NUR 443 Public Health Nursing

Practice Experience Requirements, Background Information and Helpful Hints

ThefollowinginformationismeanttoclarifytherequirementsforthepracticeexperiencerequiredintheNUR443PublicHealthNursingcourse.

Thesyllabusforthecourseislocatedhere:http://www2.tesu.edu/syllabus/current/NUR-443/syllabus_NUR-443.html

Background

Ø TherequirementofapracticeexperienceismandatedinallschoolsofferingaBachelorofScience(BSN)innursingdegreeandiscloselymonitoredinRNtoBSNprogramsbytheCommissiononCollegiateNursingEducation(CCNE),ouraccreditingbody.

Ø ThepracticeexperiencerequirementinNUR443iscloselyalignedwiththeoverallgoalofpublichealthandthecourseobjectives.

Ø CompletionofNUR443requiresa60hourpracticeexperience(90hoursforstudentswhoresideinCaliforniatomeetthatstate’spublichealthcertificationrequirements).

Ø Therearenoexceptionstotheserequirements.

GeneralDescriptions

Ø PracticeExperiencesinclude“activitiesthatsupporthealthand/orprovidecare,interactingwithavarietyofprovidersand/orwithpatientsandcannotbecompletedsolelybyastudentinisolation”(AmericanAssociationCollegesofNursing,2012).

Ø PracticeExperiencesinvolvea“varietyofactivitiesthatincludedirectandindirectcareexperiences”(AACN,2012).

Ø “Therecipientsofcareorservicesmaybeindividuals,families,groups,communities,orpopulations”andmay“receivenursinginterventionsrelatedtodiseaseprevention,healthpromotion,healthmaintenance,aswellasillness“(AACN,2012)

WhatdoesthismeanandwhatdoIneedtodo?

Duringthefirst2weeksofclass,youneedto:1)Selectageographiccommunityandacommunity-focusedorganizationoragencythatservesavulnerablepopulation.2)Discusstheselectionwithyourmentorandobtainapproval.

Duringtherestofthesemester youaregoingtoapplythenursingprocessto:

1) Thegeographiccommunity(classwork)2) Thepopulation(yourpracticeexperience– see

slide11)

WhatdoesthismeanandwhatdoIneedtodo?

Whatisageographiccommunity?

Ageographiccommunityisacollectionofpeoplewhoshareageographiclocation(e.g.,borough,town,city,county)

WhatdoesthismeanandwhatdoIneedtodo?

Whatisavulnerablepopulation?

Avulnerablepopulationisagroupofindividualsthatissusceptibletopoorhealth.

What type of organizations/agencies offer services to vulnerable populations?

There are many publicly supported and private organizations you may want to consider.

Your Nursing Skills are needed EVERYWHERE

Whattypeoforganizations/agenciesofferservicestovulnerablepopulations?

Organizations/agenciestoconsider*Ø Soupkitchen

Ø FreehealthclinicØ HomelessshelterØ HousesofworshipØ HeadstartprogramØ AmericanRedCross

Ø MealsonWheelsprogramØ Publichealthdepartment

Ø SeniorhousingdevelopmentØ Communitycenter(e.g.,forseniors,children,specialneedspopulations)

*thesearejustexamples- thelistisnotinclusive!

How do I find an organization / agency / vulnerable population?

Tolocateanorganization/agency/vulnerablepopulationforyourpracticeexperienceyoucan:

Ø TalktofriendsandneighborsØ Talkwithsomeonefromyourplaceofemployment(i.e.,communityoutreach

department,socialworker)Ø Reviewprograms/servicesatthetown,cityorcountywebsite

YouCANuseyourplaceofworkBUT:Ø thesite/populationmustbeappropriateØ theactivitiesandhoursmustNOTbepartofyournormalworkandcannotbe

doneduringyournormalworkinghours/shift.Ø youractivitiesmustmeetthedefinitions/descriptionsprovidedearlier

What will I do as part of my Practice Experience?

Ø AllclasstheoryandyourPracticeExperienceprovidethefoundationforyourCommunityAnalysisandProgramPaper(seeCourseProject#3details).

Ø BasedonanassessmentofyourpracticeexperiencepopulationyouwilldevelopandimplementaCommunityEducationProject(seeCourseProject#2details).

Ø Basedonanassessmentofyourpracticeexperiencepopulationyoucandevelopandimplementavarietyofdirectorindirectcareinterventions.Examplesofprograms/interventionsinclude(butarenotlimitedto):Ø workingwithstaffmembers/keystakeholderstoidentifyunmetneeds,analyzeavailable

data,developorimplementanewprogram,intervention,orpolicy,Ø organizingorparticipatinginahealthfair,Ø organizingorparticipatinginascreening,immunizationoroutreachprogram,Ø workingwithagencyvolunteersorstafftoidentifyanddevelopaplantoaddressunmet

needs,gapsincareorservices

Practice Experience Documentation

• You will document your Practice Experience hours in the Practice Experience Log located in your course documents.

• At the start of the semester, download the Log and complete it each time you have completed Practice Experience hours.

What are Practice Experience Hours?Practice Experience hours include

time spent:

• Assessing and working with your selected population /community members.

• Driving around to complete your windshield survey.

• Implementing your education plan (which may include physical preparation / duplicating / putting materials together).

• Interviewing a key stakeholder who is directly involved with your Practice Experience agency/organization (See Course Project # 3 details).

Practice hours do NOT include time spent:

• Traveling to and from your Practice Experience Environment

• Completing class assignments (see Course Project # 2 & 3 details) including: writing up the results of your windshield survey and interview, developing your health education project & collecting data for your Community Analysis and Program paper.

What are Practice Experience Hours?

In Summary: All time spent at your chosen community-based organization, including general discussions that take place in the community to help you understand the needs of your chosen population and/or help you plan direct or indirect care activities CAN be included in your Practice Experience Log

Summary• This is your opportunity to explore and

experience one of the many roles nurses can play in health promotion and disease prevention.

• This is your opportunity to be creative!• Try to get a head start by talking with

community members before the start of the semester.

Remember.....

• Sixtyhours=5,6or7hoursperweek(dependingonwhenyoustart)

• Questions?PleasecontactyourMentororAdvisor

Last, but not Least : Enjoy Your Learning Journey

“Nursingencompassestheartsandsciencesandrequirestheintegrationofspecializedknowledgeandskillsinprovidingcomprehensivecareforindividuals,families,andcommunities.“