Using an interactive format for simulations, paradigm cases, and other learning experiences participants gain an experiential knowledge of the course concepts in reference to episodic health challenges. Students integrate knowledge from clients’ (individual and family) lived experiences, nursing theory, nurses’ role, pathophysiology, and pharmacology in coming to understand these challenges. Through personal experience, participants have opportunities to develop nursing practice skills including critical thinking, clinical decision-making, organizational, interpersonal, and psychomotor skills.
This course consists of a seminar component and a laboratory component. In the seminar component, clients' experiences with episodic health challenges and the nurses' role in promoting health and healing is the focus of discussion. An outline of concepts and essential content is presented below. Concepts are addressed in relation to four foundational concepts (ways of knowing, personal meaning, time/transitions, and culture/context) integrating the metaconcepts, health promotion and caring. Content related to the foundational concepts varies depending on the interests, choices and experiences of course participants. Course concepts are addressed through learning activities that are intended to assist students in integrating nursing practise skills.
Healing
- restorative, physical, psychological and spiritual – following surgery, accident, childbirth, psychological trauma
- relief
- freedom
- culture
- resilience/hardiness
Anxiety/Fear
- related to the unknown, hospitalization, separation, disfigurement and death
Acute Pain
- physical, psychological and spiritual
- pre and post-operative
- labour and postpartum
- ischemic
Transition/Change
- inflammation (injury, arthritis)
- obstruction (renal, biliary, bowel, respiratory, vascular)
- degeneration (muscular-skeletal)
- balance/imbalance (fluid and electrolyte, hormonal)
- perinatal
- neonatal
Unpredictability
- ambiguity, unfamiliarity, instability, unknown technology
- complications of illness, surgery and childbearing
- unpredictable behaviour (aggression)
Control
- empowerment
- altered mobility
- loss of reality, consciousness
Vulnerability
- invasion (acute infection, allergy, invasive procedures)
Trust
Energy/Fatigue
Technology
- the impact on caring
In the laboratory portion of the course, a variety of nursing practice skills commonly used in caring for clients with episodic health challenges are addressed.
This course is intended to foster the students’ understanding of clients’ personal meaning of varying episodic health challenges. Students have opportunities to:
- explore nurses' work in relation to clients’ experiences with health and healing
- utilize theoretical knowledge within a caring context
- further develop nursing practise skills including critical thinking, decision-making, organizational, interpersonal and psychomotor skills
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 choices and an openness to negotiation guide decisions about methods of evaluation.
This is a graded 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
- A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.
- Other Resources
- Selected readings
- Selected audio-visual and computer resources
- Nursing laboratory equipment and supplies