Unit Code: EMN851

Unit Name: Fundamentals of Emergency Nursing

Description: This practical and interactive course is designed to strengthen and provide students with theoretical and clinical knowledge in emergency nursing. Through this unit, students will have the opportunity to examine the history of emergency nursing, the evidence for the use of triage and the benefits of early and rapid responses to changes in patient conditions. Through the assessment processes students will explore relevant case studies and further develop critical and reflective skills to enhance clinical practice. It provides specific theoretical justification of treatments provided in the Emergency department. The clinical competencies assessed in the course will include specific skills in triage assessment and prioritization of care, resuscitation and recognition and management of the deteriorating adult and pediatric patients. Other topics such as fluid management, drug and alcohol, medication safety, patient safety and the role of the nurse in discharge planning will be included in the weekly seminars to be conducted in the clinical field.

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Apply knowledge of physiological and pathophysiological changes in assessment and management of common emergency presentations. 2. Demonstrate efficiency in triaging patients using a structured approach to assessment. 3. Demonstrate competent skills to effectively care for patients with a range of presenting diagnoses. 4. Provide vigilant nursing surveillance to undiagnosed and/or unstable patients and provide timely therapeutic intervention to enhance optimal patient outcomes. 5. Apply advance level communication skills when reporting on patient conditions to other members of the healthcare team 6. Demonstrate technical competence in a range of essential emergency nursing clinical skills, e.g. cardiac and respiratory life support, intravenous cannulation 7. Demonstrate the skills in managing a range of minor injuries that present to emergency department. 8. Provide appropriate information and education to patients and their families. 9. Practice effectively and efficiently in an environment which is busy, demanding and constantly changing.

Prerequisite: Minimum Entry Requirement.

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 30

Offered In: Semester 1,2