NUR461 – Primary Health Care: Nursing Perspectives

Rotation Dates:

• Wednesday September 11^th – Friday December 6^th, 2024 (Note: No clinical during the Reading Week – October 21st through 25th, 2024).

Clinical Days:

Variable days, online and synchronous clinical discussions.

Pay rate: Clinical Instructors will be paid a stipend or be paid via secondment from the respective facility for each course based on the requirements for the course. Please note that UofT graduate students will be paid the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 rate.
Stipend: To Be Determined (TBD), depending on placement confirmations from community partners including number of shifts and total clinical instruction time (Clinical Instructors do not normally receive pay for sick days or leaves. Replacement costs will be deducted from the stipend amount for time missed).

Description:

The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing Program provides a full-time, two-year, second entry baccalaureate nursing education. Given that nursing is a practice-based profession, we believe that clinical experience is a vital and integral component of the curriculum, providing students with hands-on opportunities to actively apply classroom learning to ‘real life’ nursing practice under the supervision and support of a clinical teacher. Clinical Instructors (CIs) play an important role in facilitating student learning and providing excellent clinical learning experiences to further develop students’ knowledge, skill, and judgement. CIs are expected to support both students and preceptors in placements.

CIs should be flexible and prepared to utilize additional learning modalities such as simulation and virtual clinical learning in the event a clinical day is cancelled by the organization. CIs will work closely with the Clinical Education Office and Course Faculty to develop and share resources to support the continuity of clinical teaching and student learning. CIs are required to complete all on-boarding and orientation activities required by the faculty as well as the clinical placement site prior to the start of the placement in preparation for their clinical teaching role. Ongoing support will be provided throughout the term by Course Faculty, the Undergraduate Clinical Resource Faculty, and the Clinical Education Office.  Applicants should note that commitment to the role for the entire term is needed for consistency in the development, assessment, and evaluation of nursing students.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Complete the asynchronous CI orientation learning modules as required and attend the in-person Faculty-led CI orientation for NUR461.
2. Complete all on-boarding and orientation required by the University as well as the clinical placement sites.
3. Familiarize themselves with and uphold all faculty and University policies related to clinical placements (e.g., CI and student absences, Professional Behaviour).
4. Assist students in creating clinical learning objectives for their respective community placements that are reflective of course outcomes, clinical practice expectations and students’ level of learning.
5. Assist in the delivery of a primary skills lab and simulations for students, in collaboration with faculty (Three – hour primary skills lab on Friday September 6^th, 2024; simulation hours / dates / times TBC).  
6. Encourage an inquiring, theory, and evidence – based approach to nursing practice.
7. Facilitate interprofessional and intraprofessional communication among students and all members of the health care team.
8. Collaborate with the NUR461 course instructors to plan the weekly virtual clinical discussion sessions in alignment with the course theoretical concepts.
9. Prepare for and facilitate a weekly online, synchronous two-hour clinical discussion with the students, reflecting on virtual case scenarios completed by the students and building on existing clinical experiences.
10. Monitor student performance and assess student progress with meeting the clinical practice expectations for the course.
11. Participate in weekly email communication with course faculty and provide a brief update and / or identify any concerns about students’ experiences and clinical progress. 
12. Ensure ongoing communication with students, preceptors, and course faculty.
13. Provide students with ongoing verbal feedback about their progress in meeting the clinical expectations for the course.
14. Collaborate with course faculty throughout the term as needed to deal with student clinical placement issues.
15. Complete an online written final clinical evaluation of each student incorporating feedback from all clinical shifts that highlights their learning and progress in meeting the clinical practice expectations for the community placement.

Qualifications:

1. Excellent understanding of primary health care principles and the social determinants of health.
2. Professional nursing experience in public health and community health, including rural and/or underserved settings.
3. Current registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario as a Registered Nurse or Registered Nurse in the Extended Class.
4. Current membership in the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (RNAO) is preferred.
5. Master’s degree in nursing or equivalent is preferred; BScN is required.
6. Previous teaching experience will be considered an asset.
7. Excellent facilitation, analytical, and written and oral communication skills.
8. Competent in MS Office applications.
9. Experience using online Learning Management Systems.