NS2015 - Law and Ethics for Nursing and Midwifery

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 1
Administered by:	School of Nursing, Midwifery & Nutrition

This subject explores the legal and ethical decision making that is used in nursing. The development of both legal and ethical reasoning is explored. Application of these types of reasoning is demonstrated using clinical examples. Legal thinking: law, general; law as a form of social control; Australian legal system, Statute law, common law, criminal law; torts; negligence, assault, consent (introductory); professional conduct (introductory); Nursing Act 1992 (Qld); ethics (introduction); principles of ethical reasoning; poisons legislation; possession and administration of drugs and legal reasoning (introduction). Ethical thinking: principles of ethics (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, veracity and justice); ethical theories; teleological, deontological, feminist and virtue; codification of ethics; historical development of ethics in relation to social change and history of philosophy as it relates to nursing.

Learning Outcomes

• describe the Australian legal system and how it relates to other social institutions;
• discuss the role and importance of ethics in professional life, clinical judgement and research;
• outline conflicts between personal and professional values and ethics;
• utilise the legal concepts of the Australian system in professional nursing practice.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to define and to solve problems in at least one discipline area;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to deploy critically evaluated information to practical ends;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• An understanding of the economic, legal, ethical, social and cultural issues involved in the use of information;
• The ability to select and organise information and to communicate it accurately, cogently, coherently, creatively and ethically;
• The acquisition of coherent and disciplined sets of skills, knowledge, values and professional ethics from at least one discipline area;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to manage future career and personal development;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to speak and write clearly, coherently and creatively;
• The ability to generate, calculate, interpret and communicate numerical information in ways appropriate to a given discipline or discourse;
• The ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;
• The ability to lead, manage and contribute effectively to teams;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion;
• The ability to use online technologies effectively and ethically.

Prerequisites:	NS1211 and NS1222 and BM1011 and BM1022 and (HS1005 OR NS1003) and HS1111 and (NS1012 OR NS1004) and NS1220
Inadmissible Subject Combinations:	NS2013 NS2014

Availabilities
Townsville, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coordinator:	Mr Matt Mason
Contact hours:	20 hours lectures 20 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coordinator:	Mr Matt Mason
Method of Delivery:	Printed materials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).
Cairns, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coordinator:	Mr Matt Mason
Contact hours:	20 hours lectures 20 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).
Mount Isa, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coordinator:	Mr Matt Mason
Contact hours:	20 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).
Thursday Isl, Internal, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coordinator:	Mr Matt Mason
Contact hours:	20 hours tutorials
Assessment:	end of semester exam (50%); assignments (50%).

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.