Off-Campus Learning Guide 2005
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Graduate Diploma of Nursing (Gerontics)

Course code: 1754 + Off-campus (School of Nursing, Gippsland), mixed mode (School of Nursing, Peninsula) + Full-fee-paying course: $TBC (Australian residents); $10,500 (international students) + Course coordinators: Ailsa Rickards (Gippsland) and Joan Yalden (Peninsula)

On successful completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:

• clearly identify the role of the nurse in caring for the older adult;
• appreciate current research into older adult nursing;
• appreciate social policy as it is applied to older adult nursing care issues and the provision of nursing services; demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the ageing process;
• undertake health assessment which identifies obstacles to health and independent living and strategies to overcome or cope with them;
• discuss common nursing problems of the gerontic client and demonstrate an awareness of strategies to overcome them;
• demonstrate a knowledge of the nature, processes and evaluation of specialty practice in clinical environments such as acute care, rehabilitation, community, residential aged care or a palliative care for the older adult;
• effectively act as a health educator and resource person to individuals, families and communities; and
• act as a catalyst for change and innovation in older adult nursing.

Entry requirements

Applicants would normally have relevant registration (eg Division 1 with the Nurses Board of Victoria), with at least one year of professional clinical experience, and have a degree in nursing or related discipline. Experience in the relevant area of practice is desirable.

Course structure

The course consists of three specialised units and one elective unit, which will normally be completed part-time over a period of two years. The course is offered by off-campus learning or by flexible mode (ie a combination of on-campus seminars and fieldwork and off-campus learning teaching methods). Successful completion of the course requires the study of the following units:

First year

• NUR6201 Gerontological nursing practice
• NUR9203 Palliative care in nursing practice

Second year

• NUR9215 Advanced nursing practice in context

or

• GHS9841 Research methods
• and issues

plus one of the following electives:

• GHS9850 Nursing practice and management
• NUR9201 Case management and care integration
• NUR9204 Education in nursing

Assessment

Assessment includes assignments, examination, an individual student learning contract, program development or research proposal and computer assessment.

Delivery mode

At Peninsula, there will be a series of seminars on campus throughout the semester to support study materials and clinical fieldwork, subject to demand.

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