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).

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 builds on the understandings developed in Population Health to Personal Healthcare and develops students understanding of research within a health and healthcare setting. Research plays a significant role in advancing nursing theory and practice. An understanding of the relationship between research and evidence for practice is based on developing a foundational knowledge of the context, the process, and the application of research to health and healthcare. Students will explore these dimensions of research in health, developing their research skills and knowledge in all other units of study in this course.

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.

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.

This unit of study takes a big-picture perspective to explore the political dimensions of health and healthcare in the Australian context. It focuses on the ways in which political imperatives influence conceptualisations of health and illness, and the organisation and delivery of healthcare. The structure and funding models of the Australian healthcare system are critically examined, as is the policy process and its implications for the way care is conceptualised and delivered in Australia. The unit compares the Australian system with other national health-care systems to broaden the perspective and enable students to develop their understanding of how the Australian system is situated, and perceived, internationally. Workforce issues are explored, including the various roles of healthcare professionals and the ways in which these roles, and associated inter-professional relationships, may change over time. Throughout the unit, there is an emphasis on nursing as a critically important profession within the broader healthcare arena.