Overview
This unit examines clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning to recognise and respond to a patient's deteriorating condition with appropriate and timely actions. This unit will enhance your knowledge of serious adverse events such as unexpected death and cardiac arrest which often follow observable deterioration in the patient’s condition. You will develop knowledge and skills in the early identification of deterioration, the initiation of prompt and effective action to minimise serious consequences, improve outcomes and lessen the level of intervention required to stabilise patients. The unit will focus on the underlying pathology of the patient's deteriorating condition and the interpretation of clinical manifestations to implement safe and effective nursing care.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Students must be enrolled in CL22 Master of Clinical Nursing or CL16 Graduate Certificate in 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 - 2020
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).
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
- Explain clinical parameters that indicate a patient is deteriorating
- Monitor and interpret physiological and psychosocial data to assess a patient's clinical deterioration
- Communicate effectively with health team and family members to ensure the accurate transfer and escalation of critical information
- Initiate interventions based on diagnostic results of clinical assessment tools and evaluate your nursing actions
- Critically examine everyday nursing practices and the ready use of tools related to the deteriorating patient.
NA
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
1 - Practical Assessment - 0% | |||||
2 - Presentation - 0% |
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
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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 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||||
2 - Presentation - 0% |
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- CQUniversity library literature search tools
- CQUniversity Library website
- CQUniversity Library Nursing Resources
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.m.shaw@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to the Unit.
Concepts related to clinical judgement and the deteriorating patient.
Chapter
Exploration of the concept of clinical judgement
Clinical reasoning cycle
Failure to rescue
Early signs of patient deterioration
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Zoom: Introduction to Unit and Moodle site
Module/Topic
Research related to the deteriorating patient.
Observations as data.
Chapter
Sourcing and exploration of literature related to deteriorating patient.
Relationship of literature to day-to-day nursing practices.
Local data collection related to physiological observations.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Module/Topic
Physiological observations pertinent to the deteriorating patient.
Detailed examination of various observations.
Chapter
Physiological observations that could identify a patient as deteriorating or at risk of deterioration.
Investigation and research relating to respiration rate and pulse. measurements.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Zoom: Modules 1 & 2.
Module/Topic
Physiological observations pertinent to the deteriorating patient.
Detailed examination of various observations.
Chapter
Physiological observations that could identify a patient as deteriorating or at risk of deterioration.
Investigation and research relating to temperature and blood pressure measurements.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Module/Topic
Family centred care (FCC) and the deteriorating patient.
Application of principles of FCC in critical situations.
Chapter
Exploration of the principles of Family Centred Care.
Families as legitimate partners and recipients in the delivery of nursing care.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Zoom: Module 3.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Interruption and distraction in the clinical setting.
Situational awareness.
Contribution of these concerns to the deteriorating patient.
Chapter
Investigation of the concepts relating to interruption, distraction and situational awareness.
Application of principles to prevention of deterioration in clinical settings.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Assessment Task 1 - Practical Assessment - Patient Deterioration in the Clinical Setting.
The due date for this assessment will be coordinated by the partnered Graduate Program Coordinator and is commonly held in conjunction with the student's local "study day". The due date for final completion is TBA.
Module/Topic
Effective clinical communication for prevention of deterioration.
Practice principles and their application in the clinical setting.
Chapter
Clinical communication strategies, issues and concerns.
Clinical communication as a strategy to detect or prevent patient deterioration.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Zoom: Module 4.
Module/Topic
Clinical communication in critical situations
Application of principles in practice.
Chapter
Communication principles during a clinical deterioration situation.
Examples from the field.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Module/Topic
Advanced clinical decision making.
The initiation of nursing actions based on advanced clinical decisions.
Chapter
Information support in advanced clinical decision making.
Nursing care analysis.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Zoom: Module 5.
Module/Topic
Advanced clinical decisions in review.
The evaluation of nursing actions based on advanced clinical decisions.
Chapter
Complexity, time-pressures and evaluation.
Evaluation and new learning.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Module/Topic
Critical analysis on the run.
Systems and strategies for critical analysis.
Chapter
Critiquing complexity.
Speed and safety in the clinical environment.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Zoom: Module 6.
Module/Topic
The invisibility of everyday nursing practices.
Unmasking and legitimating the invisible.
Chapter
Say little, do much.
An examination of cultural influences on nursing practice.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Readings
Activities
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 & 2 are coordinated by the Graduate Coordinator at the health setting and are to be completed by Friday 30th October, 2020.
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
All assessments are attended at your employing institution and are coordinated by your Graduate Program Coordinator.
1 Practical Assessment
Due Date: Negotiated in your local clinical area. Weighting: Pass/Fail unit.
This assessment addresses the following Unit Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain clinical parameters that indicate a patient is deteriorating
2. Monitor and interpret physiological and psycho-social data to assess a patient's clinical deterioration
3. Communicate effectively with health team and family members to ensure the accurate transfer and escalation of critical information
Practical Assessment Explained
Serious adverse advents such as unexpected death and cardiac arrest may follow observable deterioration in a patient’s condition.
This clinical assessment evaluates your knowledge and skills in the early identification of a patient's deteriorating condition and the initiation of prompt and effective action to minimise serious consequences, improve outcomes and lessen the level of intervention required to stabilise patients. The assessment will also assess your knowledge of the pathology of the patient's deteriorating condition, your ability to interpret clinical manifestations and effectively communicate these changes in health to team members including the patient, plus family members.
Task Description
You are required to demonstrate the safe care of a deteriorating patient in a clinical simulation setting. This assessment is undertaken at three skill stations (this structure may vary across different Hospital & Health Services).
You will be required to rotate between three skill stations. At each station a scenario relating to a deteriorating patient will be presented. During the first stage you will have the opportunity to practice skills to recognise and respond to a deteriorating patient. During the second stage, you will be assessed on your ability to safely perform these skills: These skills include:
- initial nursing management
- verbalising a targeted systematic assessment approach (look, listen and feel ABCDEFG) [this worksheet is available on the Moodle site]
- recording vital signs
- verbalising escalation concerns using ISBAR
- managing basic airway manoeuvres, adjuncts and oxygen therapy delivery devices
- identifying further clinical risk factors and additional investigations that may be required
- selecting and inserting the correct naso/oropharyngeal airway
- demonstrating chin lift, head tilt and manual ventilation techniques
- demonstrating and instructing on the use of nasal prongs, Hudson and non-rebreather masks, and the HFNP Air Viva
Task Instructions
Step 1. Familiarise yourself with the relevant policies, procedures and legislation available on the unit Moodle site.
Step 2. Familiarise yourself with Standard 8, Recognising and responding to acute deterioration standard (The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, [ACSQH] 2017). Some health care providers are using the first edition of standards so you may also need to review Standard 9, Recognising and responding to clinical deterioration in healthcare (ACSQH, 2012).
Step 3. In Stage 1 of the simulation, practice your skills in recognising and responding to deteriorating patients as you rotate through the three skill stations.
Step 4. In Stage 2 of the simulation, demonstrate your ability to recognise and respond to the deteriorating patient. You will need to demonstrate:
- initial nursing management
- verbalising a targeted systematic assessment approach (look, listen and feel ABCDEFG) [this worksheet is available on the Moodle site]
- recording vital signs
- verbalising escalation concerns using ISBAR
- managing basic airway manoeuvres, adjuncts and oxygen therapy delivery devices
- identifying further clinical risk factors and additional investigations that may be required
- selecting and inserting the correct naso/oropharyngeal airway
- demonstrating chin lift, head tilt and manual ventilation techniques
- demonstrating and instructing on the use of nasal prongs, Hudson and non-rebreather masks, and the HFNP Air Viva
Return Date to Students: Return information will be given at your local health service.
You will negotiate your due date at your local clinical setting
You will negotiate the return date at your local clinical setting
Student name: __________________________
Students must pass each criterion in each skill/topic to be successful in this assessment
Students may have a second attempt if unsuccessful at the first attempt.
Skill / Topic | Pass | FAIL | |
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- Explain clinical parameters that indicate a patient is deteriorating
- Monitor and interpret physiological and psychosocial data to assess a patient's clinical deterioration
- Communicate effectively with health team and family members to ensure the accurate transfer and escalation of critical information
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
2 Presentation
Due Date: Set by your Graduate Program Coordinator at your place of employment
Weighting: Pass/Fail unit.
This assessment addresses the following learning outcomes:
4. Initiate interventions based on diagnostic results of clinical assessment tools and evaluate your nursing actions
5. Critically examine everyday nursing practices and the ready use of tools related to the deteriorating patient
Task description
You are required to undertake an oral presentation that discusses your participation, observations and interactions in a clinical simulated scenario of a deteriorating patient, in the simulation laboratory at your workplace. Your target audience for your presentation are your workplace colleagues, peers and nurse educators.
Task Instructions
Step 1. Observe clinical simulated scenarios in the simulation laboratory at your workplace. These scenarios focus on the care of the deteriorating patient. The escalation of care required to meet the needs of the patient; the type of interventions required to ensure the best clinical outcomes for the patient; and the effective communication of the patient’s changing health status.
Step 2. During the simulations you will be provided with clinical information related to the patient. You are expected to assess the patient, record the vital signs, determine and initiate nursing management and decide when to escalate interventions using ISBAR. This information will be recorded on an assessment worksheet [found on the Moodle site].
Step 3. Present your findings to the group following each clinical simulation. Some important points to consider for presentation while you are participating in, and observing the simulation include:
- Critical thinking and problem solving skills required in addressing the patient deterioration
- Accurate recording of vital signs on the QADDS chart
- How effective escalation using ISBAR was demonstrated
- Effective team work and communication including the use of clinically appropriate language in the communication of key signs/symptoms and the decision to escalate
- Effective communication including the use of appropriate language when communicating with the patient and/or family members
- The role of the registered nurse in the deteriorating patient simulation
Return Date to Students: Return information will be given at your local health service.
Presentation due dates will be negotiated at the local clinical setting
Provided by your Graduate Coordinator at your employing health service.
Student name: __________________________
Students must pass each criterion in each skill/topic to be successful in this assessment
Students may have a second attempt if unsuccessful at the first attempt.
Skill / Topic | Content covered | PASS | FAIL |
Patient Deterioration | Debrief after each scenario and provides constructive feedback on:
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Demonstrates cognitive and technical skills:
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Does not demonstrate cognitive and technical skills:
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Debrief | Following each scenario, the teams are asked to provide constructive feedback on:
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Presentation |
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Communication
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Communication
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PASS/FAIL Assessor Name____________________________ Signature _____________________________________ Date_____________
- Initiate interventions based on diagnostic results of clinical assessment tools and evaluate your nursing actions
- Critically examine everyday nursing practices and the ready use of tools related to the deteriorating patient.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
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.