NSB102 Professional Practice and Cultural Safety

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2027, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

This foundational unit introduces you as a student of nursing to the structure and function of the Australian health care system, and how it is situated across primary, secondary, and tertiary health care sectors. Applying by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) guidelines students will examine regulatory standards of nursing practice from the perspective of a health care professional working within the contexts of care where planetary safe, person-centred, and inclusive care is central to practice. This unit explores how professional nursing practice is shaped by national and global initiatives to promote equitable access to health care, and how nurses contribute to improving health outcomes within a complex and evolving system.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Critically examine the Australian health care system, health care sectors and care delivery models from the perspective of the Australian registered nurse working in these contexts of care.
2. Evaluate the essence of nursing as a profession, by exploring the historical, current and future trends, and the growing role of the registered nurse as a leader, lifelong learner and change agent in the rapidly changing health care environment,
3. Analyse to understand that registered nursing practice in Australia is a highly regulated profession, and is overseen by the NMBA's mandate to protect the public from harm with the enforcment of Standards of practice (2016), Codes of conduct (2018) and Ethics (ICN 2021) and practice guides.
4. Generate registered nurse solutions that would effectively advocate for culturally safe and equitable health care services and workplaces both nationally and globally.

Content

Learning Approaches

This foundational unit introduces you to the Professional Practice of nursing. The unit will use a blend of face-to-face and online activities to develop digital, analytical, self-reflection skills, and a collaborative approach to learning. You will engage in group discussions and activities in class to explore key themes and ideas, and to apply models, frameworks, and standards for inquiry and practice. So that you appreciate the value and diversity of peers, and the knowledge and experience they bring, you will work in small group tutorials using structured exercises, evidence, and resources to support collaborative learning and inquiry. The unit coordinator and tutors are available for consultation throughout the semester in on-campus and online contexts.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be provided with feedback and guidance to assist your learning throughout the semester through:

• Formative feedback online or in class interactions throughout semester individually and/or as a group
• Individual written feedback to develop your self-reflection and academic writing skills.
• Peer and teacher interactions and feedback including individual consultations with teaching staff as requested.
• The unit coordinator and tutors are available for consultation throughout the semester in on-campus and online contexts.

Assessment

Overview

This unit has two summative assessments. Assessment one requires you to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the profession of nursing, and how your role is to provide safe and effective nursing care that meets professional standards. Assessment two is an exam consisting of both multiple choice and short answer questions. This will test your understanding of unit content from across the semester.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Individual Essay

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Exam

You will undertake an invigilated exam consisting of multi-choice and short answer questions.

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

Crisp, J., Douglas, C., Rebeiro, G., & Waters, D. (2021). Potter & Perry’s fundamentals of nursing (6th edition ; Australia and New Zealand). Elsevier Australia a division of Reed International Books Australia Pty Ltd.

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first few lectures. In the event of a fire alarm sounding, or on a lecturer's instruction, you should leave the room and assemble in the designated area, which will be indicated to you. You should be conscious of your health and safety at all times while on campus. More information on health and safety can be obtained from http://www.hse.qut.edu.au/.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Registered Nurse Standards for Practice

1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice.

1. The RN develops practice through reflection on experiences, knowledge, actions, feelings and beliefs to identify how these shape practice
   Relates to: Individual Essay
2. The RN respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures
   Relates to: Individual Essay
3. The RN complies with legislation, regulations, policies, guidelines and other standards or requirements relevant to the context of practice when making decisions
   Relates to: Individual Essay
4. The RN uses ethical frameworks when making decisions
   Relates to: Individual Essay

2: Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships.

1. The RN communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights
   Relates to: Individual Essay
2. The RN recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life
   Relates to: Individual Essay
3. The RN advocates on behalf of people in a manner that respects the person’s autonomy and legal capacity
   Relates to: Individual Essay

3: Maintains the capability for practice.

1. The RN identifies and promotes the integral role of nursing practice and the profession in influencing better health outcomes for people.
   Relates to: Individual Essay

4: Comprehensively conducts assessments.

1. The RN conducts assessments that are holistic as well as culturally appropriate
   Relates to: Individual Essay
2. The RN works in partnership to determine factors that affect, or potentially affect, the health and wellbeing of people and populations to determine priorities for action and/ or for referral
   Relates to: Individual Essay
3. The RN assesses the resources available to inform planning.
   Relates to: Individual Essay

6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.

1. The RN practises within their scope of practice
   Relates to: Individual Essay
2. The RN practises in accordance with relevant policies, guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation
   Relates to: Individual Essay

Course Learning Outcomes

NS42 Bachelor of Nursing

1. Apply scientific knowledge and skills to provide safe, person-centred, evidence-based nursing care across the lifespan.
   Relates to: Individual Essay , Exam
2. Utilise critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and digital literacy skills to make ethical and sustainable evidence-based decisions and evaluate outcomes.
   Relates to: Individual Essay , Exam
3. Practice as an ethical and culturally safe practitioner and reflect on your professional nursing identity across a range of healthcare settings.
   Relates to: Individual Essay
4. Advocate for positive individual and community health outcomes in dynamic healthcare contexts using foundational leadership capabilities.
   Relates to: Exam