Course outline
Code: NUR222
Title: Health, Law and Ethics
Faculty of: Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Teaching Session: Semester 2
Year: 2015
Course Coordinator: Matthew Mason Email: mmason1@usc.edu.au
Course Moderator: Dr Marc Broadbent
1. What is this course about?
1.1
Course description
The principles of law and ethics are applied by nurses & midwives in everyday practice. You will examine
the Australian legal system and relevant statutory bodies in order to understand legislation affecting health
policy and nursing & midwifery practice. Ethical principles guide the practice of health professionals and
you will gain an understanding of ethical decision making frameworks relevant to nursing & midwifery. You
will apply theoretical knowledge presented in the course to critically appraise contemporary legal and
ethical issues in health care practice.
1.2
Course content
Ethical theories and principles:
Ethical decision making
Contemporary ethical issues
Legislative frameworks in health practice
Legislation relevant to the practice environment
Contemporary legal issues
2.
Unit value
12 units
Version Semester 2 2015
Recfind File Number: F14940
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Course Outline: NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
3.
How does this course contribute to my learning?
On successful completion of this course you
should be able to:
You will be assessed on the
learning outcome in task/s:
Completing these tasks
successfully will contribute
to you becoming:
Identify, describe and explain aspects of the
Australian legal system and statutory bodies
relevant to nursing practice.
Assessment Task 1: Short
Answer and Reflection
Assessment Task 2: Audio
Presentation
Knowledgeable.
Explain, describe and define what constitutes
ethical professional practice.
Critically analyse health situations from an
ethical and/or legal perspective
Consider and discuss the complexities
concerning ethical and/or legal issues in
nursing practice.
4.
Assessment Task 1: Short
Answer and Reflection
Assessment Task 2: Audio
Presentation
Assessment Task 1 Short
Answer and Reflection
Assessment Task 2: Audio
Presentation
Assessment Task 1: Short
answer and reflection
Assessment Task 2: Audio
Presentation
Ethical.
Knowledgeable.
Creative and critical
thinkers.
Ethical.
Creative and critical
thinkers.
Ethical.
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the Undergraduate Coursework Programs and Awards - Academic Policy for definitions of “prerequisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”
4.1
Enrolment restrictions
Enrolled in Program SC391 or SC392 or SC394 or SC335
4.2
Pre-requisites
Nil
4.3
Co-requisites
Nil
4.4
Anti-requisites
PAR222
4.5
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (optional)
Nil
5.
How am I going to be assessed?
5.1
Grading scale
Standard – High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL)
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Course Outline: NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
5.2
Task
No.
1
2
Assessment tasks
NUR222
Assessment
Tasks
Short answer
response and
reflection
Audio
Presentation
Individual
or Group
Weighting
%
Individual
50%
Group
50%
What is the
duration /
length?
2000 words
When
should I
submit?
Week 8
Where should
I submit it?
15min
Week 13
audio
recording
and
summary
sheet. (Max
3 Pages +
References)
Blackboard via
Safe Assign
Blackboard via
Safe Assign
100%
Assessment Task 1: Short answer response and reflection
Goal:
The goal of this assessment is to apply your theoretical understanding of legal principles to your
role and responsibility as a student of nursing and/or midwifery. The reflection allows you to
apply this learning in your clinical placements and future career.
Product: Written responses
Format:
The responses to set case studies and reflection on these will be completed in 2000 words and
should address the following:
 Discuss the legal theory and legislation relevant to the role and responsibility of a student
nurse/midwife
 Use relevant literature to support the discussion
 Reflect on your experience related to the legal and ethical requirements for student nurses
 Apply theoretical knowledge to support conclusions
Criteria
 Evidence:
 of an understanding of key legislation relevant to practice
 of conclusions made for set questions
 of reflection on the set questions and clinical practice/experience
 of references used to support the discussion
 of communication including:
 Structure/clarity of information
 application of consistent referencing style.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Problem solving
Introductory
Information literacy
Developing
Communication
Developing
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Course Outline: NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
Assessment Task 2: Audio Presentation.
Goal:
The goal of this assessment is to apply your theoretical understanding of legal and ethical
principles to assess a clinical case study.
Product: A Fifteen (15) minute audio presentation with a 3 page written summary, both to be uploaded
to Blackboard.
Format:
The audio presentation will be fifteen minutes long and should address legal and ethical
principles related to a provided case study. The audio presentation is to be completed in a
group of two students. Both members of the group must be involved in the production and
delivery of the audio presentation and written summary. You are to present the audio
presentation as a media report (similar to the Health Report example provided), and includea 3
page written summary, in response to a provided case study to:
 Discuss the legal theory relevant to the case study
 Discuss the ethical issues/theory relevant to the case study Discuss ethical decision making
in clinical practice
 Use relevant literature to support the discussion
 Apply theoretical knowledge to support conclusions
Criteria
 Evidence:
 of an understanding of key legislation relevant to the case study
 of an understanding of ethical issues/theory relevant to the case study
 of an understanding of ethical decision making
 of conclusions made regarding the set case study
 of references used to support the discussion relevant to the case study in the written
report
 of communication including:
 clarity of information provided
 structure of the audio presentation
 structure of the written summary
 application of consistent referencing style.
Generic skill assessed
Skill assessment level
Problem solving
Developing
Information literacy
Developing
Communication
Developing
5.3
Additional assessment requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
c) You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct
Blackboard
As a student enrolled in this course you will have access to course information on the Blackboard site. You
are strongly recommended to log onto the course site on a regular basis. All course announcements,
course changes, posting of course materials and grades (via My Interim Results) will be accessed through
Blackboard. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate internet access (either off campus or oncampus) in order to access Blackboard regularly and to complete required assessment tasks.
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Course Outline: NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
Safe Assign
In order to minimise incidents of plagiarism and collusion, this course may require that some of its
assessment tasks are submitted electronically via Safe Assign. This software allows for text comparisons to
be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work that Safe Assign has access to. If
required, details of how to submit via Safe Assign will be provided on the Blackboard site of the course.
5.4
Submission penalties
Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate:
 5% (of the assessment task’s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified
as the due date for the assessment task.
 10% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the third day
 20% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and
including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task.
 A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after eight days from the date
identified as the due date for the assessment task.
Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late.
To request an extension you must contact your course coordinator to negotiate an outcome.
6. How is the course offered?
6.1
Directed study hours
13 weeks of vodcasts (up to 60min in total each week)
Tutorial - 2 hours x 12
Online activities for Week 10 tutorial (2 hours).
6.2
Teaching semester/session(s) offered
Semester 2
6.3
Course activities
Teaching
Week /
Module
1
What key
concepts/content will I
learn?
Introduction to the course,
Introduction to Ethics &
What activities will I engage in to learn the concepts/content?
Directed Study Activities
Independent Study Activities
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 1
& 3, Online Resources
Law.
2
Ethics and Ethical & Legal
decision making
frameworks.
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 2,
Online Resources
3
Ethics, Law and Nursing &
Midwifery practice.
Including Student Nurse
requirements.
Adult patients – consent &
refusal of consent.
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 4,
Online Resources
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 5,
Online Resources
4
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Course Outline: NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
5
Ethics, Law and mental
health.
6
Patient safety and
negligence.
7
Children as patients.
8
Ethics, Law and the elderly.
9
End of Life issues.
10
Ethics, Law and health
information management
11
Indigenous Perspectives
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 9,
Online Resources
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
Online Learning only
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter
10, Online Resources
Task
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
Formative Multiple Choice
Quiz (in Tutorial)
12
Ethics, Law and
Weekly Vodcasts & Tutorial.
reproduction, pregnancy & Formative Multiple Choice
birth
Quiz (in Tutorial)
13
Course Review
Course Review (online)
Please note that the course activities may be subject to variation.
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 8,
Online Resources
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 6,
Online Resources
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter
11, Online Resources
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter 7
& Resources posted on Blackboard
Online resources
McDonald & Then, 2014,Chapter
12, Online Resources
online resources Task 2 Due
7. What resources do I need to undertake this course?
7.1
Prescribed text(s)
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below:
Author
Year
Title
Publisher
McDonald, F &
2014
Ethics, Law and Health Care; A guide for
Palgrave Macmillan
Then, S
nurses and midwives
RECOMMENDED READINGS
7.2
Required and recommended readings
Lists of required and recommended readings may be found for this course on its Blackboard site. These
materials/readings will assist you in preparing for tutorials and assignments, and will provide further
information regarding particular aspects of your course.
7.3
Specific requirements
Nil
7.4
Risk management
There is minimal health and safety risk in this course. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with the
Health and Safety policies and procedures applicable within campus areas.
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Course Outline: NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics
8.
How can I obtain help with my studies?
In the first instance you should contact your tutor, then the Course Coordinator. Student Life and Learning
provides additional assistance to all students through Peer Advisors and Academic Skills Advisors. You can
drop in or book an appointment. To book: Tel: +61 7 5430 1226 or Email:
studentlifeandlearning@usc.edu.au
9.
Links to relevant University policies and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
 Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
 Review of Assessment and Final Grades
 Supplementary Assessment
 Administration of Central Examinations
 Deferred Examinations
 Student Academic Misconduct
 Students with a Disability
http://www.usc.edu.au/university/governance-and-executive/policies-and-procedures#academic-learningand-teaching
10. Faculty specific information
General enquiries and student support
Faculty Student Support Office
Tel: +61 7 5430 2869
Fax: +61 7 5456 5010
Email: SHEinfo@usc.edu.au