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NRS552 Diagnostic Reasoning 2 (8)

Abstract

This subject is the second of  two diagnostic reasoning subjects. In this subject students will synthesise advanced assessment, pharmacology and pathophysiology knowledge from pre-requisite subjects and develop differential diagnoses skills needed for advanced nursing practice (Nurse Practitioner).  This subject will focus on the clinical presentation of neurology and musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary systems. Students will practice performing comprehensive health assessments and develop appropriate treatment plans under supervision of a registered prescriber Nurse Practitioner or Medical Practitioner. This subject includes an 80 hour professional experience and a two-day residential school.

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Continuing students should consult the SAL for current offering details prior to contacting their course coordinator: NRS552
Where differences exist between the handbook and the SAL, the SAL should be taken as containing the correct subject offering details.

Subject information

Duration Grading System School:
One sessionHD/FLSchool of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health

Enrolment restrictions

The Master of Clinical Nursing (Nurse Practitioner). Not available to international students.
Prerequisite(s)
BMS511 and BMS536 and NRS532

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:
  • be able to demonstrate proficiency in performing a focused health assessment that is pertinent to the presenting problems and conditions of a patient.
  • be able to perform a patient risk assessment which takes into consideration life circumstances and cultural, ethnic and developmental variations
  • be able to differentiate normal physiological alterations from pathological findings
  • be able to utilise the diagnostic reasoning process in the selection and interpretation of appropriate screening and diagnostic tests
  • be able to develop an evidence-based and safe treatment plan and medication prescribing plan
  • be able to demonstrate proficiency in using a SOAPE format to document clinical assessment, differential diagnosis, treatment and medication plan
  • be able to present focused clinical cases to the Professional Experience Supervisor with appropriate clinical documentation during the professional experience
  • be able to present a case study using online technologies

Syllabus

The subject will cover the following topics:
  • Module 1: Diagnostic Reasoning for Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Issues. This module will assist students in diagnostic reasoning for acute and chronic neurologic and musculoskeletal issues, including review of pathophysiology, assessment and pharmacology for common neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions. This will include cardiac differential diagnoses, appropriate use of imaging, and related laboratory testing.
  • Module 2: Diagnostic Reasoning for Gastrointestinal Issues. This module will assist students to diagnostic reasoning for acute and chronic gastrointestinal issues, including review of pathophysiology, assessment and pharmacology for common gastrointestinal conditions. This will include common gastrointestinal differential diagnoses, imaging and gastrointestinal related laboratory testing.
  • Module 3: Diagnostic Reasoning for Genitoruinary Issues. This module will assist students to diagnostic reasoning for acute and chronic genitoruinary issues, including review of pathophysiology, assessment and pharmacology of common genitoruinary issues. A review of common genitoruinary differential diagnoses, clinical tests, imaging and genitoruinary related laboratory testing will be included.
  • Professional Experience under the supervision of a prescribing nurse practitioner or medical practitioner 80 hours. This experience must allow the nurse to see patients under supervision, formulate differential diagnoses, and formulate treatment plans and present patient cases (in real time) to their Professional Experience Supervisor for advice and guidance confirmation. This experience is outside normal nursing working hours unless the nurse is in a Nurse Practitioner transition role. The student will discuss with the Academic Mentor the logistics of this professional experience. A Professional Experience Supervisor will be identified by the student and their Academic Mentor will liaise with them to explain the professional supervision requirement, review the Professional Experience Supervisior Handbook and the objectives of the professional experience.

Residential School

This subject contains a compulsory 2 day residential school. The residential school will employ a case-based approach to develop diagnostic reasoning, case presentations and clinical documentation skills. Experience in the Simulation Lab will  hone assessment, differential diagnoses skills, and clinical documentation.

Work Place Learning

This subject contains a Compulsory Workplace Learning component of 10 days duration. Students will be supervised by an experienced Nurse Practitioner and physician where necessary. They will be required to develop a collaborative competency based learning contract based on the ANMAC National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner (2004). A two day residential school will support their learning process. The professional experience  must allow the nurse to see patients under supervision, formulate differential diagnoses, formulate treatment plans and present patient cases (in real time) to  the Professional Experience Supervisor for advice and guidance confirmation. This experience is outside normal nursing working hours unless the nurse is in a Nurse Practitioner transition role. The student will discuss with the Academic Mentor the logistics of this professional experience. A Professional Experience Supervisor will liaise with the Academic Mentor  to explain the professional experience supervision requirements, review the Professional Experience Supervisor Handbook and the objectives of the professional experience.
  This subject contains a Compulsory Workplace Learning component of 10 days duration. Students will be supervised by an experienced Nurse Practitioner and physician where necessary. They will be required to develop a collaborative competency based learning contract based on the ANMAC National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner (2004). A two day residential school will support their learning process. The professional experience  must allow the nurse to see patients under supervision, formulate differential diagnoses, formulate treatment plans and present patient cases (in real time) to  the Professional Experience Supervisor for advice and guidance confirmation. This experience is outside normal nursing working hours unless the nurse is in a Nurse Practitioner transition role. The student will discuss with the Academic Mentor the logistics of this professional experience. A Professional Experience Supervisor will liaise with the Academic Mentor  to explain the professional experience supervision requirements, review the Professional Experience Supervisor Handbook and the objectives of the professional experience.
 

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The information contained in the 2016 CSU Handbook was accurate at the date of publication: 06 September 2016. The University reserves the right to vary the information at any time without notice.