School of Nursing and Midwifery

1. Introduction
   Nursing and Midwifery are professions governed by competency standards, codes of ethics, professional conduct expectations and professional boundaries where nurses and midwives are both accountable and responsible for ensuring professional behaviour in all contexts. These documents are available for review at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website under ‘Professional Codes and Guidelines’ > ‘Professional Standards’
2. Description
   Student demonstrates knowledge of, and engages in ethical behaviour in practice.
3. Justification
   Compliance with the standards, codes, guidelines and policies facilitates safe, competent interactions and relationships for students and/or the people with whom they engage. This supports the physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual wellbeing of all.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure the standards, codes, guidelines and policies are not compromised or result in unethical behaviour. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Demonstration of appropriate behaviour with confidential information in classroom and clinical settings.
   Demonstration of ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and take responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.

1. Introduction
   Behavioural and emotional stability is required to function and adapt sensitively in the role of a nurse and/or midwife.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates behavioural and emotional stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.
3. Justification
   Behavioural and emotional stability is required to work individually and in teams in changing and unpredictable environments. Nursing and/or midwifery students will be exposed to emergency situations and human suffering and will be required to have behavioural and emotional stability to manage these.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback.
   Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the clinical setting.

1. Introduction
   Nursing and midwifery practice is mandated by legislation to enable the safe delivery of care.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian law, professional regulations and scope of practice.
3. Justification
   Knowledge, understanding and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others. Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian law ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Complying with the requirement for student registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
   Complying with relevant child protection and other safety legislation.

All ECU pre-registration nursing and midwifery courses require effective verbal and non-verbal and written communication skills.

Verbal

1. Introduction
   Effective verbal communication, in English, is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates:
   • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
   • The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   • The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
   • Timely clear feedback and reporting
3. Justification
   Communicating in a way that displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships is a necessary part of nursing and midwifery. Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions). Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment. Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must address effectiveness, timeliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety and appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Participation in tutorial, simulation and clinical discussions.
   Responding appropriately to a care request in the clinical environment.

Non-verbal

1. Introduction
   Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to nursing and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic and non-judgmental.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
   • Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   • Sensitivity to individual and/or cultural differences
3. Justification
   The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect is required in academic and professional relationships. Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic and professional relationships. Being sensitive to individual and/or cultural differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships. The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for the safe and effective observation of patient symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of patients.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the recognition, initiation of or appropriate response to effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Recognising and responding appropriately in classroom situations.
   Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the clinical environment.

Written

1. Introduction
   Effective written communication, in English, is a fundamental nursing responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
2. Description
   Students must be able to demonstrate the capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
3. Justification
   Construction of written text based assessment tasks to reflect the required academic standards are necessary to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter for professional practice. Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and patient notes, is vital to provide consistent and safe patient care.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the ability to meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical settings. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Constructing an essay to academic standards.
   Constructing a nursing or midwifery report in a timely manner that meets professional standards.

All ECU pre-registration nursing and midwifery courses require knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition, literacy and numeracy.

Knowledge and cognitive skills

1. Introduction
   Consistent knowledge and effective cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent nursing or midwifery care.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates:
   • The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
   • The ability to process information relevant to practice
   • The ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice
3. Justification
   Safe and effective delivery of nursing care is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
   Application of knowledge of policy and procedures in the clinical setting.

Literacy (language)

1. Introduction
   Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of care.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates:
   • The ability to acquire information and accurately convey appropriate, effective messages
   • The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information
   • The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner
3. Justification
   The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care. The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for the safe and effective delivery of nursing care.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must enable a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Can demonstrate the ability to listen to and retain information.
   Can demonstrate the ability to convey a spoken message accurately.
   Can demonstrate the ability to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.
   Can demonstrate accurate, concise and clear nursing and/or midwifery documentation.

Numeracy

1. Introduction
   Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective care.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.
3. Justification
   Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in nursing to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of nursing care.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must enable a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Performing accurate drug calculations.
   Demonstrating accurate recording on a fluid balance chart.

Visual

1. Introduction
   Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective nursing care.
2. Description
   Student has sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.
3. Justification
   Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care of self and to others. Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective nursing and midwifery practice.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Accurately drawing up medication to administer.
   Observing and detecting subtle changes in wounds.

Auditory

1. Introduction
   Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective nursing care.
2. Description
   Student has sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.
3. Justification
   Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage an individual's health needs consistently and accurately. Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective nursing and midwifery practice
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing loss must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Accurately undertaking a blood pressure measurement by auscultation.
   Detecting care requests by activation of call bell or calls for help.

Tactile

1. Introduction
   Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe nursing care.
2. Description
   Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.
3. Justification
   Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect patients' physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide thorough nursing care. Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must enable the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Detecting any changes in circulation through e.g. measurement of temperature and pulse palpation.
   Conducting a physical assessment and detecting any anatomical abnormalities.

This course requires strength and mobility involving fine and gross motor skills.

Gross motor

1. Introduction
   Nursing and midwifery involve physical demands and require gross motor function.
2. Description
   Student has the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice.
3. Justification
   Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples

Maintaining balance while safely mobilising and transferring individuals or resources.
Able to safely retrieve and utilise stock and equipment.

Fine motor

1. Introduction
   Nursing and midwifery are professions that require manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
2. Description
   Student has the ability to use fine motor skills to provide safe and effective care.
3. Justification
   Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Performing an aseptic wound dressing.
   Able to prime, accurately insert and set prescribed rate on an infusion device.

1. Introduction
   Nursing practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level.
2. Description
   Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time. The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately. The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of time.
3. Justification
   Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care.
4. Reasonable adjustments
   Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period. Adjustments specific to the individual can be discussed with the course coordinator and/or ECU Access and Inclusion.
5. Examples
   Participating in tutorials, lectures and skills workshops.
   Providing consistent care over a negotiated time frame.