NUR3020
Assignment 2: Topics for
Professional Practice
Contents
Objectives: Assignment two: 1
Overview 1
Topics (each must have an Australian and ‘new graduate’ focus): 2
Aims/Pitch/Audience: 2
Process 3
Guidelines 3
Objectives: Assignment two:
After successfully completing this assignment students will:
1. Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of a topic pertinent to the practice of a new graduate Registered Nurses in Australia
2. Develop an essay with an appropriate/effective theme and supporting evidence/theory on an assigned topic.
3. Apply published theory and evidence-based-practice to a theme.
4. Synthesise published material with the student’s own analysis to demonstrate appropriate discussion/conclusions.
5. Demonstrate professional communication at an exit level (final semesters of third year) in the accepted form of an Academic Assignment.
Overview
The student is to write a journal article (for mock publication) about a topic of relevance to Registered Nurses, particularly those beginning their practice. The topic is to be selected from the list below. The essay is expected to have a theme (i.e. a ‘point’, a statement or an argument) and then be supported from appropriate and current literature.
The purpose of the essay is to accomplish the learning objectives. To give it a context it is to be considered as an article for a mock Australian journal which is to be published for New Graduates (Beginning Practitioners, new Registered Nurses).
Topics (each must have an Australian and ‘new graduate’ focus):
(these are the topics – the student needs to create their theme which they will develop and support from these topics)
1. Transition from Enrolled Nurse to Registered Nurse
2. The experience of Overseas Registered Nurses transitioning to practice in Australia
3. Socialization and assimilation for new Registered Nurses into the field of practice
4. The registered nurse’s scope of practice in delegating duties to other personnel including non-licensed workers
5. The experience of practice for new graduate Registered Nurses compared to their prior learning at university
6. Expectations of new graduate nurses in Australia.
7. Acquiring a professional identity as a registered nurse (the process of becoming a professional and/or socialisation into the profession for new graduate registered nurses).
Aims/Pitch/Audience:
1. Essay conventions are expected (introduction/conclusion).
2. The aim is to write current and pertinent information targeted for novice Registered Nurses in the Australian Environment.
3. Although writing ‘to’ this audience – the essay should be in third person and not second (i.e. ‘the nurse’ rather than ‘you’)
4. A high level of scholarship (researching the literature, using the literature and writing the paper) is expected. To these ends, 12 pertinent and current resources is the minimum. Current means in this course 8 years ‘young’ unless a seminal (classic) work. Sometimes secondary citations in a current article will be older (please check in a timely manner with the examiner if in doubt).
5. The topics above are ‘topics’ not themes. It is expected students will design a theme from one of these topics and clearly demonstrate that argument through the paper.
6. The essay is to be published as assignment – there are NO marks for spending time ‘publishing’ and formatting it for a journal (with attractive columns, pictures, fonts etc.) This is not a good use of student time as it is the content, writing and referencing skills which are being assessed.
Process
1. Due Dates: Written Piece: October 26, 2015
2. Word limit is 2000 – 2250 words
3. Assignment represents 50% of the work in the course – Marking guide is out of 25 marks.
4. This piece of assessment is an individual submission; it is not group work – it must be the student’s own and it will be electronically tracked against other submissions and submissions from previous semesters.
5. Submitted via study desk link (only) - no emailed copies or hard copy accepted
6. Please submit Marking Guide as a separate document (in WORD).
7. Please note referencing is APA6 as per USQ library guidelines.
8. Negative marking will occur for: a) word count beyond or below parameters; b) late submissions; c) the omission of a marking guide
9. Request for extensions are for extenuating circumstances and must be negotiated with the examiner. The examiner will request a ‘work in progress’ at the point of request. Clinical practice or being internetchallenged (i.e. away from resources) is NOT an acceptable reason for an extension. Nearly ALL students in this course have clinical practice and students need to plan accordingly. In addition many students are graduating this semester and the timeframe is tight to have marking/moderation and grade moderation done for grades release.
Guidelines
1. Use strong themes and support these well – write clearly to the audience (the reader).
2. Students must use APA6 (consistently).
3. Achieving correct referencing formatting is just one aspect of referencing. More important is how to a) use someone else’s published material, b) correctly synthesise it into the student’s own work – and c) correctly acknowledge that it is either a published author’s work – or ascribed to someone else within their work (a secondary citation).
4. The use of ENDNOTE is encouraged and some allowance for MINOR punctuation anomalies will be allowed if the student uses ENDNOTE (i.e. capitalisation in the title).
5. Academic staff assistance is provided to answer questions, look at themes or student outlines or assist with resources. We are not in a position to review drafts – but we will help with specific questions or help with clarifying either the assignment instructions or the individual student’s plans for their writing! For this assignment students are encouraged to submit their THEME to the examiner (well ahead of the due date).
6. Students affirm when they turn assignments into study desk that it is their own work. Any breach of this is a breach of professional ethics (which is what is studied in this course) and this will be penalised appropriately. The assignment will be electronically tracked against other submissions and against published work.
Turning in work that someone else has done for you and stating that it is your own is considered fraud. It does not reflect well on a student who is soon to be a Registered Nurse in Australia. It does not reflect well on the profession.
7. The version that the student submits to study desk by the due date (or an approved extension) is the ONLY VERSION which will be marked. This is the student’s responsibility to ensure it is correct. Stating later that it was ‘just a draft’ or an assignment for another course will be treated the same as a late assignment with penalties. The reference list is expected at the time of submission and will incur late penalties if submitted after the due date.