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.

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.

This unit of study focuses on pathophysiological concepts and processes related to human responses to disease and illness. Using a conceptual approach, students will be provided with the opportunity to apply research findings to gain a deeper understanding of patient assessment information. The conceptual approach assists students to focus on clinical problems encountered across common disease categories and populations. This approach assists nurses in developing a systematic approach when making observations and formulating questions for further investigations about events or conditions that influence patient signs and symptoms. The application of these processes and concepts provides a knowledge base for registered nurses to improve clinical judgements and decision-making in the management of patients with complex changes in health status. Students will undertake a further period of supernumerary integrated professional practice (SIPP) (60 hours) verified by their approved supervisor concurrently while undertaking this unit of study.

The unit provides direction and mentorship in assisting students to develop their knowledge and skills in relation to the NMBA Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice (NMBA 2014) which will therefore be suitable for demonstrating their future capability to practice as a nurse practitioner. Selected current clinical and professionally related topics including: clinical judgement and decision making in advanced practice, risk benefit and risk management, judicious referrals, interdisciplinary practice, health promotion and counselling skills and the ethical and legal considerations of practice as a future nurse practitioner, will be explored both within the classroom and during a specified period of supernumerary integrated professional practice (SIPP) with an approved clinical supervisor (senior clinician whose work relates to the student's clinical focus).

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.

This unit of study aims to empower the advanced practice nurse through an in depth knowledge and understanding of medications in relation to their actions on physiological and pathophysiological processes. Topics covered include pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutic principles to the management of common diseases. In NURS5088 these include; cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, infectious diseases, mental health and pain management. An emphasis is placed on the application of knowledge to evaluate and advise upon pharmacotherapy in clinical situations via complex case studies. Students will also apply professional problem solving skills to identify critical issues, conceptualise problems, use relevant information and formulate a range of solutions based on an evidence-based decision framework in relation to the provision of medicines or health advice.

This unit of study is a core unit for students completing the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and aims to prepare students to develop the knowledge and skills to conduct an advanced assessment and make an appropriate diagnosis as part of advanced and extended nursing practice. Diagnostic reasoning is the hallmark of an expert nurse practitioner. The ability to gather and judge the value of perceptual and clinical information to inform choices and provide benefit to patients with minimal risk of harm is at the heart of advanced practice nursing. Nurse practitioners are required to make effective practice decisions and use informed judgement, frequently in the context of uncertainty and for patients with complex health problems. Nurse practitioners are required to use effective communication strategies, including cross-cultural communication, with inter-professional colleagues, patients and the broader community. Students will undertake a period of supernumerary integrated professional practice (SIPP) (60 hours) verified by their approved supervisor concurrently while undertaking this unit of study.

With reference to one of the central objectives of Australia's National Medicines Policy, the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM), students will focus on developing skills related to selecting management options wisely considering the risk and benefit to the consumer, choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary and using medicines safely and effectively. Students will explore the regulatory framework associated with medication management and focus on clinical pharmacological therapies relevant to their specialist area of practice as an advanced practitioner. Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) is one of the central objectives of Australia's National Medicines Policy and serves as a conceptual and practice framework for this unit of study. Quality Use of Medicines is defined as: considering and selecting the best management options for each individual wisely by considering both non­ drug and drug options; choosing suitable medicines if a medicine is considered necessary so that the best available option is selected by taking into account the individual, the clinical condition, the risks and benefits, dosage and length of treatment required, any co­existing conditions, other therapies the individual may be taking, monitoring considerations, costs for the individual, the community and the health system as a whole, and ensuring medicines are used safely and effectively to get the best possible results by monitoring outcomes, minimising misuse, over­use and under­use and improving people's ability to solve problems related to medication.

This unit of study explores ways of expanding nursing practice. Nursing practice is supported by evidence-based practice, experiential learning and also informed by relevant nursing professional bodies and associations. In order to expand practice, nurses need to have comprehensive knowledge, improved skill(s) and clinical experiences to develop nursing practice. This, however, can be challenging to model as nurses work in a variety of clinical and non-clinical positions and nursing work is carried out within the requirements of the department/unit, hospital and local health district. Therefore, expanding nursing practice needs to be conducted in a manner that is supported by research, organizational structures, and within legislative requirements. Therefore, this unit will assist students to envisage possibilities for expanding nursing practice within the existing professional and legislative frameworks. As part of expanding the individual nurse¿s repertoire, students will have the opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge and practice related to a specific practice topic.

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.

Nurses working in leadership positions within emergency departments and intensive care units are pivotal in coordinating care for patients and their families. In doing so nurses must consider the needs of the individual along with the requirements of the specialist unit, hospital and local health district. The provision of coordinated care to critically ill or injured patients is supported by organisational structures at the hospital and local health district level, and these are guided by organisations such as the NSW Ministry of Health Intensive Care and Emergency Department Planning Services, the Agency for Clinical Innovation and the Clinical Excellence Commission. Professional bodies such as the Australian College of Critical Care Nurses (ACCCN) and the College of Emergency Nurses Australasia (CENA) also inform practice. In this unit of study students will explore ways in which government and professional bodies provide information that supports decision­making regarding the provision of care to critically ill and injured patients. Additionally, students will be encouraged to expand their clinical and theoretical repertoire by developing an in­depth understanding of a specific practice issue in intensive care or emergency nursing practice.

The focus of this unit of study is to expand students¿ mental health nursing practice by extending their repertoire of specialty knowledge and skills in relation to therapeutic approaches. The philosophical underpinnings, key principles and practical components of a range of therapeutic strategies, will be explored. Students will critically examine the evidence that provides the foundation for various therapeutic practices in the context of individual, family, or group work (for example psycho­education and solution focused approaches) and will consider the impacts of this evidence for personal practice. As part of expanding their mental health nursing practice, students will have the opportunity to further develop specialist knowledge and skills related to a specific therapeutic practice topic.

IIn 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 policy­based perspectives to make a significant contribution to the development of their own practice, the practice of others, the inter­professional delivery of evidence­based care and evidence­informed 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 assist students to extend their specialty­focused development of advanced and extended nursing practice through development of a professional portfolio. This unit of study will provide a framework within which students will have the opportunity to locate previous work, both academic and clinical that supports their capability to fulfil the role of the nurse practitioner in managing patients/clients within current policy and political contexts. The unit provides direction and mentorship in assisting students to develop their professional portfolio based on the Nursing and Midwifery Australia Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice, and it will therefore be suitable for demonstrating their capability to practice as a nurse practitioner.