Unit Code: NAP881

Unit Name: Advanced Clinical Decision Making

Description: This course is designed to provide students with clinical decision-making skills. The diseases addressed are those common to Fiji and the management approach is appropriate to the rural outlying health facilities where the Nurse Practitioner will be deployed. Consideration will also be given to other conditions common to other Pacific countries to assist regional students in applying management and preventative approach to common illnesses. Initial assessment and management of trauma, emergent situation and complex disease states are presented due to high incidence in Fiji. During clinical rotations, along with performing complete health histories and physical examinations, students will continue to refine problem-oriented histories and learn focused physical examinations. Students will also develop skills in generating differential diagnosis, ordering and interpreting basic laboratory tests and developing appropriate assessment and management plans including consultation and referral for common primary health care problems. The concepts of continuity of care, counselling, health promotion, health education and disease prevention are integrated into all aspects of the course content.

Learning Target Outcomes: On successful completion of this course, the students will be able to: 1. Formulate management plans for patients presenting with common medical conditions using problem-oriented approach. 2. Devise management plans for patients presenting with surgical conditions using problem-oriented approach. 3. Develop management plans for patients presenting with obstetrical and gynaecological conditions using problem-oriented approach. 4. Generate management plans for patients presenting with paediatric conditions using problem-oriented approach. 5. Plan the care of patients presenting with mental and psychiatric disorders, initiate emergency interventions and refer appropriately to specialist. 6. Formulate management plans of patients presenting with life-threatening conditions, and record the findings in the SOAP format.

Prerequisite: Minimum Entry Requirement.

Prerequisite Sentence: N/A

Credit Point: 40

Offered In: Semester 1