The exposure to entire shifts under the direction and guidance of a preceptor is expected to increase students' abilities to identify factors influencing client needs. The nursing process is used to determine appropriate nursing interventions with emphasis on organization and priority setting. Major health concerns which are included are psychiatric problems, blood disorders, hepatic problems, immunological problems, musculoskeletal disorders, cancer, genitourinary problems, gynecological problems, neurological disorders, and acute cardiac problems. The student considers some of the major health problems of children. Further incorporation of therapeutic verbal and nonverbal communication skills is pursued in complex situations.
Clinical experience is increased to two seven- hour days per week.
The student begins to care for patients in more complex situations in the clinical setting. Each student completes a psychiatric rotation and a rotation to an agency for treatment of dependency disorder. Clinical Pharmacology is an elective course for senior nursing students, BSN transfer students and Registered Nurses. This advanced course involves the study of drug preparations, their mechanism of action, physiological effects on the body, methods of administration, therapeutic dosages, caregiver responsibilities, interactions, untoward effects and legal implications. Each student designs and implements a project to teach a client about their medication or medications.