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Appendix 4
Education programme8
Semester One
Research, Decision-Making and Evaluation in Clinical Practice (Practice Frameworks) (44 SCQF at Level 9)
Introduction
The Family Health Nurse, like other Specialist Practitioners, is required to practise within a number of broad overlapping frameworks. These frameworks include evidence-informed practice, decision-making, and governance in health and social care. The intention of this double-weighted module is to develop an understanding of these three frameworks by exploring the concepts relating to, and the reality of, working with families and communities. The core concepts explored within these frameworks will be revisited and further developed in subsequent modules.
This module forms the first in the series of modules that constitutes the Family Health Nurse Programme. It is a mixed theory and practice module spanning the fifteen week semester (including two weeks annual leave). The module is structured to enable students to gain core Specialist Practitioner knowledge about families and community, evidence, governance and decision-making, in order to explore and embed this knowledge within practice settings. It will also support students to develop skills to critically engage with knowledge underpinning practice.
Students will be encouraged to engage with theory and knowledge based practice relating to families and community and to explore, discuss and debate issues relating to theoretical and practice based frameworks that are utilised in the health and social care systems and organisations. This module will enable the students through interaction with both peers and teachers to explore the variances that may exist with regard to rural and urban healthcare. Both formative and summative assessments require the application of these frameworks to students' practice experiences and assist students to meet a number of the core Family Health Nurse competencies.
Clinical practice
Students will undertake periods of clinical practice in which they will explore the influences on and features of the community in which they work, and begin to develop contacts with a number of families. This clinical practice will be supervised by an experienced practitioner who will be prepared for this role and act as Mentor to the student. Dedicated time will be set aside for clinical supervision during periods of clinical practice. Each week of practice includes a day of practice-related study time. Students will be able to use this time to develop their Evidence Base Portfolio through use of both structured and unstructured activities, towards achievement of the Family Health Nurse Competencies. As the period of practice continues and students gain knowledge and experience with a number of families and communities, students will be guided to critically analyse the implications for effective interventions and evaluation of their practice. This understanding and 'synthesis' is central to high level decision-making which is the hallmark of excellence in clinical practice.
Learning will be supported through:
- directly taught sessions
- group work
- self-directed study
- Web CT.
Semester Two
Working with Families in the Community
(22 SCQF at Level 9) runs concurrently with following module
Introduction
This module develops core SPQ principles and explores prior knowledge and experience in Community nursing and the rationale for change to Family Health Nursing. The identified conceptual framework of the Family Health Nurse will be critically analysed, compared and contrasted with other models of community care.
Emphasis will be placed on WHO Health 21 targets for health. This will encompass primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of illness aimed at the individual, the family and the community as a whole in an effort to reduce morbidity and set targets in collaboration with others for health improvement.
Building on content within semester one, local and national policies and recommendations will be analysed. An exploration of the management of change and inter-agency collaboration for the provision of health and social care will be facilitated. Reflective practice, ethical and legal matters will also be developed further in this module.
Recognising that the students undertaking the short course will join with those undertaking the long course students at this time, a number of supportive measures will again be made available to all students. Further computer training will be available, along with the use of library facilities, study skills, tutorial and mentor support to meet the learning needs of the students, as individually required.
This module provides the student with a strong grounding in the exploration of the Family Health Nurse role; issues surrounding autonomous practice; and an examination of the need and dynamics of collaboration with families, liaison with peers and relevant others.
Clinical Practice
Clinical experience will enable the student to apply theory to practice with a limited number of families, and enable the student to carry out a three generational family assessment and identification of health needs.
Semester Three
Principles and Practice of Family Health Nursing (44 SCQF at Level 9)
Introduction
The intention of this double-weighted module is to develop an understanding of the phenomena and underlying dynamics within the family system that may be indicative of the dysfunctional or pathological processes, thus giving an indication regarding therapeutic interventions or referrals. It is also intended to develop in the student an understanding of the connectedness of the various theoretical underpinnings of the Family Health Nurse, initially introduced in previous semesters. Therefore semester three's main outcome is to effect an integration within each student which will help develop their competence to apply these constructs in day to day practice, within the context of an evidence-based framework.
The module provides the opportunity for a period of sustained study and practice of those therapeutic skills considered necessary for effective clinical practice with families and communities. The development has been influenced largely by qualified community nurses, with the support of academic staff and it therefore reflects practising nurses' expert understanding of the skills needed for Family Health Nursing practice. Students will be exposed to a wide range of interventions, some of which are currently the province of other community nursing roles. The Family Health Nurse must possess a range of competencies, which cross traditional role boundaries in existing community nursing practice. A multidisciplinary focus in the Module provides richness and breadth of learning, together with an understanding of the various professional roles and agencies that affect families and communities. The module will be tailored to the specific needs of students - an arrangement which is important given the fact that qualified and unqualified community nurses will undertake the Programme. The campus-based learning will be facilitated via a series of focused workshops that alternate with practice throughout the semester. A life-course approach is adopted along with a clear focus on the key national and local health issues such as cardiovascular health, mental health, cancer care and child health.
Clinical Practice
Clinical practice is necessary within this module to utilise skills, consolidate learning and produce evidence of integrated understanding. Research based management of specific clinical issues and their application to the family will be examined. The student will be required to work independently at times to gather clinical information, analyse, discuss, evaluate and review it in relation to practice.
The three main sections: management, social/sociological understanding and therapeutic interventions will be subsumed within the overall semester heading of Principles and Practice of Family Health Nursing.
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