Minimum Course Hours: 135

Course Description

Learners focus on the development of basic assessment and nursing care competencies and will apply nursing knowledge through the practice of clinical decision making, nursing assessments, and nursing interventions aimed at promoting the client’s health, independence, and comfort. Cultural safety, cultural humility, anti-racism, and trauma-informed practice, with a focus on Indigenous-specific anti-racism, are integrated into the learning. A variety of approaches, such as simulation, will help learners integrate theory from other Level 1 courses.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Practical Nursing Program; completion of Human Anatomy and Physiology for Practical Nurses or equivalent course with a minimum grade of 65%

Corequisites: Professional Communication 1; Professional Practice 1; Variations in Health 1; Health Promotion 1; Pharmacology 1

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, in the simulated learning environment the learner will be able to:

1. Use the current British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and the Entry-Level Competencies to guide nursing practice.
   • 1.1 Perform basic holistic nursing assessments, interventions, and documentation in stable or predictable situations, using objective and non-stigmatizing language and a trauma-informed, culturally humble, culturally safe, and person-centred approach.
   • 1.2 Discuss evidence-informed practice and clinical practice guidelines that inform nursing practice.
   • 1.3 Identify ongoing educational and learning opportunities that will enhance nursing competence.
2. Demonstrate clinical and personal care skills competently in nursing practice with healthy adults in stable or predictable situations as taught in the skills lab.
   • 2.1 Define nursing management.
   • 2.2 Use critical thinking, clinical judgment, and knowledge of holistic assessment to plan, implement, and evaluate care of clients in stable or predictable situations.
   • 2.3 Use decision support tools to assist with decision making and implementation of care.
   • 2.4 Practise safe medication administration.
3. Collaborate with clients, the interprofessional health care team, peers, and faculty.
   • 3.1 Provide a caring environment for clients by connecting, sharing, and exploring with them in a collaborative relationship.
   • 3.2. Practise communication skills required to initiate, maintain, and conclude a therapeutic relationship with healthy adults.
4. Provide care for clients that considers their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and cultural needs.
   • 4.1 Provide culturally safe, person‐centred care that is free from personal assumptions and that recognizes and respects diversity and the uniqueness of each individual.
   • 4.2 Identify one’s own values, biases, and assumptions as a self‐reflective, responsible, and accountable practitioner.

Course Concepts

Course outcomes will be met through examination and exploration of the following:

• BCCNM Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and documents that guide scope of practice
• Introduction to assessment: taking vital signs
• Focused health assessment of healthy adults across the lifespan: chest, abdomen, peripheral vascular
• Clinical decision making
• Basic nursing interventions
• Safety
• Principles of asepsis
• Standard precautions
• Musculoskeletal injury prevention
• Personal care
• Mobility assistance
• Prevention of complications of immobility
• Urinary elimination
• Digital stimulation and rectal disimpaction (see more information below)
• Fecal elimination
• Nutrition and assisting with eating and drinking
• Simple wound management (clean technique)
• Introduction to pain management (non‐pharmacological)
• Medication administration
• Principles of medication administration
• Rectal and topical medication
• Introduction to reporting and documentation
• Self-assessment and meeting own learning needs
• Introduction to nursing care delivery models
• Cultural safety, cultural humility, and anti-racism
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion