Australians are living longer. Traditionally health care has been focused on acute illness. The number of people living with chronic disease is growing. This is an important intersection as many chronic illnesses begin as an acute alteration or can cause an acute alteration in health. Australia's National Health Priority Areas (NHPAs) are diseases and conditions given focused attention by government because they significantly contribute to the burden of illness and injury in the Australian community. In this unit, you will identify the NHPAs and explore their link to lifestyle factors such as obesity, insufficient physical activity, tobacco smoking, and alcohol use and their impact on acute health conditions. You will consider the nursing process required to support people with acute conditions or deterioration of people. You will examine factors to assist you in the early recognition of sepsis and determine the nursing role in each phase of the perioperative period. This unit provides the theoretical underpinning for NURS12161 Professional Experience Practice 2 and should be completed with or before NURS12161.

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE Data

I really enjoyed the variety of learning resources provided, especially the addition of podcasts.

Enhance student learning by continuing to integrate diverse resources into the weekly modules. Additionally, introduce weekly podcasts featuring industry experts to foster engagement and offer authentic insights into the nursing profession.

Feedback from Self-reflection

The 2024 Assessment 2 was not well received by the student cohort and, at times, was unnecessarily confusing.

Review and update Assessment 2 to ensure it aligns with the prescribed Learning Outcomes and is tailored to effectively meet the needs of the student cohort. Additionally, ensure that the task and rubric are closely matched to provide clear and consistent guidance for student performance.