Achievement of course outcomes requires participation in individual and group discussion of professional issues, use of critical thinking for professional decision making, and use of professional writing communication as well as electronic search and communication. The student develops skills needed to provide wholistic nursing care for healthy childbearing families and for women in relation to selected women's health issues. Students explore the physiological, psychological, and developmental stressors experienced by childbearing families. Students employ critical thinking to identify health risk factors, and to select nursing interventions and communications to help individuals and the family adapt. Students evaluate social, cultural, and societal issues that affect women's health and childbearing.
Clinical experiences are in hospital, clinic, and community settings.
Assessment of outcomes includes evaluation of clinical competencies and understandings, tests, and written assignments. The student demonstrates proficiency in use of self as a therapeutic tool to assist individuals and families to maintain or improve mental health. Emphasis is on analysis of psychological and developmental stressors related to maladaptive functioning and on concepts of major psychological theorists. Students demonstrate professional growth through self-awareness by writing the weekly journal and contributing to clinical conferences. The nursing process is utilized to meet the mental health needs of clients at clinical experience in both hospital and community settings.