The University of Technology

College of Health Sciences

Caribbean School of Nursing, Papine Campus
ACADEMIC YEAR 2012-2013
SUMMER SEMESTER
Level 2
Programme:
Module Name:
Module Code:
Days:
Shift:
Duration:

Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Clinical Practicum
NURS 2004
Monday Friday
7am -3pm
245 Hours (7 Weeks 35 Hours Per Week)

DESCRIPTION
Practicum 2 enables the nursing student to practice fundamental clinical nursing skills in selected
secondary health care facilities under the supervision of designated preceptors supported by
members of faculty and registered nurses in the clinical area.
These skills relate to the hospitalized patient as well as patients/clients attending out-patient
clinics. The clinical experience allows the student to build on knowledge and skills gained during
Practicum 1, as well as to develop beginning competence in the modules covered in Year 2.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
The skills on which students will build include:
Communication
The Nursing Process
Health Assessment
These skills will provide a framework for Practicum 2.
Practicum 2 focuses on nursing skills related to the following modules:
Health Promotion
Concepts Applied to Nursing
Pharmacology Applied to Nursing
Diet Therapy
Patient and Health Care Worker Safety
First Aid and Basic Life Support
To achieve these skills the students will first observe, and then later perform these skills on
selected patients, under supervision of the preceptor / registered nurse. The students
performance will be assessed by the preceptor and or any registered nurse working with or
observing the students practice.

Clinical Examination
For final evaluation of the practicum, each student will be assigned a patient for whom they will
be required to carry out total patient care in a given time period. This will involve both practical
and oral examination and will be graded.
Aim of the Practicum
The aim of Practicum 2 is to enable students to develop beginning competence in performing
fundamental clinical nursing skills in hospital wards and outpatient settings.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1.

Communicate effectively with members of the health team, patients/clients and their
family members while providing health care

2.

Demonstrate skill in the use of the nursing process and the needs approach in
providing health care to the hospitalized patient/clients

3.

Use appropriate teaching/learning strategies, based on learning needs, in teaching

patients/clients, families and health team members

4.

Utilize nursing skills acquired in the module Concepts Applied to Nursing in caring
for patients in the hospital and outpatient settings

5.

Integrate the Principles of Infections Control in providing care to patients/clients and

their families

6.

Apply knowledge of the principles of Pharmacology in the storage, administration

and safety of drugs

7.

Use knowledge of Diet Therapy in providing nutritional care to patients/clients with

common pathological disorders

8.

Demonstrate the ability to apply First Aid measures where appropriate

9.

Carry out nursing roles and functions within the legal and ethical framework
governing nursing practice

10.

Adhere to standards of practice based on the policies of the institution/hospital and

Regional Health Authority

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
At the end of Practicum 2 students will be able to:
1. Use the needs approach to collect data in a systematic manner.
2. Use the Nursing process in the provision of health care to patient/client/family by:
performing a comprehensive health assessment
formulating nursing diagnoses

developing a nursing care plan

implementing nursing actions based on identified needs of

patients/clients

evaluating the effectiveness of nursing actions implemented

documenting and reporting of pertinent information about patient care

3. Communicate effectively with patient and family in meeting their needs

4. Communicate appropriately with members of the health team regarding nursing
care of patients
HEALTH PROMOTION
At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1. Select appropriate topics for teaching based on patients/clients families and health team
members learning needs
2. Develop teaching plans/simple programme plan to address identified needs of
patients/clients, families and health team members
3. Conduct teaching sessions with patients/clients, families and health team members in the
ward and outpatient setting using appropriate teaching/learning strategies and visual aids
4. Counsel patients/clients, families on ways to promote health
CLINICAL SKILLS RELATED TO CONCEPTS APPLIED TO NURSING
At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1. Perform accurately the following vital signs:
a)
temperature
b)
pulse
c)
respiration
d)
blood pressure
2. Demonstrate beginning competence in performing the following nursing procedures
administration oxygen, via catheter/cannula, face mark
medication administration
maintenance fluid balance charts
care of naso-gastric tubes
urine testing

3.

random blood glucose monitoring

care of urinary catheters
administration of suppositories/enemas
collection of the following specimen
a.
stool
b.
urine (routine, midstream, catheter 24 hours)
c.
sputum
apply Pauls tubing
care of the incontinent patient
bed baths /skin care
mouth care
grooming of hair and nails
application of heat and cold
care of pressure areas
range of motion exercises
make beds (including post operative)
move patients in and out of bed
transfer patients
prepare sterile field
wound care
prepare skin for surgery
prepare post-anesthetic tray
admit and discharge patients
last offices
giving oral reports
preparing written reports

Assist the patient and family to cope with illness and hospitalization.

PHARMACOLOGY APPLIED TO NURSING

At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Calculate dosage of medications

Administer oral and parenteral medication to selected patients
Observe patients for effects of drugs
Chart medications
Practice aseptic technique in administering parenteral medication
Observe and participate in procedures used for the ordering and storage of various
types of drugs
Observe the ten rights of drugs administration

CLINICAL SKILLS RELATED TO FIRST AID AND BASIC LIFE SUPPORT

At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1.
Demonstrate skills in applying the following bandages:
triangular
stump
roller
2. Apply the principles of first aid in responding to emergencies
CLINICAL SKILLS RELATED TO PATIENT AND HEALTH CARE WORKER SAFETY
At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.

Practice universal pre-cautions in providing care for clients and their families
Use nursing care devices appropriately in the providing care to clients
Apply policies and guidelines related to infection prevention and control in the hospital
setting
Display proper hand washing and open gloving techniques
Dispose of hospital waste appropriately

4.
5.

CLINICAL SKILLS RELATED TO DIET THERAPY

At the end of Practicum 2, students will be able to:
1. Conduct a comprehensive nutritional assessment.
2. Serve diet appropriately to patients; (e.g.)
temperature of food
type of food
food preferences
position of patient for feeding
3. Update the diet chart on a daily basis, ensuring the correct diet is served.
Assignment Practicum 2
Practicum project:
Clinical Assignment
Select a client from any of the area you are assigned. Complete a case study to depict the care
you and the other health care members gave to the client.
Guidelines :

Carry out a two-page literature search on the medical diagnosis including the definition,
pathophysiology, medical/surgical and nursing management.
Outline the pharmacological management for all medications to include drug
classification, indications, side effects, contraindications and nursing management.

Outline the progress of the patient (using primary and secondary source information [e.g.
lab values, progress notes]) during hospitalization.
Collect relevant data regarding to the client health history and reason for hospitalization
and conduct a complete physical assessment and
Identify three (priority) client needs, state appropriate nursing diagnoses based on the
needs identified and construct a care plan using the highest priority.
State your discharge plan following the termination of care.

Submit a copy of the assignment in the fourth week of your clinical rotation.
Assignment should be no more than 10 pages. Use APA 6th edition.

EVALUATION
Module work (Practicum project)
Care plans x 7
Final practical

50%
50%

Total

100%

EXPECTATIONS
General Guidelines

All students must receive an orientation to all new areas visited.

All students are required to make daily personal objectives relevant to the objectives of
the practicum for submission to the charge nurse to assist with daily assignments.

Students are expected to be punctual, and to attend all clinical sessions.

All students are expected to attend pre and post clinical conferences held at both the
clinical site and classroom. For sessions in the classroom the attendance register must
be signed.

Professional behavior is expected from each student at all times

Incidents and accidents are to be reported to the relevant personnel as well as the clinical
coordinator. Written documentation is to be presented to the school.

Students are expected to communicate with the clinical coordinator and the preceptor
when experiencing any challenges to include ill health or unavoidable absence. Sick

leave is required for absence of more than 3 days. All absence must be recorded on the
time sheets and signed by the preceptor.

All students must be correctly attired in uniforms. Aprons, caps, stockings and
appropriate shoes are mandatory for the clinical area.

Each student is to complete care plans for each client assigned. The plans must be
reviewed by the preceptor / faculty member present. Each week a nursing care plan that is
reviewed by the preceptor/faculty member must then be handed in each Friday by 4pm as
a part of your final assessment. A total of seven. Late submissions will not be accepted.

Clinical skills books are to be taken to the clinical area daily and updated as necessary
with the required signatures.

Time sheets and the student registers are to be signed daily.

Preceptors will be assigned to supervise students.

A preceptor evaluation is to be completed for the preceptor by whom you were

supervised.

Students will ensure that they are evaluated for each rotation. (e.g. Medicine, Surgery,
Mental Health)

Students will be credited with 7 hours for each daily assignment. Any additional hours
required due to absenteeism must be done on the assigned area from which the day was
missed and recorded separately. These must be signed by the preceptor, the staff nurse or
a faculty member present. A minimum of two hours must be spent on the unit as extra
time.

Reflective Journals are to be kept for clinical sessions. Reflections must be made for each
week in the clinical area. The reflective journal detail personal experiences and connect
them to classroom concepts. The reflection should describe and analyze a meaningful
situation observed or experienced in the clinical area (Billings & Halstead, 2009).
Professional Behaviours

Be flexible and willing to accept direction and advice from your preceptor and the other
registered nurses who staff the area.
Be an active listener. Clarify what you have been told. Seek guidance from clinical and
teaching staff.
Be positive, approachable, courteous, kind and helpful. Confidentiality is vital.
Conflict is sometimes inevitable; it is the way that you handle it that turns it into an
altercation. Remember your goals for being in the clinical area. If you are unable to

handle matters calmly get assistance from your preceptor. The management of
interpersonal relationships is an important part of your clinical practicum and good
relationships help to enhance the learning environment.
Demonstrate self direction by actively participating in the learning experience and
monitor own progress. Students must have needed resources to support learning in the
clinical environment. (E.g. nursing diagnosis manual, medical surgical text.
You are required to give safe basic nursing care at the level of your knowledge. If you are
unsure of an activity, indicate your need for assistance or a demonstration of the task
assigned.
Use appropriate hand hygiene at all times soap and water or hand sanitizer
Use gloves, gowns, eyewear whenever blood or body fluid contact or splash is possible
(Standard Precautions).
STOP and READ the signs posted over patient beds for specific instructions related to
infection control and client safety.
Recognize that cultural diversity exists. Respect people as unique individuals
If a student is ill, inform the preceptor/ faculty member and visit the hospital casualty
department to seek medical attention as necessary.

Reference
Billings, D. M., & Halstead, J. A. (2009). Teaching in nursing: A guide for faculty (3rd.
ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Saunders.