CQUniversity Unit Profile
NURS20169 Nursing and Clinical Governance
Nursing and Clinical Governance
All details in this unit profile for NURS20169 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

In this unit you will have the opportunity to explore clinical governance, its application to nursing and the health care setting. You will apply a specific governance framework to your clinical setting and evaluate its effectiveness. You will also examine the use of clinical audits as part of a quality improvement cycle as a means for measuring clinical effectiveness and improving patient care.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Students must be enrolled in CL22 Master of Clinical Nursing to undertake this unit.

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 2 - 2019

Online

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 Postgraduate 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. Presentation
Weighting: Pass/Fail
2. Report
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.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the concept of clinical governance and justify its relevance to the clinical setting and nursing practice
  2. Apply a framework derived from the National Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to evaluate clinical governance in a clinical setting
  3. Evaluate a clinical governance infrastructure within a health service
  4. Explain the use of clinical audits as part of a quality improvement cycle to improve nursing practice and patient care
  5. Identify deviations from best practice and discuss areas for improvement.

NA

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 5
1 - Presentation - 0%
2 - Report - 0%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Presentation - 0%
2 - Report - 0%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Julie Shaw Unit Coordinator
j.m.shaw@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 - module 1 - defining clinical governance Begin Date: 15 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Concepts relating to clinical governance

Exploration of relevant aspects of clinical governance in clinical nursing practice

Chapter

The history of clinical governance

The four pillars of clinical governance


Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Week 2 - module 1 - defining clinical governance Begin Date: 22 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Components of clinical governance

Application of relevant principles    

Chapter

Good clinical governance

Shared governance as a principle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Week 3 - module 2 - Evaluation and Clinical Governance Frameworks Begin Date: 29 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC)

Relevance to clinical practice

Chapter

Broad and specific areas within the ACSQHC

Working with specific Observation and Response Charts (ORCs)

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service.

Week 4 - module 2 - Evaluation and Clinical Governance Frameworks Begin Date: 05 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Framework definitions and uses

Evaluation using a governance framework

Chapter

Conceptual framework, conceptual models and models of care

Critical thinking skill development 


Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local heatlh service.

Week 5 - module 3 - Clinical Governance Infrastructure across Clinical Settings Begin Date: 12 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Clinical governance infrastructure

Current issues within health services

Chapter

Brief analysis of the governance of the Australian Health Care System    

National Priorities for safety and quality 

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Vacation Week Begin Date: 19 Aug 2019

Module/Topic


Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic


Week 6 - module 3 - Clinical Governance Infrastructure across Clinical Settings Begin Date: 26 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Detailed components of clinical governance infrastructure

Application of clinical governance principles to current issues

Chapter

Funding of the Australian Health Care System

Data analysis, evaluation and open data sources

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service - Assessment 1 presentation

Week 7 - module 4 - The quality improvement cycle Begin Date: 02 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

The quality improvement movement

Aims and goals of quality improvement    

Chapter

Background to the development of the quality improvement cycle

Principles of the quality improvement cycle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Week 8 - module 4 - The quality improvement cycle Begin Date: 09 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Specific areas related to quality improvement 

Clinical applications

Chapter

Examples from a range of clinical practice areas

Clinician developed quality projects

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Week 9 - module 5 - Clinical Audits in practice Begin Date: 16 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Clinical auditing principles

Background to clinical audits

Chapter

Preparation and collection of data, analysis, bench-marking and feedback

Eleven step process to guide clinical auditing

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Week 10 - module 5 - clinical audits in practice Begin Date: 23 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Specific auditing based on national framework

Audit practices



Chapter

The National Inpatient Medication Chart

Doing a clinical audit

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Assessment 1 

Due Wednesday 25th September, 2019


Assessment Task 1 - nursing and clinical governance - presentation Due: Week 10 Wednesday (25 Sept 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 11 - module 6 - Identification of deviation from best practice and the improvement of patient care Begin Date: 30 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Concepts relating to deviations from best practice and improvement in care

Tools for learning from deviation

Chapter

Terminology and associated knowledge

Samples from clinical practice

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service

Week 12 - module 6 - Identification of deviation from best practice and the improvement of patient care Begin Date: 07 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Concepts relating to deviations from best practice and improvements in care

Tools for analysis of deviations to improve care


Chapter

Open disclosure principles

The clinician as second victim

Events and Submissions/Topic

Work through learning materials and readings.

Work with local health service on Assessment 2 - audit.

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

No exam    

Chapter

No exam    

Events and Submissions/Topic

No exam

Assessment 2

Due Wednesday 16th October, 2019


Assessment Task 2 - nursing and clinical governance - Clinical Audit Report Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (16 Oct 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 21 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

no exam

Chapter

no exam

Events and Submissions/Topic

no exam

Assessment Tasks

1 Presentation

Assessment Title
Assessment Task 1 - nursing and clinical governance - presentation

Task Description

Assessment One: Presentation                                               

Weighting: 40%           Scored:  Pass/ Fail                                               

Word Count: 4 PowerPoint slides (max)           

Due Date: Wednesday 25th September 2019 (Week 10)              

This assessment addresses the following learning outcomes:

1. Explain the concept of clinical governance and justify its relevance to the clinical setting and nursing practice

2. Apply a framework derived from the National Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to evaluate clinical governance in a clinical setting

3. Evaluate a clinical governance infrastructure within a health service

ASSESSMENT

The aim of this assessment is for the student to demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance in the work place by providing a succinct four slide, PowerPoint presentation on clinical governance. The presentation will include an overview of clinical governance, the role of nurse audit in clinical governance, the background to the nurse practice area that you have chosen to audit, the relevant National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard (NSQHSS), and the steps you have taken to initiate the audit.  Assessment One will provide the basis for Assessment Two. The audit is to be undertaken in the clinical setting at your local health service. 

Step 1: Provide an overview on clinical governance in health care organisations. Your overview will provide a description and explanation of clinical governance including how clinical governance impacts clinical risk and influences safety and quality in nursing practice. Your overview needs to be informed by current literature. 

Step 2: Choose a nursing practice for audit and select the relevant National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard (NSQHSS) needed to undertake the audit. You will need to discuss your choice with your local nursing team. They may be able to suggest nursing practices in your clinical area that require review by audit. After deciding what nursing practice you will audit, select the relevant National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2017) in which this nursing practice sits. The standards are listed below.

Clinical Governance Standard

Partnering with Consumers Standard

Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard

Medication Safety Standard

Comprehensive Care Standard

Communicating for Safety Standard

Blood Management Standard

Recognising and Responding to Acute Deterioration Standard.

Step 3: Select the relevant audit: Work with your local health team to decide on the most relevant audit that measures compliance of the identified nursing practice with the selected Standard.

Step 4: Describe the background of the identified nursing practice that is to be audited. To do this you will need to research current literature and your local health service policies and procedures, to This background should also include the clinical risks associated with the identified nursing practice.

Step 5: Develop a PowerPoint presentation consisting of four slides addressing the points below. Your presentation should be substantiated by the literature and include a reference list. You may wish to access the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) Computing Moodle site to review ‘pOWERpOINT AND Presentation Techniques’. 

1. An overview of clinical governance.

2. The processes and systems in place to identify clinical risk in your health service.

3. A justification of the use of audit to address risk in your health service  

4. The nursing practice to be audited and its associated clinical risks 

5. A justification of the relevant NSQHSS 

6. A rationale for auditing the selected nursing practice and the steps taken to initiate the audit.

Step 6: Save the PowerPoint presentation in a PDF format for uploading onto the unit Moodle site.

Before beginning this assignment please refer to the marking rubric.



Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Wednesday (25 Sept 2019) 11:55 pm AEST

Submit in PDF Format via Moodle site


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Wednesday (9 Oct 2019)

Online


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

Assessment One: Presentation Rubric

To achieve a pass in this assessment students must be successful in at least 2 of the 3 major criteria. 

To be successful in each of the major criteria students must be successful in one half of the given minor criteria i.e.  3/6; 4

PASS

FAIL

 PRESENTATION

 PRESENTATION

·          four slides used

·          slides attract and hold the viewer’s attention

·          slides are free of unnecessary detail

·          font type and size enhance readability of slide information

·          slides are viewable from two metres

·          slides contain an appealing array of relevant script and graphics

·            more/less than four slides used

·            slides do not attract and hold the viewer’s attention

·            slides contain unnecessary detail

·            font type and size diminishes readability of slide information

·            slides are not viewable from two metres

·            slides do not contain an appealing array of relevant script and graphics 

 CONTENT

 CONTENT

·         provides an overview of clinical governance.

·         explains the processes and systems in place to identify clinical risk in student’s health service.

·         justifies the use of audit in addressing risk in the student’s health service  

·         justifies the selection of the nursing practice to be audited

·         explains the clinical risks associated with the nursing practice to be audited

·         justifies the selection of the relevant NSQHSS

·         provides a rationale for auditing the selected nursing practice

·         identifies the steps taken to initiate the audit.

·           an overview of clinical governance is not provided.

·           the processes and systems in place to identify clinical risk in the student’s health service are not explained.

·           the use of audit in addressing risk in the student’s health service is not justified  

·           the selection of the nursing practice to be audited is not justified

·           the associated clinical risks of the nursing practice to be audited are not explained

·           the selection of the relevant NSQHSS is not justified

·           a rationale for auditing the selected nursing practice is not provided

·           the steps taken to initiate the audit are not identified.

 REFERENCING

REFERENCING

·         presentation is substantiated with peer reviewed literature using the American Psychological Association (APA) abridged guide Term 1 2019  

·         the literature cited is current i.e. published in the last 10 years

·            presentation is not substantiated with peer reviewed literature using the American Psychological Association (APA) abridged guide Term 1 2019  

·            the literature cited is not current i.e. published in the last 10 years

 ALLOCATED GRADE –    PASS   /   FAIL                                                                                 MARKER


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
PowerPoint to be uploaded as a PDF

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the concept of clinical governance and justify its relevance to the clinical setting and nursing practice
  • Apply a framework derived from the National Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to evaluate clinical governance in a clinical setting
  • Evaluate a clinical governance infrastructure within a health service


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

2 Report

Assessment Title
Assessment Task 2 - nursing and clinical governance - Clinical Audit Report

Task Description

Assessment 2: Clinical Audit Report     
                            
Weighting: 60%                                                Scored:  Pass/ Fail 

Assessment Types: Presentation                    Word Count: 1 PowerPoint slide (max)

Due Date: Wednesday 16th Oct., 2019 (Exam Week) 
 
This assessment addresses the following learning outcomes:

4.      Explain the use of clinical audits as part of a quality improvement cycle to improve nursing           practice and patient care
5.      Identify deviations from best practice and discuss areas for improvement.

ASSESSMENT

The aim of this presentation is to demonstrate your understanding of clinical audit, and the associated quality standards, as part of the quality improvement cycle by identifying deviations from best nursing practice in your clinical area, justifying an audit of a selected nursing practice and explaining what you did with the audit findings.

This assessment is to be undertaken in the clinical setting at your local health service.

This presentation builds on Assessment One. Based on the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard (NSQHSS) selected in Assessment One, and in collaboration with your local nursing team, undertake a clinical audit and present your findings at your local Hospital and Health Service. You are not required to repeat information from Assessment One, unless brief detail is required to give context to your presentation. You are to present the audit cycle: the steps that were undertaken to do the actual audit; the findings; and what was done about the findings.

Step 1. Collaborate with your local area team to:

choose a small area to audit from the selected NSQHSS in Assessment One
determine the sample size

Step 2. Work with your local area team to determine:

the tools to be used for data collection
the time-frame to complete data collection and report findings

Step 3: Ensure you have the NSQHSS selected in Assessment One for comparison or benchmarking to achieve compliance

Step 4. Report on the audit through a five-minute oral presentation at your local health service.

provide one PowerPoint with a summary of the audit - data collection, findings and
        recommendations
ONLY ONE SLIDE IS TO BE USED.


Before beginning this assignment please refer to the marking rubric.








Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Wednesday (16 Oct 2019) 11:55 pm AEST

As negotiated at your local health service


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Monday (21 Oct 2019)

As negotiated at your local health service


Weighting
Pass/Fail

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Two: Oral Presentation Rubric

To achieve a pass in this assessment students must be successful in at least 2 of the 4 major criteria. 

To be successful in each of the major criteria students must be successful in one half of the given minor criteria i.e. 1/2; 2/4; 3/6; 4/8

 PASS

FAIL

SLIDE PRESENTATION

SLIDE PRESENTATION

·       the slide is aesthetically pleasing and hold the viewer’s attention

·       slide is well balanced

·       figures, photos and writing are well balanced in the slide

·       font size and type enhance the readability of the slide

·       the slide is not aesthetically pleasing and does not hold the viewer’s attention

·       slide is not well balanced

·       figures, photos and writing are not well balanced in the slide

·       font size and font does not enhance the readability of the slide

CONTENT (PowerPoint and oral presentation)

CONTENT (PowerPoint and oral presentation)

·       provides clear purpose and subject of presentation

·       identifies type of audit and audit tools

·       outlines audit process including working with local team & timeframe

·       provides pertinent examples, facts, and/or statistics

·       explains the selected National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard for comparison

·       reports findings 

·       reports recommendations

·       demonstrates knowledge by answering all questions with explanations and elaboration

·       does not provide clear purpose or subject of presentation

·       does not identify type of audit and audit tools

·       does not outline audit process including working with local team & timeframe

·       does not provide pertinent examples, facts, and/or statistics

·       does not explain the selected National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard for comparison

·       does not report findings

·       does not report recommendations

·       demonstrates lack of knowledge by not answering all questions with explanations and elaboration

REFERENCING  

REFERENCING

·       Presentation is substantiated with peer reviewed literature using the American Psychological Association (APA) abridged guide Term 1 2019  

·       The literature cited is current ie published in the last 10 years

·       Presentation is substantiated with peer reviewed literature using the American Psychological Association (APA) abridged guide Term 1 2019  

·       The literature cited is current ie published in the last 10 years

ORAL PRESENTATION

ORAL PRESENTATION

·       one slide used

·       adheres to time limit

·       holds attention of audience with the use of direct eye contact

·       speaks with fluctuation in volume and inflection to maintain audience interest

·       seldom looks at notes

·       emphasises key points

·       demonstrates enthusiasm about topic during presentation

·       engages audience in presentation e.g. asks questions, seeks feedback about audit

·       answers questions adequately
 

·       more than one slide used

·       does not adhere to time limit

·       does not hold attention of audience with the use of direct eye contact

·       does not speak with fluctuations in volume and inflections

·       consistently looks at notes

·       does not emphasise key points

·       does not demonstrate enthusiasm about topic during presentation

·       does not engage audience in presentation

·       answers questions inadequately

ALLOCATED GRADE –    PASS   /   FAIL                               MARKER

 


Referencing Style

Submission
Offline

Submission Instructions
As negotiated at your local health service

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate a clinical governance infrastructure within a health service
  • Explain the use of clinical audits as part of a quality improvement cycle to improve nursing practice and patient care
  • Identify deviations from best practice and discuss areas for improvement.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Communication
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?