Nursing Elective: Issues in Nursing Practice Focus

Curriculum Guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
Yes
Course Code
NURS 4518
Descriptive
Nursing Elective: Issues in Nursing Practice Focus
Department
Nursing
Faculty
Health Sciences
Credits
3.00
Start Date
End Term
202230
PLAR
No
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
36
Contact Hours
4 hours/week
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning Activities

In this course, students develop and implement a learning contract under the guidance of a faculty member, advancing their knowledge development, contracting, and consultation skills.  Students engage in both individual and collective processes of inquiry to advance their knowledge in a self-selected nursing practice focus.  Each student is required to identify an area, or areas, for further study that relates to their self-selected nursing practice focus, and to develop and fulfill a learning contract.  Through active participation in seminars, students raise issues, clarify questions, challenge assumptions, and/or propose solutions.  In doing so, students refine their abilities to collaborate in processes of inquiry.  Seminars may be scheduled weekly at the beginning of the semester, then regularly but periodically during the remainder of the semester.

Course Description
This course provides students with an opportunity for in-depth examination of an area of interest that relates to their self-selected nursing practice focus. Using processes of inquiry, students enhance their knowledge and develop their nursing practice within a specific area of interest, for example, a particular practice context, client population, health challenge, or a combination of these. Students also expand their knowledge and develop their nursing practice in relation to the core curriculum concepts. Development and implementation of a learning contract in consultation with course faculty is a required element of this course.
Course Content

In this course, students’ theoretical understanding of nursing practice as it relates to their self-selected nursing practice focus is emphasized.  Concepts and essential content that will be addressed relative to this topic are listed below.  In addition, the core curriculum concepts are integrated in this course.   

  • Ethics of care
  • Relational practice
  • Leadership
  • Interprofessional Collaboration
  • Health Promotion
  • Knowledge development (critical inquiry)
  • Evidence-informed practice
  • Critical thinking
  • Critical reflection
  • Collaboration
  • Consultation
  • Contracting
Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, successful students will be able to:

  • Engage in processes of inquiry to enhance their knowledge of concepts and issues that relate to their self-selected nursing practice focus.
  • Identify, comprehend and critically reflect on current and emerging issues and trends in their self-selected nursing practice focus and consider implications for their nursing practice.
  • Integrate and apply different theoretical perspectives on ethics of care, relational practice, leadership and interprofessional collaboration related to their self-selected nursing practice focus
  • Integrate concepts from previous and concurrent courses in expanding their knowledge of their self-selected nursing practice focus.
  • Through analysis and synthesis of findings, advance their nursing practice in their self-selected area of nursing focus.
  • Demonstrate self-direction, independence, and skill in developing and implementing a learning contract, for addressing individual learning needs and a topic of interest that will advance their practice in their self-selected nursing practice focus.

 

N.B. In addition to these generic learning outcomes, students will develop specific learning goals.  These goals will be consistent with, but not necessarily limited to, the generic learning outcomes.

Means of Assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with Douglas College Evaluation Policy.  A course evaluation schedule and other course evaluation information are provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester.  This is a graded course. 

Textbook Materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:

A list of recommended textbooks and materials is provided on the Instructor’s Course Outline which is available to students at the beginning of each semester. 

Prerequisites

NURS 3411 AND NURS 3412 AND NURS 3413 AND NURS 3415 AND NURS 3417

Students in the BSN program are required to maintain a passing grade of 65% (C+) in all courses in order to progress in the program.

Which Prerequisite