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Overview

Course Prescription

Frailty is an age-related, progressive geriatric syndrome related to pathological changes in underlying physiological and psycho-social function and the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in older people. Draws on evidence from biomedical and social science research to equip nurses for the care and treatment of older people affected by frailty.

Course Overview

This course recognises the need for advanced nursing skills when working with older people. It has been designed to support gerontology nurses working with older adults affected by moderate to severe frailty, people mostly living in aged residential care.  We recognise that working with older people living with frailty requires unique knowledge and skills.  We aim to provide an academic pathway that supports and acknowledges aged care as an area of specialty practice

During this course we will explore the research, theories, best practice treatments and impact of frailty on older people and their whānau.  There will be a focus on identifying and responding to acute deterioration in older people living with frailty.  We will advocate for person-centred mana-enhancing approach to working with people living with frailty.  There will be opportunities to analyse professional, ethical and legal aspects of gerontological practice

Key Topics

Frailty Syndrome: Theories and Assessment Tools

  • Physical phenotype, deficit accumulation model and mix models


Identifying and r=Responding to Acute Deterioration in Frail Older Adults

  • Non-specific presentations
  • Assessment
  • Clinical reasoning and critical thinking


Evidence-based Practice: Clinical Consequences of Frailty Syndrome

  • Current evidence base for clinical care


Person-centred Practice and Frailty

  • Wellbeing
  • Identity
  • Culture
  • Legal and ethical considerations

Course Contacts

Course Administrator

  • Matthew Baker
  • Email: matthew.baker@auckland.ac.nz


Course Coordinators

  • Julie Daltry
  • Email: j.daltrey@auckland.ac.nz


  • Rubina Bogati
  • Email: rubina.bogati@auckland.ac.nz 


Postgraduate Nursing Enquiries

  • Email: postgradnursing@auckland.ac.nz


Workload Expectations

  • This course is a standard 30-point course and students are expected to spend 20 hours per week involved in each 30-point course that they are enrolled in.
  • For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures (3 planned face to face days) a 16-hour zoom (4 x four hour zoom sessions, lecture and tutorial elements) and 260 hours of self-directed reading and thinking about the content and working on assignments.

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Grafton

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

  • Campus PLUS experience. In-person attendance is expected at 3 study days. There will be an additional four live on-line half day (zoom) events.  
  • Lectures will be available as recordings after delivery. Other learning activities including tutorial or group work will not be available as recordings.  
  • Activities for the course are scheduled as block delivery.


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

There is no specific text for this course.  A reading list of evidence related to frailty will be provided.  It is expected that students will add to this list as part of the course.  Accessing the national Health Quality and Safety Commission Frailty Care Guides is also recommended.

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.

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

  • All students must complete the Academic Honesty Declaration for each postgraduate nursing course that they are enrolled in. By completing the Academic Honesty Declaration, students confirm to the Course Director that they understand and acknowledge the University of Auckland's expectations for coursework integrity and honesty. An announcement is posted in Canvas to prompt students to complete this.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Additional Information on Assessment

  • 1- Case study: provides an opportunity for learners to demonstrate their application of theory to practice (3500 words).
  • 2- Verbal presentation. This will be delivered by the learner over zoom. It is a 20 minute presentation followed by 5 minutes for questions
  • 3- Written assignment is a problem-based scenario where the learning is required to analyse a situation write about the influence of frailty (2500 words)
  • 4 - Short answer questions. Two short questions are crafted to engage the learning in some of the pre-reading material. 
  • All coursework (including all assignments) must be submitted to pass the course.

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456

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

This will be the second time this course has run.  We have great feedback from participants and look forward to welcoming you to this course. 

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.

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.

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.