The focus of this senior level elective course is to increase clinical efficiency and self-confidence. The student is able to work as a member of the nursing team in association with a faculty member and RN preceptor. The nursing process is used to determine appropriate nursing interventions with emphasis on organization and priority setting among patients. Nursing IV involves the student in specialty areas such as the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, and Community Agencies. To develop the role as a professional, the student participates in a group leader rotation, and manager of care rotation with freshman nursing students.
Clinical experience continues to be two seven-hour days per week.
A pediatric experience and public health rotation is included in fourth semester. Students continue to focus on prevention in the clinical and health education in the clinical and community setting. In the clinical lab, the student cares for patients in more critical and complex situations. This course prepares the student to perform a holistic health assessment for an adult and child. It introduces the learner to the knowledge of age specific problems and skills necessary for implementation of a comprehensive assessment.