92238 Adult Nursing: Cellular Alterations

Subject level: Undergraduate

Handbook description

The subject focuses on adults experiencing alterations in cellular function. Transition toward recovery and through rehabilitation is explored. From this understanding, issues of preventative care are developed. Relevant psychomotor skills and skill in the exercise of clinical judgment are developed through the use of guided clinical experiences and case studies which are based on epidemiological trends in immune disorders, cancer and diseases of the blood.

Subject objectives/outcomes

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

1. provide nursing care for patients based on the National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse developed by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC passim)
2. apply the functional health patterns within the context of alterations to immunological, haematological and/or cellular functions (ANMC competencies: 1.2; 3.2; 5.1)
3. demonstrate understanding of nursing assessment, nursing diagnosis and nursing management of patients with alterations to their immunological, haematological and/or cellular functions (ANMC competencies: 2.5; 3.3; 5.2)
4. discuss the meaning of health and illness experiences of these patients (ANMC competencies: 2.3; 6.1; 9.5)
5. interpret laboratory findings in patient management (ANMC competencies: 5.3; 8.2; 10.2)
6. use research evidence to inform nursing practice (ANMC competencies: 2.6; 3.2; 4.1)
7. participate in patient education and health promotion (ANMC competencies: 7.1; 7.7; 9.4)
8. discuss the basic nursing management in oncology and palliative care (ANMC competencies: 1.2; 2.5; 4.4)
9. understand the need to provide nursing care that is culturally sensitive and is consistent with the Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia 3 and Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia 4 (ANMC competencies: 1.1; 1.3; 2.1).

Content

• Introduction to the subject
• Overview of body defence mechanisms
• Immunodeficiencies and infection: HIV/AIDS
• Common blood disorders: Anaemias
• Cancer basics: cancer cell characteristics, epidemiology, risk factors, cancer prevention
• Symptom management in cancer nursing
• Overview of cancer treatment
• Nursing care of patient undergoing a stem cell transplant
• Introduction to palliative care nursing
• End-of-life care
• Complex wound management in cancer nursing
• Overview of subject and assessment requirements
• Nursing calculations (Quiz 1)
• Revise: Uses of IV fluids, priming an IV line, care of IV infusions, giving an IV injection
• Briefing on clinical placement
• Nursing calculations (Quiz 2)
• Latex allergy
• Management of anaphylaxis
• Care of peripheral and central lines
• Blood products
• Administration of blood products
• Blood transfusion reactions
• Revise hand washing
• Female urinary catheterisation
• Collection of MSU/CSU
• Revise mouth care, bowel care
• Isolation precautions
• Core values and principles of palliative care
• Care of the body after death
• Skills practice
• Subject evaluation