In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities. Learning activities may occur in nursing practice settings, the homes of resource families, community agencies, and praxis seminars. In the nursing laboratory, students have opportunities to develop practice skills and to engage in simulations that enable them to provide safe nursing care. Praxis involves the examination of the dynamic interplay between theory and practice. Praxis is operationalized through critical reflection, journal writing and participation in seminars. Nursing practice experience provides students with opportunities to apply knowledge, concepts and theories and creates a “need to know” generating the topics of discussion, exploration and integration in praxis seminars and the stimulus for self-directed learning.
In Nursing Practice III, clients' experiences with episodic health challenges and healing are emphasized. Building on previous learning, experiences reflect the concepts from all courses in this semester. This course includes nursing practice experiences and praxis seminars. Clinical agency experience occurs in medical-surgical and maternity settings including early post-natal discharge programs. Students should be able to organize care for two or more clients experiencing episodic health challenges. Learning activities include home visits to a family experiencing an episodic health challenge (1 visit) and a generative family (2 visits). Students engage with clients and their families experiencing common and predictable episodic health challenges.
In praxis seminar, a variety of concepts from semester courses are addressed such as:
- Natural sciences
- Pathophysiology
- Pharmacology
- Nursing practice decision-making
- Evidence-based practice
- Critical thinking
- Health teaching
- Relationships
- Client
- Colleagues
- Colleagues in other disciplines
- Families
- Ethics
- Legal issues
- Legal underpinnings that support practice
- Quality Improvement
- Nursing organizations
- Nurses’ voice
- Workplace issues
- Professionalism
- Education (life-long learning)
In Nursing Practice III, clients' experiences with episodic health challenges, the generative family and the meta-concepts health promotion and caring are emphasized. This course provides opportunities for students to:
- develop an understanding of the personal meaning of the impact of episodic health challenges upon individuals and families
- continue to develop strong, effective, caring relationships
- further integrate theoretical knowledge including knowledge from the natural sciences within a caring context
- learn to practice safely through their ability to perform nursing practice skills, with an emphasis on clinical decision-making
Course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Curriculum Development and Approval policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. Respect for individual choice and an openness to negotiation guide decisions about methods of evaluation.
A clinical appraisal form is used that encompasses the five domains of nursing practice (health and healing, teaching/learning, clinical judgment, professional responsibility, collaborative leadership), competencies, and quality indicators. Quality indicators incorporate the minimal semester requirements and address what a student should know, be and do by the end of the semester. Nursing practice congruent with quality indicators is an essential component of successful completion of this course.
This is a mastery course.
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students
- Planned Praxis Experience
- Personal experience
- Resource family
- Generative family
- Family experiencing episodic health challenge
- Nursing practice experience in medical-surgical and maternity settings including early post-natal discharge programs
- Community agencies and resources
- A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
- Other Resources
- Nursing practice resources
- Other resource books and journals
- Community resources
- Health professionals
- Selected audio-visual and computer resources
- Nursing laboratory equipment and supplies