2012 Bachelor of Nursing Brief Subject Outlines

• The Bachelor of Nursing course at the University of Wollongong is 3 years full-time by internal study only.
• The course is offered at the Wollongong, Shoalhaven, Loftus and Bega campuses. 
• It is 144 credit points, 48 per year, or 24 in both of the 2 semesters per year.
• All subjects are compulsory and there are 4 x 6 credit point subjects per semester.
• Each semester has 14 academic weeks – 10-12 theory weeks and 2-4 clinical practicum weeks.
• There are no summer session offerings.
• Theory weeks start from 08:30 and should finish by 18:30. On average they involve 20 hours of face-to-face teaching, with the remaining 20 hours as self-directed learning.
• Clinical practicum weeks are 40 hours duration, 5 x 8 hours Monday-Friday, with morning starts from 07:00 and some evening finishes at 22:00. There are some clinical practicum placements outside the Illawarra region.

Autumn Session, Year 1

NMIH101 Effective Communication in Health Care Relationships

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 12 weeks.
• It develops basic communication skills, including research and writing skills for university, nursing documentation and nurse-patient communication.

NMIH102 Patterns of Knowing in Nursing

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 12 weeks.
• It examines nursing law, ethical issues in health care and the nurse’s role as a patient advocate.

NMIH103 Art and Science of Nursing A

• 2 hours of lectures, a 2 hour tutorial and 2 hours of simulations per week for 12 weeks.
• The co-requisite is NMIH104.
• It examines both the art and science of nursing, looking at the development of nursing as a profession, and the social and cultural context of nursing knowledge and practice.

NMIH104 Art and Science of Nursing B

• 2 hours of lectures, a 2 hour tutorial and a 2 hour clinical simulations per week for 12 weeks, plus an 80 hour clinical practicum in geriatrics /nursing homes.
• The co-requisite is NMIH103.
• This is the foundation subject for clinical nursing skills, including nursing observations, hygiene, and activities of daily living.

Spring Session, Year 1

NMIH105 Primary Health Care Nursing

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 12 weeks.
• The pre-requisite is NMIH101.
• It introduces the primary health care model of nursing, emphasising health education in the community setting.

NMIH106 Essentials of Care A

• 2 hours of lectures, a 2 hour tutorial and 2 hours of simulations per week for 12 weeks.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH103 and NMIH104; the co-requisite is NMIH107.
• The subject focuses on simple, uncomplicated presentations of patient problems in order to develop beginning nursing competence.

NMIH107 Essentials of Care B

• 2 hours of lectures, a 2 hour tutorial and a 2 hour clinical simulation per week for 12 weeks, plus an 80 hour clinical practicum in general medical and surgical nursing areas.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH103 and NMIH104. The co-requisite is NMIH106.
• The subject enables students to develop skills in assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care.
• Students develop clinical skills in medication administration and aseptic techniques.

NMIH108 Introduction to Health Behaviour Change

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 12 weeks
• It introduces students to factors that influence health behaviour.

Autumn Session, Year 2

NMIH201 Principles of Episodic Care

• 2 hours of lectures, a 2 hour tutorial and 2 hours of simulations per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH106 and NMIH107; the co-requisite is NMIH202.
• It examines acute, episodic illnesses or injuries that require interventions by health care professionals.

NMIH202 Developing Nursing Practice 1

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks, plus a 160 hour clinical practicum in general medical and surgical nursing areas, and the equivalent of 40 hours of clinical simulation within the semester.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH106 and NMIH107; the co-requisite is NMIH201.
• The subject enables students to develop skills in recognition of patient problems, the acuity of these problems, identify nursing interventions and contribute to a multi-disciplinary team approach to patient care.

NMIH203 Family Centred Nursing

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH106 and NMIH107.
• The subject will introduce students to elements that influence health care practice involving patients and their families.

NMIH204 Reflection and Practice

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisite is NMIH101.
• It develops the skills of reflection, critical thinking and logical argument.

Spring Session, Year 2

NMIH205 Cultural Competence in Health Care Practice

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisite is NMIH101.
• It teaches students to recognise and respond appropriately to patients from diverse cultural backgrounds.

NMIH206 Therapeutics in Nursing

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• It examines pharmacokinetics, nutrition, complementary therapies and therapeutic relationships.

NMIH207 Developing Nursing Practice 2

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks, plus an 80 hour clinical practicum in various medical, surgical and related community nursing areas, and the equivalent of 40 hours of clinical simulation within the semester.
• The pre-requisite is NMIH202.
• The subject will expand on the content of NMIH202, involving the episodic care of patients in both the institutional and community settings.

NMIH208 Mental Health Nursing 1

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks. There are 80 hours of clinical practicum in mental health nursing areas plus the equivalent of 40 hours of clinical simulation within the semester.
• The pre-requisite is NMIH202.
• It introduces students to the concept of mental health and mental disorders.

Autumn Session, Year 3

NMIH301 Nursing Care of People with Chronic Conditions

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks. There are 80 hours of clinical practicum in appropriate areas, and the equivalent of 40 hours of clinical simulation within the semester.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH207 or NURS266.
• It examines a number of issues related to chronic health conditions.

NMIH302 Mental Health Nursing 2

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks. There are 80 hours of clinical practicum in mental health nursing areas, and the equivalent of 40 hours of clinical simulation within the semester.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH207 or NURS266, NMIH208 or NURS263.
• It further develops student skills in the areas of mental health and mental disorders.

NMIH303 Therapeutic Use of Self

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks
• The pre-requisites are NMIH101 and NMIH204 or NURS264.
• Students will develop therapeutic intervention abilities requiring both good communication and counselling skills.

NMIH304 Research Appreciation and Application

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH204 or NURS264.
• The subject develops research appreciation and application skills.

Spring Session, Year 3

NMIH305 Nursing Care of People with Complex Conditions

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH203 and NMIH301 and NMIH302.
• This subject provides opportunities for students to explore aspects of complex conditions and the provision of holistic individualised care.

NMIH306 Challenges of Ageing

• 2 hours lecture and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH203 and NMIH301 and NMIH302.
• This subject seeks to explore the multiplicity of issues, challenges and support required to achieve the Commonwealth’s aged care program aim to provide appropriate services and care for healthy ageing.

NMIH307 Leadership in Health Care Practice

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks.
• The prerequisites are NMIH205 and NMIH304.
• In this subject students will explore the significance of the leadership attributes to the provision of health and social care in a variety of settings.

NMIH308 Transition to Professional Practice

• 2 hours of lectures and a 2 hour tutorial per week for 10 weeks. There are 160 hours of clinical practicum in high dependency nursing areas, and the equivalent of 40 hours of clinical simulation throughout the semester.
• The pre-requisites are NMIH203 and NMIH301 and NMIH302.
• In this subject the student will be able to articulate and demonstrate consistently the knowledge, skills and behaviours required as a beginning practitioner.