Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401021

Coordinator Paula Sanchez Opens in new window

Description Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife explores the process of transition from student to a registered health care professional. Students analyse their role as a registered nurse or registered midwife, reflecting on accountability, responsibility, therapeutic and professional relationships, and their capability for practice. This unit will build capacity in students to meet their professional responsibilities as capable practitioners in nursing or midwifery and will have an opportunity to demonstrate job readiness skills in preparation for new graduate employment opportunities.

School Nursing & Midwifery

Discipline General Nursing

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Pre-requisite(s) NURS 1022 - Becoming a Professional Nurse

Co-requisite(s) NURS 3039 Professional Experience Placement

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in 4691 Bachelor of Nursing, 4780 Bachelor of Nursing – WSU Online or 4684 Bachelor of Midwifery or 4693 Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced) or 4692 Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry) courses and must have passed 80 credit points at Level 1 and 60 credit points at Level 2.

Assumed Knowledge

Professional communication, roles and responsibilities of the Registered Nurse and the Midwife, ethical and legal frameworks for practice, behavioural and social sciences, critical frameworks.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate job readiness skills in preparation for graduate employment
2. Promote the integral role of nursing or midwifery practice and the profession
3. Critically analyse professional accountability for decisions, actions, behaviours, and responsibilities inherent in the role of nursing or midwifery
4. Reflect on one's professional responsibilities adhering to digital health legislation, policy, ethics, and professional conduct
5. Adopt a lifelong learning approach for continuing professional development of self and others with reference to resilience and self-reflexivity in a professional context

Subject Content

1. Transition to graduate practice – theoretical perspectives

- Novice to expert
- Transition to graduate practice: stages and experiences
- The role of the profession in influencing better health outcomes for people, and partnering with other health professionals to optimise decision making that supports person-centred care
- Participation in collaborative practice and building professional relationships with health professionals within the scope of practice and personal and professional boundaries

2. Regulatory Frameworks

- Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
- Standards for practice 
- Code of Conduct 
- ICN Registered Nurse Code of Ethics 
- ICM Midwife Code of Ethics 
- Decision making frameworks
- Professional boundaries
- Legislation and policy governing professional practice
- Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009
- Health Care Complaints Act 1993
- Clinical Governance and Health Administration Act 1982

3. Professional Development

- Formal requirements for registration
- Continuing professional development registration standards
- Maintaining Currency
- Accessing health informatics and health technology
- Accessing, analysing, and using the best available evidence 
- Self-reflection, review, and feedback

4. Career Development
- Professional portfolios
- Career options
- Career planning
- Mentoring opportunities
- Leading others 

Special Requirements

Essential equipment

Access to an internet enabled device is essential in order to be able to: access course materials; to participate in discussion groups; and to access additional resources provided by the lecturer during the session. See http://www.westernsydney.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/services_and_facilities/uwsonline_student_support for further information.