Program Overview

---

Unit Overview

The unit NRSG524 - Advanced Pathophysiology for Specialty Nursing Practice is designed to provide students with the scientific knowledge that underpins specialist nursing practice. This unit aims to support students' development of foundational scientific knowledge relevant to their specialist setting.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

The health care setting is becoming increasingly complex, with registered nurses expected to respond to and care for clients with higher acuity and complex care needs. This unit explores specific knowledge in bioscience, epidemiology, and growth and development relevant to the student's selected specialist area. The aim of this unit is to provide students with scientific knowledge relevant to their specialist setting, supporting their specialist nursing practice.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will demonstrate achievement of the following learning outcomes:

1. Analyse epidemiological concepts and the impact of health determinants on the development of disease.
2. Differentiate anatomical, physiological, developmental, and pathophysiological concepts related to common health problems in their area of specialist practice.
3. Determine pathophysiological factors or altered development that underpin the diagnosis, treatment, and management of common health problems experienced by healthcare consumers in their area of specialist practice.
4. Reflect on the experience of illness in relation to the person, group, family, and community.
5. Evaluate the science underpinning management (pharmacotherapy, non-pharmacotherapy) of health conditions in the specialty setting.

Unit Content

Topics covered in this unit include:

• Concepts of human and lifespan development
• Theories of ageing
• Epidemiology
• Influences on population health
• Environmental factors
• Social determinants of health
• Community factors
• Bioscience concepts underlying common health problems
• Anatomy and physiology
• Pathophysiology
• Pharmacology

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

The assessment strategy used in this unit encourages the progressive development of students' scientific knowledge and skills necessary for delivering quality and safe care within a specialty setting. Assessment tasks include:

1. Digital Presentation (50%): Enables students to analyse epidemiological concepts and differentiate scientific knowledge related to their specialty practice area.
2. Case Study (50%): Enables students to apply learned scientific knowledge and demonstrate critical thinking skills, analysis, and synthesis of evidence in relation to a common health problem in their specialty practice area.

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

This unit is offered in online mode and uses an active and collaborative learning approach. Students engage with content through readings, reflections, e-learning activities, and opportunities to collaborate with peers. The inclusive and flexible learning and teaching strategy allows for linking scientific knowledge to specialty nursing practice and the development of shared meanings through online experiential reflections and discussions.

Representative Texts and References

Recommended texts and references are listed, including:

• Brown, D., Edwards, H., Buckley, T. C. T., & Aitken, R. L. (2020). Lewis's medical-surgical nursing: assessment and management of clinical problems.
• Bullock, S., & Hales, M. (2019). Principles of pathophysiology.
• Calleja, P., Theobald, K., Harvey, T., & Estes, M. E. Z. (2020). Estes health assessment & physical examination.
• Hoffmann, T., Bennett, S., & Del Mar, C. (2017). Evidence-based practice across the health professions.
• Huether, S. E., & McCance, K. L. (2020). Understanding pathophysiology.
• Knights, K. M., Darroch, S., Rowland, A., & Bushell, M. (2023). Pharmacology for health professionals.
• Norris, T. L. (2019). Porth's pathophysiology: concepts of altered health states.
• Patton, K. T., & Thibodeau, G. A. (2019). Anatomy & physiology.
• Rogers, J. L., & Brashers, V. L. (2022). McCance & Huether's pathophysiology: the biologic basis for disease in adults and children.
• Taylor, K., & Guerin, P. (2019). Health care and Indigenous Australians: cultural safety in practice.

Unit Details

• Credit points: 10
• Year: 2025
• Locations: Online