Course Outline

NUR222 Health, Law and Ethics

Course Coordinator:Naomi Howell (nhowell@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Nursing

2023Semester 2

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus.

Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

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.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – Online asynchronous learning and teaching recording and self-directed learning. Students will be supported with Zoom drop-in sessions. 3hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

  • Ethical theories and principles:
  • Ethical decision making
  • Contemporary ethical issues
  • Legislative and legal frameworks in health practice
  • Legislation and law relevant to the practice environment
  • Contemporary legal issues

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1 Identify, describe and apply aspects of the Australian legal system and statutory bodies to nursing and midwifery practice. Knowledgeable
Creative and critical thinker
1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.4, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 3.7, 7.3
2 Define and apply contemporary professional ethical standards to decision making and practice. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 3.7, 4.3, 6.5, 7.3
3 Critically analyse health situations from an ethical and legal perspective Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
1.2, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 2.9, 3.7, 4.3, 6.5, 7.3
4 Apply principles and practices of academic writing and referencing Ethical

                                    

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
1.1 The RN accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings for safe quality practice
1.2 The midwife accesses, analyses, and uses the best available evidence, that includes research findings, for safe, quality midwifery practice
1.3 The RN 1.3 respects all cultures and experiences, which includes responding to the role of family and community that underpin the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people of other cultures
1.4 The midwife undertakes ongoing processes of reflection to ensure professional judgements acknowledge how personal culture impacts on practice
1.5 The RN uses ethical frameworks when making decisions
1.7 The midwife identifies and promotes the role of midwifery practice and the midwifery profession in influencing better health outcomes for women
2.1 The RN establishes, sustains and concludes relationships in a way that differentiates the boundaries between professional and personal relationships
2.2 The RN communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person’s dignity, culture, values, beliefs and rights
2.3 The RN recognises that people are the experts in the experience of their life
2.5 The RN advocates on behalf of people in a manner that respects the person’s autonomy and legal capacity
2.7 The RN actively fosters a culture of safety and learning that includes engaging with health professionals and others, to share knowledge and practice that supports person-centred care
2.9 The RN reports notifiable conduct of health professionals, health workers and others.
3.7 The RN identifies and promotes the integral role of nursing practice and the profession in influencing better health outcomes for people
4.3 The RN works in partnership to determine factors that affect, or potentially affect, the health and well being of people and populations to determine priorities for action and/or for referral
6.5 The RN practises in accordance with relevant nursing and health guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation
7.3 The midwife uses evaluation and reflection to inform future practice and professional development

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in Program SC385, SC391, SC392, SC393, SC335

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

PAR222

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

One online quiz will be conducted early in the semester (week 4). The feedback from the online quiz is provided to students at the time of completion. The feedback will identify correct responses and identify where to find correct information for incorrect responses. This formative feedback will inform students about progress within the course and highlight the areas requiring additional support.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 0%
30 minutes
Week 4 Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Case Study Individual 50%
2000 words
Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Artefact - Creative, and Oral Individual 50%
10 minutes of narrated powerpoint
Week 13 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All - Assessment Task 1:Online Quiz
Goal:
The goal of this assessment is designed to help you develop an understanding about health law and ethics.
Product: Quiz/zes
Format:
The quiz will include multiple choice questions. Further information about the online quiz assessment will be posted on the Canvas course site.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identify aspects of the Australian legal system and statutory bodies to nursing and midwifery practice.
1
2
Understand and define contemporary professional ethical standards.
2
3
Application of the principles and practices of reflective and academic writing and referencing in the style appropriate to the discipline.
4
4
Ethical use of intellectual property.
4
All - Assessment Task 2:Written assessment
Goal:
Nurses, midwives and other health professionals have legal and ethical responsibilities and accountabilities in practice. The goal of this assessment is to apply your understanding of ethical and legal principles and requirements to the roles and responsibilities.
Product: Case Study
Format:
You will be required to develop a written assessment to set case studies. Your responses will draw on theory, legislation, professional codes and practice standards. You will also provide a reflection based on your experience.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Definition of and application of contemporary professional ethical standards to decision making and practice
1 2 3
2
Identify, describe and apply aspects of the Australian legal system and statutory bodies to nursing and midwifery practice.
2
3
Critical analysis of health situations from an ethical and legal perspective
3
4
Application of the principles and practices of reflective and academic writing and referencing in the style appropriate to the discipline.
4
5
Ethical use of intellectual property.
4
All - Assessment Task 3:Narrated PowerPoint
Goal:
Nurses, midwives and health professionals are required to communicate through a wide range of mediums to a diverse audience. The goal of this task is to apply your knowledge and understanding of legal and ethical principles in assessing and presenting a case study to an audience.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Oral
Format:
You will prepare a narrated PowerPoint presentation. The presentation will be 10 minutes long and using dot points, will address legal and ethical principles related to a provided case study. You will be required to produce and deliver the presentation along with 10 dot points in the note section. You will be provided with the PowerPoint template. The PowerPoint presentation needs to consider and draw on sources of relevant legislation, professional codes, practice standards and ethical theory. You need to discuss the application of principles to clinical practice and make conclusions based on your analysis of the case.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Identification, description and application of aspects of the Australian legal system and statutory bodies to nursing and midwifery practice
1
2
Definition of and application of contemporary professional ethical standards to decision making and practice.
2
3
Critically analyse health situations from an ethical and legal perspective
3

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Fiona McDonald,Shih-Ning Then 2019 Ethics, Law and Health Care 2 Red Globe Press

Specific requirements

Must have access to a computer and internet as this is an online course.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation.  It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline.  This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person.  You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin.  This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:

The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%
The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconduct

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submission of assessment tasks may 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 seven 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.

SafeUniSC

UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.

The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.

Study help

For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.

If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.

Wellbeing Services

Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.

AccessAbility Services

Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.

To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
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  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au