This unit of study focuses on the advanced clinical abilities required for nursing assessment of patients, families communities in the 21st century. For the nurse to undertake advanced clinical assessment they must use all available sources of evidence including physiological, psychological, spiritual, socio economic and cultural values on an ongoing bases. Students will learn how to assess a patient's condition - physically, socially and mentally and to make insightful nursing observation that can inform practice. At the community level, and in the wider socio-economic context, students will study emerging patterns of disease that may impact on the nature of nursing care in the new millennium such as the emergence of multi resistant bacteria, H5N1 and Dengue Fever.

This unit critically analyses national and international concepts of health, illness and care. It investigates the ways in which social, cultural and historical forces have shaped ideas and beliefs about health and illness. The unit also examines the structure of contemporary societies, emphasising the relationship between social structures, cultural factors, and the distribution of health and illness. In particular it examines the effects of social inequalities on the health of vulnerable, at-risk, and marginalised groups.

The field of clinical and patient education is explored in the context of the healthcare environment with emphasis on continuing changes in technologies, information and evidence bases for practice. The unit involves a study of the literature on the nature of learned and performed skills and what factors impact on the delivery of effective education in clinical settings. This unit also explores the role of the registered nurse in relation to patient education, staff education and student supervision.

Students undertake advanced work on an area of practice, or a particular practice, in nursing. The project will involve three stages: first, conducting a review of the available research literature; second, examining other forms of evidence, such as written policies and protocols or actual practices; and third, composing a written report on the ways in which practice can be enhanced and/or further investigated by original research. This project will be highly suited to currently practising nurses whose professional responsibilities and interests include clinical leadership, management of a clinical service or practice development and/or the use of evidence in practice.

This course provides a forum for experienced practitioners to enhance their skills and knowledge regarding the concept of clinical governance and to develop a framework for its implementation. The structure of the course will enable participants to explore and critique issues surrounding clinical governance in the context of care provision, organisational climate and culture, quality, clinical and professional leadership and financial responsibility. This course utilises a better practice (continuum of care / quality / cost / utilisation and health outcomes) framework.

This unit of study will extend knowledge of professional nursing by focusing on particular issues that currently challenge nurses. Drawing on clinical, technical and sociological research and current media reporting it will examine how and why issues are reported and why some are highly publicized while some are virtually ignored. The unit encourages reflection and awareness of the complexities of nursing practice by examining the culture of the health care sector, nurses' responsibility and accountability for patient outcomes, patient safety and nurses' outcomes. The health care sector is presently experiencing a shortage of registered nurses and is constrained by an ideology favouring economic rationalism. These factors impact on today's nurses, their practice and their professionalisation, and the health of the nation.

This unit of study examines the historical background to, and current debates surrounding, how nurses have established their knowledge and practice. In addition to examining the historical records in relation to nursing as a discrete area of knowledge and practice in health care, this unit of study analyses and critiques current trends, ethical considerations, and discourses in nursing and how they impact on understandings of the nature of nursing knowledge and contemporary practice(s).

This unit of study aims to foster the notion that nursing research is integral to all aspects of nursing theory, education, applications and practice. Students will explore a range of quantitative and qualitative research techniques. This unit will help prepare students for future research activities.

This unit of study focuses on the advanced clinical abilities required for nursing assessment of patients, families and communities in the 21st century. Students will learn how to undertake advanced assessment of a patient's condition based on physical and psycho-social determinants of health and wellbeing. Students will be instructed in processes for analysis of this data to facilitate insightful informed nursing practice decisions. From the individual to community levels of the wider socio-economic context students will study emerging patterns of disease and how this impacts on their role as nurses.

The field of clinical and patient education is addressed in the context of the healthcare environment with emphasis on continuing changes in technologies, information and evidence bases for practice. The unit involves a study of the literature on the nature of learned and performed skills and what impact they may have on the delivery of effective education in clinical settings. The unit also explores the role of the registered nurse in relation to patient education, staff education and student supervision.

Students will undertake an investigation/review on an area of practice, or a particular practice, in nursing. The project will involve articulating an argument for thorough examination of practice in nursing - for example a review of a practice/procedure/policy/protocol - and culminate in a literature review formulated as a journal manuscript suitable for submission to a specified journal for publication. The literature review will include primary research, review articles and where appropriate examination of other forms of evidence, such as written policies and protocols or actual practices. Students will determine the relevant type and approach to the review based on their topic. This project will be highly suited to currently practising nurses whose professional responsibilities and interests include clinical leadership, management of a clinical service or practice development and/or the use of evidence in practice.

This unit of study provides a forum for registered nurses to enhance their knowledge and skills of nursing management and to develop a framework for their implementation. The structure of the course will enable participants to explore and critique issues surrounding management and clinical governance in the context of health care provision, organisational climate and culture, quality and safety, clinical and professional leadership and financial responsibility. This unit of study utilises a better practice (continuity of care/quality/cost/utilisation and health outcomes) framework.

This unit of study builds on the tenet throughout this course that research is integral to all aspects of nursing theory, education, application and practice. Nursing research and its application in practice will be the focus of examination and critique. A critical analysis of various modes of inquiry will be used to investigate aspects of nursing practice and relevant nursing issues. A variety of perspectives, methodologies and methods that constitute modes of inquiry will be included. This unit will assist students to develop research knowledge that will assist them to critique the literature relevant to their practice and determine its value for practice (viz-a-viz evidence based nursing or evidence based practice). As well the unit will begin to prepare them for future research activities. Opportunities will be provided to experience the inquiry process with reference to clinically related situations or to areas that have an implication for nurses and their practice.

This unit of study is designed to provide students with the opportunity to consolidate and extend their knowledge and skills in relation to the therapeutic applications of drugs based on their underlying pharmacology. Students will review fundamental definitions of pharmacological terms, including drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion and review the basic principles of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic drug handling. The major focus of this unit is on the pharmacological aspects of medical therapy in various populations, including neonatal/paediatric, adult and geriatric patients. Students will learn how to apply specific pharmacological knowledge in the clinical management of special patient groups. A problem-based leaning approach is used in tutorials conducted within this unit of study in a quality of care / safe medication administration framework.

This unit of study examines the historical background to, and current debates surrounding, how nurses have established their knowledge and practice. In addition to examining the historical records in relation to nursing as a discrete area of knowledge and practice in health care, this unit of study analyses and critiques current trends, ethical considerations, and discourses in nursing and how they impact on understandings of the nature of nursing knowledge and contemporary practice(s).

This unit of study explores the legal and ethical dimensions in health and social care, with a particular focus on nursing. This module will enable students to gain a critical understanding and applied appreciation of health-related law and ethics, whilst exploring its application and affect on nursing practice. Topics covered in this unit include government regulation of health care, including resource-allocation and professional practice, as well as legal issues relating to professional liability (consent, negligence, confidentiality and autonomy). This unit of study also considers traditional and contemporary ethical theory, moral decision making, articulating moral arguments, critiquing arguments, and exploring values in ethical decision-making. In doing so, this unit of study also explores the values held by professionals, as the concepts of rights and responsibilities increasingly impact on professional nursing practice.