NURSING 743 - Advanced Nursing Practicum

Designed to refine advanced nursing skills and to further develop an advanced analytical model for nurses preparing for advanced practice. Advanced assessment skills along with disease management models will be taught with a focus on clinical decision making in various health settings.

Prerequisite: NURSING 773 or equivalent, and practising in an advanced nursing role

This course is designed to refine advanced clinical decision making skills for nurses preparing for advanced practice as a Nurse Practitioner (NP). NPs provide primary and specialty care and need expertise in clinical decision making. Advanced assessment skills along with disease management models and developing evidence-based clinical decision making and treatment prescribing is the focus of this course. This course is placed prior to NURSING 740 as the learning progresses over the two courses Prescribing practicum for nurses on the NP pathway.

Aims of the course

This course builds on prior learning in advanced assessment, clinical decision making, pathophysiology, pharmacology; this course will guide the student in achieving the Nurse Practitioner competencies developed by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. It is designed to sit immediately prior to the NP prescribing practicum.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of this course, a registered rurse will be able to demonstrate the skills and knowledge appropriate to an advanced nursing role:

1. Articulate their area of advanced nursing practice; providing evidence of their clinical expertise within the area of Nurse Practitioner practice that the nurse meets Nurse Practitioner competencies as stated by Nursing Council.
2. Demonstrate achievement in Nurse Practitioner competencies including performance of advanced health assessments (history taking, psychosocial assessment with cultural sensitivity) appropriate physical examination, diagnosis, treatment and care planning, implementation of care, evaluation of care and appropriate revision of care plan when needed.
3. Demonstrate evidence‐based clinical judgement which is presented logically and systematically to formulate differential diagnoses of common health problems within their area of clinical practice
4. Demonstrate integration of knowledge for advanced practice, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, bio‐ chemistry, and pharmacotherapeutics, with implementation into the client‐specific therapeutic plan of care.
5. Communicate, consult and collaborate with the multidisciplinary team as the needs of the patient/client require, including safe prescribing of pharmacologic and non‐pharmacologic treatments under supervision.
6. Demonstrate the leadership skills required to manage complex clients. Demonstrate leadership in quality assurance practices, case/peer review etc.
7. Demonstrate ability to work within national and local professional standards, protocols and guidelines.

Course structure/delivery

6 study days (3x2 day blocks), plus 1 exam day

Assessment points