Introduction to Nursing Care of Children and Families

Course Details

• Tues: 9am – 12pm (part of rotation 1) January to February (Rotation 2) March to April Tues 9am – 12pm

Prerequisite

Concurrently taken with NUR325H

In this course students will be introduced to key concepts foundational to pediatric nursing practice. The course is grounded in the principles of child and family centered care and developmental theory – both of which are integrated throughout the classroom and clinical learning environment. The Nursing Process and the Clinical Judgement Model provide the organizing framework to develop nursing knowledge, skill, and judgement while planning and prioritizing nursing management of common acute and chronic illnesses and conditions affecting hospitalized children and their families. Students will be introduced to the 6 cognitive skill areas of the NCSBN’s Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (NCJMM) which builds upon and expands the nursing process. The NCJMM is the basis of the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) licensing exam.

This course will explore relevant topics to the pediatric population including growth and development, nutrition, sleep, safety, special needs, child maltreatment, fluid and electrolyte imbalances, respiratory distress, anemia, pain, mental health, shock, head injury, seizures, meningitis, and palliative care. Developmental, ethical, and sociocultural concerns related to pediatric nursing practice are integrated throughout the course. Assigned class preparation and learning activities provide students with the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of common pediatric topics, illnesses and conditions and the nursing care required for these   situations. In-person classroom learning activities provide students with the opportunity to apply, analyze and evaluate recently learned pediatric content. Students will be encouraged and supported to develop their critical thinking, problem solving, decision making, clinical reasoning, and clinical judgement skills through a variety of clinical case studies and unfolding clinical scenarios that aim to simulate caring for hospitalized children and their families. During clinical practice, students will further apply their learning while actively caring for children and families in an acute or rehabilitative setting under the supervision and support of their clinical instructor.