James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

NURSING SCIENCES

The School of Nursing Sciences offers the following postgraduate studies:

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

This course is suspended until 2004. A review of the viability of offering the course will be carried out during the period of the suspension.

MASTER OF ADVANCED NURSING PRACTICE

This degree is designed to prepare students for advanced clinical practice in a chosen specialty area. It is intended to meet the ongoing professional needs of nurses working in, or planning to move into, roles as clinical nurse specialists, clinical nurse consultants, clinical educators or clinical nurse managers.

9 units of core subjects:
NS5001:03 Advanced Physiological Nursing
NS5002:03 Nursing Inquiry for Specialist Practice
NS5201:03 Research: Theory and Methodology
12 units of subjects in chosen specialty area(s):
Intensive Care
NS5511:03 Intensive Care Nursing 1
NS5512:03 Intensive Care Nursing 2
Cardiac Nursing
NS5801:03 Cardiac Nursing 1
NS5802:03 Cardiac Nursing 2
Perioperative Care
NS5701:03 Perioperative Care 1
NS5702:03 Perioperative Care 2
Aged Care
NS5601:03 Processes of Normal Ageing
NS5602:03 Assessment of Altered Health Status
NS5603:03 Management of Major Clinical Problems
NS5604:03 Contemporary Issues in Ageing and Health
Critical Care
NS5501:03 Contemporary Issues in Critical Care Nursing
Surgical Nursing
NS5730:03 Advanced Surgical Nursing
Medical Nursing
NS5740:03 Advanced Medical Nursing
Midwifery
NS5110:03 Midwifery Practice 1*
NS5111:03 Midwifery Practice 2*
NS5112:03 Physiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5113:03 Pathophysiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5210:03 Midwifery Practice 3*
NS5211:03 Midwifery Practice 4*
NS5220:03 Perinatal Critical Care and the Pregnant Woman*
*Available to endorsed midwives only; the 200 hour clinical component of the practice subjects is waived.
9 units of elective subjects chosen with permission of the Head of the School of Nursing Sciences
NS5205:06 Independent Project
MASTER OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSING

This course is suspended until 2004. A review of the viability of offering the course will be carried out during the period of the suspension.

MASTER OF NURSING SCIENCE

The course prepares registered nurses to design, conduct and communicate research findings. It is a 36 unit research degree available in flexible delivery mode on a part-time (three years or six semesters) or full-time (eighteen months or three semesters) basis.

MASTER OF NURSING STUDIES

This course has been developed to meet the demands of registered nurses and match the School’s postgraduate subject offerings. The course will be available in flexible learning mode on a part-time (over a minimum of six semesters) or full-time (over three semesters) basis. Students will be required to complete 36 units. Students will be required to take two core subjects (6 units) and choose 10 electives (30 units)

CORE
NS5201:03 Research: Theory and Methodology
and one of the following:
NS5311:03 Contemporary Issues in Mental Health Practice (not offered in 2003)
NS5407:03 Contemporary Issues in Nurse Education
NS5501:03 Contemporary Issues in Critical Care Nursing
NS5604:03 Contemporary Issues in Ageing and Health
ELECTIVES
Choose 10 subjects from Schedule A

Schedule A

NS5001:03 Advanced Physiological Nursing
NS5002:03 Nursing Inquiry for Specialist Practice
NS5100:03 Socio-Historical Context of Rural and Remote Health
NS5101:03 Power in Practice (not offered in 2003)
NS5102:03 Health Organisation and Development ( not offered in 2003)
NS5103:03 Rural and Remote Health Practice 1 (not offered in 2003)
NS5112:03 Physiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5113:03 Pathophysiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5200:03 Rural and Remote Health Practice 2 (not offered in 2003)
NS5202:03 Research Proposal Writing
NS5311:03 Contemporary Issues in Mental Health Practice (not offered in 2003)
NS5405:03 Introduction to Nurse Education
NS5406:03 Clinical Teaching in Nursing
NS5407:03 Contemporary Issues in Nurse Education
NS5501:03 Contemporary Issues in Critical Care Nursing
NS5601:03 Processes of Normal Ageing
NS5602:03 Assessment of Altered Health Status in the Aged
NS5603:03 Management of Major Clinical Problems in the Care of the Aged
NS5604:03 Contemporary Issues in Ageing and Health
NS5710:03 Nursing Management Across the Health Sector
NS5730:03 Advanced Surgical Nursing
NS5740:03 Advanced Medical Nursing
POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OF MIDWIFERY

The aim of this course is to prepare the student for endorsement as a midwife. As a competent practitioner, graduates will be able to facilitate the care of women and their families experiencing childbearing and mothering, in a variety of settings. The program is accomplished by attendance at residential schools and completion of coursework subjects, part-time via distance education mode. There is also a clinical component attached to each practice subject. Applicants must be a registered nurse, have completed an undergraduate degree and meet the requirements necessary for employment in a midwifery environment. Twelve months clinical nursing practice prior to commencement is desirable. Entry by exception will be considered for applicants without an undergraduate degree.

SEMESTER 1

NS5112:03 Physiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5114:03 Pregnancy, Birth and Postnatal Midwifery Care

SEMESTER 2

NS5113:03 Pathophysiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5115:03 Midwifery Care In ‘At Risk’ Events

SEMESTER 3

NS5214:03 Professional Midwifery Care
NS5220:03 Perinatal Critical Care and the Pregnant Woman

SEMESTER 4

NS5201:03 Research Theory and Methodology
Elective
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (ADVANCED CLINICAL PRACTICE)

The course provides registered nurses with the opportunity to critically reflect upon their nursing practice; gain and apply specific nursing knowledge and skills relevant to their practice area; explore and reflect upon health care issues within a framework of contemporary nursing practice; practice advanced physical nursing assessment, having acquired knowledge and skills in both physiological and pathophysiological processes, pharmacological concepts and relevant principles of microbiology.

CORE  
NS5001:03 Advanced Physiological Nursing
NS5002:03 Nursing Inquiry for Specialist Practice
ELECTIVES
Students will select two subjects from the following or others deemed appropriate by the Head of School:
NS5100:03 Socio-Historical Context of Rural and Remote Health
NS5101:03 Power in Practice (not offered in 2003)
NS5102:03 Health Organisation and Development (not offered in 2003)
NS5103:03 Rural and Remote Health Practice I (not offered in 2003)
NS5112:03 Physiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5113:03 Pathophysiological Processes in Midwifery
NS5202:03 Research Proposal Writing
NS5311:03 Contemporary Issues in Mental Health Practice (not offered in 2003)
NS5313:03 Ethical, Legal and Health Policy (not offered in 2003)
NS5405:03 Introduction to Nurse Education
NS5407:03 Contemporary Issues in Nurse Education
NS5601:03 Processes of Normal Ageing
NS5602:03 Assessment of Altered Health Status in the Aged
NS5603:03 Management of Major Clinical Problems in the Care of the Aged
NS5604:03 Contemporary Issues in Ageing and Health
NS5710:03 Nursing Management Across the Health Sector
NS5730:03 Advanced Surgical Nursing
NS5740:03 Advanced Medical Nursing
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (CARDIAC NURSING)

The course provides registered nurses with the opportunity to: competently provide holistic care for the cardiac patient through the integration of advanced level knowledge, skills and humanistic values, within the context of coronary care or cardiac unit; demonstrate advanced problem-solving and communication skills and utilise these effectively in managing complex patient care situations; deliver care within a sound ethical and legal framework, fulfilling the role of patient advocate when appropriate.

CORE
NS5001:03 Advanced Physiological Nursing
NS5002:03 Nursing Inquiry for Specialist Practice
NS5801:03 Cardiac Nursing 1
NS5802:03 Cardiac Nursing 2
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (CARE OF THE AGED)

The course provides registered nurses with an additional qualification that will enable them to provide specialist care to the aged in a number of health care settings across Australia. Students completing this course will be able to: function as specialist aged care nurses in a range of clinical settings including acute hospitals, nursing homes and in the community; provide sensitive, individualised, research-based nursing care to this population; utilise their expertise towards raising the profile of specialist nursing skills related to care of the aged within the nursing community at large.

CORE  
NS5601:03 Processes of Normal Ageing
NS5602:03 Assessment of Altered Health Status in the Aged
NS5603:03 Management of Major Clinical Problems in the Care of the Aged
NS5604:03 Contemporary Issues in Ageing and Health
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (CLINICAL TEACHING)

This course provides an opportunity for registered nurses to develop and formalise their clinical teaching skills to a Postgraduate Certificate level. The course focuses on the theoretical and applied knowledge required to function as effective clinical teachers. The course is available off-campus on a part-time basis in the mode of flexible delivery.

CORE  
NS5405:03 Introduction to Nurse Education
NS5406:03 Clinical Teaching in Nursing
NS5407:03 Contemporary Issues in Nurse Education
NS5408:03 Implementation of Clinical Teaching Strategies
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (INTENSIVE CARE)

The course provides registered nurses with the opportunity: to competently provide holistic care for the critically ill patient through the integration of advanced level knowledge, skills and humanistic values, within the context of an intensive care unit; demonstrate advanced problem-solving and communication skills and utilise these effectively in managing complex patient care situations; deliver care within a sound ethical and legal framework, fulfilling the role of patient advocate when appropriate; function at a competent level in accordance with the Australian College of Critical Care Nursing (ACCCN).

CORE  
NS5001:03 Advanced Physiological Nursing
NS5002:03 Nursing Inquiry for Specialist Practice
NS5511:03 Intensive Care Nursing 1
NS5512:03 Intensive Care Nursing 2
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (PERIOPERATIVE CARE)

This course has been developed in collaboration with regional hospitals. The Postgraduate Certificate course aims to prepare the registered nurse for advanced nursing practice in the specialty of perioperative care. The program consists of four, three-unit subjects which are integrated with clinical experience. The subjects are designed to prepare registered nurses as specialist perioperative care nurses.

CORE  
NS5001:03 Advanced Physiological Nursing
NS5002:03 Nursing Enquiry for Specialist Practice
NS5701:03 Perioperative Care 1
NS5702:03 Perioperative Care 2
POSTGRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF NURSING SCIENCE (RURAL AND REMOTE)

The course is suspended until December 2004. A review of the viability of offering the course will be carried out during the period of suspension.

POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA OF NURSING SCIENCE (CRITICAL CARE)

This course is for registered nurses with a Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Nursing, or equivalent, and who want to continue education in this specialty area. This course aims to enable the student to understand and apply knowledge about contemporary nursing issues, theory and research to critical care practice. The course will complement and enhance knowledge acquired in the Graduate Certificate of Critical Care Nursing. Students completing this course will be able to function as specialist critical care nurses according to the competency standards established by the ACCCN.

CORE  
NS5201:03 Research: Theory and Methodology
NS5501:03 Contemporary Issues in Critical Care Nursing
NS5710:03 Nursing Management Across the Health Sector
Elective subject:03