Availabilities:

2021 unit offering information will be available in September 2020

Unit description

Develops assessment, clinical reasoning and diagnostic skills. Students will build upon knowledge and skills in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology and evidence based-practice to demonstrate skills in clinical reasoning and diagnosis. Students will identify, collate and comprehend clinical data, including laboratory and radiology, with which to make clinical decisions.

Unit content

  • Introduction to clinical reasoning
  • Hypothesis building
  • Inductive and deductive reasoning
  • Contemplating options and consequences
  • Narrative reasoning
  • Collaborative reasoning
  • Diagnostic and laboratory results
  • Cardiac and respiratory diagnostic procedures and laboratory results
  • Renal and urinary diagnostic procedures and laboratory results
  • Gastrointestinal and endocrine diagnostic procedures and laboratory results
  • Musculoskeletal and nervous system diagnostic procedures and laboratory results
  • Health information and technology
  • Documenting and communicating clinical reasoning and decisions
  • Accessing diagnostic and expert systems
  • Formulation, assessment and diagnosis in mental health nursing contexts

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: Intellectual rigour, GA2: Creativity, GA3: Ethical practice, GA4: Knowledge of a discipline, GA5: Lifelong learning, GA6: Communication and social skills, GA7: Cultural competence
On completion of this unit, students should be able to:GA1GA2GA3GA4GA5GA6GA7
1describe and discuss the components of diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnosis and clinical decision makingIntellectual rigourKnowledge of a discipline
2differentiate the various forms of clinical reasoning and demonstrate their use in identifying solutions to a problemIntellectual rigourEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline
3analyse clinical diagnostic and laboratory results with which to form diagnostic and care plans in clinical settingsIntellectual rigourEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline
4integrate evidence, clinical judgement, inter-professional perspectives and patient preferences in planning and evaluating careIntellectual rigourEthical practiceKnowledge of a discipline
5analyse and create appropriate approaches to documentation and communication in clinical settings.Intellectual rigourKnowledge of a discipline

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. describe and discuss the components of diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnosis and clinical decision making
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  2. differentiate the various forms of clinical reasoning and demonstrate their use in identifying solutions to a problem
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  3. analyse clinical diagnostic and laboratory results with which to form diagnostic and care plans in clinical settings
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  4. integrate evidence, clinical judgement, inter-professional perspectives and patient preferences in planning and evaluating care
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA3: Ethical practice
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline
  5. analyse and create appropriate approaches to documentation and communication in clinical settings.
    • GA1: Intellectual rigour
    • GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Teaching and assessment

Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every session. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Southern Cross University employs different teaching methods within units to provide students with the flexibility to choose the mode of learning that best suits them. SCU academics strive to use the latest approaches and, as a result, the learning modes and materials may change. The most current information regarding a unit will be provided to enrolled students at the beginning of the study session.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.
Commencing 2021 Commonwealth Supported only. Student contribution band: 1

Fee paying courses
For POSTGRADUATE or UNDERGRADUATE full fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees

International

Please check the international course and fee list to determine the relevant fees.

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