NURSPRAC 707 : Registered Nurse First Surgical Assist
Medical and Health Sciences
2023 Semester One (1233) (30 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
- Approval from unit nurse manager for support in completion of NURSPRAC 707 (Semester 1).
- Identified surgeon mentor to supervise the student in practice.
- A registered nurse employed within the perioperative environment who can complete 140 hours of clinical work for the duration of the semester, in the role of the RNFSA (see definition provided below).
- A learning agreement is signed by the student, employer, surgeon mentor, academic coordinator, and clinical coordinator.
- Works in collaboration with the surgeon and other health care team members to achieve optimal patient outcomes;.
- Has acquired the necessary knowledge, judgement and skills specific to the expanded role of the RNFSA clinical practice.
- Intraoperatively, practices under the direction of the surgeon.
- Does not concurrently function as a scrub nurse (AORN 2013).
Course Contacts
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 |
Learning Outcomes
- Apply an understanding of scientific concepts and disease processes that are commonly treated with surgery. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3)
- Apply an understanding of the overall care of clients undergoing surgery. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
- Demonstrate competency in specified intraoperative clinical skills and accountability appropriate to the ‘registered nurse first surgical assist’ role. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
- Demonstrate competency in the use and management of intraoperative technology. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
- Analyse the impact of illness, surgery and health care experience on the client/family. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
- Evaluate the ethical and legal parameters of their nursing practice. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 3.1, 3.2, 5.1, 5.2 and 5.3)
- Interpret the results of diagnostic tests relevant to clients undergoing surgery. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3)
- Apply knowledge of caring, ethics, and advocacy in the operating room environment (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.2)
- Discuss the ethico‐legal social, cultural, economic and political factors relating to the role of RNFSA. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments - Clinical Practice Review | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignments - Verbal Presentation | 25% | Individual Coursework |
| Assignments - Long Answer Questions | 35% | Individual Coursework |
| Practical - Clinical Skills Log Book and Log of Clinical Hours | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Assignments - Clinical Practice Review | ||||||||||
| Assignments - Verbal Presentation | ||||||||||
| Assignments - Long Answer Questions | ||||||||||
| Practical - Clinical Skills Log Book and Log of Clinical Hours | ||||||||||
The learning objectives and assessments are currently under review and may change before course delivery in semester 1.2023.
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 30point 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 48 hours of lectures, which will include tutorials, small group work and simulation, 32 hours of reading and thinking about the content, 100 hours of work on assignments and 120 hours for clinical skill development.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials/clinics to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard block delivery.
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.
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, students rate this course favourably with positive experiences from small group activities and clinically focused workshops.
Other Information
The clinical practice experience will be within the nurse’s current employment setting under the direct supervision of a nominated surgeon. The nominated surgeon will support the nurse to put into practice what they have learned in class and in simulated settings, observe their surgical assistance practice and verify the competencies.
This course outline may change before the course is offered again in semester 1.2023.
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.
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.