NUR9602

Well women's health nursing

Ms Meredith McIntyre in association with WHISE and Mercy Hospital for Women

12 points · flexible delivery mode · Second semester (alternate years) · Peninsula

Objectives On completion of this subject the student is expected to examine in detail the role of nurses in collaborative and independent practice providing well women's health services; evaluate a range of care delivery theories and practice models that may inform and delineate practice; generate a mechanism for developing links between research and practice in well women's health; identify significant gaps in knowledge defining the nurse practitioner role; describe an area of well women's health nursing practice which requires research for new knowledge to ensure that future practice is clearly evidenced based; evaluate several assessment tools measuring clinical competence at advanced practice level; examine the role of credentialling as a mechanism for nurses to demonstrate competence to ensure quality of service; apply the medico-legal considerations for advanced practice to the nurse practitioner working in both independent practice and collaborative practice environments; develop case management guidelines which facilitate decision making processes clearly validated by clinical evidence; develop a management protocol in a selected area of practice which ensures adherence to rigorous client referral criteria and client follow-up; examine current information on the implementation of best practice standards in nurse based well women's health service delivery; demonstrate the ability to meet the individual health needs of women through validated principles in case management; demonstrate competence in pap smear provision as measured against the competencies as outcomes, described in the clinical objectives (Reference: Victorian Nurse Pap Smear Provider Standards of Practice 1996 published by Human Services, Victoria).
Synopsis This subject examines in detail the role of nurses in independent and collaborative practice providing well women's health services. A range of service models, practice issues and research that may inform and delineate practice roles in well women's health will be critiqued. Participants will review and critically evaluate innovative nursing developments in the areas of evaluating clinical competence at advanced level, credentialling, medicolegal considerations and the establishment of best practice criteria in nurse based well women's health service delivery. Fieldwork activities will culminate in the completion of a project relevant to a nurse-based well women's health service. Demonstration of competence to practice as a well women's nurse practitioner for professional credentialling purposes is a hurdle requirement associated with extensive supervised clinical practice hours.

Assessment Written assignment: 30% · Presentation/paper: 30% · Field-based report: 40% · Achievement of competence in practice: Pass/ fail

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