The ability to undertake a focused and comprehensive patient assessment is fundamental to nursing practice. Conducting patient assessment allows nurses to gather the requisite information to make sound clinical judgements. With 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, mental health, social, ethnic and cultural dimensions 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.

This unit of study will provide the scientific basis for cancer and haematology nursing practice. Students will examine, in detail, biological concepts related to haemopoeisis, immunology, carcinogenesis, genetics and epigenetics. Recent advances in the understanding the biology of cancer will be critiqued. This unit of study will provide a framework and foundation for understanding the impact of both malignant disease and the therapeutic management. Biological and physiological principles that support cancer treatments will be reviewed in detail. A detailed understanding of the biology of malignant disease together with that of the physiological effect of treatment is imperative for developing skills and capacity in specialist cancer and haematology nursing practice. Strategies to support physiological function and manage complex clinical presentations will be examined with students undertaking critical appraisal of treatment guidelines.

This unit will explore interventions in cancer and haematology nursing practice throughout the malignant disease trajectory. The global perspective of cancer and the role of screening in cancer nursing practice will be discussed. Health promotion as a philosophy of care in cancer, nurse-led interventions and the management of complex clinical situations will be explored, particularly in relation to assessment and symptom management. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their own practice and evaluate this in relation to specific competencies of the advanced RN or specialist cancer nurse. Throughout this unit of study students will engage in discussion of common presentations, and will be able to apply this to their own area of practice and thus pursue their own specific subspecialty of interest.

This unit of study will examine the diagnoses and treatment of cancer as experienced by the patient and their family. Students will examine how culture, age, socio-political situations and health beliefs can influence the cancer experience. This unit of study will draw on a range of media (narrative, film, audio, images) that inform the understanding of cancer and haematological illness experiences. Interpersonal communication as an integral component of the therapeutic work of nursing will be interactively explored. Students will examine how our understanding impacts clinical practice and health care delivery, and will explore the interface between the social context of the lived experience of illness and that experienced within the context provided by current approaches to health care service delivery. Approaches to patient management within the total patient experience will focus on collaborative decision-making and the ways in which synthesised evidence informs patient care.

The ability to undertake a focused and comprehensive patient assessment is fundamental to nursing practice. Conducting patient assessment allows nurses to gather the requisite information to make sound clinical judgements. With 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, mental health, social, ethnic and cultural dimensions 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.

This unit of study will provide the scientific basis for cancer and haematology nursing practice. Students will examine, in detail, biological concepts related to haemopoeisis, immunology, carcinogenesis, genetics and epigenetics. Recent advances in the understanding the biology of cancer will be critiqued. This unit of study will provide a framework and foundation for understanding the impact of both malignant disease and the therapeutic management. Biological and physiological principles that support cancer treatments will be reviewed in detail. A detailed understanding of the biology of malignant disease together with that of the physiological effect of treatment is imperative for developing skills and capacity in specialist cancer and haematology nursing practice. Strategies to support physiological function and manage complex clinical presentations will be examined with students undertaking critical appraisal of treatment guidelines.

In this unit of study you will critically analyse approaches to research through examination of the philosophical and theoretical origins of the research traditions and knowledge generation in nursing and other health 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.

Cancer is the single largest cause of premature death and represents nearly one-fifth of the total burden of disease in Australia. There is increasing recognition that specialist cancer services improve outcomes and benefit both survival and optimal recovery for people affected by cancer. Nurses working in clinical and management positions in cancer, assist in providing care to groups of patients and their families, both directly and indirectly. In doing so nurses must incorporate individual need with the requirements of the department/unit, hospital and local health network. The provision of coordinated patient care is supported by organisational structures at the hospital and local health district level, which are guided by the NSW Ministry of Health and institutions such as the Clinical Excellence Commission and the Agency for Clinical Innovation. Nursing practice is also informed by relevant nursing professional bodies and associations. The unit consists of content relating to the advanced practice role: quality and safety; ethical and legal considerations; communication strategies in complex clinical situations, health promotion and professional aspects of practice such as issues from a local, national and international perspective. As part of expanding their cancer and haematology practice, students will have the opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge and skills related to a specific area of practice.

This unit will explore interventions in cancer and haematology nursing practice throughout the malignant disease trajectory. The global perspective of cancer and the role of screening in cancer nursing practice will be discussed. Health promotion as a philosophy of care in cancer, nurse-led interventions and the management of complex clinical situations will be explored, particularly in relation to assessment and symptom management. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their own practice and evaluate this in relation to specific competencies of the advanced RN or specialist cancer nurse. Throughout this unit of study students will engage in discussion of common presentations, and will be able to apply this to their own area of practice and thus pursue their own specific subspecialty of interest.

This unit of study will examine the diagnoses and treatment of cancer as experienced by the patient and their family. Students will examine how culture, age, socio-political situations and health beliefs can influence the cancer experience. This unit of study will draw on a range of media (narrative, film, audio, images) that inform the understanding of cancer and haematological illness experiences. Interpersonal communication as an integral component of the therapeutic work of nursing will be interactively explored. Students will examine how our understanding impacts clinical practice and health care delivery, and will explore the interface between the social context of the lived experience of illness and that experienced within the context provided by current approaches to health care service delivery. Approaches to patient management within the total patient experience will focus on collaborative decision-making and the ways in which synthesised evidence informs patient care.

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 Australian health care system is dynamic and continues to experience significant clinical, structural and socio-political transformations. The need for stronger and more effective leadership has never been more evident, particularly at the clinical interface. While the concept of leadership is not new, the provision of leadership in the clinical arena is now a central component of clinical practice for all health professionals, regardless of years of experience, education or position.
As we increasingly experience a globalised world, we recognise that leadership is not the same in all contexts. This unit is structured to enhance your understanding of leadership from a personal perspective (in both exercising leadership and as a follower). It provides a framework for exploring leadership at personal, clinical and organisational levels. It aims to equip students to take initiative and create supportive and sustaining clinical environments.
This unit of study pursues critical analysis of leadership and the context in which leadership occurs. In the process of completing this unit, students cover a broad range of topics and explore the literature from several disciplines including management, sociology and nursing. While this unit of study is broad, it is designed to allow students to gain a more detailed understanding of the multiple and often conflicting contexts in which health leadership is situated.

The use of simulation (the process of mimicking reality in an environment that can be manipulated to reflect real clinical situations) is an educational tool that is becoming increasingly prevalent in health care practice and education. Simulation activities have strong relevance to a broad range of learner levels across health professions providing a safe and controlled learning environment. Simulation can be used in task or situational training areas in order to train clinicians to anticipate certain situations and develop capability to react appropriately. Additionally, simulation has the potential to create a dynamic interprofessional learning environment, facilitating the process of learning through assessment, decision making, evaluation and error prevention or correction within the healthcare team. This unit of study will provide learners with the opportunity to critically examine the current literature related to the instructional use of simulation in health education and practice. They will become familiar with evolving theoretical frameworks associated with the use of simulation in education and explore concepts related to technical and non­technical skill development such as: participant consent and confidentiality, levels and types of fidelity, models of instruction/tuition, immersive and non­immersive scenarios, virtual reality simulation, debriefing, participant assessment and translation to practice. Students will be encouraged to further expand their clinical and theoretical repertoire by developing a simulated learning experience, based on best evidence, and linked to education outcomes.

This unit of study will evaluate the burden of wounds on Australian society and the impact on health care consumers. Students will explore the principles of both acute and chronic wound management underpinned by research and evidence base available both nationally and internationally. Unit content will explore aetiology and physiology, wound assessment and management, including documentation, infection control, nutrition and psycho-social implications. Dressings and adjuvant therapies linked to acute wounds (surgical and traumatic, including burns) and chronic wounds (leg ulcers, pressure injuries, diabetic foot ulcerations, and malignant wounds). Content will also be informed by person-centred, interdisciplinary, integrated continuity of care approaches to prevention, management and service delivery as these relate to wounds.

Professionals from varied backgrounds routinely encounter families of clients/students/patients. Engagement with families may be crucial to improving our understanding and for optimising outcomes; however, this process can also be challenging and complex. This unit of study explores ideas and practices for working with families and other systems drawing on systemic, dialogical and reflective practice approaches. Students are invited to consider the relevance of the unit of study content to their own professional practice and draw on their professional and personal contexts to learn with and from each other.
Due to Course structure, NURS5100 may only be taken as a Semester 2 elective, unless academic advice and permission is sought from the Director, Postgraduate Advanced Studies.

The Australian social and health care workforce needs to adapt to rapidly changing emphases on health care service provision, in particular working with a stronger focus on early intervention, families and community. The innovative Open Dialogue approach orients service provision around a series of network meetings that involve the individual in crisis or psychological distress, family members, and others in the individual's support network, including professional helpers. The Open Dialogue approach is based on seven principles of treatment: 1) Immediate help; 2) A social network perspective; 3) Flexibility and mobility; 4) Responsibility; 5) Psychological continuity; 6) Tolerance of uncertainty; and 7) Dialogism.
This unit of study introduces these principles by focusing on how health care services can be organised, and healthcare practices adapted, to facilitate Open Dialogue network meetings, and how network meetings are organised to empower service users and families to genuinely participate in transparent decision­making processes. The course will be taught using a blended learning approach of both online discussions to familiarise students with key readings and ideas, and four study intensive blocks that will provide opportunity for experiential learning. At all points in the course, students are encouraged to reflect on the relevance of course content to their own practice context.
Due to Course structure, NURS5101 may only be taken as a Semester 2 elective, unless academic advice and permission is sought from the Director, Postgraduate Advanced Studies.

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 in­depth exploration of a topic that you have identified as being of personal or 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 your 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 and student colleagues. Your work may be presented in either minor 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 NURS5080 unit of study coordinator as they complete the unit of study NURS5069 Research in Nursing and Health Care, so that specific academic advice can be provided. NURS5080 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 Postgraduate Coordinator (Research Education) before enrolling in the second semester of their course.