Assessment: Professional Communication Essay

Aim of Assessment

The Professional Communication Essay is your opportunity to discuss the importance of professional communication in nursing.

Answering this question in an essay format has two objectives:

- To assist you to develop academic reading and writing skills;
- And help you integrate knowledge about effective communication for nursing practice.

Details

Students will submit the assessment as an academic essay (1000 words) based on the set readings and reliable additional sources via Turnitin. No paper copy of this assessment will be accepted for marking (See Submission Requirements).

You will be provided with three (3) designated extracts found under the assessments tab on vUWS taken from set weekly chapter readings in the essential texts for this Unit. These extracts and additional sources must be referenced using correct APA style both in-text in the essay and on the reference list.

In addition to the three (3) designated extracts that you paraphrase, summarise and reference in your essay, you must also paraphrase, summarise and reference two (2) relevant, reliable and current academic sources in your essay. One (1) of the additional sources must be a nursing journal article, and one (1) must be from a reputable nursing Website source or report (e.g. the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) codes and guidelines).

Resources

- The three (3) designated extracts will be available in the Assessments section on the vUWS site for this unit.
- The two (2) additional sources may be accessed from any or all of the following: relevant electronic databases such as CINAHL and MEDLINE, and / or library shelves.
- Turnitin link for the assessment on the vUWS site for the unit.
- There are a number of textbooks and resources available through the Western Sydney University Library that may assist you. Please refer to the unit's vUWS site for specific unit resources.
Correct Writing Style

Students will write an essay that has the following elements:

- The essay is appropriately structured and contains an introduction, a middle, and a conclusion (see the information below);
- All ideas that come from another source of information, such as a journal article, a book, a website, or a report are appropriately referenced using the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th ed.) referencing style as per the Western Sydney University American Psychological Association referencing style guide, which is available from the Western Sydney University Library website (for further information see the information below);
- The essay is written in a formal tone, without the use of colloquial or slang words/ expressions;
- The essay is objective and written in the third person (he/she/it or they/them/their);
- The essay is written clearly and concisely using correct spelling and grammar and written in completed sentences and paragraphs (bullet point summaries are NOT acceptable in academic essays.
Online Resources to support your essay writing

Each week, read the material in the Learning Materials Folder on vUWS under PCALS resources. These resources provide relevant and reliable information to assist you to write well-structured academic paragraphs in your essay. Although some of this information will be presented in selected tutorials, this information can also be used as a self- directed online resource. The information includes:

1. The recommended chapters of the Professional Communication Academic Literacy (PCAL) Skills e-Resource Book.

2. A PCALS Slideshow.

You are recommended to regularly submit early drafts of your essay to Turnitin. Use your preliminary Originality Report to reflect on the feedback, and make improvements to your writing and APA referencing in-text and the reference list. You are expected to ensure you have summarised and acknowledged all sources and that your Turnitin Originality Report contains only an acceptable small percentage matching.

You can submit multiple times to Turnitin. However, only your final submission to Turnitin will be recorded so that your essay can be marked.

- Before your final submission, you can receive feedback on your draft essay from your tutor and PCAL staff if you give them a printed copy of a Turnitin Originality Report with in-text referencing and a reference list.

- To ensure that you have accurately referenced your essay, you must do the following:

a) Acknowledge all the sources of information within the essay (in-text referencing) and in a Reference List at the end of your essay using the American Psychological Association (APA) (6th ed.) referencing style as per Western Sydney University American Psychological Association referencing style guide, which is available from the Western Sydney University Library website.

b) Ensure that only material that is cited in text in your essay will appear in the final reference list.

c) Do not use of non-academic literature.