Course

Nursing Art & Science: Vulnerable Populations

Faculty
Health Sciences
Department
Nursing
Course Code
NURS 3411
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15
Max Class Size
36
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course Designation
Certificate in Global Competency
Industry Designation
None
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
In this course, a population health approach is taken in addressing the nursing care of vulnerable populations. This includes persons with common, predictable and emerging mental health issues and substance use disorders. Students develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable them to engage respectfully with clients and provide safe, competent, compassionate and holistic nursing care in mental health and community settings.
Course Content

In this course, a population health approach is taken in addressing vulnerable populations including those with mental health challenges and substance use disorders. In addition, vulnerable populations’ lived experiences of health, healing, health promotion and prevention are emphasized.  Concepts and essential content that will be addressed relative to these topics are listed below.  In addition, the core curriculum concepts are integrated in this course. 

Community health and population health

  • Application of principles of population health in nursing practice
  • Application of nursing practice initiatives to achieve a healthy society

Mental health initiatives

  • Provincial
  • National
  • Global

Vulnerability

  • Advocacy
  • Marginalization
  • Stigma
  • Discrimination
  • Cultural competence
  • Cultural humility
  • Cultural safety
  • Inclusiveness
  • Respect
  • Recovery
  • Hope
  • Resilience
  • Health literacy
  • E-health literacy
  • Epigenetics

Vulnerable populations

  • Mental health challenges (chronic/persistent and acute)
  • Substance use disorders
  • Harm reduction
  • Homelessness
  • Poverty
  • First Nations people
  • Sexual orientation, sexual identity, diversity, and inclusion
  • Violence and abuse
  • Refugees and immigrants

Nurse’s role

  • Prevention
  • Health maintenance
  • Living with health challenges
  • Recovery
  • Client-centered care  
  • Nursing practice decision-making
  • Trauma informed practice
Learning Activities

It is the intent of faculty to facilitate student learning, and promote critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoning through a variety of learning processes such as lecture, group discussion, debate, client-based scenarios, and use of electronic resources.

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. 

Learning Outcomes

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

  • Demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for safe, competent, compassionate, and holistic care for vulnerable people including those with common, predictable and emerging mental health challenges and substance use disorders, and those in a community context. 
  • Demonstrate the ability to formulate evidence-informed nursing practice decisions through critical inquiry, reflection and analytical reasoningin planning care for vulnerable people in mental health and community settings.
  • Apply previously learned knowledge and integrate new knowledge from a variety of sources to expand their understanding of peoples’ experiences of vulnerability.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of their role as a member of an inter-professional team working with vulnerable individuals, families, groups and communities.
  • Critically reflect on public mental health policy and population health issues and trends, and consider the implications for nursing practice.
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. 

Requisites

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.

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 3411
There are no applicable transfer credits for this course.

Course Offerings

Summer 2024