Bachelor of Nursing

Ethical behaviour

Nursing courses inherent requirements - ethical behaviour

Inherent requirements statements

Behavioural stability

Nursing courses inherent requirements - behavioural stability

Inherent requirements statements

1. Behavioural stability is required to function and adapt effectively and sensitively in a demanding role.
2. Student demonstrates behavioural stability to work constructively in a diverse and changing academic and clinical environment.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Behavioural stability is required to work in changing and unpredictable environments. Nursing students will be exposed to emergency situations and human suffering and will be required to have behavioural stability to manage these events objectively and professionally.
4. Adjustments must support stable, effective and professional behaviour in both academic and clinical settings.
5. Exemplars:» Being receptive and responding appropriately to constructive feedback
   » Coping with own emotions and behaviour effectively when dealing with individuals in the clinical setting.

Legal

Nursing courses inherent requirements - legal

Inherent requirements statements

1. Nursing practice is mandated by specific legislation to enable the safe delivery of care.
2. Student demonstrates knowledge and compliance with Australian Law, professional regulations and scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Knowledge, understanding, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements are necessary pre-requisites to clinical placements in order to reduce the risk of harm to self and others
   » Compliance with these professional regulations and the Australian Law ensures that students are both responsible and accountable for their practice.
4. Adjustments must be consistent with legislative and regulatory requirements.
5. Exemplars:» Complying with the requirement for student registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
   » Complying with relevant child protection and safety legislation

Communication

This course requires effective, verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills.

Verbal

Nursing courses inherent requirements - verbal communication

Inherent requirements statements

1. Effective and efficient verbal communication in English is an essential requirement to provide safe delivery of care.
2. Student demonstrates:
   » The ability to understand and respond to verbal communication accurately, appropriately and in a timely manner
   » The ability to provide clear instructions in the context of the situation
   » Timely clear feedback and reporting.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Communication may be restricted to verbal because of physical limitations of the individual (e.g. injury, disease or congenital conditions)
   » Speed and interactivity of communication may be critical for individual safety or treatment
   » Timely, accurate and effective delivery of instructions is critical to individual safety, treatment and management.
4. Adjustments for impaired verbal communication must address effectiveness, timliness, clarity and accuracy issues to ensure safety.

5. Exemplars» Participating in classroom, simulation and online discussion, and student social media sites.
   » Responding appropriately to a care request in the clinical environment

Non-Verbal

Nursing courses inherent requirements - non-verbal communication

Inherent requirements statements

1. Effective non-verbal communication is fundamental to nursing and needs to be respectful, clear, attentive, empathetic, honest and non-judgmental.
2. Student demonstrates
   » The capacity to recognise, interpret and respond appropriately to behavioural cues
   » Consistent and appropriate awareness of own behaviours
   » Sensitivity to individual differences.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues assists with building rapport with people and gaining their trust and respect in academic, work and professional relationships
   » Displaying consistent and appropriate facial expressions, eye contact, being mindful of space, time boundaries and body movements and gestures promotes trust in academic, work and professional relationships
   » Communication may be restricted to non-verbal behaviours. Being sensitive to individual differences displays respect and empathy to others and develops trusting relationships
   » The ability to observe and understand non-verbal cues is essential for the safe and effective observation of patient symptoms and reactions to facilitate the assessment and treatment of patients.
4. Adjustments must enable the recognition, appropriate response or initiation of effective non-verbal communication in a timely and appropriate manner.

5. Exemplars:» Recognising and responding appropriately in all learning environments
   » Recognising and responding appropriately to cues in the clinical environment

Written

Nursing courses inherent requirements - written communication

Inherent requirements statements

1. Effective written communication is a fundamental nursing responsibility with professional and legal ramifications.
2. Student demonstrates the capacity to construct coherent written communication appropriate to the circumstances.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Constructions of multiple essays/assignments to academic standards are required in order to convey knowledge and understanding of relevant subject matter, procedures and professional practice
   » Accurate written communication, including record-keeping and patient notes, is vital to provide consistent and safe patient care.
4. Adjustments must meet necessary standards of clarity, accuracy and accessibility to ensure effective recording and transmission of information in both academic and clinical settings.
5. Exemplars:» Constructing essays and other written assignments to academic standards
   » Constructing a nursing report in a timely manner that meets professional standards

Cognition

This course requires knowledge of theory and the skills of cognition, literacy and numeracy.

Knowledge and cognitive skills

Nursing courses inherent requirements - knowledge and cognitive skills

Inherent Requirements statements

1. Consistent and effective knowledge and cognitive skills must be demonstrated to provide safe and competent nursing care.
2. Student demonstrates:
   » The capacity to locate appropriate and relevant information
   » The ability to process information relevant to practice
   » The ability to integrate and implement knowledge in practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Safe and effective delivery of nursing care is based on comprehensive knowledge that must be sourced, understood and applied appropriately.
4. Adjustments must ensure that a clear demonstration of knowledge and cognitive skills is not compromised or impeded.

5. Exemplars:» Ability to conceptualise and use appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items
   » Applying knowledge of policy and procedures in the clinical setting.

Literacy (language)

Nursing courses inherent requirements - literacy (language)

Inherent requirements statements

1. Competent literacy skills are essential to provide safe and effective delivery of care.
2. Student demonstrates:
   » The ability to accurately acquire information and accurately convey appropriate effective messages
   » The ability to read and comprehend a range of literature and information
   » The capacity to understand and implement academic conventions to construct written text in a scholarly manner.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» The ability to acquire information and to accurately convey messages is fundamental to ensure safe and effective assessment, treatment and delivery of care
   » The ability to read, decode, interpret and comprehend multiple sources of information is fundamental for the safe and effective delivery of nursing care.
4. Adjustments to address literacy issues must demonstrate a capacity to effectively acquire, comprehend, apply and communicate accurate information.

5. Exemplars:» Demonstrates the ability to listen to information
   » Demonstrates the ability to convey a spoken message accurately
   » Demonstrates ability to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions
   » Demonstrates accurate, concise and clear nursing documentation.

Numeracy

Nursing courses inherent requirements  - numeracy

Inherent requirements statements

1. Competent and accurate numeracy skills are essential for safe and effective care.
2. Student demonstrates the ability to interpret and correctly apply data, measurements and numerical criteria.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Competent application of numeracy skills is essential in nursing to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of nursing care.
4. Adjustments must demonstrate a capacity to interpret and apply concepts and processes appropriately in a timely, accurate and effective manner.
5. Exemplars:» Performing accurate drug calculations
   » Demonstrating accurate recording on a fluid balance chart.

Sensory ability

This course requires adequate visual, auditory and tactile abilities.

Visual

Nursing courses inherent requirements - visual sensory ability

Inherent requirements statements

1. Adequate visual acuity is required to provide safe and effective nursing care.
2. Student demonstrates sufficient visual acuity to perform the required range of skills.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient visual acuity is necessary to demonstrate the required range of skills, tasks and assessments to maintain consistent, accurate and safe care to self and others
   » Visual observations, examination and assessment are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.
4. Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the Vision impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.

5. Exemplars:» Accurately drawing up medication to administer
   » Observing and detecting subtle changes in wound assessment.

Auditory

Nursing courses inherent requirements - auditory sensory ability.

Inherent requirements statements

1. Auditory ability is required to provide safe and effective nursing care.
2. Student demonstrates sufficient aural function to undertake the required range of skills.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient auditory ability is necessary to monitor, assess and manage individuals health needs consistently and accurately
   » Auditory assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.
4. Adjustments must address the need to perform the full range of tasks involved in clinical practice. Any strategies to address the effects of the hearing impairment must be effective, consistent and not compromise treatment or safety.

5. Exemplars:» Accurately undertaking a blood pressure measurement by auscultation
   » Detecting care request by activation of call bell or calls for help.

Tactile

Nursing courses inherent requirements - tactile sensory ability

Inherent requirements statements

1. Sufficient tactile ability is required to perform competent and safe nursing care.
2. Student demonstrates adequate tactile function sufficient to undertake the required range of skills and assessments.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient tactile ability is necessary to monitor, assess and detect patients' physical characteristics and act on any abnormalities detected to provide thorough nursing care
   » Tactile assessments and observations are fundamental to safe and effective nursing practice.
4. Adjustments must have the capacity to make effective assessments of physical characteristics and abnormalities within safe time frames.
5. Exemplars:» Detecting any changes in circulation observations e.g. temperature and pulse palpation
   » Conducting a physical assessment and detecting any anatomical abnormalities

Strength and mobility

This course requires strength and mobility involving gross and fine motor skills.

Gross motor

Nursing courses inherent requirements - gross motor skills

Inherent requirements statements

1. Nursing involves physical demands and requires gross motor function.
2. Student demonstrates the ability to perform gross motor skills to function within scope of practice.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient gross motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve gross motor skills include lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, standing, twisting and bending. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety of self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.

5. Exemplars:» Maintaining balance while safely mobilising and transferring individuals or resources
   » Able to safely retrieve and utilise stock and equipment.

Fine motor

Nursing courses inherent requirements - fine motor skills

Inherent requirements statements

1. Nursing is a profession that requires manual dexterity and fine motor skills.
2. Student demonstrates the ability to use fine motor skills to provide safe effective care.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient fine motor skills are necessary to perform, coordinate and prioritise care. Tasks that involve fine motor skills include being able to grasp, press, push, turn, squeeze and manipulate various objects and individuals. Students must be able to demonstrate and perform these tasks consistently and safely to reduce the risk of harm to self and others.
4. Adjustments should facilitate functional effectiveness, safety to self and others and a capacity to provide appropriate care.
5. Exemplars:» Performing an aseptic wound dressing
   » Able to prime, accurately insert and set prescribed rate on an infusion device.

Sustainable performance

Nursing courses inherent requirements - sustainable performance

Inherent requirements statements

1. Nursing practice requires both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to meet individual needs over time.
2. Student demonstrates:
   » Consistent and sustained level of physical energy to complete a specific task in a timely manner and over time
   » The ability to perform repetitive activities with a level of concentration that ensures a capacity to focus on the activity until it is completed appropriately
   » The capacity to maintain consistency and quality of performance throughout the designated period of duty.
3. Justification of inherent requirement:» Sufficient physical and mental endurance is an essential requirement needed to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period to provide safe and effective care.
4. Adjustments must ensure that performance is consistent and sustained over a given period.
5. Exemplars:» Participating in tutorials, lectures, clinical laboratory skills development throughout the day
   » Provide consistent care over a negotiated time frame

© School of Nursing and Midwifery, UWS 2012
Adapted and used with permission