Course Title: Palliative Care

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Palliative Care

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

NURS1137

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2012,
Sem 1 2015,
Sem 2 2015,
Sem 1 2016,
Sem 2 2016

NURS1137

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

173H School of Health and Biomed

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2018,
Sem 2 2019,
Sem 2 2020,
Sem 2 2021,
Sem 2 2022,
Sem 2 2023

NURS2006

Hamilton Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2006,
Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 2 2012

NURS2144

Sale Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2008,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2010

Course Coordinator: Dr Ruby Walter

Course Coordinator Phone: Please contact via e-mail

Course Coordinator Email: ruby.walter@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: 201.07.003


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

In this course you will consider the options for care of a patient with terminal illness resulting from intractable disease or terminal organ failure. You will explore the clinical issues as they relate to the transition of therapeutic management interventions, when cure transitions to care. You will learn the conceptual framework for active treatment in the palliative care patient; the legal and ethical principles associated with end of life care; and you will consider the holistic approach to care that incorporates spiritual and emotional care as well as physical care. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for BP032 Bachelor of Nursing Program in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Australia, Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016):

  • PLO 1: Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice
  • PLO 2: Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships
  • PLO 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments
  • PLO 5: Develops a plan for nursing practice
  • PLO 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2016) Registered nurse standards for practice. Melbourne, Australia.


Upon successful completion of this course you should be able to:

  1. Identify death as an integral part of the life continuum
  2. Define and elaborate the concept of terminal illness as it relates to both disease processes and organ failure
  3. Review the philosophy of palliative care and the associated legal and ethical principles from an Australian and global context.
  4. Appraise the notion of palliation as that time when “cure turns to care.”
  5. Discuss the principles of palliative care management as both active and supportive treatment of the patient


Overview of Learning Activities

This course will use a range of learning activities including lectures, discussions and self-directed learning. Throughout the course you will be able to work both independently and in groups to aid development of your theoretical knowledge and its application to clinical practice.

Learning activities may include modalities such as workshops and online learning.

Self-Directed Learning: Self-directed learning activities associated with this course are designed to enable you to better develop independent learning skills to support your commitment to lifelong learning as a nursing professional and a university graduate. The self-directed learning activities will support your knowledge of the material covered in the formal learning program and enhance the consolidation and application of that knowledge.

RMIT have state of the art simulated learning facilities for student learning and practice. You will participate in simulated practice within these facilities in preparation for placement. As a part of participation you may be filmed for learning, teaching, reflection and assessment and this is considered an inherent part of our learning and teaching program. Recordings will be maintained in accordance with our assessment, document retention and privacy policies.

You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, practicals, laboratories, seminars, project work, class discussion, individual and group activities. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both. 

You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course that is available through myRMIT Studies Course


Overview of Learning Resources

 

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course

There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.


Overview of Assessment

This course has no hurdle requirements.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task 1:  Online Multiple choice and short answer quiz (x 3)

All questions are taken from the content of the course from preceding weeks.   

Weighting 15%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 2: Video presentation on Palliative Care topic

Weighting 35%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

Assessment Task 3: Assignment - Case study based 

Weighting 50%

This assessment task supports CLOs 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5

If you have a long-term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.