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Overview

Course Prescription

Draws on evidence from biomedical and social science research to equip nurses for the care and treatment of paediatric cardiac patients. Students will be expected to integrate evidence from a range of sources and apply this to the practice of paediatric cardiac nursing.

Course Overview

Advanced nursing practice is the ability to apply the latest evidence to nursing practice and knowledge in order to contribute to advances in specialist nursing areas. Advanced nursing practice roles have continued to develop over recent years to accommodate the increasing complexity of the healthcare needs of the population. Preparation of nurses for advanced specialty roles has, therefore, become a priority for the profession, the Nursing Council of New Zealand – as the statutory body – and healthcare providers. 
This course draws on evidence from biomedical and social science research to equip nurses for the care and treatment of patients in paediatric cardiac specialty areas.  Students enrolling in this course are Registered Nurses who are currently practising in the paediatric cardiac setting. This course is delivered over two semesters and both part A (15 points) and part B (15 points) must be completed.

Key Topics

Congenital Heart Defects

Genetics & Congenital Heart Disease

Cardiac Diagnostics

CXR & ECG interpretation

Fluid Balance in the Cardiac Child

Blood Result Interpretation

Cardiac Assessment

Rheumatic Fever

Pulmonary Hypertension

Cardiomyopathy

Endocarditis

Heart Transplant

Left Ventricular Support

Electrophysiology and Cardiac Pacing

KEY TOPICS 

1

Course Contacts

Course Coordinator: Nic Gini (nicolaG@adhb.govt.nz)

Course Director: Lesley Doughty (l.doughty@auckland.ac.nz)

Course Administrator: Matt Baker (matthew.baker@auckland.ac.nz)

General PG nursing enquiries: postgradnursing@auckland.ac.nz

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 30-point course and students are expected to spend 15-20 hours per week involved in each 30-point course that they are enrolled in.

This course is delivered over semester one (NURSPRAC 703A/15pts) and semester two (NURSPRAC 703B/15pts), you can expect 8 days (4 days each semester) of lectures plus one day which is allocated for the clinical viva examination at the end of semester two. You will need to allow time during each semester for reading and thinking about the content plus to work on assignments and exam preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite
Restriction

Additional Advice on Prerequisites

To complete this course students must enrol in NURSPRAC 703 A and B, or NURSPRAC 703

Locations and Semesters Offered

Location
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including lectures and tutorials to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings for all study days delivered onsite at the university. Other learning activities including tutorials may be available as recordings. The course may include extra online events including group discussions/tutorials.

Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement and be released progressively throughout the course. The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery and attendance on campus is required for the clinical exam. 


Teaching and Learning Methods

In-person lectures

Self-directed learning

Cardiac skills assessment

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

New and returning students are strongly advised to attend a Postgraduate Nursing Orientation each semester.

• The School of Nursing offers weekly online drop-in sessions for students to seek academic writing support - Do it Write Together: Assignment and academic writing drop-in

sessions

• Students who whakapapa Māori or to the Pacific Islands are strongly encouraged to register for MAPAS and connect with Te Fale Pouāwhina for best results.

• All students should contact DELNA for an academic English screening test (regardless of their first, or only, language) before the course starts.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license. You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

This course provides an in-depth understanding of the unique clinical and contextual complexities of providing health care in the paediatric intensive care/ paediatric cardiac settings. Students are required to be working in a paediatric intensive care/paediatric cardiac setting to gain concession entry into NURSPRAC 703AB. Please email the Course Administrator explaining your practice setting (include your Student ID or if you are new to the University of Auckland).

Please note:

  • NURSPRAC 703 A is offered in semester one.
  • NURSPRAC 703 B is offered in semester two.


There is a significant amount of content concentrated into the teaching days. Students are strongly encouraged to plan well in advance and prioritise reading pre and post for eachstudy day.

We are acutely aware that students have different life experiences and learning styles. We aim to facilitate as much as possible to support your learning needs through the learning resources available at the university.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

It is your responsibility to ensure the written work you submit is an original piece of academic writing, created and written by you for the NURSPRAC 703A/B. Accessing information and not acknowledging the source and using previous student's academic work in your assignment is deemed plagiarism and is managed through the university's academic misconduct processes. The use of artificial intelligence software, such as CHAT GPT (or similar), is not permitted to support you in course assessed course work on NURSPRAC703A/B. Students who plagiarise will be penalised.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

All assessments must be submitted to pass the course. You are required to pass the clinical viva exam to gain and overall pass in the course.  

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456789

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

Each time the course is delivered the resources/reading lists and course content are updated to reflect current practice. 

Any changes or improvements to future delivery of the course will be made based on feedback from students this year.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor. Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Additional Information on Inclusive Learning

If you do have a known or suspected challenge (label/diagnosis) that you feel could affect your learning experience at the university, please let us know so we can put in place mechanism to support your learning.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

If a student is unwell or deemed unfit to sit an assessment point, they should contact the Course Coordinator before the due date/they make a submission. Students completing the NURSPRAC 703A/B course will not be eligible for aegrotat grading.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.