Nursing Family Practice I

Catalog description

This course, the first course in the Family sequence, addresses family and nursing theories as well as a variety of models and frameworks related to advanced nursing practice with the emerging, developing and expanding family. The family system is viewed as unique and dynamic, existing interdependently within the environment, and requiring advanced nursing care at various times during the life cycle. Learners explore the physical, social, cultural, emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of family functioning as this human system adapts to stressors associated with family development, disruption, and threats to health. Advanced nursing strategies and interventions directed toward facilitating the capacity of the family to promote the growth of its members will be emphasized. Ethical and legal dimensions of practice associated with supporting the dignity, rights, and wishes of the family in pursuing their health goals will be discussed. Faculty and students collaborate as they apply advanced practice knowledge to emerging, developing, and expanding families in the clinical setting, as well as by using fictional families, simulated patients and role-play. Students function interdependently as members of the health care team by collaborating with other health team members involved in the care of families. They use interviewing strategies discussed in course as they work within the context of family and evaluate family plans of care in relation to standards for advanced clinical practice. The course is designed to promote professional interactions and cooperative learning. It is based on the assumption that family health is a complex process and knowledge about family health is continually evolving. The approach to learning taken within this course derives from valuing “”reflective practice”“, the continual thoughtful reassessment of the interrelationships of observations, interventions, and outcomes. Collectively, we have much to share with one another: our perspectives, life experience, questions, successes and failures. All these contribute to mutual learning. Therefore, presence and active participation in class discussions are essential. The clinical portion of this course requires 4 hours per week for a total of 60 hours in the practice setting. Prerequisites: NURS 502, NURS 518 & NURS 600. Co-requisites: NURS 519 & NURS 553 (NP) or NURS 519 & NURS 556 (EDUC).