Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery

Postgraduate | 2026

Course page banner
Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your study is delivered on campus and/or online
100% online, On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
NURS 5067
Course ID icon
Course ID
207790
Campus icon
Campus
Online, Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Postgraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
12
Course owner
Course owner
Sch of Nursing and Midwifery
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Purity Ngetich
Course level icon
Course level
5
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
No
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
No
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
No

Course overview

This course will provide Registered Nursing and Midwives with the introductory knowledge and skills to recognise and respond to patients/ women with the potential for clinical deterioration. The course incorporates evidence-based care and offers the following sub-streams: acute care; midwifery and neonatal. Across each of the specialty areas the content is similar; however, the virtual tutorials, discussion forums, case studies and clinical management will vary in relation to relevant clinical specialty. Weekly topics will include respiratory, cardiac, neurological and renal considerations; a comprehensive patient/ woman assessment; discussion of the underlying pathophysiology; recognition and management of clinical deterioration; management of a patient/ woman with advanced care needs requiring a higher level of support; clinical decision making; and legal and ethical considerations in nursing and midwifery care. 

  • Respiratory assessment
  • Respiratory failure and diagnostics
  • Cardiac assessment
  • Cardiac failure and diagnostics
  • Neurological assessment and monitoring
  • Fluids, electrolytes and the renal system
  • Gastrointestinal and endocrine system
  • Infection and sepsis
  • Legal and ethics
  • Evidence-based practice and clinical decision making
  • Overview of clinical assessment
  • Advanced life support
  • Haemodynamic monitoring

Course learning outcomes

  • Evaluate the physical, psychosocial, cultural and spiritual impact of critical illness on the patient/person and their family.
  • Demonstrate integrated comprehensive assessment and clinical decision making in nursing and midwifery management of patients/persons with high acuity needs
  • Apply specialist knowledge in recognising and responding to clinical deterioration of a high acuity and/or critically ill patient/person.
  • Implement competent advanced life support for a high acuity and/or critically ill patient/person.
  • Integrate best available evidence in the management of high acuity and/or critically ill patients/persons.
  • Synthesise knowledge of ethical practice in the nursing and midwifery management of high acuity and/or critically ill patients/persons.
  • Critically analyse the use of technology in the management of high acuity and/or critically ill patients/persons.

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

  • must not have completed NURS5172 Introduction to High Acuity Nursing and Midwifery at the University of South Australia

Availability

Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Online

Group 1

Class number
Class number 50159
Section
Section 01OL
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 25
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 29 Nov - Online , Vivienne Leigh
Notes:
ACUTE NURSING CLASS - This offering is for students requiring enrolment in the Acute Nursing stream
Class number
Class number 59475
Section
Section 02OL
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 29 Nov - Online , Vivienne Leigh
Notes:
NEONATAL CLASS - This offering is for students requiring enrolment in the Neonatal stream

Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Group 1

Class number
Class number 31640
Section
Section TU02
Size
Size 25
Available
Available 19
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
7 May - 4 Jun Thursday 9:40am - 11:30am Adelaide City Campus East myLearning, Online
26 Feb - 16 Apr Thursday 9:40am - 11:30am Adelaide City Campus East myLearning, Online
Notes:
ACUTE MIDWIFERY
Class number
Class number 31641
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 25
Available
Available 6
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 9:40am - 11:30am Adelaide City Campus East , Purity Ngetich, Lyn Gum, Vivienne Leigh
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 9:40am - 11:30am Adelaide City Campus East , Purity Ngetich, Lyn Gum, Vivienne Leigh
Notes:
ACUTE NURSING

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