Overview
The 21st-century nursing profession is a product of historical and contemporary, socio-political and cultural influences. You will explore these while considering legal and ethical frameworks, the role of professional governing bodies and governance while investigating the profession of nursing. You will validate the personal skills, inherent requirements and attributes required in the profession and consider what your personal journey towards becoming a registered nurse will require. You will discuss the important role of communication in nursing practice and devise strategies to effectively communicate as a nurse. You will examine types of communication strategies that are relevant to different health contexts. In addition, you will acquire fundamental knowledge and skills to provide basic nursing care. In particular, you will be able to conduct a holistic assessment and assist a person with their activities of daily living in the simulated environment. You will be introduced to the significance of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016) and other policies, codes, and guidelines relevant to professional nursing practice. You will explore the importance of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards (2021) to all nursing practice in Australia and commence using the Patient Safety Competency Framework (PSCF) (Levett-Jones et al., 2017) in your practice as a nursing student. You will become familiar with scope of practice using the decision-making framework (DMF) (NMBA, 2020). As part of this unit, you are required to participate in either 32 hours of compulsory on-campus workshops if enrolled in the internal mode or a residential school if enrolled in the mixed mode.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: Must be enrolled in Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)
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 2 - 2025
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Adapt skills and knowledge to communicate effectively in nursing practice to underpin patient safety
- Evaluate the role of professional governing bodies for professional nursing practice, patient safety and governance
- Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate foundation nursing practice in relation to the four major bioethical principles
- Perform a holistic health assessment and physical examination and execute appropriate documentation to support patient safety
- Deconstruct the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered nurse standards for practice (2016) for decision-making, to promote the provision of evidence-based nursing care
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of safe supply and administration of parenteral and non-parenteral medication.
Content in this unit incorporates a number of professional nursing requirements
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered Nurse Standards for Practice
Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice
Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships
Maintains the capability for practice
Comprehensively conducts assessments
Develops a plan for nursing practice
Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice
Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Code of Conduct
Legal compliance
Person-centred practice
Cultural practice and respectful relationships
Professional behaviour
Research in health
Health and wellbeing
International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics for Nurses
Nurses and People
Nurses and Practice
Nurses and the Profession
Nurses and Co-workers
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
Clinical governance
Partnering with consumers
Communicating for safety
Patient Safety Competency Framework
Person-centred care
Therapeutic communication
Cultural competence
Teamwork and collaborative practice
Evidence-based practice
Preventing, minimising and responding to adverse events
Aged Care Quality Standards
Consumer dignity and choice
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Online Test - 0% | ||||||
| 2 - Essay - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Reflective Practice Assignment - 40% | ||||||
| 4 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 30% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||||
| 4 - Research | ||||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
Kozier & Erb’s Fundamentals of Nursing Edition
Edition: 5th (2021)
Authors: Berman, A., Frandsen, G., Snyder, S., Levett-Jones, T et al.
Pearsons
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9781488626593
Prescribed Skills in Clinical Nursing
Edition: 2 (2021)
Authors: Berman, a., Snyder, S., Levett-Jones, T., Burton, Harvey, C.
Pearson
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9 781488620690
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- ZOOM
- MS Teams
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.hungerford@cqu.edu.au
d.blanchard@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Unit Introduction
A brief history of nursing and Professional Nursing Governing Bodies.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Ethical Principles, Nursing Governance and the Law
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Critical Thing, Introduction to Clinical Reasoning and the Nursing Process
Reflective Practice in Nursing
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Therapeutic communication, Introduction to Professional Communication
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Holistic vs Dualistic Care, Introduction to Infection Control
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Vacation week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to vital signs
Introduction to physical assessment.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Introduction to the integumentary system
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Introduction to Risk Assessment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Module/Topic
Introduction to safe medication administration
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Residential School - Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday
OSCE 30%
Medication Calculations; Non-graded pass - must achieve 100%
Online Medication Safety Quiz Due: Week 9 Friday (19 Sept 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Practical Clinical Skills Assessment Due: Week 9 Friday (19 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Manual Handling and mobility
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Critical analysis of the influence of nursing theorists Due: Week 10 Wednesday (24 Sept 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Introduction to Activities of Daily Living
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tutorial Zoom
Please ensure you have completed the weekly content and reviewed the PowerPoint before attending this session.
This session is a discussion and Q&A related to the content required to address the learning outcomes of this unit.
Critical reflection of clinical experience Due: Week 11 Friday (3 Oct 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Putting it all together
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The Residential School will be held at the Cairns CQU campus from Thursday 18th September to Sunday 21st September. Please ensure you have registered for this event to secure your place and receive relevant details.
1 Online Test
This online medication safety quiz will be completed at a designated time during week 9. The quiz will assess your knowledge and understanding of mathematics and medication safety, including addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, rounding, conversions and simple medication calculations.
The quiz consists of 20 questions. You have a maximum of one hour to complete the quiz. You must complete the quiz in one sitting. Once you have started the quiz, you cannot log out. Please do not refresh or reload your screen; this may close the quiz and record your result.
The quiz will automatically close at the end of one hour and will submit your result.
You must complete the assigned learning package for the unit you are enrolled in prior to sitting the exam online. You can have multiple attempts at the medication exam online but must achieve 100%. During residential school, a revision of content will be held prior to you undertaking an invigilated exam. You will have up to three opportunities in residential school to receive 100%. Between each attempt at residential school you will receive remediation and the opportunity to complete the associated learning package. If you are unable to achieve 100% in the medication calculation exam in residential school, following remediation and three attempts, you will not be able to pass the unit.
Extensions
Extensions are not available as per policy for this assessment, and the 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Academic Integrity
You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time.
Minimum Pass Criteria
You must achieve a grade of 100% in this assessment to pass this unit.
Week 9 Friday (19 Sept 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
To be undertaken in week 9 (includes Saturday and Sunday) of the Term
Week 9 Friday (19 Sept 2025)
Results for the quiz will be available immediately after the attempt is complete.
The quiz consists of 20 questions. You have a maximum of one hour to complete the quiz. The quiz will be completed using Moodle. You must achieve 100% to pass the quiz.
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of safe supply and administration of parenteral and non-parenteral medication.
2 Essay
Type: Written assessment
Wednesday 24 September 2025 (Week 10) @ 4:00PM
Weighting: 30%
Length: 2000 words +/- 10% (not including the reference list)
Learning Outcomes Assessed
Evaluate the role of professional governing bodies for professional nursing practice, patient safety and governance.
Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate foundation nursing practice in relation to the four major bioethical principles.
Aim
The aim of this assessment is for to demonstrate your understanding of nursing theorists, and your ability to critically analyse nursing theorists influence on the contemporary nursing profession.
Instructions
Nursing as a profession is strongly influenced by its historical beginnings, particularly the foundational contributions of key nursing theorists. These early frameworks have played a vital role in shaping nursing identity, values, and practice. However, the advances in health technology and the complex challenges of contemporary healthcare do not always reflect the time in which many of these foundational concepts were established. In this essay, you will critically analyse the work of two nursing theorists, exploring both their historical significance and their relevance to modern nursing practice.
Please follow the steps below to complete this assessment task:
Provide a brief introduction outlining the aim of your assessment.
Choose two (2) nursing theorists and discuss their theory as a foundational concept for nursing.
Critically analyse the two (2) chosen nursing theories in consideration of the advances and challenges of contemporary nursing.
Apply the results of the analysis to three (3) current nursing and/or quality standards to illustrate the influence of the theories on contemporary nursing
Provide a concise conclusion summarising the main concepts in your assessment.
Academic Integrity
You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
- Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
- Level 3: You may use Al to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any Al-generated content you use.
Minimum Pass Criteria
· You must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 49.5% across all written assessments and a Pass in the medication quiz and OSCE to pass this unit.
· In order for a supplementary assessment to be considered, all assessment tasks must be reasonably attempted in this unit.
Week 10 Wednesday (24 Sept 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (15 Oct 2025)
Assessment Task 2 will assess your ability to critically analyse two nursing theories, including their historical context and relevance to modern practice. You will be evaluated on how well you apply these theories to current nursing challenges and standards, supported by quality literature. Academic writing, structure, and adherence to referencing guidelines will also be assessed.
- Evaluate the role of professional governing bodies for professional nursing practice, patient safety and governance
- Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate foundation nursing practice in relation to the four major bioethical principles
3 Reflective Practice Assignment
Type: Written assessment
Due date: 4 pm (AEST) Wednesday 1 October 2025 (Week 11)
Weighting: 40%
Length: 2000 words +/- 10% (not including the reference list)
Learning Outcomes Assessed
1.Adapt skills and knowledge to communicate effectively in nursing practice to underpin patient safety.
2.Evaluate the role of professional governing bodies for professional nursing practice, patient safety and governance.
3.Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate foundation nursing practice in relation to the four major bioethical principles.
5.Deconstruct the NMBA registered nurse standards for practice (2016) for decision-making, to promote the provision of evidence-based nursing care.
Aim
The aim of this essay is for you to demonstrate your understanding of reflective models that can be used effectively by nurses when utilising reflection for learning, improvement of practice and attaining professional standards.
Instructions
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016) Standard 1.2 states: develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice, demonstrating the importance of reflection as a professional skill for nurses.
Please follow the steps below to complete this assessment task:
Provide a brief introduction outlining the aim of your assessment.
Choose one model of reflection and discuss its relevance to nursing practice.
Consider an experience in the clinical laboratories and use your chosen model to reflect on this experience.
Evaluate your experience by applying three (3) NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016) and explain how you have met the criteria required for each of the Standards.
Provide a concise conclusion summarising the main concepts in your assessment.
Direction:
· The essay will include an engaging introduction and conclusion.
· Quality peer-reviewed literature is required to support all ideas in the essay.
· The essay has word limit of 2000 words and needs to be adhered to.
· Headings may be used within the essay
Academic Integrity
You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time.
Level of GenAI use allowed:
Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.
Level 3: You may use Al to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any Al-generated content you use.
Minimum Pass Criteria
· You must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 49.5% across all written assessments and a Pass in the medication quiz and OSCE to pass this unit.
· In order for a supplementary assessment to be considered, all assessment tasks must be reasonably attempted in this unit.
Week 11 Friday (3 Oct 2025) 4:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Monday (20 Oct 2025)
Assessment Task 3 assesses your understanding of how reflection supports learning and professional growth, as outlined in NMBA Standard 1.2. You will choose a reflection model, apply it to a clinical lab experience, and explain how three NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016) were met. Your work will also be assessed on how well you use evidence, structure your essay, and write clearly.
- Adapt skills and knowledge to communicate effectively in nursing practice to underpin patient safety
- Evaluate the role of professional governing bodies for professional nursing practice, patient safety and governance
- Demonstrate, analyse and evaluate foundation nursing practice in relation to the four major bioethical principles
- Deconstruct the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered nurse standards for practice (2016) for decision-making, to promote the provision of evidence-based nursing care
4 Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
The practical clinical skills assessment evaluates your nursing practice against the NMBA Registered nurse standards for practice.
To undertake this assessment, you will participate in a simulation-based activity, demonstrating safe practice through the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of patient care.
You will be provided an opportunity for three attempts to pass this assessment and must engage in feedback and reflection before each attempt.
All attempts are conducted face-to-face during residential school.
Extensions
Extensions are not available as per policy for this assessment, and the 72-hour grace period does not apply to this assessment.
Academic Integrity
You must abide by the principles of academic integrity (see Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure). Completion of this assessment with another party or sharing of responses is not permitted at any time.
Minimum Pass Criteria
You must achieve a pass grade in this assessment to pass this unit.
Week 9 Friday (19 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
To be undertaken in week 9 (includes Saturday and Sunday) of the Term
Results will be available on the day of completion
This practical clinical skills assessment will be based on the skills and theory you have covered during your unit.
To attain a pass, you must satisfactorily complete all areas of the clinical skills assessment tool found on the NURS28008 Moodle site.
You must pass this assessment to pass the unit.
- Adapt skills and knowledge to communicate effectively in nursing practice to underpin patient safety
- Perform a holistic health assessment and physical examination and execute appropriate documentation to support patient safety
- Deconstruct the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered nurse standards for practice (2016) for decision-making, to promote the provision of evidence-based nursing care
- Demonstrate knowledge and application of safe supply and administration of parenteral and non-parenteral medication.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
