Health Across the Lifespan: High Acuity Care Needs (11857.1)

This unit of study explores the care of people experiencing acute or life threatening conditions resulting from physiological or cognitive deterioration. This unit will investigate the nursing management and medical treatment for people requiring continuous assessment and monitoring in high acuity inpatient care settings. Prompt recognition of deterioration and early intervention and escalation is necessary to limit further adverse outcomes for people across the lifespan. Drawing on pathophysiology and pharmacology knowledge, this unit supports students to systematically gather and interpret health data from multiple sources and perspectives to inform clinical reasoning, prioritisation, comprehensive care planning and evaluation, and communication for safe care.
In preparation for transition to practice, students are encouraged to think reflexively to identify strategies for effective communication with the interprofessional team members. A collaborative approach and respectful, timely and accurate communication is expected of registered nurses and supports person-centred practice where informed decision making about care is valued.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Integrate systematic health assessment to gather accurate health data and develop a prioritised plan of care to meet urgent high acuity nursing needs;
2. Justify clinical reasoning using scientific knowing, person-centred practice principles and high quality, contemporary evidence;
3. Analyse technologies that support assessment, monitoring, interventions and evaluation of people with high acuity care needs;
4. Integrate knowledge of pharmacology and pathophysiology into the care of people with high acuity nursing needs;
5. Examine and reflect upon interprofessional care for people and families with high acuity needs, including withdrawal of life sustaining treatment; and
6. Reflect on self-efficacy, accountability and health advocacy to identify personal strategies that will strengthen professional nursing identity for safe care.

Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - take pride in their professional and personal integrity
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
2. UC graduates are global citizens - behave ethically and sustainably in their professional and personal lives
2. UC graduates are global citizens - understand issues in their profession from the perspective of other cultures
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - adapt to complexity, ambiguity and change by being flexible and keen to engage with new ideas

Prerequisites

10206 Integrating Nursing Concepts 4 AND
11848 Integrating Pathophysiology AND
10202 Concepts in Pharmacology OR
11964 Concepts in Pharmacology AND
11858 Comprehensive health assessment and learning for nursing practice OR
10191 Foundations for Professional Planning

Corequisites

11963 Integrating Nursing Concepts 5

Incompatible units

None

Equivalent units

10198 Health Across the Lifespan: Adult Acute Health Issues

Assumed knowledge

None.