NSB609 Pain Management and Nursing Practice
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | NSB609 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | Successful completion of 144cp including NSB131 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
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| CSP student contribution | $592 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,704 |
| International unit fee | $4,848 |
Unit Outline: Flexible Period - 09A 2026, Kelvin Grove, Internal (Start Date: 13 Jul 2026)
| Unit code: | NSB609 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | Successful completion of 144cp including NSB131 |
Overview
Making decisions about pain and its management is a key component of nursing practice across a wide variety of patient groups and health service contexts. This unit examines the experience of peoples’ pain and explores the nurse role in relation to pain assessment and management, to facilitate effective pain relief. The unit builds on foundational knowledge developed earlier in the course through more detailed exploration of key concepts and relevant evidence.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of concepts and principles of nursing pain assessment and pain management
- Apply evidence on pain assessment/pain management to recommend solutions to challenging clinical presentations.
- Apply evidence-based arguments to support analysis and evaluation of nursing practice issues regarding pain assessment/pain management.
Content
The unit aims to provide you with a detailed knowledge and understanding of people’s pain experience, pain assessment and nursing care strategies to provide effective pain relief. This elective unit begins with an overview of pain and pain management as an extension of concepts covered in core units of the course. Topics explored include: theoretical perspectives of pain; factors that influence pain perception and expression; acute, chronic, and cancer pain, and relationship to nursing practice; frameworks and tools for pain assessment; reflection on nurses' assessment and documentation of pain; pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for pain relief and nursing practice; pain and pain management across the lifespan; and collaborating within a multidisciplinary pain management team.
Learning Approaches
A variety of approaches will be used to facilitate your learning during this unit. These have been developed to allow for flexibility. The unit will be taught through a series of self-paced modules supported by on-campus seminars and online supports. The teaching approaches during the seminars may include case presentations, discussions, and small group activities. Throughout these seminars, discussion will used to encourage you to critically reflect on your clinical experiences and apply principles learnt during first and second year to relevant areas of practice with people experiencing pain. The application of relevant codes of practice and ethics will also be discussed during the seminars. You will have access to staff who will be available in person (during consultation times) and by email.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Feedback on your progress in the first assessment will inform your development of the second assessment piece.
Assessment
Overview
There are two summative assessments in this unit, an essay to demonstrate your conceptual understanding and critical engagement with issues and challenges around pain experience and management. The second is a central exam using clinical cases and short answer responses.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Essay
This task requires you to write an essay on a selected topic in relation to pain management within the context of nursing practice. In preparing this assessment, you will undertake a detailed review of relevant literature and develop sound arguments and recommendations for nursing practice based on a synthesis of knowledge from a range of sources.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions
Assessment: Examination
An invigilated examination will test your understanding of the key challenges in pain assessment and management and related nursing practice.
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
Canvas site will refer to selected relevant evidence for topics. There is no prescribed or recommended textbook.
Risk Assessment Statement
If you are distressed by issues explored in the content of this unit you should approach academic staff or consult the University counselling service. You will be made aware of evacuation procedures and assembly areas in the first 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/.