Course

Professional Growth I: Nurse’s Work

Important Notice

This course is not active. Please contact Department Chair for more information.

Faculty
Health Sciences
Department
Nursing
Course Code
NURS 1130
Credits
2.00
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
Lecture/Seminar 36
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the profession of nursing. The philosophy, theoretical foundations and the foundational concepts of the program are explored. The history of nursing, including a gendered analysis of the profession, is examined. The role of the nurse in the health care system is emphasized, as is the relationship among theory, practice and research. Participants are introduced to the processes of critical thinking, critical reflection, and critical writing.
Course Content

In this course, the profession of nursing and the nursing curriculum (philosophy and concepts) are the focus of discussion.  An outline of concepts and essential content is presented below.

Course concepts are explored with the students from two perspectives: self as learner and self as nurse.  From the perspective of self as learner, students explore learning and praxis.  From the perspective of self as nurse, students explore the concepts of nursing, social construction of nursing, and professionalism and health care system.  The concepts of caring, health promotion and commitment are explored from both perspectives.

Nursing

Social construction of nursing

  • historical perspective
  • socialization
  • societal views and expectations
  • “image”

Health Care System (introduction)

  • relevant Federal and Provincial legislation. e.g. Canadian Charter of Rights
  • role of nurses and other health care workers
  • current trends and issues (introduction)

Caring

  • multiple meanings

Health Promotion

Professionalism

  • Professional Organizations
  • CRNBC
  • Examples of national and international organizations
  • BCNU
  • standards of practice
  • legal issues
  • ethics
    • Ethical conduct, code of ethics
      • client rights
  • documentation (professional issues)
  • confidentiality
  • evidence-based practice
  • professional resources e.g. libraries, journals, CRNBC, CNA

Learning

  • critical thinking, critical reflection, critical writing
  • self as learner
  • learning styles
  • readiness to learn

Program Philosophy

  • Praxis

Theoretical Foundations

  • Phenomenology
  • Humanism
  • Feminism (in-depth discussion)
  • gender issues (introduction)
  • feminist perspectives on the gendered history of nursing
  • Critical Social Theory
    Foundational concepts
  • ways of knowing
  • personal meaning
  • time/transitions
  • culture/context
  • Informatics

The four foundational concepts are discussed separately and in relation to the other concepts in this course integrating the meta-concepts, health promotion and caring

Learning Activities

In order to develop an experiential understanding of concepts included in this course, students are provided with learning activities in which they need to actively engage.  Learning activities are designed to help students experience many of the values and beliefs stated in the program philosophy, hence, experiencing the concept of praxis.

 

The teacher's responsibility in this course is to guide and facilitate.  The student's responsibility is to use resources and to actively engage in dialogue and the process of learning.  A seminar format provides opportunity for participants to share experiences and insights with others through active dialogue.

Means of Assessment

Course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Curriculum Development and Approval policy.  There will be a minimum of three assessments which will typically include exams, quizzes, papers and/or student presentations.  An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course.  Respect for individual choice and an openness to negotiation guides decisions about methods of evaluation.

 

This is a graded course.

Learning Outcomes

In this course students have opportunities to:

 

  • develop an awareness of the profession of nursing, in particular the culture of the nursing profession, the transitions that have occurred in nursing, the historical roots and traditions of the profession, the profession’s influence on present day nursing and to envision how the nursing profession may be actualized in the future.  Attention is paid to the gendered history of nursing.  In this sense, students develop an appreciation of the scope and context of contemporary nursing practice.
  • develop an awareness of the philosophy, beliefs and values upon which the Collaborative Nursing Program in BC is based.
Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

  1.  Planned Praxis Experience
    • Personal experience
  2. A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
  3. Other Resources
    • Selected readings from books and professional journals and documents
    • Health professionals
    • Selected audiovisual and computer resources
    • Guest speakers

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for NURS 1130
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Winter 2025