio in order to receive a pass. The National Assessment Review Committee may, in exceptional circumstances, grant one further attempt ‘only’.
• Australian Nursing Standard Assessment Tool (ANSAT) is an “Ungraded Hurdle” (PASS/FAIL) with only one attempt. The rationale for only one attempt is that students are not able to be granted multiple clinical placements.
• Attendance at 100% of professional experience placement hours is an “Ungraded Hurdle” (PASS/FAIL). Completion of professional experience placement hours are an important step towards completion of the minimum amount of 800 hours of professional experience placement that is required within your degree. Make-up may be granted if a medical certificate(s) or Statutory Declaration (maximum of one day absence) is submitted and approved for any professional experience placement hours missed. The requirements and procedures for applying for make-up are available in the Student Placement Experience Manual. Strict timelines and procedures apply.

Attendance at laboratory simulation classes in IP units

You are required to attend a minimum of 8 of 10 laboratory simulation classes in NRSG373. This minimum attendance requirement for laboratory simulation classes is mandated because attendance at these classes is integral to achievement of the learning outcomes in NRSG373. Attendance and active participation at laboratory simulation classes are also an essential component of preparation for your professional experience placement in NRSG373.

If you have an illness, and/or personal circumstance beyond your control that leads to your non-attendance at laboratory simulation classes you will be expected to provide a medical certificate or Statutory Declaration to support your absence for each class missed. The procedure for uploading this documentation will be provided on Canvas. Make-up will only be provided for students with appropriate supporting documentation, and in exceptional circumstances, as determined by the Lecturer-in-Charge. The procedure for lodging the Practical Class Absenteeism form is provided on Canvas.

As part of Standard 1: Safety of the public in The Registered Nurse Accreditation Standards (ANMAC, 2019), standard 1.7 stipulates that “only students who have demonstrated the requisite knowledge and skills required for safe practice are eligible for PEP [professional experience placement]”. It is an expectation therefore that students attend their laboratory simulation classes to demonstrate they have obtained the required knowledge and skills to attend their professional experience placements.

If you do not meet the minimum attendance requirement for laboratory simulation classes in NRSG373 then you will be ineligible to undertake the pre-placement assessment and will therefore be unable to attend professional experience placement. This will lead to a NU grade for NRSG373 as you will be unable to successfully complete the required assessment tasks and demonstrate achievement of the Unit learning outcomes.

If you think you will not be able to meet the mandatory attendance requirements in NRSG373 please contact your Lecturer-in-Charge as soon as possible to discuss.

Pre-placement Requirements

NRSG373 requires students to meet pre-placement requirements by the compliance due date specified within InPlace. The Faculty of Health Sciences require students to meet pre-placement compliance to ensure that students hold the essential checks, immunisations, and training for placement eligibility. All students must meet mandatory State or Territory legal and industry policy requirements prior to being allocated a placement. Students must fulfill a standard set of pre-placement requirements as set out by the Faculty of Health Sciences in the ACU Work Integrated Learning site to be eligible to go on professional experience placements. Failure to meet these pre-placement requirements by the specified compliance due date means students are ineligible for professional experience placement allocation and will receive an NU (Fail) grade for NRSG373.

Fitness to Practice

Prior to attending professional experience placement, all students are required to meet the inherent and mandatory documentation requirements including ‘fitness to practice.’ It is imperative that students are fit for professional practice, without physical or mental health impairments which could affect their own safety or the safety of the public, for whom they will be providing health care. This is in alignment with The Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act (2009). Students are required to complete an online Fitness for Practice Declaration via InPlace within the first three weeks of any semester where they are enrolled into an Integrating Practice unit with professional experience placement. The Fitness for Practice Declaration is part of the student’s preplacement requirements, and it is an expectation that this declaration will be completed prior to every professional experience placement the student attends. It is essential for students to disclose any condition/s they are aware of that would make them unfit for practice. Failure to complete the Fitness to Practice Declaration means students are ineligible for professional experience placement allocation and will receive an NU (Fail) grade for NRSG373.