NURSING 743 : Advanced Nursing Practicum

Medical and Health Sciences

2020 Semester One (1203) (30 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Designed to refine advanced nursing skills and to further develop an advanced analytical model for nurses preparing for advanced practice. Advanced assessment skills along with disease management models will be taught with a focus on clinical decision making in various health settings.

Course Overview

This course is the first of a two-course clinical practicum experience for students on the Nurse Practitioner educational pathway (Nursing 743 followed by Nursing 740). This year-long practicum experience (a minimum of 250/150 hours of direct clinical supervision in each course for a total of 500/300 over the year) provides the mentored clinical practice experience needed to refine essential advanced nursing practice skills. This includes the integration of previously learned skills and knowledge such as advanced assessment, bio-science, pharmacology and clinical specialty knowledge. Practical experience is crucial for the development of advanced nursing skills in health assessment, diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnoses and the development of treatment plan(s) that include pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. This experience enables the application of clinical knowledge along with the opportunity to critique their practice in an appropriate, supported clinical and academic framework. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: NURSING 773 or equivalent, and practising in an advanced nursing role

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Nursing

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Articulate and discuss their area of Nurse Practitioner practice; providing evidence of their clinical expertise within the specific area of Nurse Practitioner practice that meets the Nurse Practitioner competencies as stated by Nursing Council of New Zealand. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  2. Demonstrate achievement in Nurse Practitioner competencies that include the performance of systematic advanced health assessments (history taking, psychosocial assessment with cultural sensitivity), focused or comprehensive physical examination, differential diagnosis, treatment and care planning, implementation of care, evaluation of care and appropriate revision of care plan when needed. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  3. Articulate and demonstrate evidence-based clinical judgement which is presented logically and systematically to formulate differential diagnoses of common health problems within their area of clinical practice, demonstrating responsiveness to Māori and capacity to eliminate health inequities. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  4. Synthesise knowledge for advanced practice, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, biochemistry, and pharmacotherapeutics, with implementation into the client-specific therapeutic plan of care. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  5. Communicate consult and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team as the patient/client requires, including safe prescribing of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments under supervision (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  6. Demonstrate the leadership skills required to manage complex clients. Demonstrate leadership in quality assurance practices, case/peer review etc. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  7. Identify, critique and evaluate primary evidence to support clinical decision making (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Essay 5% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Case Study 15% Individual Coursework
Case Study 25% Individual Coursework
Presentation 20% Individual Examination
Clinical exam 25% Individual Examination
Clinical competency assessment Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Essay
Quizzes
Case Study
Case Study
Presentation
Clinical exam
Clinical competency assessment
There is a minimum pass mark of 65% averaged for all marked assignments.  There is a summative competency assessment that is completed in your area of clinical practice and this must be achieved with a pass mark.  

Learning Resources

Henderson, M. C., Tierney, L. M., Jr., & Smetana, G. W. (2012). The patient history: An evidence-based approach to differential diagnosis (2nd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical.

Course Contacts

Course Administrator Matt Baker Matthew.baker@auckland.ac.nz 
Course Coordinator Sandra Oster, Nurse Practitioner s.oster@auckland.ac.nz



Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 30 hours of lectures, 70 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 50 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.  In addition a minimum of 150 hours of clinically mentored practicum.

Other Information

The Nurse Practitioner (NP) practicum year includes two courses, Nursing 743 and Nursing 740.
Entry requirements for Nursing 743 and Nursing 740 include:
a) Applicants must have completed a minimum of three years’ equivalent full-time practice within the last five years, with at least one of the three years in full-time practice in New Zealand and within the area of practice that the NP will register.
b) Have already completed the pre-requisite courses that include pathophysiology, pharmacology and advanced health assessment. The practicum courses should be the final courses in a Master of Nursing programme or may be completed following completion of a Master of Nursing programme.
c) Be a New Zealand citizen or hold a Permanent New Zealand residency.
d) Applicants must be a registered nurse with a current New Zealand practicing certificate and be in good standing with the Council.
e) Have indemnity insurance.
f) Have identified and have access to two areas of clinical practice in which to develop the advanced skills and knowledge required for nurse practitioner practice. One area should be relevant to her/his intended area of prescribing practice and the other area should broaden her/his clinical practice. One experience must be with a clinical mentor who is also a nurse practitioner.

Digital 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.

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 against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

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 at 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.

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.

The study days encouraged engagement with other NP interns.  
The practicum year is very challenging, it is important to get the clinical mentorship expectations clear prior to the beginning of the course. 

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 19/12/2019 08:49 a.m.