Community Health Practicum I Health Policy Leadership – NURS 631

Course Description

This practicum course is designed to engage the practicing nurse in community health nursing with the goal of promoting and preserving the health of populations. This course recognizes that community health practice is responsible to the community as client with services provided to individuals, families and groups to promote health and prevent disease. Students will apply knowledge and skills regarding comprehensive community assessment and diagnosis, evidenced-based nursing theory and community practice models, analysis of population data, and priority setting. Emphasis is placed on biblical worldview, culturally relevant care and interdisciplinary teamwork. Clinical opportunities within the community setting are initiated.

An educational site affiliation agreement with a student selected approved facility is secured and a practicum contract is developed and established with an approved preceptor prior to enrollment in this course; practicum hours are initiated in NURS 631. Students must meet all pre-practicum requirements prior to enrollment in NURS 631.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

The purpose of this course is to prepare graduates for practice specialization within the community setting, based on an understanding of and application of principles and theoretical models relevant to population-based nursing practice.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussion Assignment

Discussion assignments are collaborative learning experiences. Each student is required to develop a thread in response to the provided prompt. For the thread (at least 500 words), the student must support his or her assertions with at least 3 scholarly citations and one bible verse in APA format. Each reply (2 with at least 250 words each) must incorporate at least 2 citations of scholarly sources and one bible verse. Acceptable sources include nursing or medical textbooks, scholarly, peer-reviewed research journal articles published in the past 5 years, reliable websites (general .org, .gov., or .edu sites are acceptable), and the Bible.

PLO 1, 6, 17; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 9, 10; MSN Essential IX; Measurable Learning Outcomes C, G

Practicum Goals and Objectives Assignments (Draft and Final)

Using the American Nurses Association Scope and Standards of Practice for Public Health Nursing (2013), the student will develop practicum goals and objectives. The student’s goals and objectives will assure that the practicum experience is comprehensive. All 6 of the Standards of Practice for Public Health Nursing will be used to develop 6 goals and 3–4 supporting objectives for each goal. A title page and reference page with 1–3 scholarly sources must be included. It is important to note that these goals and objectives will be used throughout the remaining practicum courses.

Once final approval is given by the instructor, the student will also submit a copy of the approved final version of the Practicum Goals and Objectives in their Typhon account as a Microsoft Word attachment and provide a copy to their preceptor prior to the start of practicum hours. The student has the opportunity to earn 10 hours toward their practicum hours for completing the Practicum Goals and Objectives.

PLO 4, 7, 17; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 9, 10, 12, 14; MSN Essential VIII, IX; Measurable Learning Outcomes B

Practicum Log Assignments (Initial and Final)

The Practicum/Clinical Log is the documentation of the practicum experience of which 75 hours will be completed in this course. The documentation is to be completed in Typhon.

NOTE: In addition to accruing the required number of practicum hours, there must be a passing grade for the practicum experience, which includes the following: progression with the student’s established goals and objectives, an in-depth documentation of the practicum experiences as evidenced in the clinical log, and satisfactory preceptor evaluations. Failure to pass the practicum requirements will result in failure of the course.

PLO 7, 18; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 9, 10, 12, 14; MSN Essential I, VIII, IX; Measurable Learning Outcomes A, B, G

Role Transition Assignment

The student will write a 5–7 page paper in current APA format that will explore the student’s role as a community health nurse. The paper must include 5–7 scholarly references including the course textbooks and the Bible.

PLO 4, 7, 17; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 14; MSN Essential I, VIII; Measurable Learning Outcomes A, G

Community Assessment Assignments

The student will complete an in-depth, 2 part community assessment of the community in which practicum experiences are completed. Part 1 must be 5–8 pages and reference 5 sources; Part 2 must be 3–4 pages.The assessment will include application of a theory/framework, collection of data from multiple sources, personal interviews, and community diagnoses.

PLO 17, 18; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 1, 2; MSN Essential IV, VIII, IX; Measurable Learning Outcomes C, D, E, F

Community Presentation Assignment

The student will create a 10–15 minute presentation of their community assessment and diagnosis, summarizing the Community Assessment Assignments. In the video, the student must use at least one presentation tool/platform (such as Microsoft PowerPoint or Prezi) to present information. An APA format reference list for all sources (minimum 5 scholarly sources) used to develop the presentation must be included and visible in the presentation/video. Kaltura Media (Capture) will be used to record and upload the video.

PLO 17, 18; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 1, 2; MSN Essential IV, VIII, IX; Measurable Learning Outcomes C, D, E, F

Professional Portfolio Assignment

As part of the requirements for all practicum courses, the MSN student is required to complete a portfolio that highlights components of their coursework, special projects, and practicum experiences. This portfolio is to be created using Typhon Portfolio and is available for the instructor’s review. This assignment will be completed in three parts: Part 1 = NURS 631, Part 2 = NURS 632, and Part 3 = NURS 633.

PLO 4, 7, 17; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 14; MSN Essential I, VIII; Measurable Learning Outcomes A

Evaluations (3)

The preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student at the end of the practicum experience. The evaluation will be sent electronically over a secured server through Typhon to the preceptor. The instructor will retain the preceptor evaluation and may review it with the student upon request. 

The student will complete a Self-Evaluation, an Evaluation of Site and Preceptor, and the preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student.

All evaluations must be completed and submitted as directed. Failure to submit any of the end-of-course evaluations will result in a final course grade of an “incomplete.” The student will be unable to progress to the next practicum course until the grade of “incomplete” is resolved.

Self-Evaluation

The student will complete a self-evaluation of their practicum experiences using the provided form (required but no point value assigned).

Student Evaluation of Site and Preceptor

The student will complete an evaluation of the site and preceptor for their practicum experience using the form provided. This document must be shared with the preceptor (required but no point value assigned).

Preceptor Evaluation

The preceptor will complete an evaluation of the student at the end of the practicum experience. The instructor will electronically send the evaluation to the preceptor via a secured server through Typhon.

PLO 4, 7, 17; ANA Standard (Public Health Nursing) 14; MSN Essential VIII, IX; Measurable Learning Outcomes A, B