Nursing (NURS) 522

Overview

In NURS 522, you will study these foundational components of nurse practitioner practice:

• the primary health care principle of Appropriate Technology
• the community development principle of Connective Processes, and
• the Nurse Practitioner Competency of Collaboration and Consultation

You will learn to provide primary health care related to sexual and reproductive health to adult patients. . Low-risk prenatal and postpartum care is covered. You will become proficient in wellness counseling related to sexual and reproductive health. You will also develop skill in the prevention and management of acute and chronic conditions related to preconception, perinatal care, sexual health and the various stages of reproductive life.  You will consider community implications and trends and issues related to the health of adult patients of all sexual and gender orientations and explore relevant evidence-based health care resources.

Additional materials provided with earlier courses will be accessed as appropriate.

Outline

NURS 522 consists of the following 6 units:

Unit 1: Nurse Practitioner Competency – Inclusiveness, Cultural Safety and Diversity
In Unit 1, students explore components of culturally sensitive care to diverse populations in the Canadian mosaic. Inclusiveness and cultural safety are studied in relation to the determinants of health, and in relation to specific populations and social context. Students will explore strategies to promote and practice cultural safety, sensitivity, inclusive health care to populations and individuals and suggest areas for research in nurse practitioner practice with diverse populations.

Unit 2: Perinatal Care
In Unit 2, students learn to identify and utilize preventative screening and risk identification for pregnant women. Students will focus on providing evidence-based prenatal care for low risk patients. They will learn to recognize acute illness in the pregnant woman, associated chronic conditions during pregnancy, urgent and emergent obstetrical emergencies and initiate appropriate interventions. Students also learn when to refer clients to other health professionals or other appropriate resources. Post-partum care is also reviewed including newborn assessment, breastfeeding issues, and other pregnancy related issues relevant to the family. Students are NOT expected to be able to attend normal deliveries by completing this course nor are they expected to attend deliveries in their practicum experience.

Unit 3: Reproductive Health for Men and Women
In this unit, students explore health issues specific to men, specific to women, and reproductive issues experienced by both genders. Students will learn to provide comprehensive assessment, diagnoses, treatment, counseling, and follow-up for these health concerns, explore when to refer to other professionals, and finally, how to document and monitor these conditions. Health promotion and disease and illness prevention is highlighted.

Unit 4: Issues in Women’s and Men’s health
In this unit, students learn about issues and trends that affect the health of women, men and sexual minorities and covers LGBT issues, domestic violence, rape, incest and sexual violence, eating disorders, mental health and addiction. The focus remains on cultural safety, inclusion and diversity with a framework of health promotion and illness prevention.

Unit 5: Primary health Care Principle: Appropriate Technology
In Unit 5, students will review the use of technology in the health monitoring, treatment and documentation is studied, including electronic medical records, from a cost-benefit and harm-benefit perspective. The legal professional and ethical issues of certain technologies are also reviewed. Legislation, policies and standards regarding privacy, documentation and information management in the primary care setting is also studied.

Unit 6: Community Health Development Principle: Connective Processes
In this final unit, students focus on the relationship between community culture and health status, vulnerabilities and strengths in relation to the health of men, women and sexual minorities, and implement strategies to foster connections with individual clients and communities. Connective processes are studied within the context of the determinants of health.

Learning outcomes

In this course, you will access health-related websites worldwide. You will also participate in email and computer conferencing with other students. Students are expected to connect to an Internet Service Provider at their own expense.

Objectives

After completing this course, students should be able to:

1. critically analyze the primary health care principle of appropriate technology, the community development principles of connective processes and NP competency of collaboration and consultation and discuss how these influence the health of clients;
2. implement strategies to promote culturally sensitive, inclusive health care to populations and individuals;
3. explore one's own biases for special populations: poverty, obesity, smoking, alternative lifestyles, drug use;
4. identify and utilize current recommendations for health promotion and preventative screening for pregnant women;
5. identify and articulate evidence-based clinical services to well women (including pregnant women) and to those men and women presenting with gender-specific acute and chronic health concerns, at a level appropriate to a beginning practitioner, including:
   1. health history and physical examination
   2. clinical decision-making
   3. ordering of laboratory and diagnostic tests
   4. prescription of medications
   5. therapeutic communication
   6. administering treatments or procedures
   7. collaborative relationships;
   8. documentation of clinical data, diagnoses, collaborations, communications and treatments, monitoring and follow-up;
6. identify referral needs for men and women with health concerns that exceed the scope of practice of a beginning practitioner to other health professionals or appropriate resources;
7. articulates, promotes and practices evidence-based primary, secondary and tertiary health promotion and illness prevention strategies along the health-illness continuum.
8. demonstrate integration of medical and nursing management of health concerns of women;
9. recognize obstetrical emergencies and articulate appropriate interventions;
10. discuss issues and trends that affect the health of women, men and sexual minorities;
11. utilize clinical practice guidelines and review Internet-based sources of information about evidence-based health care for women, men and sexual minorities;
12. adhere to federal and provincial/territorial legislation, policies and standards related to privacy, documentation and information management in the practice setting.
13. explore the legal, professional and ethical issues in the use of technology including electronic health records, diagnostic tools and mobile devices

Evaluation

The assessment structure for NURS 522 is based on the following course activities, with the percentage weighting of each activity as indicated. The final grade for the course is a composite mark based on performance on these course activities.

Problem-Based Learning (15%)

Students will participate in case study exercises in problem-based learning activities within each unit. Postings must include the use of quality academic resources such as original journal content, evidence based clinical practice guidelines and other documents that guide practice. The use of course textbooks alone does not constitute proper referencing for PBL postings.

Assignment 1: Written Case Study (25%)

In Assignment 1, students analyze a case study that presents a health concern of a female client appropriate for a nurse practitioner to assess, treat, and follow up.

Assignment 2: Live Presentation in Class Session (10%)

Students will present a case linked to a relevant course topic in a live session and respond to questions.

Exam 1 (25%)

The midterm examination consists of multiple choice questions on Units 1 and 2 and Unit 3 - Part 1.

Exam 2 (25%)

The final examination consists of multiple choice questions and tests content of Units 3 - Part 2 through 6, inclusive.

Materials

Online Materials

• Introduction: Provides essential information about the course materials, the design of the course, and the procedures you should follow to complete the course successfully
• Schedule: Outlines the timing of course activities
• Units: Contains the 6 units that make up the course
• Assessment: Outlines the assignments/evaluation procedures of the course
• Reference: Listing of required readings and websites resources included in the units
• Clinical Practicum: Explains how to complete the clinical practicum requirements of the course

Technical Requirements

Computer System

In order to successfully complete this course, you must own or have ready access to certain computer hardware and software programs. For complete and up-to-date information on the minimum computer requirements required to complete the graduate nursing courses, visit the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies technical site.

Important links

• Academic advising
• Program planning
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