Outline

Overview

Patients who experience severe traumatic injury or episodes of critical illness require advanced assessment and management in the pre-hospital phase, during transport to and stabilisation in the emergency department, and ongoing care in the intensive care unit. The critical illness/injury trajectory is complex and interdependent and effective care at each stage requires an appreciation of the care which has been provided as well as an understanding of potential ongoing management of the patient. In this unit of study we will examine the critical illness/injury trajectory from physiological and psychosocial perspectives. An evidence-based approach to patient management will focus on collaborative decision-making and the ways in which synthesised evidence informs patient care. This unit of study allows students to consolidate theoretical underpinnings of their practice and demonstrate the requisite knowledge, skills and attributes required to care for critically ill or injured patients through the completion of clinical assessments.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Nursing and Midwifery
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Agness Tembo, agness.tembo@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Assessment 1a - focussed clinical question Topic approval	0%	Week 03	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 1b - mini-poster Poster	45%	Week 08	1 page
Outcomes assessed:
Online task	Assessment 1c - peer review of mini-poster Peer review	10%	Week 09	400-500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Placement	Assessment 2 - clinical assessment tasks (CATS) Skills based assessment	0%	Week 13	4 CATS
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assessment 3 - professional portfolio Portfolio	45%	Week 14 (STUVAC)	2500 words
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ?

Assessment summary

Assessment 1a - focussed clinical question: You will need to submit, by email to the unit of study coordinator, a focussed
clinical question for the topic you wish to explore in your mini-poster. You will then receive feedback on the suitability of this topic.
Assessment 1b - mini-poster: Following approval of your focussed clinical question you will need to explore the relevant literature available in this area. When you have finished reviewing the available literature you will then individually write and submit a mini-poster critically examining your topic area.
Assessment 1c - peer review of mini-poster: As part of collaborative practice and sharing of information, mini-posters submitted electronically will be posted on the eLearning site for this unit of study so they can be viewed and accessed by your colleagues. Following submission you will be required to select one mini-poster to review. For your chosen mini-poster, post considered comments about the historical, technological, political and/or socio-cultural factors that could either challenge or support the implementation of recommendations made by the author of the mini-poster in your workplace.
Assessment 2 - clinical assessment tasks (CATS): As part of this Unit of Study you are required to successfully complete four clinical assessments.
Assessment 3 - professional portfolio: The portfolio explores the relationship between the regulatory requirements of self-declaration and ability to achieve and maintain competency standards, while providing an avenue of reflection that is crucial to professional growth. Students will develop a clinical portfolio that will be modelled on an integration of two types of approach; a standards-based approach and a process-orientated approach.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	Study day 1	Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)
Week 02	Study day 2	Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)
Week 08	Study day 3	Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)
Week 08	Study day 4	Lecture and tutorial (8 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Students undertaking this unit of study are required to attend four on-campus study days which are supplemented with online and group activities.
Referencing guide: The Sydney Nursing School has adopted the American Psychological Association (APA) Referencing style, 6th Edition, 2010 as its official referencing style. This is an author-date style of referencing.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available on Canvas.

Aitken, L., Marshall, A., & Chaboyer, W. (Eds.) (2019). ACCCN’s Critical Care Nursing. (4th Ed) Sydney, Australia: Elsevier. Available as eBook via Library OR Curtis, K. & Ramsden, C. (Eds.) (2016), Emergency and Trauma Care for Nurses and Paramedics, (2nd Edition). Australia and New Zealand Edition, Sydney, Australia: Elsevier. Available as eBook via Library.
Hoffman, T. Bennett, S. & Del Mar, C. (2017) Evidence-based practice across the health professions, (3rd edn). Chatswood: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier. (if you already own a similar text on evidence-based practice, it is not necessary to purchase this specific publication) Available as eBook via Library OR Schneider, Z., Whitehead, D., LoBiondo-Wood, Haber, J. (2016) Nursing & Midwifery Research: Methods and appraisal for evidence-based practice. (5th Edn) Sydney, Australia: Mosby-Elsevier (available as an eBook via University Library).

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. demonstrate the use of independent corroboration of information to guide patient assessment and inform clinical decisions, including consideration of technological, political, and socio-cultural factors
LO2. demonstrate an ability to articulate your own practice in relation to critical care practice standards
LO3. demonstrate knowledge and mastery of key clinical nursing skills
LO4. (critically) analyse the importance of the patient and their family as informants to critical illness assessment and care, and physical and psychological recovery.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

NURS5060: Complexity of Critical Illness and Injury

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Block mode] - Mallett Street, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect