CQUniversity Unit Profile

In Progress

Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.
NURS13140 Law and Ethical Considerations in the Profession of Nursing
Law and Ethical Considerations in the Profession of Nursing
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All details in this unit profile for NURS13140 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

As a nursing student, you may be confronted by legal and ethical dilemmas that will require you to be able to apply appropriate decision-making skills. This unit will support your transition to a graduate nurse by ensuring that you understand the healthcare laws that govern the profession of nursing. In this unit, you will examine the legal concepts and ethical principles and explore how registered nurses apply these in a healthcare context.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisites: BIOH12012 Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 2 or BIOH12008 Human Pathophysiology or NURS12158 Clinical Nursing Practice 3. Co-requisites: NURS12162 Mental Health Nursing with Professional Experience Placement or NURS12157 Concepts of Mental Health Nursing.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2026

Brisbane
Online
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

Information for Class and Assessment Overview has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 12 January 2026
CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:


This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

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 feedback.

Feedback

Students found the range of learning materials, particularly the podcasts, short videos, and workbook, to be highly effective in supporting their learning and engagement with the content.

Recommendation

The current approach to content delivery, which utilises multiple formats (short lectures, podcasts, transcripts, and downloadable workbooks), will continue to be used in future iterations of the unit. These were positively received and supported diverse learning styles.

Feedback from SUTE feedback.

Feedback

Students valued real-world examples and the teaching team’s ability to make complex legal and ethical concepts accessible and engaging, particularly through humour and shared professional experiences.

Recommendation

The inclusion of real-life clinical examples and an engaging delivery style will continue to be embedded in the teaching approach. This method has proven to increase student understanding and application of content in a clinical context.

Feedback from SUTE feedback.

Feedback

Students appreciated the structure of the unit, particularly how the content was broken down into manageable weekly modules and aligned with the final assessment.

Recommendation

The current structure of weekly content, which aligns with assessment tasks, will be maintained to support student engagement and gradual learning. This scaffolded approach enables students to build knowledge over time, reducing cognitive overload.

Feedback from SUTE feedback.

Feedback

Some students expressed concerns that the volume of legal content felt overwhelming or too detailed for their level, particularly in relation to their role as graduate nurses.

Recommendation

While it is essential to provide a strong foundation in law and ethics, the content will be reviewed to ensure that the level of depth remains appropriate for undergraduate students. Key concepts will be prioritised and clearly linked to practical nursing contexts.

Feedback from SUTE feedback.

Feedback

Students praised the responsiveness, support, and communication of the teaching team throughout the term, particularly the quick replies to questions and clear guidance.

Recommendation

Maintaining high levels of communication and support from the teaching team remains a priority. The use of forums, timely email responses, and ongoing availability during weekly sessions will remain core components of the unit's delivery.

Unit Learning Outcomes

Information for Unit Learning Outcomes has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 12 January 2026
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes

Information for Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 12 January 2026
Textbooks and Resources

Information for Textbooks and Resources has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 16 February 2026
Academic Integrity Statement

Information for Academic Integrity Statement has not been released yet.

This unit profile has not yet been finalised.