CQUniversity Unit Profile

In Progress

Please note that this Unit Profile is still in progress. The content below is subject to change.
NURS11166 Fundamentals of Professional Nursing
Fundamentals of Professional Nursing
All details in this unit profile for NURS11166 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit aims to develop fundamental knowledge, values and skills for professional practice as a registered nurse. You will explore the personal skills, inherent requirements and attributes required in the profession and consider what your journey towards becoming a registered nurse will involve. You will learn about reflective practice, critical thinking, clinical decision-making and the nursing process. You will examine factors that impact nursing practice in the contemporary Australian healthcare system. Throughout this unit, you will acquire fundamental knowledge, professionalism and skills, including application of mathematical principles for medication administration, necessary to provide nursing care at entry level. In particular, you will be able to conduct a holistic assessment, assist a person with their activities of daily living, practice infection control measures and recognise the legal and administration process for the safe delivery of medication within the simulated environment. You are required to participate in compulsory on-campus workshops or a residential school (24 hours) for this unit.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Must be enrolled in CL91 Bachelor of Nursing.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2026

Mixed Mode
Rockhampton

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical Assessment
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. In-class Test(s)
Weighting: Pass/Fail
3. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: Pass/Fail

Assessment Grading

This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from SUTE data

Feedback

This unit was extremely beneficial in gaining the foundational knowledge of nursing.

Recommendation

Unit coordinators will continue to ensure that this unit maintains the most contemporary foundational knowledge for students related to nursing.

Feedback from SUTE data

Feedback

The residential school was enjoyable while being interactive. Most definitely the best first-year nursing unit, hands down.

Recommendation

Moving forward, residential schools will continue to be interactive and immerse students in the foundations of nursing.

Feedback from SUTE data

Feedback

The amount of content in some weeks was heavy. The residential school did not address all of the things it was supposed to, as indicated throughout the weekly Moodle content.

Recommendation

Students are advised to familiarise themselves with the information contained within the residential school tile prior to attending the face-to-face classes. Residential school and Moodle content will continue to be reviewed before the commencement of each term, and Unit Coordinators will ensure that students are aware of how Moodle content clearly links to residential school.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Analyse historical and contemporary factors that continue to influence the image, status and nature of nursing practice.
  2. Investigate the role of professional governing bodies in relation to professional nursing practice, patient safety and governance.
  3. Apply the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registered nurse standards for practice (2016) in the provision of safe evidence-based nursing care, including application of mathematical principles for medication administration, while assisting a person with their activities of daily living using simulated modalities.
  4. Perform a holistic assessment of a person including the completion of appropriate documentation, using simulated modalities.

Content in this unit incorporates a number of professional nursing requirements

 

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Decision-Making Framework (DMF) - Nursing

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards for Practice

Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice

Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships

Maintains the capability for practice

Comprehensively conducts assessments

Develops a plan for nursing practice

Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice

Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Nursing Code of Conduct

Legal compliance

Person-centred practice

Cultural practice and respectful relationships

Professional behaviour

Research in health

Health and wellbeing

International Council of Nursing Code of Ethics for Nursing

Nurses and People

Nurses and Practice

Nurses and the Profession

Nurses and co-workers

National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards

Partnering with consumers

Preventing and Controlling healthcare-associated infection

Medication safety

Comprehensive care

Communicating for safety

Recognising and responding to acute deterioration

Patient Safety Competency Framework

Person-centred care

Therapeutic communication

Cultural competence

Teamwork and collaborative practice

Clinical reasoning

Evidence-based practice

Preventing, minimising and responding to adverse events

Infection prevention and control

Medication safety

Aged Care Quality Standards

Consumer dignity and choice

Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers

Personal care and clinical care

Services and supports for daily living

Organisation’s service environment

Feedback and complaints

Human resources

Organisational governance

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Practical Assessment - 0%
2 - In-class Test(s) - 0%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Information for Textbooks and Resources has not been released yet.

This information will be available on Monday 16 February 2026
Academic Integrity Statement

Information for Academic Integrity Statement has not been released yet.

This unit profile has not yet been finalised.