The nursing process is utilized as a tool to attain, maintain, and promote the health of the individual and aggregates of the community. Focus is placed on the role of the nurse in helping consumers to adapt to variances in mental and physical wellness. Concurrent clinical experiences are provided in psychiatric nursing for seven weeks and community nursing for seven weeks with one week orientation. Both community health nursing and psychiatric nursing are taught throughout the 15 week semester. The theory and clinical experience is concurrent.
Clinical practice is given in the hospital maternity and pediatric units.
Additional experiences which are aimed at health maintenance and preventive care are provided in a variety of community settings such as Family Planning Clinic, Prenatal Clinic, Childbirth Education Classes, Well Baby Clinics, Day Care Centers, Special Care Clinics, and School Health Programs. In addition, the implications of illness patterns and behavior problems of each stage of child development are presented. Included are not only the physiologic and psychologic adjustments to the reproductive cycle, but also the study of human growth and development, presented as theory and concepts with clinical application. The emphasis is placed on complex nursing situations and the responsibilities of the nurse leader in a health care facility and in the community. Class hours are scheduled for simulation exerices and comprehensive testing.