Course descriptions

NURS1005 Professional Practice 1
Pre-requisite: Pass CSE and Numeracy/medication calculation test in NURS1002 Nursing Practice 1
The course is the first workplace experience that introduces the student to the professional health care environment and immerses the students in the practice of nursing. Students have the opportunity to contextualise theoretical and simulated learning to an authentic workplace experience and begin their journey to become a registered nurse. Students will develop their competence in nursing activities and develop an understanding of how registered nurses work collaboratively with patients, families and the multidisciplinary team.

NURS1010 Professional Practice 2
Pre-requisites: NURS1005 - Professional Practice 1 AND Pass CSE and Numeracy/medication calculation test in NURS1009 - Nursing Practice 2
Professional Practice 2 expands on the knowledge and skills covered in Nursing Practice 2 and other courses studied during the previous semester. It provides the student nurse with the opportunity to relate to the Clinical Reasoning Cycle and develop their critical thinking ability within a supported professional workplace environment. Students will practice medication administration, aseptic techniques and wound management. Engaging in the professional practice area also enables the student to experience the multidisciplinary team and practice interdisciplinary communication.

NURS1029 Human Body 1
This course introduces students to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. It provides the foundation knowledge a registered nurse requires to make informed decisions regarding health assessment and patient care. The course addresses medical terminology and basic scientific concepts. Homeostasis is explored to demonstrate the dynamic nature of the human body and how it is maintained through a complex interplay between the cells, tissues and different organs. The organ systems covered are respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, integumentary, skeletal and digestive. Basic concepts in nutrition are also included and linked to the structure and functioning of the cells and significance to health. This course is based on the scientific method of enquiry and aims to nurture a critical way of thinking that is the basis of evidence-based practice.

NURS1030 Knowing Nursing
This course introduces students to the role and responsibilities of the registered nurse, professionalisation, the regulation of nursing, and contemporary frameworks for nursing practice. Students’ will also be introduced to the nursing code of ethics and cultural safety and examine how these support holistic nursing care. Students’ academic literacy skills will be developed, and the importance of good oral and written communication skills for effective academic and clinical nursing practice, will be addressed. Students will also develop awareness of the positive impact of evidence-based nursing practice, in providing safe and sustainable nursing care.

NURS1031 Nursing Practice 1
This course introduces the student to fundamental nursing care activities that form the foundation for person-centred nursing practice across the lifespan. Students are introduced to essential work health and safety practices for both the protection of the individual and staff. Students will learn how to assist people manage their activities of living needs whilst maintaining their human dignity. The Clinical Reasoning Cycleis used as the underpinning framework on which the student begins to build their problem identification and problem-solving abilities. The role of the nurse in gathering and documenting health status data, including health history and measurement of vital signs is also introduced. Students explore professional communication and documentation.

NURS1032 Health and Wellness
This course introduces students to the concepts of health and well-being within a framework of primary health care. Students will be supported to identify the broad socio-cultural factors that influence the health and well-being of individuals, communities and populations, placing emphasis on national priority areas and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Students will examine the concept of health promotion, and health promotion strategies, and their applicability at an individual, community and population level. A lifespan approach is used and it is underpinned by the philosophy of person-centred care.

NURS1033 Human Body 2
Pre-requisites: NURS1029 Human Body 1
This course builds on Human Body 1 by extending the foundation of knowledge required to understand the disease processes and clinical decisions that are associated with patient care. The course introduces complex concepts such as fluid and acid-base balance, metabolism, cellular reproduction and cellular communication. Homeostasis is revisited and expands on how the functioning of one organ system can affect the workings of another. This facilitates a better understanding of the nursing practices that assist patient health and nurtures a level of critical thinking that is the basis of evidence-based practice. The organ systems covered in this course are muscular, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, microbial, immune and reproduction. Genetics and the contribution of the microbiome to health are included.

NURS1034 Research for Practice
Pre-requisite: NURS1030 Knowing Nursing
This course introduces students to research and evidence based nursing practice. Students develop their capability for being a research consumer by means of locating, appraising, critiquing and selectively using research findings to safely inform everyday clinical practice. The course introduces the student to research concepts and processes, as well as a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

NURS1035 Nursing Practice 2
Pre-requisites: NURS1031 Nursing Practice 1 AND NURS1005 Professional Practice 1
This is the second nursing practice course. The students will use the Clinical Reasoning Cycle, and further develop their problem identification and management skills to provide safe, competent and responsible nursing care for patients/clients at various stages of development and life phases. Students explore the principles and practices of aseptic technique and apply them to wound dressings and the administration of medications. Students will explore factors impacting on wound healing and develop their ability to assess and make decisions about wound management. Medication management will be introduced with emphasis on the quality use of medicines and the nurse’s legal responsibilities when administering medications. This course will also examine complications associated with immobility and nursing interventions aimed at their prevention.

NURS1037 Foundations of Nursing
This course introduces students to the role and responsibilities of the registered nurse, professionalisation, the regulation of nursing, and contemporary frameworks for nursing practice. Students will also be introduced to the nursing code of ethics and cultural safety, and examine how these support holistic nursing care. This course will develop students’ academic literacy skills, and address the importance of effective oral and written communication skills for academic and clinical nursing practice. Students will also develop awareness of the positive impact of evidence-based nursing practice in providing safe and sustainable nursing care.

NURS1038 Human Body 1
This course introduces students to the anatomy and physiology of the human body. It provides the foundation knowledge a registered nurse requires to make informed decisions regarding health assessment and client/patient care. The course addresses medical terminology and basic scientific concepts. Homeostasis is explored to demonstrate the dynamic nature of the human body and how it is maintained through a complex interplay between the cells, tissues and different organs. The organ systems covered are respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, integumentary, skeletal and digestive. Basic concepts in nutrition are also included and linked to the structure and functioning of the cells and significance to health. This course is based on the scientific method of enquiry and aims to nurture a critical way of thinking that is the basis of evidence-based practice.

NURS1039 Health and Wellness
This course introduces students to the concepts of health and wellbeing within a framework of primary health care. Students will identify the broad socio-cultural factors that influence the health and wellbeing of individuals, communities and populations. Emphasis will be placed on Australia’s National Health Priority Areas and vulnerable populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Using a lifespan approach, students will examine the concept of health promotion, and its applicability at individual, community and population levels.

NURS1040 Professional Practice 1 (Nursing Practice 1)
The skills component (Nursing Practice) of this course introduces the student to fundamental nursing care activities that form the foundation for person-centred nursing practice across the lifespan. Students are introduced to essential work health and safety practices for both the protection of the individual and staff. Students will learn how to assist people manage their activities of daily living whilst maintaining their human dignity. The Clinical Reasoning Cycle is used as the underpinning framework on which the student begins to build their problem identification and problem-solving abilities. The role of the nurse in gathering and documenting health status data, including health history and measurement of vital signs is also introduced. Students explore professional communication and documentation.
The professional practice placement component is the first workplace experience that introduces the student to the professional health care environment and immerses the student in the practice of nursing. Students have the opportunity to contextualise theoretical and simulated learning to an authentic workplace experience and begin their journey to become a registered nurse. Students will develop their competence in nursing activities and develop an understanding of how registered nurses work collaboratively with clients/patients, families and the multidisciplinary team. Students will need to complete the nursing practice skills component of this course successfully to qualify for placement, which will occur consecutively at the end of the semester.

NURS1041 Human Body 2
Pre-requisite: NURS1038 Human Body 1
This course builds on Human Body 1 by extending the foundation of knowledge required to understand the disease processes and clinical decisions that are associated with client/patient care. The course introduces complex concepts such as fluid and acid-base balance, metabolism, cellular reproduction and cellular communication. Homeostasis is revisited and expands on how the functioning of one organ system can affect the workings of another. This facilitates a better understanding of the nursing practices that assist client/patient health and nurtures a level of critical thinking that is the basis of evidence-based practice. The organ systems covered in this course are muscular, nervous, endocrine, lymphatic, microbial, immune and reproduction. Genetics and the contribution of the microbiome to health are included.

NURS1042 Research for Practice
Pre-requisite: NURS1037 Foundations of Nursing
This course introduces students to research and evidence-based nursing practice. Students will develop their capability for being a research consumer by means of locating, appraising, critiquing and selectively using research findings safely to inform everyday clinical practice. The course introduces the student to research concepts and processes, as well as a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.

NURS1043 Professional Practice 2 (Nursing Practice 2)
Pre-requisite: NURS1040 Professional Practice 1 (Nursing Practice 1)
This is the second nursing practice course. The students will use the Clinical Reasoning Cycle, and further develop their problem identification and management skills to provide safe, competent, and responsible nursing care for clients/patients at various stages of development and life phases. Students explore the principles and practices of aseptic technique and application to wound dressings and the administration of medications. Students will explore factors affecting wound healing and develop their ability to assess and make decisions about wound management. Medication management will be developed further with an emphasis on the quality use of medicines and the nurse’s legal responsibilities when administering medications. This course will also examine complications associated with immobility and preventative measures.
Professional Practice 2 expands on the knowledge and skills covered in Nursing Practice 2 and other courses studied during the previous semester. It provides the student nurse with the opportunity to relate to the Clinical Reasoning Cycle and develop their critical thinking ability within a supported professional workplace environment. Students will practice medication administration, aseptic techniques, and wound management. Engaging in the professional practice area also enables the student to experience the multidisciplinary team and practice interdisciplinary communication. Students must complete the nursing practice component successfully to qualify for placement, which will occur consecutively at the end of the semester.

NURS2000 Clinical Therapeutics 1
Pre-requisite: NURS1029 Human Body 1 and NURS1033 Human Body 2
This course develops the students’ knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. A body systems approach is used and diseases and/or dysfunction of the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, gastro intestinal, integumentary and endocrine systems are explored. Alterations in homeostasis will be examined and its relationship to health and disease. Students will apply and integrate their understanding of pathophysiology to the person’s clinical presentation and associated interventions and medications used to prevent and treat the disorder. This knowledge informs clinical reasoning and decision making that is essential to nursing care.

NURS2002 Nursing Practice 3
Pre-requisite: NURS1035 Nursing Practice 2 and NURS1010 Professional Practice 2
This course further develops the students’ capability to assess people across the lifespan and use clinical reasoning to plan care. Students will examine functional health assessment and focused clinical assessment and learn to synthesise this information to plan care for people with acute disruption to health. The Clinical Reasoning Cycle will be used as a framework to assist the students to make sound clinical decisions and to aid the student to transfer this knowledge and skills to other clinical contexts. Central to making sound clinical decisions is the use of current evidence and students are expected to use evidence and research in care planning. Students will also extend their knowledge and skill in the quality use of medicines and aseptic technique.

NURS2004 Professional Practice 3
Pre-requisite: NURS1035 Nursing Practice 2 and NURS1010 Professional Practice 2; and Passing the Medication calculation exam and Clinical skills exam in NURS2002 Nursing Practice 3
This professional workplace experience provides students with the opportunity to build on and contextualise knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. Students will engage in legal and ethical nursing practice and further develop their skill in focused assessment, intravenous therapy and intravenous medication administration. Students will apply the Clinical Reasoning Cycle framework to person-centred care and reflect on their clinical experiences.

NURS2005 Clinical Therapeutics 2
Pre-requisite: NURS2000 -  Clinical Therapeutics 1
This course is designed to further develop the students’ knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. The pathophysiology of a range of disease processes across the lifespan will be explored including diseases and/or dysfunction of the neurological, immunological, haematological and reproductive systems. Cancer, adiposity, infection, sepsis and shock states, pain and anaesthesia and genetic disorders are also examined. Students will apply and integrate their understanding of pathophysiology to the person’s clinical presentation and associated interventions and medications used to prevent and treat the disorder. This knowledge is pivotal to clinical reasoning and decision making in nursing care. Students will examine the pharmacological and medical management of a range disorders.

NURS2006 Nursing Practice 4
Pre-requisite: NURS2002 Nursing Practice 3 and NURS2004 Professional Practice 3
This course builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Nursing Practice 3. The clinical context of the course is caring for people across the lifespan experiencing complex health problems in both medical and surgical environments. The course will also examine issues impacting on an individual’s rehabilitation, education and discharge planning. Students will relate to the Clinical Reasoning Cycleto guide their critical thinking, assessment and care planning. Students will also further develop their competence in medication and complex wound management.

NURS2007 Mental Health and Wellbeing
Pre-requisite: NURS1032 Health and Wellness
This course is based on the principle that mental health knowledge and skills are essential for all nurses in all health care settings. The foundations of therapeutic communication, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills and self-care will be examined to facilitate the development of the skills and strategies required to respond to people with mental health issues. Consumer and carer perspectives will inform students’ understandings of mental health issues as experienced across the lifespan. These issues are explored in view of the latest research based evidence. Students will develop and consolidate key mental health assessment skills with particular emphasis on the most prevalent mental health issues.

NURS2008 Professional Practice 4
Pre-requisite: NURS2002 Nursing Practice 3 and NURS2004 Professional Practice 3
(Pass clinical skills examination and medication calculation exam in NURS2006 Nursing Practice 4
This professional practice experience builds on theoretical knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics and nursing skills developed during Nursing Practice 3. Students further develop critical thinking skills and apply the Clinical Reasoning Cycle framework to the assessment and management of people undergoing surgery and those with complex health problems. This course will also engage students in the role of the nurse in patient education and discharge planning.

NURS2032 Legal and Ethical Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS1030 Knowing Nursing
This course extends the student’s knowledge of law and ethics, and emphasises the importance of applying legal and ethical principles to inform nursing practice that is: safe; therapeutic; effective; and promotes public goodwill in the title registered nurse. Legal and ethical principles are explained and their relationship to nursing practice is examined. Law, legislation, and ethical theories relevant to nursing are identified, and the responsibility of the nurse to be compliant is explored. Students will also discuss the values held by the nursing profession, as the concepts of rights and responsibilities increasingly impact on professional nursing practice. Health regulation, nurse self-regulation and nurse decision making models are explored. Furthermore, students learn to identify nursing situations where moral obligation, moral anguish, ethical dilemmas and conscientious doubt are likely to arise. This dissonance will be explored through the Giving Voice to Values framework.

NURS2033 Illness Prevention and Management
Pre-requisite: NURS1032 Health and Wellness, NURS2000 Clinical Therapeutics 1, NURS2002 Nursing Practice 3
This second primary health care course builds on the knowledge developed in Health and Wellness. Students examine primary health care nursing within different contexts and specialities across the human lifespan. The course examines the role of a primary health care nurse to prevent and manage chronic illnesses. Core concepts studied include complex health management, provision of primary health care services, and health literacy and provider self-management support. The role of the nurse working in partnership with individuals and families will also be explored.

NURS2034 Clinical Therapeutics 1
Pre-requisites: NURS1038 Human Body 1, NURS1041 Human Body 2
This course develops the students’ knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. A body systems approach is used and diseases and/or dysfunction of the respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, neurological, gastrointestinal, integumentary and endocrine systems are explored. Alterations in homeostasis will be examined and its relationship to health and disease. Students will apply and integrate their understanding of pathophysiology to the person’s clinical presentation, and associated interventions and medications used to prevent and treat the disorder. This knowledge informs clinical reasoning and decision making that is essential to nursing care.

NURS2035 Laws and Ethics
Pre-requisite: NURS1037 Foundations of Nursing
This course extends the student’s knowledge of law and ethics and emphasises the importance of applying legal and ethical principles to inform nursing practice that is: safe; therapeutic; effective; and promotes public goodwill in the title registered nurse. Legal and ethical principles are explained and their relationship to nursing practice is examined. Law, legislation, and ethical theories relevant to nursing are identified, and the responsibility of the nurse to be compliant is explored. Students will also discuss the values held by the nursing profession, as the concepts of rights and responsibilities increasingly impact on professional nursing practice. Health regulation, nurse self-regulation and nurse decision making models are explored. Furthermore, students learn to identify nursing situations where moral obligation, moral anguish, ethical dilemmas, and conscientious doubt are likely to arise. This dissonance will be explored through the Giving Voice to Values framework.

NURS2036 Professional Practice 3 (Nursing Practice 3)
Pre-requisite: NURS1043 Professional Practice 2 (Nursing Practice 2)
This course further develops the students’ capability to assess people across the lifespan and use clinical reasoning to plan care. Students will examine functional health assessment and focused clinical assessment and learn to synthesise this information to plan care for people with acute disruption to health. The Clinical Reasoning Cycle will be used as a framework to assist the students to make sound clinical decisions and to aid the student to transfer this knowledge and skills to other clinical contexts. Central to making sound clinical decisions is the use of current evidence and students are expected to use evidence and research in care planning. Students will also extend their knowledge and skill in the quality use of medicines and aseptic technique.
The professional workplace experience provides students with the opportunity to build on and contextualise knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics. Students will engage in legal and ethical nursing practice and further develop their skill in focused assessment, intravenous therapy and intravenous medication administration. Students will apply the Clinical Reasoning Cycle framework to person-centred care and reflect on their clinical experiences.

NURS2037 Clinical Therapeutics 2
Pre-requisite: NURS2034 Clinical Therapeutics 1
This course develops students’ knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics further. The pathophysiology of a range of disease processes across the lifespan will be explored including diseases and/or dysfunction of the neurological, immunological, haematological and reproductive systems. Cancer, adiposity, infection, sepsis and shock states, pain and anaesthesia and genetic disorders are also examined. Students will apply and integrate their understanding of pathophysiology to the person’s clinical presentation and associated interventions and medications used to prevent and treat the disorder. This knowledge is pivotal to clinical reasoning and decision making in nursing care. Students will examine the pharmacological and medical management of a range of disorders.

NURS2038 Illness Prevention and Management
Pre-requisite: NURS1039 Health and Wellness
This second primary health care course builds on the knowledge developed in Health and Wellness. Students examine primary health care nursing within different contexts and specialities across the human lifespan. The course examines the role of a primary health care nurse to prevent and manage chronic illnesses. Core concepts studied include complex health management, provision of primary health care services, and health literacy and provider self-management support. The role of the nurse working in partnership with individuals and families will also be explored.

NURS2039 Mental Health and Wellbeing
Pre-requisite: NURS1039 Health and Wellness
This course is based on the principle that mental health knowledge and skills are essential for all nurses in all healthcare settings. The foundations of therapeutic communication, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills and self-care will be examined to facilitate the development of the skills and strategies required to respond to people with mental health issues. Consumer and carer perspectives will inform students’ understandings of mental health issues as experienced across the lifespan. These issues are explored in view of the latest research-based evidence. Students will develop and consolidate key mental health assessment skills with particular emphasis on the most prevalent mental health issues.

NURS2040 Professional Practice 4 (Nursing Practice 4)
Pre-requisite: NURS2036 Professional Practice 3 (Nursing Practice 3)
This course in the skills area builds on the knowledge and skills developed in Nursing Practice 3. The clinical context of the course is caring for people across the lifespan experiencing complex health problems in both medical and surgical environments. The course will also examine issues affecting an individual’s rehabilitation, education, and discharge planning. Students will relate to the Clinical Reasoning Cycle to guide their critical thinking, assessment, and care planning. Students will also further develop their competence in medication and complex wound management.
The professional practice experience in this course builds on theoretical knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacotherapeutics and nursing skills developed during Nursing Practice 3. Students further develop critical thinking skills and apply the Clinical Reasoning Cycle framework to the assessment and management of people undergoing surgery and those with complex health problems. This course will also engage students in the role of the nurse in patient education and discharge planning.

NURS3000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health
Pre-requisites: NURS1001 - Professional Practice in Nursing AND NURS1006 - Sociology for Nurses
This course further develops the students' understanding of the health care needs and health care status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Traditional and contemporary world views, values, and life chances of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples will be explored, along with the historical and social determinants of health. Students will also explore their own cultural backgrounds and how this impacts on their nursing care of others. Students will explore different models of care and cultural protocols that inform culturally safe, competent, and sensitive care and learn about the correct and appropriate uses of language and terminology. Health care practices and protocols will be reviewed and key contacts and support structures within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services will be identified. This course is developed and implemented in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators, researchers, health workers and health professionals. The central organisations of the Nulungu Research Institute (UNDA), CATSIN, LIME and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) provide guidance and knowledge regarding the Learning Outcomes, Course Content and Assessment.

NURS3001 Complex Care and Palliation
Pre-requisite: NURS2033 Illness Prevention and Management and NURS2008 Professional Practice 4
This course prepares students to practise in partnership with individuals, families and communities to meet the health care needs of those living with multi-morbidities or life-limiting illnesses. To prepare for this responsibility, the course promotes holistic nursing care across the human life-span, including the special needs of older people. It will also familiarise students with the personal and professional challenges associated with caring for people who are dying.

NURS3002 Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration
Pre-requisite: NURS2006 Nursing Practice 4 and NURS2008 Professional Practice 4
This course is designed to develop the student’s ability to assess and manage patients and their families across the lifespan with complex disruptions to health and who are at risk of acute deterioration. The student will further develop their ability to make sound clinical decisions that are based on both physiological and pathophysiological processes as well as current evidence and research. There will be an emphasis on the application of theory to practice through the use of case-based scenarios in both tutorial and simulated tutorial sessions. From a theoretical perspective the students will examine clinical decision-making and the early detection of deterioration. From a practical perspective, students will hone their skills in clinical assessment to astutely and skillfully assess patients with complex disruptions to health.

NURS3003 Mental Health Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS2007 Mental Health and Wellbeing and NURS2008 Professional Practice 4
This course develops students’ capability to assess people with mental health conditions and develop mental health interventions and case management plans within general and mental health care settings. Students further develop their clinical judgement and perform risk and mental health assessments to inform evidenced-based care. Students extend their understanding of therapeutic relationships with mental health consumers and their carers. The Australian ethico-legal context of mental health nursing to deliver safe, competent, and responsive nursing care is examined.

NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
Pre-requisite: NURS2006 Nursing Practice 4 and NURS2008 Professional Practice 4 and Pass clinical skills examination and medication calculation exam in NURS3002 Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration
This course provides the student with 2 contexts of professional workplace experience; mental health nursing, and caring for people with complex health needs. Students undertake 3-weeks experience in mental health nursing, either in an in-patient hospital or community-based mental health facility. Students work with members of a multidisciplinary mental health team to provide support for people with acute and long-term mental health conditions. During the other 3-weeks of professional workplace experience students refine their clinical reasoning and communication skills to care for people experiencing clinical deterioration or to care for those with a life limiting illness.

NURS3005 Leadership and Governance
Pre-requisites: NURS1001 - Professional Practice in Nursing AND NURS1008 - Ethics and Law in Nursing
Co-requisite: NURS3005 - Leadership and Governance
This course focuses on leadership and governance and the pivotal role of the registered nurse working within a complex healthcare system. The challenges of clinical governance, including health care reform and contemporary issues affecting professional nursing practice are debated. Strategies for improving recruitment and retention of nurses will be used as a framework for learning. The role of leadership in the provision of quality care and facilitating positive change will be analysed. Students examine the attributes of effective clinical leaders and reflect on the barriers to effective leadership. Central to quality care is the use of current evidence and research and students will explore the means to translateevidence into clinical practice.

NURS3006 Transition to Practice
Prerequisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
Co-requisite: NURS3005 Leadership and Governance
This capstone course provides students with an opportunity to critically evaluate their preparedness for registered nurse practice. Central to this preparedness is the student’s assessment of their own capability to be a registered nurse. Students will reflect on their own journey to Registered Nurse practice and self-assess knowledge, skills and behaviours against the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) codes and standards. Other key areas that will be addressed include communicating in complex situations, delegation and supervision, nurse as educator, and applying ethical frameworks in the workplace.

NURS3007 Perioperative Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
This course introduces the student to the specialty of perioperative nursing. Perioperative nursing requires specialist knowledge and skills for patient care before, during, and after an operative procedure. This course addresses patient care aspects from preadmission and the immediate preoperative phase, the intraoperative environment including anaesthetics, instrument and circulating nursing, through to the immediate postoperative and post anaesthesia recovery nursing. Principles of healthcare ethics in the perioperative environment are explored.

NURS3009 Paediatric Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
This course examines the care of infants, children and young people. Paediatric healthcare is situated within a model of family-centred care therefore the role of parents and carers will be examined. The course addresses contemporary issues impacting on the health of infants, children, young people and their families, and examines interventions and strategies aimed at improving health outcomes. A range of common paediatric conditions will be explored along with their associated assessment and management.

NURS3010 Palliative Care Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
This course focuses on the care of individuals and their families needing palliative care in both the hospital and community, including residential aged care. It focuses on addressing the complex physical, psychosocial cultural and spiritual needs that individuals experience as they progress along the illness trajectory and at end of life. Death and dying is explored along with the complex decisions that individuals and families may be required to consider. The intersection of the interdisciplinary team and services available to support individuals and families is explored.

NURS3011 Advanced Mental Health Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
This course, which is based upon the NSW Mental Health Services Competency Framework, ensures all students completing are competent to practise as beginning practitioners within mental health services. Completion of this course provides students with advanced understanding of therapeutic relationships, contemporary therapeutic modalities, complementary and alternative interventions, and clinical skills needed to work in an empathic and effective way with individuals and families experiencing mental health problems.

NURS3012 Critical Care Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
This course explores the assessment and management of critically ill patients across the lifespan. Students examine the complexity of critical care nursing in both the Emergency Department and the Critical Care environment. There will be an emphasis on the application of theory to practice by using case based scenarios. Students will examine the nursing management of the critically ill person and their family and further develop their skills in clinical assessment. They will also develop a beginning knowledge of a range of therapies used in critical care.

NURS3013 Professional Practice 6
Pre-requisite: NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
Professional practice 6 is the final professional workplace experience course. This course assists students to transition to the role of the registered nurse. The course builds on and consolidates learning from all courses of study throughout the degree program. Students are required to apply and integrate theoretical learning to practice and perform comprehensive person-centred assessments to plan and implement evidence-based nursing interventions. Students are expected to demonstrate competence across all elements of the Registered nurse standards for practice.

NURS3018 Rural and Remote Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS2033 Illness Prevention and Management, NURS3000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health, NURS3004 Professional Practice 5
This course introduces students to rural and remote nursing. Students will examine the complexities of working in rural and remote Australia and explore factors that influence the health and well-being of people in these communities. The diverse role of the nurse will be examined along with the emerging technologies used to support health care delivery. First line emergency care is addressed and the importance of the multidisciplinary team in managing emergencies in rural and remote locations. A range of health care strategies used to improve the health and well-being of individuals, communities and populations will be examined.

NURS3022 Clinical Practicum 6
Pre-requisites: NURS1037 Foundations of Nursing, NURS1039 Health and Wellness
This course develops students' understanding of the healthcare needs and healthcare status of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Traditional and contemporary world views, values, and life chances of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be explored, along with the historical and social determinants of health. Students will also explore their own cultural backgrounds and how this affects their nursing care of others. Students will explore different models of care and cultural protocols that inform culturally safe, competent, and sensitive care, and learn about the correct and appropriate uses of language and terminology. Healthcare practices and protocols will be reviewed and key contacts and support structures within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services will be identified.
This course is developed and implemented in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educators, researchers, health workers and health professionals. The central organisations of the Nulungu Research Institute (UNDA), CATSINaM, LINMAN, LIME and the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) provide guidance and knowledge regarding the course learning outcomes, content and assessment.

NURS3053 Complex Care and Palliation
Pre-requisites: NURS2038 Illness Prevention and Management, NURS2040 Professional Practice 4 (Nursing Practice 4)
This course prepares students to practise in partnership with individuals, families and communities to meet the health care needs of those living with multi-morbidities or life-limiting illnesses. To prepare for this responsibility, the course promotes holistic nursing care across the human life-span, including the special needs of older people. It will also familiarise students with the personal and professional challenges associated with caring for people who are dying.

NURS3054 Mental Health Nursing and Professional Practice
Pre-requisites: NURS2039 Mental Health and Wellbeing, NURS2040 Professional Practice 4 (Nursing Practice 4)
Co-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Nursing Practice 5)
Pre-clinical pre-requisite note: Students must pass the hurdle assessment, recovery oriented comprehensive mental health assessment and formulation of care plan, to be eligible to attend the professional practice placement. Students must enrol in NURS3054 and NURS3055 in the same semester.
This course builds on NURS2007, developing students’ capability to assess people who experience mental ill-health and develop recovery-oriented interventions within general and mental healthcare settings. Students further develop their clinical judgement and perform risk and mental health assessments to inform evidenced-based care. Students extend their understanding of therapeutic relationships with mental health consumers and their carers. The Australian ethico-legal context of nursing as it related to safe, competent, and responsive mental healthcare is examined.

NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Acute Care)
Pre-requisites: NURS2040 Professional Practice 4 (Nursing Practice 4), NURS3054 Mental Health Nursing and Professional Practice
Co-requisite: NURS3054 Mental Health Nursing
“Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration” is designed to develop a student’s ability to assess and manage patients and their families across the lifespan with complex disruptions to health and who are at risk of acute deterioration. Students advance their ability to make sound clinical decisions that are based on both physiological and pathophysiological processes as well as current evidence and research. There will be an emphasis on the application of theory to practice using case-based scenarios in both tutorial and simulation tutorial sessions. From a theoretical perspective student will examine clinical decision-making and the early detection of deterioration. From a practical perspective, students hone skills in clinical assessment to assess patients astutely and skillfully with complex disruptions to health.
The placement provides the student with 2 contexts of professional workplace experience; mental health nursing, and caring for people with complex health needs. Students undertake 3-weeks experience in mental health nursing, either in an in-patient hospital or community-based mental health facility. Students work with members of a multidisciplinary mental health team to provide support for people with acute and long-term mental health conditions. During the other 3-weeks of professional workplace experience, students refine their clinical reasoning and communication skills to care for people experiencing clinical deterioration or to care for those with a life-limiting illness.

NURS3056 Leadership and Governance
Pre-requisites: NURS1037 Foundations of Nursing, NURS2035 Law and Ethics, NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to the Deteriorating Patient)
Co-requisite: NURS3057 Transition to Practice
This course focuses on leadership and governance and the pivotal role of the registered nurse working within a complex healthcare system. The challenges of clinical governance, including healthcare reform and contemporary issues affecting professional nursing practice are debated. Strategies for improving recruitment and retention of nurses will be used as a framework for learning. The role of leadership in the provision of quality care and facilitating positive change will be analysed. Students examine the attributes of effective clinical leaders and reflect on the barriers to effective leadership.

NURS3057 Transition to Practice
Pre-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to the Deteriorating Patient)
Co-requisite: NURS3056 Leadership and Governance
This capstone course provides students with an opportunity to evaluate critically their preparedness for registered nurse practice. Central to this preparedness is the student’s assessment of their own capability to be a registered nurse. Students will reflect on their own journey to Registered Nurse practice and self-assess knowledge, skills and behaviours against the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) codes and standards. Other key areas that will be addressed include communicating in complex situations, delegation and supervision, nurse as educator, and applying ethical frameworks in the workplace.

NURS3058 Public and Global Health
Co-requisite: NURS3059 Professional Practice 6
Nurses make up the largest professional group within the Australian multidisciplinary public health workforce. This course introduces students to the discipline of public health and the role nurses play at a community and population level. Students will explore the core principles of public health focusing on environmental, social and behavioural determinants of health and disease in the developing and developed world. Students are introduced to the origins of public health, health care models and systems, epidemiology and its application, public health interventions for communicable and non-communicable diseases, public health workforce, policy and planning, advocacy, ethics and the role of research. Students will gain an insight into major public health challenges and the role of humanitarian agencies and the not-for-profit sector in improving the health of vulnerable populations.

NURS3059 Professional Practice 6
Pre-requisites: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Acute Care)
Co-requisite: Elective (1) as stated in Program Requirements
Professional practice 6 is the final professional workplace experience course. This course assists students to transition to the role of the registered nurse. The course builds on and consolidates learning from all courses of study throughout the degree program. Students are required to apply and integrate theoretical learning to practice and perform comprehensive person-centred assessments to plan and implement evidence-based nursing interventions. Students are expected to demonstrate competence across all elements of the Registered nurse standards for practice.

NURS3060 Advanced Mental Health Nursing
Pre-requisites: NURS3054 Mental Health Nursing and NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to the Deteriorating Patient)
This course ensures all students completing are competent to practice as beginning practitioners within mental health services. Completion of this course provides students with advanced understanding of therapeutic relationships, contemporary therapeutic modalities, complementary and alternative interventions, and clinical skills needed to work in an empathic and effective way with individuals and families experiencing mental health problems.

NURS3061 Critical Care Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration)
This course explores the assessment and management of critically ill patients across the lifespan. Students examine the complexity of critical care nursing in both the Emergency Department and the Critical Care environment. There will be an emphasis on the application of theory to practice by using case based scenarios. Students will examine the nursing management of the critically ill person and their family and further develop their skills in clinical assessment. They will also begin to develop knowledge of a range of therapies used in critical care.

NURS3062 Maternal Care
Pre-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration)
This course introduces the student to the role of the Registered Midwife in caring for women, their babies and families during and after pregnancy.  The student will be taught the physiological and psychological aspects of pregnancy, labour and birth, and postpartum care of the mother and child. The unit will introduce the student to holistic woman centred care whilst emphasising the role of family members as co-participants in care during pregnancy and childbirth.

NURS3063 Paediatric Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration)
This course examines the care of infants and children and young people. Paediatric healthcare is situated within a model of family centred care therefore the role of parents and carers will be examined. The course addresses contemporary issues having an impact on the health of infants, children, young people and their families, and examines interventions and strategies aimed at improving health outcomes. A range of common paediatric conditions will be explored along with their associated assessment and management.

NURS3064 Palliative Care Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration)
This course focuses on the care of individuals and their families needing palliative care in both the hospital and community, including residential aged care. It focuses on addressing the complex physical, psychosocial cultural and spiritual needs that individuals experience as they progress along the illness trajectory and at end of life. Death and dying is explored along with the complex decisions that individuals and families may be required to consider. The intersection of the interdisciplinary team and services available to support individuals and families is explored.

NURS3065 Perioperative Nursing
Pre-requisite: NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration)
This course introduces students to the specialty of perioperative nursing. Perioperative nursing requires specialist knowledge and skills for patient care before, during, and after an operative procedure. This course addresses patient care aspects from preadmission and the immediate preoperative phase, the intraoperative environment including anaesthetics, instrument and circulating nursing, through to the immediate postoperative and post-anaesthesia recovery nursing. Principles of healthcare ethics in the perioperative environment are also explored.

NURS3066 Rural and Remote Nursing
Pre-requisites: NURS2038 Illness Prevention and Management, NURS3022 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health, NURS3055 Professional Practice 5 (Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration)
This course introduces students to rural and remote nursing. Students will examine the complexities of working in rural and remote Australia and explore factors that influence the health and well-being of people in these communities. The diverse role of the nurse will be examined along with the emerging technologies used to support healthcare delivery. First-line emergency care and the importance of the multidisciplinary team are addressed in managing emergencies in rural and remote locations. A range of health care strategies used to improve the health and well-being of individuals, communities and populations will be examined.

NURS4000 Advanced Health Assessment
This course advances the student’s knowledge and capability in performing a comprehensive person centred clinical assessment. Students will critique a range of tools used in clinical assessment and reflect on their use in practice. Clinical reasoning and making sound judgements are predicated on a comprehensive assessment and students will analyse assessment findings in relation to the person’s current condition and develop plans of care. Reflection is central to self-assessment and self-improvement. Therefore, students will engage in reflective processes that will enable them to self-assess and evaluate both achievement of the course learning outcomes and their progress in advancing their capability in clinical assessment.

NURS4004 Neurodegenerative Conditions and Related Care
This course requires students to expand their clinical and professional knowledge and extend and refine their practice. Through clinical case studies and the reflection of current practice, students will explore the management of patient care, the clinical environment and services, professional responsibilities and collaboration. The focus of this course is developing the attributes of advanced practice. Students will use their knowledge of pathophysiological alterations to health to plan effective nursing care.

From their understandings of normal patterns of health, students will be able to develop deviations from standard patterns of care and critically analyse the role of self and that of the interdisciplinary health team. At the completion of this course, the student will:

• Collaborate and cooperate with other members of the health team.
• Effectively manage the nursing care of individuals and groups by utilising appropriate organisational skills.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate nursing knowledge effectively to patients, families and other members of the health team.

The course will consist of four complex case studies:

1. The patient with a movement disorder
2. The patient with a degenerative brain disorder
3. The patient with a demyelinating disease
4. The patient with a neuromuscular junction disease.

NURS4005 Clinical Therapeutics: Neurodegenerative Disorders

Building on existing knowledge of anatomy and physiology, this course will utilise a case study approach to explore pathophysiological alterations to health. Students will review pharmacology and therapeutic interventions and the role these have in maintaining health and quality of life particularly in patients with neurodegenerative illness. A major component of this course is the development of clinical nursing assessment within a pathophysiological framework and how this enhances the delivery of nursing care. An ability to integrate theory to practice is integral to this course.

At the completion of this course, the graduate will:

• Demonstrate the ability to restore as much health as desired or possible following an illness or other health crisis.
• Demonstrate the ability to support and work therapeutically with patients and families who have neurodegenerative disorders.
• Demonstrate evidence of clinical judgement through the provision of advanced rationales for care.

NURS4006 Evidence Based Practice and Research
This Course develops students’ understanding on how an evidence-based framework and the contextualised application of research findings is integral to the practice of nursing. The course explores concepts associated with the process of inquiry (ask, acquire, appraise and apply) and the quality and appropriateness of research findings for translation into nursing knowledge and practice. The course introduces foundational research and evidence based practice methods including developing a clinical question, literature searching, identifying study designs, critical appraisal of the evidence and the identification and application of frameworks that aim to support the translation of evidence into nursing knowledge and practice. Students will gain an appreciation for the application of research evidence in the context of patient and family values and the organisational, ethical and policy environments.

NURS5014 Developing Leadership and Professional Identity
This course is designed to build the capacity of early career registered nurses to overcome challenges they will encounter in an ever changing health care environment through supported transition from graduate to accomplished registered nurse. Students will have opportunities to embed the values and expectations of the nursing profession in their approach to practice and to establish their professional identity within the workplace. Students will be encouraged to explore their individual leadership strengths and engage with work-based learning activities focused on identifying and mitigating clinical risk and improve quality of patient care. Coordinating a quality improvement project within their practice area will provide students an opportunity to reflect on their leadership development and engage in research related processes. The course instills the principles of life-long learning and develops the students skills in critical and reflective thinking, teamwork, and engagement in evidence based practice and inquiry.

NURS5018 Neurosciences, Rehabilitation and Spinal
In this course, students will critically evaluate contemporary approaches to the nursing management and rehabilitation associated with a range of neurological and spinal cord conditions within a person-centred care framework. Participants will have highly developed problem solving skills to enable them to manage unpredictable and complex situations. They will demonstrate critical thinking in the Quality Use of Medicines, pharmacology management and provide patient education and self-management support to people with neurological and spinal cord conditions. Participants will build effective relationships and collaborate within the interprofessional teams, as well as engage in mentoring within the nursing profession.

NURS5019 Renal
In this course, students will critically evaluate contemporary approaches to the nursing management and rehabilitation associated with acute and chronic kidney impairment within a person-centred care framework. The clinical stream prepares participants to extend their problem solving skills in order to manage unpredictable and complex situations, demonstrate critical thinking in the Quality Use of Medicines, pharmacology management and provide patient education and self-management support of people with acute and chronic kidney impairment. Participants will build effective relationships and collaboration within the interprofessional teams, as well as engage in mentoring within the nursing profession.

NURS5023 Cardiac, Respiratory and Emergency
Students will develop an understanding of managing people with emergency presentations. Participants will critically evaluate contemporary approaches to the nursing management and rehabilitation of people with cardiac and respiratory conditions within a person-centred care framework. Students will develop problem solving skills in order to manage unpredictable and complex situations. They will demonstrate critical thinking in the Quality Use of Medicines, pharmacology management and provide patient education and self-management support to people with cardiac and respiratory conditions. Participants will build effective relationships and collaborate within the interprofessional teams, as well as engage in mentoring within the nursing profession.

NURS5024 Haematology and Oncology
Students will critically evaluate contemporary approaches to the nursing management of people with haematological and oncological conditions within a person-centred care framework. Students will develop problem solving skills in order to manage unpredictable and complex situations. They will demonstrate critical thinking in the Quality Use of Medicines, pharmacology management and provide patient education and self-management support of people with haematology and oncology conditions. Participants will build effective relationships and collaboration within the interprofessional teams, as well as engage in mentoring within the nursing profession.

NURS6004 Transition to Professional Practice
This course is designed to build the students’ capability to manage the transition into the contemporary nursing workforce. Students will explore current issues in health care with a focus on national health priorities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s health. The regulation of nursing will be examined and the Registered Nurses’ obligations to meet all Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia’s codes, guidelines and standards. Becoming a critically reflective practitioner will be explored to strengthen the students’ capacity for clinical reasoning. Students will further develop their academic literacy and research skills to inform evidence-based practice.

NURS6005 Contemporary Nursing Skills
This course prepares the student for person-centred, contemporary, evidence-based, nursing practice. The student will further develop their knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacology and relate this to the management of people experiencing illness or disability. Students will explore the quality use of medicines and apply clinical reasoning to medication management. Students further develop their clinical skills and critical thinking ability, including responding to patients experiencing clinical deterioration.

NURS6006 Professional Practice
This course provides an opportunity for the student to be immersed in the professional practice environment. It will assist students’ transition to the role of the Registered Nurse when caring for people experiencing acute and chronic illness including mental health problems. It consolidates learning from previous courses and requires students to use evidence, demonstrate sound clinical reasoning, and apply theory to practice and work effectively in the multidisciplinary teamThe student is expected to demonstrate competence across all of the Registered Nurse Standards for Practice.

NURS6008 Contextualising Mental Health Nursing
This course will view mental health from an historical perspective to contextualise and explore theoretical underpinnings and current understanding of mental health and mental illness. Health care provision is largely determined and driven by socio-political contexts, therefore specific international, national and state policies, plans and standards will be appraised. Students will gain an understanding of the broader impact socio-political issues have on the provision and delivery of mental health care. Health care policies and plans are also integral in determining specific models of care that mental health care nurses are required to practice within; ultimately impacting the care that clients and family/carers receive. Accordingly, this course will examine and compare theoretical approaches of the various models of care that have been, and currently are, employed in mental health nursing practice.

NURS6009 Mental Health Nursing Therapies
This course focuses on the philosophical underpinnings of communication integral to developing and maintaining the therapeutic client/nurse relationship. The foundation of effective mental health nursing is developing and maintaining a therapeutic relationship with individuals’ and their carers. The importance of conducting thorough needs and risk assessments will be explored in the context of implementing appropriate therapeutic interventions. Ethical and professional issues inherent in the effective implementation of these interventions will be a focus of this course.

NURS6010 Perspectives in Mental Health Nursing
This course focuses on understanding individual experiences of mental health concerns and recovery, and the family/carers’ and health care professionals’ role in this journey. Current international and national health policies are significant drivers in determining the provision of health care in Australia. They define the political climate in which individuals and their family/carers are recipients of care. Students explore the individual’s or carer’s perspectives of the lived experience, and ways of working that are recovery-oriented, promote strengths and resilience and build effective partnerships. The impact that stigma has on individuals, carers/families and health care professionals working in the mental health context is also appraised.

NURS6011 Advanced Therapeutic Interventions in Mental Health Nursing
This course expands students’ mental health nursing practice by extending their repertoire of specialty knowledge and skills in relation to therapeutic interventions. A variety of therapeutic interventions used within the mental health nursing context are explored and discussed. Students examine theoretical and philosophical approaches to these therapeutic interventions and the key principles and practical components. Evidence-based literature is utilised to identify the effectiveness of the therapeutic interventions in different population groups. Students explore the strategies of individual, family and group therapeutic interventions used to improve an individual with mental health concerns and family/carer mental health outcomes.

NURS6012 Advanced Pharmacology in Mental Health
This course advances students’ understanding of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of the major drug classes used to manage a variety of mental health conditions. Students examine the vital role that mental health nurses play in educating individuals with mental health concerns and families about pharmacological options, including the advantages and limitations of these approaches. Complex medication regimes, polypharmacy and medications used for common co-morbid conditions are also explored. Developing strategies to support individuals with medication choice, adherence and self-management is integral to this course.

NURS6013 Forensic Mental Health Nursing
This course develops and advances students’ understanding of forensic mental health services and the unique needs of individuals within these services. Forensic Mental Health services have evolved from a complex association between the two distinct disciplinary fields of health and the law. Nurses in this evolving specialty work in a variety of service settings including high, medium and low secure units, courts, police cells, prisons and community teams, either within dedicated forensic services or within generic community mental health settings. The focus of this course is on developing an understanding of the unique needs of individuals in the forensic mental health services, and identifying various aspects of health, culture, risk assessment and management, treatment and care.

NURS6014 Law and Mental Health Nursing
This course extends mental health nurses’ knowledge of the law and emphasises the importance of legal knowledge in informing mental health care that promotes and protects the interests of stakeholders. The course focuses on the relationship between law and mental health care. Legal principles and frameworks are examined, and their relationship to mental health care is explored. Common law and legislative rules are identified, and the responsibility of the mental health nurse to be compliant with these is emphasised. Nurse self-regulation is described, and nurse decision-making models relating to mental health care are applied to authentic scenarios. The regulatory framework surrounding the mental health nursing profession is identified, with a case study approach to explore care-giving challenges.

NURS6015 Project Proposal Development
This course is the first part of the master’s Research Project and will explore the theory and practice of qualitative and quantitative research processes, to provide students with the essential knowledge integral to undertaking research projects. Through workshops and supervision, the student will develop a detailed project-based proposal which will include a literature review, aim and objectives and or hypotheses, detailed methodology, data collection and data analysis, research ethics, timeline, and budget.

MIDW5021 Midwifery Foundations
This course introduces students to the midwifery profession, its governing principles, regulation, philosophy and processes, and the theoretical foundations of midwifery practice. Students explore midwifery as a distinct discipline with an underpinning philosophy of relationship, woman-centredness and continuity of care. Students adopt an Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) approach to explore and analyse evidence and to demonstrate understanding of the concepts that underpin midwifery practice. The impact of Australian history on culturally and linguistically diverse populations and the challenges these groups continue to face in pregnancy and childbirth, toward culturally safe and holistic care of all women, is explored. Through critical inquiry the historical, social and political, organisational and contemporary, systems that influence midwifery practice, and models of care, are explored. Through reflection and evidence-based practice, a framework for midwifery practice is developed that supports women’s self-determination.

MIDW5022 Beginning Midwifery Practice
This course focuses on the foundational theoretical knowledge and skills required to provide safe woman-centered care for women and babies during the perinatal period.  The primary focus is the development of foundational midwifery knowledge, skills, and attitudes, required for beginning midwifery practice. The anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, labour and birth, the puerperium and the newborn, including the initiation, establishment and continuation of breastfeeding are explored, within a context of holistic wellbeing. Students will learn about the role of midwife in providing midwifery care which enhances and promotes the physiological processes, working in partnership with women and their families in order to assess physiological, psychological and social adaptation from early pregnancy until the first six weeks postpartum. Students will develop beginning clinical decision-making skills necessary for the provision of quality and safe care and includes essential concepts for midwifery practice such as communication and professional issues. Students are also introduced to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics for healthy women and babies within the maternity care setting. In this course midwifery students will apply theory to practice and will demonstrate achievement of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwifery Standards for Practice (2018) through professional practice placements and participation in continuity of care experiences which are a compulsory requirement.

MIDW5023 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders: Women & Communities
This course is designed to progress students through a journey of understanding and awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ culture, health, and wellbeing towards culturally safe midwifery practice. Students examine the ways that colonialism has impacted, and continues to impact, the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through cultural, political, and socioeconomic circumstances. Content includes a focus on primary health care initiatives and the development of community programs to address the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and babies in Australia. Students are given the opportunity, using a critical consciousness stance, to examine their own personal and professional beliefs, bias, and attitudes in relation to working alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, babies, their families, and communities. The content is guided by CATSINaM and the Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander health curriculum framework that advocate for a strengths-based approach to the curriculum.

MIDW5024 Midwifery Partnerships
In this course students explore the scope of practice of the midwife, including the provision of evidence-based, safe, quality midwifery care, with the principles of primary health care and cultural safety as foundations. Midwifery public health strategies to improve the health of women and families such as screening, information provision and mental health support are explored. Students analyse global health contexts and examine responses to racism personally and professionally. National and international policies, codes, and legislation for addressing health care contexts and inequities are critiqued.
The course explores the importance of midwifery partnerships with women but also partnerships within a team and maternity systems. Midwives providing holistic care, through relationship development and considering the woman’s socioemotional, spiritual, cultural and mental health, will be examined. Students contribute to teamwork in understanding professional partnerships, including collaboration, and partnering with women to exercise choice, ensuring safe practice.

MIDW5025 Complex Midwifery Practice
Pre-requisite: MIDW5022 Beginning Midwifery Practice
This course builds upon the foundational knowledge and skills gained within the Women & Babies: Beginning Midwifery Practice course. A complex challenge is an issue that may impact on the woman, fetus or neonate across the childbirth continuum. The focus is upon developing the knowledge and skills required to manage midwifery complications and complex challenges to maternal, fetal and newborn wellbeing inclusive of urgent or emergency situations that require immediate stabilising care. Within this course the physiology and pathophysiology of complications occurring during pregnancy, labour and birth and the puerperium are explored. Students will learn about how the role of the midwife is significant in situations where the woman's pregnancy, labour and postpartum period are complex. Students will develop critical thinking, problem-solving and proficiency in the management of complications. Advanced communication skills including timely intervention, consultation and referral will enable the student to provide safe woman-centred care. Students continue to develop their knowledge of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics, applied to women and babies experiencing complexionsMidwifery students will apply the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwifery Standards for Practice (2018) through participation in professional practice placements and continuity of care experiences which are a compulsory requirement.

MIDW5026 Midwifery Clinical Reasoning
This course has been structured to assist students to develop their critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills. The course explores relationships between midwifery philosophy, ethics, law, research and clinical reasoning in the coordination and management of safe midwifery care to women and babies. This course provides students with the opportunity to critique local and international health systems, politics and policies, and the impacts of these on human rights, women’s rights and midwifery practice. The relevance of evidence-based practice, as a means of informing, authenticating and improving the work of midwives will be demonstrated through building upon students’ understanding of the research process. A focus on woman-centred care will help students develop the skills needed to be able to discuss research findings with women in practice. The course will encourage students to evaluate the applicability of evidence-based findings within the scope of their own midwifery practice, and contribute to the development of midwifery knowledge and the profession.

MIDW5027 Advancing Midwifery Practice
Pre-requisite: MIDW5025 Complex Midwifery Practice
This course is focused upon the integration, consolidation and further development of midwifery knowledge and skills from previous courses as you prepare to transition to the role of a registered midwife. Within this course you will have the opportunity to learn extended midwifery practice skills, utilise effective communication, and be supported to make the informed independent judgements required for professional practice as a midwife. Students will learn about midwifery therapeutic practices; pharmacological principles introduced in the previous courses will be extended and applied to drugs commonly used in the perinatal period. Students will also develop their knowledge on non-pharmacological therapies; complementary and psychological therapies used in midwifery practice and also consider the impact of smoking, alcohol and illicit drug use on the woman, fetus and neonate during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Midwifery students will apply the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Midwifery Standards for Practice (2018) through participation in professional practice placements and continuity of care experiences which are a compulsory requirement.