Handbook : Unit informationEdith Cowan University

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

  Health Assessment Skills and Practice

• Unit Code

  NPP1101

• Year

  2017

• Enrolment Period

  2

• Version

  2

• Credit Points

  15

• Full Year Unit

  N

• Mode of Delivery

  On Campus
  

• Unit Coordinator

  Mrs Suzanne Joy ROBERTSON

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Description

This is the first workplace integrated learning unit in a series of six clinical practice units. Health assessment is a foundational skill for nurses in all contexts of care. In this unit students have the opportunity to develop the knowledge, techniques and skills required by the professional nurse to perform holistic, comprehensive nursing health assessment including the physical examination of individuals. Students will develop beginning level clinical reasoning skills with a focus on risk assessment and management, symptom assessment, and promoting patient function. Students will develop the following learning outcomes in either the simulated environment and/or the clinical practice setting.

Prerequisite Rule

Only students studying courses C33, Y61, Y76, Y19 or Y79 can enrol in this unit.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded NSP1202, NSP1204, NSP1205

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. Apply the infection control skills necessary to participate safely in the health care setting.
2. Assume management of 15-30% of the Registered Nurse Workload appropriate to setting.
3. Demonstrate professional competency in the workplace setting in accordance with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Competencies for the Registered Nurse relevant to the stage one scope of nursing practice.
4. Distinguish between the normal and abnormal findings.
5. Implement commonly used health assessment instruments used in clinical practice.
6. Undertake an adult physical assessment relevant to nursing practice in the health care setting.
7. Undertake general and mental health assessment.
8. Utilise beginning level medication calculations competency.

Unit Content

1. Assessment instruments for assessing falls, cognition, skin integrity and fluid balance.
2. Basic health observations: including temperature, pulse, blood pressure, respirations and urinalysis.
3. Beginning level medication calculations.
4. General and mental health assessment and documentation.
5. Hand hygiene and standard precautions.
6. Physical assessment and documentation: eye and ear examination, chest and respiratory examination, cardiac examination and basic life support.
7. Professionalism as a student nurse working in multidisciplinary teams.
8. Taking a basic health history.
9. Use of healthcare agency systems technology.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Lectures, simulation workshops and clinical practicum (40 hours).

Assessment

GS4 GRADING SCHEMA 4 Used for undifferentiated pass/fail 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.

^ Mandatory to Pass

Core Reading(s)

• Crisp, J., Douglas, C., Rebeiro, G., & Waters, D. (2017). Potter and Perry's Fundamentals of Nursing (5th ed., pp. 1–1556). Chatswood, NSW : Elsevier.

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