Minimum Course Hours: 20

Course Description

Learners integrate concepts from previous professional practice courses and explore the role of the practical nurse in community settings, including care for maternity clients, newborns, children and youth, and those with mental health and/or substance use conditions. Learners also explore cultural safety, cultural humility, and anti-racism—with a focus on Indigenous-specific anti-racism—as well as leadership and ethical practice when providing care in the community. Learners will reflect on their personal values, assumptions, and biases as well as their own self-care, especially in the context of community settings.

Prerequisites: Successful completion of all Level 2 courses and Consolidated Practice Experience 2

Corequisites: Professional Communication 3; Health Promotion 3; Variations in Health 3; Integrated Nursing Practice 3

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course the learner will be able to:

1. Analyze how legislation and the current British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) LPN Professional Standards, Practice Standards, and Entry-Level Competencies influence care in community settings, including care for maternity clients, newborns, children and youth, and clients with mental health and/or substance use conditions.
   • 1.1 Discuss the nurse’s role in reporting suspected child abuse and neglect.
   • 1.2 Explain the Mental Health Act of British Columbia and the role and responsibility of the practical nurse in applying the act.
   • 1.3 Explore professional self‐regulation, autonomous practice, and the implications for individual responsibilities and accountability of the practical nurse in the continuum of care.
   • 1.4 Distinguish which legislation will guide or direct the practical nurse’s practice in the community, mental health, maternal, and pediatric settings.
   • 1.5 Analyze differences and unique considerations of leadership and followership roles and responsibilities in the context of care in community settings.
2. Reflect on how one’s own ongoing state of health (mental, emotional, and physical) can impact the ability to provide safe and efficient care for people in community settings, including clients with mental health and/or substance use conditions.
   • 2.1 Explain the importance of self-care strategies for nurses working in community settings.
   • 2.2 Identify ways to support and assess one’s own state of health (mental, emotional, and physical) in order to provide safe and efficient care in community settings.
3. Identify necessary actions to prevent negative impact on care from one’s personal values, biases, and assumptions for clients across the lifespan seeking care in community settings.
   • 3.1 Analyze the impact of personal values, biases, and assumptions on the provision of care for diverse clients across the lifespan in community settings, including Indigenous Peoples and clients with mental health and/or substance use conditions.
   • 3.2 Describe the required actions as a practical nurse to address Indigenous-specific racism in health care.
   • 3.3 Explain the professional responsibility of fostering community partnerships to support cultural safety, cultural humility, anti-racism, and inclusion.
   • 3.4 Discuss how to engage in ongoing education and learning on Indigenous health care, traditional healing practices, determinants of health, cultural safety, and Indigenous-specific anti-racism.
4. Evaluate the influence of interprofessional collaborative relationships on a quality practice environment in community settings.
   • 4.1 Consider the roles of other health care providers in determining one’s own professional and interprofessional roles.
   • 4.2 Explore external agencies responsible for care for maternity clients, newborns, children and youth, and clients with mental health and/or substance use conditions.
   • 4.3 Discuss how these external agencies collaborate and partner within the health care team.
5. Demonstrate critical thinking skills when accessing, assessing, and synthesizing current, relevant professional practice resources to prepare for nursing practice in community settings.
   • 5.1 Use self‐reflection, including reflective journal writing, to enhance learning, critical thinking, clinical judgment skills, and nursing practice.
6. Assess ethical decision making as it applies to ethical dilemmas in nursing practice of clients from across the lifespan in community settings and clients with mental health and/or substance use conditions.
   • 6.1 Discuss the impact of stigma on ethical practice and the ethical decision-making process.
7. Describe the value of listening to and learning from people with lived and living experience of mental health and/or substance use conditions when providing care.
   • 7.1 Discuss professional responsibility in creating effective health care partnerships with individuals living with mental health and/or substance use conditions.

Course Concepts

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

• Legislation influencing practical nursing practice in the context of community care
• Mental Health Act
• Professional practice
• Ethical decision making and ethical practice
• Leadership in practical nursing practice
• Interprofessional practice
• Personal values, assumptions, and biases
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Cultural safety and cultural humility
• Indigenous-specific anti-racism
• People with lived and living experiences
• Self-care
• Self-reflection
• Critical thinking