The ability to undertake a focused and comprehensive patient assessment is fundamental to nursing practice. Undertaking patient assessment allows nurses to gather the requisite information to make sound clinical judgements thus this unit of study places an emphasis on the systematic collection of reliable and valid assessment data. This unit of study examines the knowledge, capabilities and clinical skills required to undertake comprehensive health assessment inclusive of physical and mental health status in complex clinical situations. Underpinning any patient assessment is a detailed understanding of normal physiological processes and the ways in which illness and injury alters these processes. In this unit of study students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to synthesise concepts of altered physiology and patient assessment with the implementation and evaluation of appropriate management strategies.

This unit of study will provide foundational knowledge about primary health care with an emphasis on the application of the principles to practice. The World Health Organisation (WHO) framework of primary health care as a philosophy, a set of activities and a strategy for organising health services will be critiqued and how it relates to individuals, families and communities will be explored. The importance of (i) holistic understanding and recognition of multiple determinants of health, (ii) equality, affordability, availability, appropriateness, accessibility and acceptability in health care, (iii) community participation in health and health care and health promotion will be examined.

This unit of study will evaluate the burden and impact of chronic diseases on Australian society, and the local and international chronic disease models and programs that have been developed. Students will explore the principles of chronic disease prevention and management, including relevant evidence-based decision-making processes and practices, the concepts of self-management, and coordinated, quality care. The National Health Priority Areas of arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions, asthma, cancer control, cardiovascular health, diabetes mellitus, injury prevention and control, mental health, and obesity will be examined from both population and personal illness experience perspectives. Unit content will be informed by person-centred, interdisciplinary approaches to care and service delivery as these relate to the management of chronic conditions.

This unit of study will focus on determinants of health, community needs assessment, community participation, health promotion models, health education and health literacy, and the ways in which these inform and underpin primary health care in the community. Students will examine evidence-based health promotion strategies and how these may impact on disease prevention. Students will develop community-based health assessment skills and knowledge, and explore management and prevention of infectious and chronic conditions. The unit will differentiate between health education needs of communities and broader socio-cultural, economic and political dynamics and initiatives designed to empower individuals and communities to improve and develop control of their health and health care.

In this unit of study, students will explore the ways in which nurses can articulate their personal practice knowledge and enhance this with an understanding of primary health care educational and policy-based perspectives to make a significant contribution to the development of their own practice, the practice of others, the inter-professional delivery of evidence-based care and evidence-informed policy. The unit explores local, state, national and international social, technological and political issues that impact on and inform primary health care in Australia and the key government and professional bodies involved in primary health care policy. Additionally, as part of expanding the individual nurse's repertoire, students will be encouraged to broaden their specialty knowledge and nursing practice and will have the opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge and/or practice related to a specific practice topic.

This unit of study will examine and critique established and emerging ways of researching nursing and health care through discussion of the philosophical and theoretical origins of the research traditions and knowledge generation in nursing research. Conceptualisation of research questions, selection of research designs, governance of research and research utilisation in the clinical setting will be explored. Opportunities will be provided to engage in the research process with reference to clinically related situations.

This unit of study pursues a critical analysis of the theoretical constructs and practical applications underpinning good clinical governance in health care organisations. Many studies identify the factors influencing a culture of safety and quality in the clinical environment and most concur with six main domains: the safety climate, teamwork, perceptions of management, working conditions, job satisfaction and stress recognition. These factors and how to influence them positively will be examined in this unit of study utilising a better practice (quality/continuity of care/health outcomes/governance) framework.

The need for leadership across all clinical disciplines has been shown to be integral to safe practice and strong staff morale. Providing a clear and unambiguous framework for practice and fostering skills in moral stewardship are known to enable personal growth and strong clinical care. This unit explores a range of issues for clinicians including their legal and ethical obligations, concepts of accountability and collegiality, and strategies to increase resilience and emotional intelligence. It aims to equip nurses to take initiative, create supportive and sustaining clinical environments, have the courage of their convictions, and to celebrate curiosity.

This unit of study will assist students (as potential senior clinicians) to extend their development of a critically informed personal/professional position on the many issues impacting clinical nursing practice and to further develop the skills required to argue that position effectively within current clinical contexts and climates. The unit will provide a framework within which students will explore current professionally relevant clinical and professionally related situations from several perspectives such as those of tertiary and professional education, local, state and federal government policy development and implementation, health services management, workforce and regulatory perspectives. Students will also conceptualise and develop a personal portfolio incorporating the work undertaken during their degree and including guided reflections on their observation and analysis of senior/advanced practice roles in nursing and assess their current state of readiness to undertake the role of a senior clinician within a personally relevant workplace.

This unit of study will provide an opportunity for students with an interest in research to conduct an in-depth exploration of a topic that you have identified as being of personal professional relevance and/or research interest. To complete this unit you will be expected to work independently selecting, locating and analysing the relevant literature to prepare a scholarly piece of work reviewing current knowledge on the self-identified topic. While you will be expected to pursue your investigation as an independent scholar you will be assisted in your work by regular meetings with the unit coordinator, student colleagues and an academic advisor appointed on the basis of your area of interest as identified by the topic. Your work may be presented in either thesis or journal manuscript formats and will be assessed in a manner appropriate for determining suitability for further research higher degree work.
Students are advised to indicate their interest in undertaking the research capstone to the Director of Postgraduate Studies as they complete the unit of study NURS5069 Research in Nursing and Health Care so that specific academic advice can be provided.
Capstone (Research) is also an important component of the Sydney Nursing School pathway to research higher degree enrolment and students interested in pursuing this pathway should also seek Academic advice from the Director of Postgraduate Studies before enrolling in the second semester of their course.