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.

The student will gain an understanding of environmental, biological and socioeconomic determinants of the health and wellbeing of populations. The students' understanding of these determinants will be facilitated by an introduction to epidemiology and its role and function in relation to the new public health. Students will critically reflect on population health data that identifies issues of access, social inclusion and equity within Australian society. A detailed analysis of population behaviours and the determinants that can have an impact on their behaviours, health and wellbeing will be undertaken during the unit of study. Public health helps to establish need and assists in analyses of the impact of health
interventions. As such, epidemiological data provides a major resource to guide evidence-based practice. How epidemiological data provides public health analysts with an evidence base to explain population level health, and healthcare ractitioners with knowledge that can inform the care provided at a personal level, will be discussed. Students will also gain insight into the challenges that face practitioners who need to translate population health information into appropriate individualised healthcare plans. Students will explore the co-relationships between public health, primary care, primary healthcare, health promotion and ultimately personal healthcare.

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 an integrative review of the available research literature; second, commencing a draft manuscript addressing specified elements, and third, composing the final written journal manuscript. This project will be highly valuable to currently practising nurses whose professional responsibilities and interests may include clinical leadership or practice enhancement 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.