NUR2223 - Safety in healthcare contexts - 2019

This unit focuses on the essential requirements of the registered nurse to understand patient safety. Building foundational knowledge and skills to improve patient safety will assist in preparing the student to practice safely across a range of healthcare contexts.

It is now well acknowledged that healthcare can cause harm. This unit introduces this concept and the developing complexities of healthcare contexts.

As one of the most at risk populations in the Australian healthcare system, students will examine the particular needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

This unit is divided into three modules.

Module 1 will introduce the concepts of patient safety and clinical risk.

Module 2 will introduce the student to frequently used quality improvement methodologies and some of the tools utilised in healthcare settings.

Module 3 will reintroduce the professional standards of nursing. Building on skills and knowledge from first year, this module examines the key concepts of scope of practice, professional accountability and delegation.

The ongoing use of the clinical reasoning cycle will encourage critical thinking among students and build an understanding of what it is to think like a nurse, in order to develop skills in patient safety.

Upon successful completion of this unit, students will:

1. Explain how clinical risk, near misses, errors and risk assessment and incident monitoring promote a culture of patient safety
2. Analyse and apply risk-management principles to identify, assess and report potential risk in the healthcare context
3. Using the principles of quality improvement describe the methods and tools used to measure patient safety
4. Analyse the components of governance within healthcare contexts in relation to patient safety
5. Examine the complexity of the healthcare and safety risks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;
6. Examine how the nursing practice decision making framework determines the scope of practice of a registered nurse

• Invigilated online quiz (20%)
• Written assignment (2,500 words) (35%)
• Group case study (2,500 words) (45%) (hurdle)

This is a flexible unit with compulsory on-campus workshop sessions.

Six x 1 hour online lectures and activities: 6 hours

Online guided learning activities: 20 hours

Self-directed learning: 12 hours

Guided learning activities: Students will engage in a weekly 2-hour student-centred workshop, designed to explore and apply the key concepts of patient safety in healthcare.

Students must attend 80% of weekly workshops.

See also Unit timetable information

Nursing