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LocationDomesticInternational
Coffs Harbour
Gold Coast
Lismore

Unit description

Examines nursing responses to health breakdown in the context of chronic illness. Students will apply knowledge of the physiological stressors and responses, with an emphasis on causal relationships between aetiology, risk factors, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations and pharmacological therapy to manage client presentations. 

Unit content

  • Introduction to human responses to health breakdown across the lifespan
  • Aetiology, risk factors, pathophysiology and clinical manifestations and pharmacological therapy of the following systems:
    • Cardiovascular
    • Respiratory
    • Renal
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Central nervous system
    • Skin and wound
    • Endocrine
  • Presentation of chronic pain
  • Mental health as a co-morbidity
  • Cognitive and physical disability as a co-morbidity

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.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:
1demonstrate safe pharmacological therapy to provide person-centred care for those with a chronic illness or disability
2apply evidence-based principles to nursing interventions related to human responses, narratives and cultural considerations for individuals, groups and carers to health breakdown in the context of chronic illness
3demonstrate knowledge of the pathophysiology and aetiology of respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, integumentary, and central nervous system health breakdown.

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

  1. demonstrate safe pharmacological therapy to provide person-centred care for those with a chronic illness or disability
  2. apply evidence-based principles to nursing interventions related to human responses, narratives and cultural considerations for individuals, groups and carers to health breakdown in the context of chronic illness
  3. demonstrate knowledge of the pathophysiology and aetiology of respiratory, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal, endocrine, integumentary, and central nervous system health breakdown.

Prescribed Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts
  • Craft, J., Gordon, C., Huether, S.E., McCance, K.L., Brashers, V.L. & Rote, N.S., 2019, Understanding Pathophysiology, 3rd edn, Elsevier, Chatswood, Australia.
Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method
Structured online learning 1 hr (12 wks)
Tutorial 2 hrs (12 wks)
Assessment
Mind-map40%
Poster40%
Quiz20%

Teaching method
Structured online learning 1 hr (12 wks)
Tutorial 2 hrs (12 wks)
Assessment
Mind-map40%
Poster40%
Quiz20%

Teaching method
Structured online learning 1 hr (12 wks)
Tutorial 2 hrs (12 wks)
Assessment
Mind-map40%
Poster40%
Quiz20%
Notice

Intensive offerings may or may not be scheduled in every teaching period. 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 teaching period.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

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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