NURSING 742 : Biological Science for Practice

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester Two (1245) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Focuses on common pathologies acknowledging the New Zealand Health Strategy, giving particular attention to areas where health promotion, preventative care, chronic disease management and cost impact for New Zealand.

Course Overview

This course focuses on common chronic pathologies, their associated risk factors, the underlying pathology and evidence related to their management (including lifestyle and pharmaceutical). The aims and objectives of the course will be explored by concentrating on common pathologies grouped into five main topics. Each of these pathologies is explored in depth including their effects on other body systems, compensatory mechanisms and evidence for best management practices. There is an opportunity to explore other pathologies not related to those prescribed in the course. 

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Dr Barbara Daly is the course director of this course.  
 
My email address: b.daly@auckland.ac.nz   
My work telephone: (09) 923 9882 
School of Nursing, Medical School, Level 2, Building 505 (Boyle),  85 Park Road,  
Grafton Campus, Auckland 
 
Dr Catherine Bacon is the course co-ordinator on this course.  
 
Email address:  c.bacon@auckland.ac.nz  
Work telephone:  (09) 3737599 
 School of Nursing, Medical School, Level 2, Building 505 (Boyle), 85 Park Road,  
Grafton Campus, Auckland 
 
Jessica Brosnahan is a teacher on the course. 

Email address: jessica.brosnahan@auckland.ac.nz
Work telephone: (09) 3737599
 School of Nursing, Medical School, Level 2, Building 505 (Boyle), 85 Park Road,
Grafton Campus, Auckland 
 
If you have questions related to the course, we strongly recommend you post your query on 'Piazza' the online Canvas question and answer forum. Other ways to communicate are via the weekly online lecture, email, phone, zoom or face-to-face. For personal communication it is best to use the private query option on 'Piazza' or email Barbara. If you wish to communicate by phone and we don’t answer, please leave a message and email one of us with your preferred phone number and best times to return your call.  
 
For queries relating to administrative issues please contact the post-graduate administrators. 
Betty Lin (Administrative support, enrolments, fees, help with Canvas)  
Phone:  (09) 373 7599 x 82517  Email betty.lin@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: Master of Nursing

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Apply knowledge of scientific concepts and common pathophysiological processes to inform evidence-based decisions, and reflect on best management practices. (Capability 1.2, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 8.3)
  2. Appraise the use and interpretation of diagnostic tests to the underlying pathophysiological process and to best management practices. (Capability 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2 and 8.3)
  3. Evaluate research that underpins the use of evidence-based interventions suitable for the New Zealand population. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.3, 5.2, 6.1, 6.2, 7.1, 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3)
  4. Evaluate the role of risk factors, pathophysiology processes, and evidence-based clinical management on the following common conditions: a.Acute viral and bacterial Infections and immunityb.Cardiovascular disease c.Acute and chronic renal disease (including fluid, electrolyte and acid base balance)d.Endocrine (type 1 and 2 diabetes) pathology and e.Common acute and chronic respiratory pathologies. (Capability 1.4, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 1 40% Individual Coursework
Case Study 10% Individual Coursework
Portfolio 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignment 1
Case Study
Portfolio

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 300 nominal hours of study over the semester. This equates to approximately 20 hours of study per week and half a full-time study course.

For this course, you can expect 13 hours of lectures. Each week you are expected to spend about 6 hours engaging in on-line lectures and tutorial support (including Piazza), 7 hours for reading, reviewing and completing learning tasks and 7 hours preparing and completing assignments.

Delivery Mode

Online

Attendance is recommended at scheduled online activities including lectures/tutorials to complete components of the course.
The course will not include live online events and all lectures and class tutorials be recorded.
Attendance on campus is not required for the course.
Study material will be available at course commencement.
This course opens prior to the University's official semester commencement date. All the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

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.

Access to your online course 
All course materials are made available on-line on the course website located in the University’s learning platform CANVAS which also includes electronic resources reading lists and lecture recordings. 

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.

Additional tutorials were included in the second semester in 2023. Feedback overall for the course was extremely positive so no changes are planned for 2024.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework 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. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Academic Integrity and Conduct  
The University strongly recommends students view the following two resources and all students are required to complete the academic integrity course.  
  
About Academic Integrity at https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/learning-and-teaching/policies-guidelines-and-procedures/academic-integrity-info-for-students/about-academic-integrity.html  
This page gives background to the University’s expectations and provides links to further information.  
  
Student Academic Conduct Statute at https://cdn.auckland.ac.nz/assets/central/about/the-university/how-the-university-works/policy-and-administration/student-academic-conduct-statute.pdf  
This document gives definitions of academic misconduct and a detailed list of 16 specific examples.  
   
• Using the work of others without explicit acknowledgement and referencing, that is, plagiarism;   
• Copying from another student’s work (with or without their knowledge);    
• Using coursework that had been submitted previously at any educational institution by the student;   
• Submitting without acknowledgement work to which others have contributed;   
• Submitting the same, or a substantially similar, assignment for more than one assessment;  
• Submitting for assessment material obtained from commercial essay or assignment services, including web-based sources.  

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.