NURS 3037 Risk Mitigation and Ethics for Australian Health Professionals

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401240

Coordinator Joan Lynch Opens in new window

Description This subject will provide a comprehensive understanding of the ethical standards required by health care professionals when providing patient care with a focus on risk minimisation for patients. Recently litigated cases will be used as case studies to explore ethical dilemmas that health professionals can expect to arise over the course of their professional careers. Knowledge gained will greatly assist health professionals to deliver safe and ethical health care to their patients. Only health professionals regulated in Australia whose professional bodies have designated codes of conduct, codes of professional practice and / or codes of ethics will be utilised in this subject.

School Nursing & Midwifery

Discipline Nursing

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 1 10cp

Check your fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 3 subject

Restrictions

Students must have successfully completed 160 credit points of an undergraduate degree in nursing, midwifery, medicine or a health related degree.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Identify the ethical standards of each Australian health professional.
  2. Analyse the role of ethical codes of conduct for Australian health professionals.
  3. Critically reflect on the ethical role of Australian health professionals in selected case studies based on recently litigated cases.
  4. Formulate evidence -based strategies in managing ethical dilemmas in the provision of health care in Australia.
  5. Critically reflect on the impact of ethical dilemmas on the Australian health professional, the individual, family and caregivers.
  6. Differentiate between ethical and legal responsibilities of Australian health professionals.

Subject Content

- historical sources of Ethical codes of conduct for health professionals in Australia.
- current sources of Ethical codes of conduct for health professionals in Australia.
- role of Ethical codes for health professionals in Minimising Risk for patients, families and caregivers.
- case Law and professional body decisions on breaches of Ethical codes of conduct.
- Ethical dilemmas Utilising The relevant Ethical codes of conduct.
- evidence based strategies when managing Ethical dilemmas in healthcare.

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Quiz - online 20 mins 20 Y Individual
MCQ & response to case studies (online) 60 mins 30 Y Individual
Final exam (online) 1 hours 50 Y Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Kerridge, I., Lowe, M., & Stewart, C. (2013). Ethics and law for health professionals (4thedition.) Annandale, Australia. Federation Press.
  • Dempsey, J. Hillege, S.P., Hill, R. (2014). Fundamentals of nursing & midwifery: a person centred approach to care. NSW: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
  • Higgs, J., Smith, M., Webb, G., Skinner, M., (Eds.) (2009). Context of physiotherapy practice. Chatswood NSW: Churchill Livingstone.
  • Townsend, R., & Luck, M., (2013). Applied Paramedic Law and Ethics Australia and New Zealand. Chatswood. NSW: Elsevier Australia.

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