NSN429 The Science of Health Assessment

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2027, Online

Overview

This unit integrates theory and practice enabling in-depth knowledge and skill development in comprehensive patient-centred health assessment, diagnosis and management across the lifespan. Using a body systems approach, you will learn the principles of systematic and comprehensive head to toe assessment, advanced anatomy and physiology, mechanisms of disease and pathophysiology, diagnostic reasoning and holistic management underpinned by nursing philosophy. This unit advocates a collaborative approach to practice to optimise consumer health outcomes and integrates the use of digital tools for health care. 

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Adopt a systematic approach to perform accurate, culturally safe and holistic health assessment for consumers across the lifespan including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and vulnerable populations.
2. Apply knowledge of anatomical and physiological concepts and technical skills in analysing complex data and determining normal and abnormal findings within a head-to-toe physical assessment.
3. Synthesise and accurately interpret data findings to make informed clinical decisions, and collaborate with clinical support team member/s to optimise health care outcomes and utilise digital capabilities.
4. Communicate and collaborate with diverse consumer populations and other health professionals

Content

Learning Approaches

You will engage with real world online cases using a structured approach to assessment, diagnostic reasoning, and management. In parallel, you are participating in integrated clinical practice, which provides related real-world opportunities to engage with a range of consumers and to practice the application of knowledge and skills under supervision by your Clinical Support Team. This will include use of electronic health records,  diagnostic ordering and interpretation utilising digital systems and pharmacological management accessing digital databases. You will be required to undertake 40 hours of supervised supernumerary practice in your usual workplace. The use of electronic health records and data bases will enhance your digital capability in health care provision.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Assessment will be spaced throughout the semester to provide the opportunity for feedback on your learning at key points. You will receive formative verbal feedback from your Academic NP mentor and your Clinical Support Team as you progress through the unit. A structured approach to assessment and marking will be applied to provide you with detailed feedback on your progress.

Assessment

Overview

There are three summative assessments to be completed in this unit. Assessment 3, advanced consumer assessment 2 is a threshold assessment. You must achieve 50% or higher to pass the unit. 

This unit will use online web-based text matching software that assists you to develop the academic skills required to correctly use and cite reference material as well as to check citations to determine and avoid possible instances of plagiarism.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Advanced consumer assessment

You are required to complete 2 supervised clinical examinations with your Clinical Support Team of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological systems. You will submit your final verified (signed by Clinical Support Team member) physical examination assessment tools as evidence.  You will be required to include a reflection on how your assessment approach would differ with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. 

Verified examination assessments:

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during the verified examination assessments.

Verified examination assessment tools submission are eligible for the 48-hour late submission period ONLY.

Reflection:

The ethical and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is authorised in the reflection. See the relevant assessment details in Canvas for specific guidelines.

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

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance with achievement of 50% for Assessment 1 is a condition for passing this unit as it demonstrates your ability to meet the NP Standards for Practice (NMBA, 2021) and provide safe care as a Nurse Practitioner.

You must submit all assessment items to pass this unit. If you do not achieve 50% for all assessment items. You will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment item for which you achieved less than 50%.

Assessment: Advanced consumer case studies

You will select five consumers in your clinical specialty, apply scientific and contextual knowledge and skills, and undertake holistic, collaborative health assessments. Using the mini-CEX framework you will demonstrate, in the presence of Clinical Support Team, history taking, clinical head-to-toe assessment, diagnostic reasoning, identification of differential diagnoses and development of a management plan. You will collaboratively discuss rationale for ordering appropriate clinical investigations to inform the provisional diagnosis, with due consideration to access, cost and clinical efficacy.

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

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

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance with achievement of 50% for Assessment 2 is a condition for passing this unit as it demonstrates your ability to meet the NP Standards for Practice (NMBA, 2021) and provide safe care as a Nurse Practitioner.

You must submit all assessment items to pass this unit. If you do not achieve 50% for all assessment items. You will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment item for which you achieved less than 50%.

Assessment: Advanced consumer assessment 2

You are required to provide a video recording of yourself performing a Head-to-Toe Clinical Examination along with 40 hours of verified work integrated learning which will be recorded in a clinical log verified by the student’s Clinical Support Team.

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

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

Threshold Assessment:

Satisfactory performance with achievement of 50% for Assessment 3 is a condition for passing this unit as it demonstrates your ability to meet the NP Standards for Practice (NMBA, 2021) and provide safe care as a Nurse Practitioner.

You must submit all assessment items to pass this unit. If you do not achieve 50% for all assessment items. You will have the opportunity to resubmit any assessment item for which you achieved less than 50%.

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.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

You must submit mandatory documentation (including placement registration, Clinical Support Team documentation and Executive Director of Nursing or equivalent documentation) into QUT InPlace  before semester census date (end of week 4). If this documentation is not submitted by this time you will ineligible for continuing enrollment in this unit. 

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

McCance, K., Huether, S. (2022). Pathophysiology. (9th ed.). St Louis: Elsevier.

Recommended text(s)

Ball, J., Dains, J., Flynn, J.A., Solomon, B.S. & Stewart, R.W. (2023). Seidel's guide to physical examination (10th ed.). St Louis: Mosby.

Talley, N., & O'Connor, S. (2021). Clinical examination: A systematic guide to physical diagnosis (9th ed.). Sydney: Churchill Livingston, Elsevier.

Risk Assessment Statement

As a student undertaking this unit you are required to be working in your nominated clinical speciality area. As such, you will be exposed to risks encountered in the practice of nursing. Students undertaking workplace-based professional practice experience or clinical placement are required to follow the same health safety guidelines that apply to all staff in the workplace. In addition, measures to control exposure to risks include:

• Orientation to the health care agency
• Appropriate theoretical and practical preparation

Emergency procedures

All facilities require that their health workers become familiar with local emergency procedures. It is your responsibility to locate fire exits, emergency procedures and complete CPR drill and fire safety as required.

Health status and immunisation requirements

It is strongly recommended that you will:

• Endeavour at all times to maintain your personal health at a high level. Be fit to work and have had a reasonable rest period between shifts.
• Review your current immunisation status.
• Inform the Unit Coordinator, Course Coordinator or Clinical Support Team if you are aware of any personal condition, which may present a risk to yourself or consumers, other students, health care agency staff or the general public while undertaking professional practice experience or clinical placement.

The management of your health facility has the right to send you home if, in their opinion, it is unsafe for you to work that day.

Confidentiality

As a student in the clinical area, you must treat all information regarding clients and their families with the utmost confidentiality. Information that is documented as part of your learning experiences must preserve client anonymity and confidentiality. Classroom discussion should also adhere to these principles.

Standards/Competencies

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

NMBA Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice (2021)

Standard 1: Assesses using diagnostic capability

Relates to: Advanced consumer assessment, Advanced consumer case studies, Advanced consumer assessment 2

Standard 2: Plans care and engages others

Relates to: Advanced consumer case studies, Advanced consumer assessment 2

Standard 3: Prescribes and implements therapeutic interventions

Relates to: Advanced consumer case studies

Standard 4: Supports health systems

Relates to: Advanced consumer case studies

Course Learning Outcomes

NS90 Master of Nurse Practitioner

1. Integrate and apply advanced health knowledge and clinical practice skills, leveraging digital innovation to deliver culturally safe nurse practitioner services that value diversity and consumer-led health initiatives in varied populations and contexts.
   Relates to: Advanced consumer assessment, Advanced consumer case studies, Advanced consumer assessment 2
2. Utilise independent clinical inquiry and complex, critical reasoning to conduct holistic assessment, formulate differential diagnoses and autonomously develop, implement, and evaluate patient-centred, evidence-based management plans that are effective and safe.
   Relates to: Advanced consumer case studies
3. Apply professional communication to cultivate collaborative and inclusive partnerships with health-care consumers and professionals, leveraging digital technology while using advanced knowledge and skills to educate those receiving and delivering care.
   Relates to: ULO3, Advanced consumer case studies
4. Design and generate scholarly work that applies research methods, analytical processes, and knowledge translation, fostering lifelong learning and evidence-based practice.
   Relates to: ULO3, Advanced consumer assessment 2
5. Lead and advocate for patient-centred, culturally safe, reflective and ethical nursing practice that results in optimal health systems and outcomes for all consumers and communities.
   Relates to: Advanced consumer assessment, Advanced consumer case studies, Advanced consumer assessment 2