Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Nursing and Midwifery

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Advanced Health Assessment
  • Unit Code

    GPN5100
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online

Description

This unit will examine clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning using a systems approach, to facilitate the development of advanced health assessment and diagnostic understanding in the registered nurse. The unit will focus on the underlying pathology and the interpretation of clinical manifestation in a variety of clinical settings and with a diverse cohort of patients. The clinical learning environment and teaching processes will encourage students to develop knowledge and skills by means of a multi-faceted, interactive approach.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded GPN4100

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse information from both the patient assessment and diagnostic findings to underlying pathophysiological processes.
  2. Critique the use of a variety of health assessment tools and health care technologies.
  3. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the interpretation of diagnostic tests and results.
  4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of client assessment and the use of findings to guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical and culturally sensitive clinical practice.
  6. Devise a summation of assessment findings in relation to client needs.
  7. Formulate appropriate interventions based on health assessment findings.
  8. Produce records of health assessments undertaken of patients with diverse presentations.

Unit Content

  1. Assessment of pain management.
  2. Assessment of the abdomen and nutritional status.
  3. Assessment of the nervous system.
  4. Assessment of the thorax and cardiovascular system.
  5. Comprehensive health assessment of an adult and child.
  6. Ethically and culturally responsive practice.
  7. Health assessment of the head and neck region.
  8. Health assessment of the musculoskeletal system.
  9. Overview of collecting subjective and objective data.
  10. Review of health assessment and diagnostic reasoning relevant to clinical practice setting.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Online tutorials,case studies, discussion forums and modules.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Exercise ^Physical assessment30%
Case Study ^Written and oral presentation of a complicated case or clinical issue40%
Portfolio ^Clinical log and reflection30%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • Bickley, L. S., & Hoekelman, R. (2009). Bates' pocket guide to physical examination and history taking (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.
  • Goonj, B. (2010). Bridging cultures in Aboriginal health (3rd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Churchill Livingstone.
  • Farrell, M., & Dempsey. J. (2011). Schmeltzer and Bare's textbook of medical-surgical nursing (2nd ed.). Broadway, Australia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bickley, L. S., & Szilagyi, P. G. (2013). Guide to physical examination and history taking (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Journal References

  • Journal of Advanced Nursing
  • Professional Nurse
  • Journal of Clinical Nursing
  • Journal of Emergency Nursing

Website References


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

GPN5100|2|1

Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science

School: Nursing and Midwifery

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Advanced Health Assessment
  • Unit Code

    GPN5100
  • Year

    2015
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online

Description

This unit will examine clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning using a systems approach, to facilitate the development of advanced health assessment and diagnostic understanding in the registered nurse. The unit will focus on the underlying pathology and the interpretation of clinical manifestation in a variety of clinical settings and with a diverse cohort of patients. The clinical learning environment and teaching processes will encourage students to develop knowledge and skills by means of a multi-faceted, interactive approach.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded GPN4100

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse information from both the patient assessment and diagnostic findings to underlying pathophysiological processes.
  2. Critique the use of a variety of health assessment tools and health care technologies.
  3. Demonstrate a broad knowledge of the interpretation of diagnostic tests and results.
  4. Demonstrate a critical understanding of client assessment and the use of findings to guide diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic interventions.
  5. Demonstrate an awareness of ethical and culturally sensitive clinical practice.
  6. Devise a summation of assessment findings in relation to client needs.
  7. Formulate appropriate interventions based on health assessment findings.
  8. Produce records of health assessments undertaken of patients with diverse presentations.

Unit Content

  1. Assessment of pain management.
  2. Assessment of the abdomen and nutritional status.
  3. Assessment of the nervous system.
  4. Assessment of the thorax and cardiovascular system.
  5. Comprehensive health assessment of an adult and child.
  6. Ethically and culturally responsive practice.
  7. Health assessment of the head and neck region.
  8. Health assessment of the musculoskeletal system.
  9. Overview of collecting subjective and objective data.
  10. Review of health assessment and diagnostic reasoning relevant to clinical practice setting.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Online tutorials,case studies, discussion forums and modules.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
Exercise ^Physical assessment30%
Case Study ^Written and oral presentation of a complicated case or clinical issue40%
Portfolio ^Clinical log and reflection30%

^ Mandatory to Pass

Text References

  • Bickley, L. S., & Hoekelman, R. (2009). Bates' pocket guide to physical examination and history taking (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.
  • Goonj, B. (2010). Bridging cultures in Aboriginal health (3rd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Churchill Livingstone.
  • Farrell, M., & Dempsey. J. (2011). Schmeltzer and Bare's textbook of medical-surgical nursing (2nd ed.). Broadway, Australia: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
  • Bickley, L. S., & Szilagyi, P. G. (2013). Guide to physical examination and history taking (11th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott.

Journal References

  • Journal of Advanced Nursing
  • Professional Nurse
  • Journal of Clinical Nursing
  • Journal of Emergency Nursing

Website References


Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

GPN5100|2|2