NURSING 201 : Nursing Clients with a Pathophysiological Problem

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (60 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A problem-based course where students acquire the skills associated with nursing clients requiring medical and surgical interventions and subsequent rehabilitation. Understanding the mechanisms of disease and prevention of such diseases is the basis for the course. Students are introduced to the principles of pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Issues such as caring for clients with chronic pain and an understanding of death and grief are included. Practicums and teaching take place in a variety of clinical settings.

Course Overview

 This course provides learning opportunities for students to gain knowledge, skills and develop attitudes that will ensure safe nursing practice for clients with pathophysiological problems. During the clinical experience, students have an opportunity to become competent with nursing skills and nursing management related to clients with pathophysiological problems. This course is taught in semester one of the second year of the Bachelor of Nursing and comprises ten weeks on campus and six weeks in a clinical setting.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 120 points at Stage I of the Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent

Course Contacts

NURSING 201 STAFF CONTACTS:
Nursing 201 Course Coordinator: Jane Kelly
E: jane.kelly@auckland.ac.nz

Year Level 2 Director: Dr Willem Fourie
E: w.fourie@auckland.ac.nz

COURSE ADMINISTRATION:  
Wendy Dixon
E: wendy.dixon@auckland.ac.nz
and
Tracey Wright
E: tracey.wright@auckland.ac.nz

PRACTICUM PLACEMENT CO-ORDINATOR:
Natalie Roffey  
E: n.mason@auckland.ac.nz  

Associate Head of School (Pre-registration Programmes): Dr Lisa Stewart 
 E: lisa.stewart@auckland.ac.nz  

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Nursing

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of inflammation, infection, morphological changes to cell structure and function, and obstruction as they relate to the human response to illness. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 8)
  2. Demonstrate cognitive abilities in developing, refining, enhancing and validating nursing practice related to clients who have a pathophysiological problem. (Capability 3, 4, 6 and 7)
  3. Participate in the development and use of research by critically analysing existing research and demonstrating its application in the practice of caring for clients with a pathophysiological problem. (Capability 4 and 8)
  4. Demonstrate skill in assessing, planning, intervening and evaluating the care of a client with a pathophysiological problem. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
  5. Demonstrate an ability to establish a positive nurse-client relationship with clients who have a pathophysiological problem and involve significant others as appropriate. (Capability 1, 6, 7 and 8)
  6. Apply an understanding of professional, ethical, and legal issues as they relate to aspects of caring for a client with a pathophysiological problem. (Capability 4, 5 and 8)
  7. Act in a manner that safeguards the interests of the client who has a pathophysiological problem, being cognizant of actions that might compromise this, such as potential breaches of confidentiality and limitations in own current scope of practice. (Capability 1, 6, 7 and 8)
  8. Respects clients’ culture, values and beliefs in the context of nursing a client with a pathophysiological problem, and involve clients in decisions about their care. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 8)
  9. Demonstrate an understanding of the potential impact of biological, social, political psychological and environmental factors on the wellbeing of individuals who have a pathophysiological problem. Begin to develop an understanding of the complexities and impact of long term pathophysiological conditions and comorbidities on clients. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  10. Collaborate with other health professionals in caring for clients with a pathophysiological problem. (Capability 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Pre clinical test 10% Individual Coursework
Microbiology & Immunology fact sheet 2% Group Coursework
Long term condition report 10% Group Coursework
Comprehensive summative client assessment 10% Individual Coursework
Comprehensive Nursing Care plan assignment 10% Individual Coursework
Eportfolio Individual Coursework
Evidence based poster 10% Individual Coursework
Ethics Assignment 10% Individual Coursework
Leadership article 5% Group Coursework
Ethics debate 5% Group Coursework
Microbiology & Immunology test 8% Individual Test
End of semester test 20% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Pre clinical test
Microbiology & Immunology fact sheet
Long term condition report
Comprehensive summative client assessment
Comprehensive Nursing Care plan assignment
Eportfolio
Evidence based poster
Ethics Assignment
Leadership article
Ethics debate
Microbiology & Immunology test
End of semester test

Workload Expectations

This is a 60 point course, over an extended semester starting on Tuesday 28th January, 2025. 

Students are expected to spend 40 hours a week engaged in learning associated with this course.

For this course, you can expect [174] hours of face to face contact: lectures, clinical skills, workshops,  [236] hours of reading, thinking about the content and work on assignments and/or test preparation &  [230] hours of clinical placement.

Total hours 640.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials/clinical placements to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test/exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course materials are made available on the course website located in the University’s learning platform CANVAS which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Overall, student feedback about the course was positive. 
 
Specific aspects students enjoyed about the course include:

•    The clinical skills labs for practicing communication, assessment and skills for nursing practice.
•    Having real-life case scenarios, stories and videos to reinforce and make the course content real.  
•   Clinical placement to consolidate knowledge and apply the learning in the practice setting.

Aspects students would like to see improved:

•  To reduce the workload during the Monday-Friday clinical placement which also includes an e-portfolio each week, along with 2 written assessments when doing shiftwork along with part-time work etc.

•  To space out & allow for more preparation time and spacing out of the assessments in 2nd theory block which included ethics assignment, ethics debate, and micro test, and leadership article all going on at the same time and due in the same month.

Changes made in response to student feedback:

The course is structured around availability of clinical placements which can make it challenging to balance the academic and clinical requirements. In 2024 an assignment week was included in the timetable to enable students to complete clinical assignments after placement. This was gratefully received to reduce the workload and provide a better work/life balance.

In 2025 for the 2nd theory block, self-directed time will be allocated in the timetable to allow preparation for assessments.  Assessments will be spread more evenly across the months of May and into June. 

Other Information

Clinical practice:
Preparation for safe clinical practice is accomplished through engagement with theory and practical content provided in lectures, workshops, weekly clinical skills sessions and basic life support sessions. It is an expectation that students  attend all of these sessions in order to be sufficiently prepared for clinical practice. Non-attendance may impact on the ability for a student to attend the clinical component of the course and therefore complete the course.  

Fitness to practice:
In order to complete the requirements for this course and the BNurs degree, a student must meet the applicable fitness to practice requirements for this programme, as outlined in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences’ Fitness to Practice Policy. 
Information about fitness to practice, the Fitness to Practice policy and procedures can be found at:
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/the-university/how-university-works/policy-and-administration/teaching-and-learning/fmhs-code-of-fitness-to-practise/fmhs-fitness-to-practise-policy.html#94a7265f6104770808586a29c54a9f4f

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 04/11/2024 09:30 a.m.