Assessment Task 3: Case Study Analysis

Weight:  50%

Due date: Week 5 – 9am Friday 2nd September.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this assessment contains images and stories of people who have passed.

Intent: Through the examination of a case study, explore Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People’s experiences of healthcare and the impact this has on their health and wellbeing.

Length: 1500 words (+/- 10%)

Task: For this assessment, you will be expected to consider the following case study:

On New Year’s Day 2016, Naomi Williams, a Wiradjuri woman, died aged 27 at Tumut Hospital, New South Wales. The cause of death was determined to be septicaemia secondary to Neisseria meningitides infection. She was six months pregnant.

The coroner investigated whether unconscious, implicit bias or racism within the health system played a role in her death. AHPRA define cultural safety to be “determined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.’ With this in mind, it was noted the Williams family reported that Naomi felt her needs were not being taken seriously and that she was being stereotyped. 

To prepare for this assessment, watch the SBS programme ‘The Feed’ which investigates the death of Naomi Williams, and read the newspaper article highlighting the findings of the coronial inquest. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VsU1tgENkA

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/jul/29/naomi-williamsinquest-coroner-finds-bias-in-way-hospital-treated-aboriginal-woman

1. Using ‘Gibb’s Reflective Cycle’, write a reflection on your response to the story of Naomi Williams. (Approximately 300 words)
2. Analyse and discuss the care that Naomi Williams received at Tumut hospital in relation to the Australian Registered Nurse Standards for Practice and the International Council of Nurses (ICN) Code of Ethics for Nurses. (Approximately 300 words)
3. Describe what implicit bias or racism is and explain how implicit bias or racism at both individual and systemic levels may have impacted on Naomi Williams and her family. (Approximately 300 words)
4. Analyse the ongoing implications of implicit bias, or racism, in healthcare for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. (Approximately 300 words)
5. As a future Registered Nurse, discuss how you could address implicit bias or racism, at an individual or systemic level, to improve the health care and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

(Approximately 300 words)

It is expected that all responses are supported with evidence based and/or peer reviewed literature and that all responses demonstrate cultural respect when referring to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Refer to the Marking Rubric as you prepare your work.