Introduction
The clinical Practicum manual is a document designed to provide guidance for
the associate nurse student running program to determine the level of clinical
attachment by year throughout the program.
Clinical placement provides an important opportunity for associate nurse students
to apply skills and theory in real life situation in a variety of clinical settings.
Experiencing nursing in different types of health care environments is important for
professional growth and development. It enables students to gain competence of
many various skills required across various health care settings.
The placements will be conducted on a daily basis and they are organized at the
level of community, health center or hospital depending on the clinical objectives.
The goal of the clinical placement is to provide each student with the experience,
clinical skills and attitude in line with theoretical package acquired in class. Clinical
practice for Nursing profession involves both theory and clinical practice which is an
important component required to help students translate theory into practices by any
student undergoing training. It involves the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor
domains. The students will be supported by a teacher from the teaching institution
who supervises and assists in meeting the clinical learning and assessment needs.
The teachers will be supported by the mentors at the health facility settings.
This manual provides hints on clinical practice for students to further equip them and
to provide effective quality basic nursing care for clients at all levels of health care
settings. It will guide teachers and students in a variety of settings to provide quality
and efficient client care. It will also be a resource in coaching and mentoring student
to build their competence and confidence in client care. The manual will provide
clearly defined roles and expectations of each party during clinical experiences.
Students will be able to cultivate their critical thinking, clinical reasoning, interpersonal
communication and interprofessional collaborative competencies.
The incorporation of this manual into the clinical setting will facilitate a successful
placement by providing students with the resources they need to engage with the
community members, healthcare team, clients, and their families fully and safely.
During clinical practice, clinical facilitators and students are all involved in clinical
placement activities and assignments.
1.1 Purpose of the clinical placement
The aim of this clinical module is to provide a clear and comprehensive document
that outlines the start to end process and guidelines which govern the clinical
placement for associate nurse students. Clinical teaching is a core component ofnursing education.
The clinical teachers’ roles and responsibilities are to supervise and coordinate
clinical activities in order to empower students to gain clinical competence in termsof knowledge, skills and attitude as well as confidence in all acts.
1.2 Structure of clinical placement
The clinical placement aims to introduce students to the clinical and practical
sessions expected of them as professional associate nurses. It introduces students
to maternal, health, medical and surgical conditions which require optimal theoretical
package of nursing care in their theoretical courses. The clinical practice goes
beyond the health care setting and extends to the community setting to familiarize
themselves with the environment where individuals and families live as well as
identifying their problems and seeking interventions. The competence students
will gain in this clinical practice will enable them to carefully and professionally
implement relevant nursing care and community interventions based on the needs
of individuals, families and communities.
The clinical placement starts in senior four (4) where students need to integrate
theory into practice. The placement is organized in six (6) periods per week and
each period takes 40 minutes per day totaling to four (4) hours in week while the
year is composed of three (3) trimesters.
In senior five (5), the clinical placement is organized in seven (7) periods per week
while in senior six (6) it is organized in 10 periods. Like in senior four, each period
takes 40 minutes per day in week. Every year is composed of three (3) trimesters.
SECTION 2: PRE-CLINICAL PREPARATION
In preparing for a clinical placement, there are some important requirements to
organize and information to gather or to communicate. These preparations are
required for good practice to help students get the most out of the clinical experience.
The students’ behavior and attitude need to be considered before clinical practice
as you prepare for general conduct that you will expect them to demonstrate whilein clinical placement.
2.1 Strategies to be considered when preparing the clinicalplacement
The following strategies need to be considered when preparing the clinical
placement:
– There is need to read through the materials provided by the training institutions
such as policies and procedures relating to clinical placement. The old saying
‘knowledge is power’ is true.
– Prepare and compile the clinical materials according to clinical objectives
– The students’ behaviors need to be considered along the clinical teaching in
the delivery of nursing care to clients. This will inform the behavior, attitude
and the general conduct that is expected to be demonstrated during clinical
placement
– The student orientation information needs to be prepared for clinical placement
and knowing what to expect about the types of clients and services provided
in the facility
– The students’ clinical objectives should be formulated to meet the students’
clinical expectations
– The teacher needs to create linkage through interprofessional communication
and collaboration with hospital leadership authorities and the in-service
nurses during clinical practice
2.2 Responsibilities of the Faculty
– Ensures that all documents related to the clinical teaching plan are prepared
– Ensures that the clinical site staff are well informed
– Schedules communication with clinical staff to gain mentor support on student
practice and progress, these conversations should occur minimally at the
beginning of each clinical course, midterm, and in the final week of clinical for
each course unit
– Reviews if the clinical hours planned on a weekly basis are met and if not,
plan ahead accordingly.
– Ensures all evaluation processes are completed in a timely manner
– Reviews clinical competencies on a weekly basis and provide feedback to
students as needed.
– Reviews individual student clinical experience at the completion of each
clinical course
– Collaborates with the hospital staff around student assignments for required
clinical experiences
– Coordinates student clinical learning with clinical facilitators
– Ensures that student clinical experiences commence as soon as feasible at
the beginning of a courses
– Ensure that students will be able to complete the required clinical hours within
the timeframe of the course
– Evaluates student competencies in the clinical setting using clinical facilitators’
input to ensure students are providing optimal client care while adhering to
objectives, guidelines and standards
– Documents student clinical performance and evaluation
– Assesses the process of student clinical evaluation within a course and
recommends improvements when necessary
– Takes note of student difficulties in meeting clinical objectives
– Ensures the student have pre-required theory and practical demonstrations
before clinical placement
– Clinical experiences and time spent in each experience should be varied
and distributed in a way that prepares the student to provide care to the
populations served.
– Provide students with all clinical documents: clinical objectives, portfolio andattendance lists
2.3 Orientation of the students at school for clinical practice
The first two (2) clinical periods will be spent in the school most probably in the skills
laboratory. This aims to brief the students on the tools needed in the clinical practice,
lay their anxiety and remind them the way of conducting themselves throughout theclinical practice. The teacher will:
Address the students and prepare them for the clinical experience
– Lay their anxiety especially during the first week of year 4 in facing new
situations that will be encountered in a clinical placement
Remind students the ethical code, professional code of conduct as well as guidelinesthat govern the nursing profession
2.4 Ethical code of conduct
– value quality nursing care for all people
– value respect and kindness for self and others
– value the diversity of people
– value access to quality nursing care while respecting the equality
– value informed decision making
– value a culture of safety in nursing and health care
– value ethical management of information
– value a socially, economically, and ecologically sustainable environment
promoting health and wellbeing
2.5 Professional code of conduct
– students practice in a safe and competent manner
– students practice in accordance with the standards of the profession and
broader health system
– students practice and conduct themselves in a professional manner
– students respect the dignity, culture, ethnicity, values, and beliefs of people
receiving care and treatment including their families
– students treat personal information obtained in a professional capacity as
private and confidential
– students provide impartial, honest, and accurate information in relation to
nursing care
– students support the health, wellbeing and informed decision making of
people requiring for or receiving care
– students promote and preserve the trust and privilege essential in the
relationship between student and clients
– students maintain and build on the clients’ trust and confidence in the nursing
profession
– students practice nursing reflectively and ethically
– Inform/remind them to observe the clinical policies, rules and regulations
– Remind the students about the professional dressing code
– Explain the safety and hygiene regulations
– Prepare all materials needed in a real work situation: Thermometer, Blood
pressure apparatus, second hand wrist watch, a note book, logbook and pen
– The clinical objectives and learning outcome are explained to the students– Remind students they are students and not workers
2.6 The Student Role
The points below outline the role of the student within clinical placement:
– The learners must have the content to apply in clinical placement
– Students will be held accountable for her/his acts
– Respect punctuality at all times.
– Demonstrate professional and ethical behaviors to all persons in the
healthcare environment.
– Gathers information, completes, and submits the clinical portfolio at the end
of each trimester.
– Provide a copy of the clinical objectives to the respective departments during
the clinical practice.
– Participates in some morning staff meeting, clinical presentations.
– Complies with the institution’s rules and regulations.
– Respect the dress code: Wear professional attire.
– Wear your identification badge in all clinical experiences.
– Ensure privacy, personal and confidential information related to clients, family
members, employees and people affiliated with your practical experiences.
– Avoid to disclose or access any personal or confidential information
unnecessarily.
– Respect Clinical hours for each period– Collaborate effectively with other team members.
2.7 Information on clinical support
The Teacher will brief students on how they will be supported while in clinical practice.
This support will be from a clinical mentor who is facility based for continual support
of students in addition to the school teachers. A mentor is someone who provides
a relationship that facilitates a student’s personal growth and development. It is a
dynamic relationship. The mentor guides the student through the organizational
networks of the clinical environment. Students are informed that:
– It is important to develop a good relationship with the clinical facilitator
– Students will spend much of their time with clinical facilitator
– Students must have the ability to communicate their learning needs which will
help to attain their goals
– Students should observe what the clinical mentor does and inquire about theperformed care/ interventions
2.8 Orientation of the students in health care clinical setting
Clinical practice orientation provides students with accurate information to make
them more comfortable during the clinical practice. It also facilitates students to
adapt faster and increases confidence throughout their practice. Orientation also
introduces students to the clinical staff/ community members and integrates them
into the clinical setting culture.
When the students arrive at the clinical site for the first time, the teacher will have
to do the following:
– Introduce students to the clinical site leadership specifically to the head of
Nursing services who does it through an institutional tour as an opportunity to
show them all services within the institution etc….)
– Introduce the students to team working within the clinical setting
– The clinical objectives and expected outcomes are communicated to the
clinical setting
– The teacher (clinical facilitator) collaborates with the health care authorities inpreparation for the commencement of clinical practice
After the institutional tour, the head of Nursing services or delegate will hold a
session and:
– Get to know students through self-introduction
– Explain the organizational structure and hierarchy of the institution
– Explain to the student the facility overview
– Explain the work policies, rules and regulations of the health facility (ethics,
values, institutional culture, code of conduct, working timetables, safety and
health procedures, insurance policies, the clinical placement agreement aswell as other relevant documents).
2.9 On site Clinical support
The students need some additional support to perform well in their role in order
to reach their full potential. The teacher will communicate to the clinical staff and
prepare them for this need.S/he/ will:
– Make sure that the staff supporting students are confident enough before the
students start clinical practice
– Speak to clinical staff to check that they are confident enough to work with
and support students in the clinical setting
To achieve this, you will need to:
– Hold a short meeting with the clinical staff
– Ensure you know if students have any specific support needs (for example, alanguage difficulty, physical disability etc…) and plan for their support
SECTION 3. FACILITATION OF PROCEDURES IN CLINICALSETTING
This step is concerned with the “learning by doing” in the clinical setting where the
student is required to perform different procedures assigned under the supervisionof the clinical mentor/Clinical class teacher.
3.1 Task assignment
Following the weekly plan at hand, the Clinical facilitator will assign tasks, demonstrate
(know how transfer) and coach the student thereby providing guidance and clear
instructions for the adaptation of the demonstrated procedure. Task assignment
follows the main steps as indicated below:3.2 Preparing the student in clinical setting
– Prepare all tools, materials, and eventually the client (visual aids in a real
work situation)
– Welcome the student in a friendly manner and arouse his/her interest
(motivation)
– Present him/her with the needed materials, equipment and explain how they
function
– Ask questions to check prior knowledge
– Explain the safety and hygiene regulations
– Place him/her in a good position to observe well
– Explain the significance of the task to perform (why it is needed)– Explain the learning outcome to the students
3.3 Clinical preparation checklist
3.4 Demonstrating and explaining
The Clinical facilitator demonstrates how to do the assigned procedure /task (the
process and where to pay more attention when needed) what to use, how to use
tools, materials and equipment as well as how the system and equipment work.Specifically:
– The Clinical facilitator explains exactly WHAT is being done, HOW it is being
done it and WHY the procedure is done in this way and not in any other way
– Before the student’s exercise, the complete procedure to be learned is
demonstrated by the clinical facilitator at a normal speed
– After this, the complete procedure is demonstrated slowly in partial steps/
actions
– The student is asked to watch the procedure carefully and to ask questions
if necessary
– The student and the clinical teacher /mentor should ensure that each work
step is explained and supported verbally3.5 Adaptation
3.5.1 Imitation (Return demonstration or try-out-performance by thestudent)
– Under continuous observation of the Clinical facilitator, the student imitates
the procedure and takes care of the single work steps
– The Clinical facilitator corrects the performance if it is not conforming to the
procedure process
– The Clinical facilitator ensures demonstration of the procedure, respecting
health and safety guidelines
– He/she makes no criticism or negative judgment but gives constructive
corrections
– During the course of demonstration and learning, a little praise is helpful to
motivate learning
– After repeating all work steps, the student should be asked to explain every
single step. Verbal support during the exercise renders the learning process
more effective and improves the retention of information
– Finally, first the learners and then the Clinical facilitator should repeat the
complete demonstration once again as comprehensively as possible. In
this way the requisite standards of quality and quantity are mastered by thestudent once more before they go on to the unsupervised exercises
3.5.2 Mastering by practicing
– The student practices to acquire the necessary skills directly during
implementation of procedures in the real clinical setting
– The student develops a sense of the pace of work, becomes more confident
and secure in handling the equipment and materials, then begins to look
autonomous during practice with less physical effort but more efficient
– The Clinical facilitator must remain in the vicinity during the phase of practice
– She/ he must regularly check that the student performs the activities correctly
to avoid errors. Such errors may be difficult to reverse and even if possible, a
lot of harm will have been caused
– To achieve the learning success and mastery there is need to repeat the
exercises again
– Stay near to the student to answer any questions and observe how she/heperforms
3.5.3 Closing the session
– Ensure respect of the standards
– Clean the learning space
– Clean and replace used resources in the right place or place them where they
are supposed to be
– Ensure safety and security measures
– Ensure lifetime of resources for future re-use
– Record and report what has been done
– Close the session and agree on the way forward
– Provide constructive feedback
– Provide assignment if necessary
– Encourage students to have individual development plans
Considering that the Clinical teaching and learning is an effective way of transferring
technical skills and preparing for the labor market and further learning. With the
help of the Clinical facilitator, the effective adaptation requires the student to be
integrated in the Clinical setting team and to build relationship with the Clinical
facilitator and coworkers.
For this reason, not only the student has to adapt him/herself to the procedures
assigned to be performed as directed and demonstrated by the Clinical facilitator,
but also to the working conditions including:
– Observing the conditions of clinical setting learning agreement
– Behaving in a courteous and professional manner
– Obeying all rules and regulations
– Not wasting, damaging or injuring the property, goods or business of the
institution
– Working towards achieving the competencies according to the training plan
– Undertaking training and assessment as required under the training plan– Keeping the training records and produce it when required
NB:
– Students with disabilities and others with special need education should
benefit from appropriate facilitation and supervision throughout their learning
– An overview of the clinical setting/site health and safety protocols, includingfire and evacuation procedures should be done
3.6 Application and transposition
3.6.1 Mentoring
Mentoring is providing continual guidance and empowering a student to advance
towards a desired goal. It is a process that leads a student to self-reliance or
confidence. Therefore, for a student to build autonomous capacity, the clinical
facilitator creates situations and conditions where a student applies the same skillsin a different context. In such case, the clinical facilitator will play a role of a mentor.
The level of supervision and support that is expected from the clinical facilitator
includes regular checks on how you are progressing throughout the shift, groupdebriefing sessions and one-on-one time for specific skill assessments.
The clinical facilitator provides clinical teaching with opportunity of acquisition
and demonstration of skills covered in theory. There are key skills that a clinical
facilitator is required to have in order to assist the student attain confidence andcompetence in provision of quality mentoring and health care. These skills include:
– Clinical proficiency and capacity to make decisions
– Willingness to mentor students on site
– Capacity and desire to motivate the student to perform well
– Familiarity with and ability to use clinical standards– Ability to facilitate a case discussion
3.6.2 Roles of the clinical facilitator
The clinical facilitator is a person who provides clinical teaching with opportunity ofacquisition and demonstration of skills covered in theory.
The level of supervision and support that is expected from the clinical facilitator
includes regular checks on how students are progressing throughout the shift,
group debriefing sessions and one-on-one time for specific skill assessments forprogression. This includes to:
– Participate in identification of learning needs of the nursing students
– Set goals with the students in collaboration with the institution and in line with
the curriculum.
– Provide patient care in accordance with established evidence- based nursing
practice standards
– Fulfill nursing duties according to hospital and training institution’s policies
and procedures
– Facilitate the student’s professional socialization into the new role by building
their practice.
– Provide the student with feedback on his / her progress, based on clinical
facilitator’s observation of clinical performance, achievement of clinical
competencies and patient care documentation.
– Participate in educational activities of the institution to promote continuous
learning and professional growth of nursing students.
– Promote safe, effective and qualitative client care
– Know the strengths and weaknesses of the student, find experiences to
address the weaknesses and capitalize on the strengths
– Create a non-threatening environment to make integration and transition less,
stressful for the students.
– Outline the requirements and expectations of both the clinical facilitator and
students
– The mentor is expected to notify the Course Faculty immediately when the
performance of the student is in question
3.6.3 Mentoring Tips
Students should be assigned a clinical facilitator who also acts as a mentor. The
clinical facilitator may assign other employees the role of a mentor because the
student is going to be spending time in different departments of the institutions. A
mentor is an experienced person who trains, guides and advises someone to help
them learn something new.
The type of clinical supervision and support that you will experience may differ
depending o health care environment where students are placed. Here are some
examples and explanations of the types of clinical support, and where you mayexperience that model of supervision.
3.6.4 Procedure to reduce risk of training dropout
According to Clinical placement syllabus/and education system each end of term,
there is a midterm clinical setting assessment which will be graded to show the
student’s performance progress. The marks will not be considered at the end of
the term but it will be recorded. At the end of every term there will be clinical setting
comprehensive assessment for all students organized in which the general situation
of progress of the student is assessed. If the conclusion is that the student shows
difficulties and risks to repeat the class/program; the herewith described proceduremust be applied.
The procedure aims to fast intervene and define effective measures. This should
happen as early as possible in the first term of the year. A discussion based oncareful professional assessment is the right way to do this.
3.6.5 Coaching
Coaching is an ongoing professional learning relationship in which a clinical
facilitator with appropriate competences inspire students (by challenging them) to
maximize their professional potentials through initial and follow up conversation
aiming to support them to learn from within rather than teaching them. It builds on ashared understanding on effective teaching, learning and leadership.
As students get in deep of application or develop autonomous capacity, the clinical
facilitator shifts from the mentoring to the coaching role. Through the conversation,
the clinical facilitator helps students to be able to find solutions to the problems andchallenges they encounter in the clinical setting.
The student should be able to use the professional language and quality standards,
as well as methods, procedures, equipment, and materials in a professional manner(professional competence).
– Throughout clinical setting learning process, the clinical facilitator must
highlight that:
• The quality work should be organized carefully and consciously
• Attention is paid to the economic and ecological aspects
• The professional work techniques, learning, information, and communication
strategies are applied in an objective-oriented way
• Thinking and acting in processes and networks is needed
– The coach facilitates the student to consciously shape his/her relationships
with her/ himself, in the team and with customers and deal constructively withchallenges in communication and conflict situations
– Let it be known that students reflect on their thinking and acting on their
own. They are flexible about changes, learn from the limits of resilience and
develop their personality. They are willing to perform, maintain good working
posture and continue to train for lifelong learning
– Guide the student in time management and setting procedures priorities
(e.g. to stay focused when assigned a procedure, to take the initiative to find
additional work, to record procedures, to know how to say NO, etc.).
– Involves the student in the activities of the institution (formal and informal) sothat they develop a sense of belonging
3.7 Supervision and interaction with the student
From the first day a student gets in the clinical setting, the clinical facilitator will
play the supervision role of all the activities that a student will be involved in. That
is why the clinical facilitator as In-house supervisor will play a central role in the
success of the student minimizing dropout and irregularities risks by meeting his/
her expectations and achieving outcomes, providing quality training with good
general clinical setting conditions; gender responsive environment and effective
clinical setting relationships, as well as increasing the student feelings about howsupported he/she is in the clinical setting.
As the clinical setting supervisor, the clinical facilitator is responsible for:
– On-site training for the student
– Answering any questions that the student may have regarding hers/ his
training, assigned procedure or other aspects of his/her work
– Informing the student of clinical setting expectations, safety procedures,
codes of conduct, working hour’s information, etc.
– Ensuring that the student is not harassed or bullied at the clinical setting
To be an effective clinical setting supervisor the clinical facilitator will:
– Provide a safe and supportive clinical setting environment
– Integrate learning procedures into work activities based on the training plan
– Manage safety and production risks during facilitation
– Act as a role model
– Collaborate with the school clinical placement teacher regularly to ensure
effective training delivery and assessment, practices and to review progress
according to the training plan
– Promote independence and self-direction in learning
– Motivate the student and manage the learning needs
– Provide regular feedback, encouragement, monitor progress and maintain
records– Help the student to develop problem solving and general employability skills
Reminder:
– Giving regular feedback on performance is a big role of a clinical facilitator,
feedback should be balanced, emphasizing the positive but also giving
suggestions for improvement. The positive feedback can build the students’confidence and make them feel good about themselves.
– “Negative” feedback should state what was not done correctly but should
suggest ways to improve as well. This is also known as constructive
feedback and can help students further develop their skills and knowledgefor student to do better.
3.7.1 The Clinical setting comprehensive assessments
To evaluate the student performance and make improvement/corrective measures,
the student will be assessed on the four dimensions of competence (professional,
methodological, social and self) throughout the clinical setting and as the workprogresses:
– Formative assessment: The institutional day-to-day activities, as the clinical
facilitator is more of a technician than a trainer; the formative assessments
will mostly be through observation and oral questioning.
– In addition to the day-to-day formative assessments, the clinical facilitator
will conduct comprehensive formative assessments. She/he must sit at
least once in a term with the student and share observations with the student
regarding the strength, weakness and the way forward. Comprehensive
formative assessments are non-scored checks on performance criteria at
the end of each learning procedure. The purpose of this type of assessment
is to prepare a student for the summative assessment and is done once a
term in the Clinical setting.
The clinical setting comprehensive summative assessments are scored
checks on up-to-date acquisition of all competencies at each end of term under
the responsibility of the Clinical facilitator and school clinical teacher. A 40 minutes’
practical schedule for each student at the designated site.
– If scores are too low, the risk mitigation procedure may be initiated regarding
career guidance for orientation into a suitable combination.
SECTION 4. THE ASSOCIATE STUDENT NURSE ANDCOMMUNITY CLINICAL PRACTICE
Community clinical practice is a grass root approach of practice that is applied
in communities to promote and protect the health of the population. The clinical
practice focuses on the health needs and directed towards all groups of community
members
Community clinical practice nursing takes place in a wide variety of settings which
includes promoting health, preventing illness, maintaining health, restoration,
coordination, management, and evaluation of care of individuals, families, and
communities. In the community settings, care focuses on maximizing individual
potential for self-care regardless of any injury or illness. The client assumes
responsibility for health care provision.
The purpose of this clinical practice is to introduce the associate student nurse
to community setting. A major focus of this course is to introduce the student to
think critically and discuss the role of community health care associate nurse within
a national environment. Associate student nurses will be exposed to the cultural
diverse population. Students will enhance critical thinking skills by planning and
implementing services in the vulnerable population community.
In this practicum, the student will identify a community health project focusing on
a plan to improve or maintain the health of a targeted population. The project will
involve identifying the problem, population, analyzing data, formulation a community
health diagnosis, plans for implementation, by taking into consideration barriers,
social, and cultural consideration) and evaluation of the project.
4.1 Orientation of the students in Community clinical practice
Before the associate student nurse goes for the practice, it is helpful to understand
how to approach different types of people of different ages, behavior, lifestyle and
contextual background. Therefore, the teacher will hold a briefing session to the
students on:
– Playing a participatory process among stakeholders to encourage information
sharing and increase awareness on health needs in the community
– Community health-care team building comprising representatives from the
community or members of stakeholder organizations
– Conducting the assessment process concurrently with other functions
throughout the course of the community health-care interventions and
programs
– Identifying community people’s health-care needs (individuals, families,groups in the community), which lays a strong foundation for other functions
– Collecting up-to-date information, representing both the people’s perspectives/
experiences
– Attendance in community setting is encouraged and compulsory
– The students need to understand the community contexts
– There are readings that have to completed so as to adequately participate in
assignments
– In order to complete this course successfully, the students have to participate
in all course activities like homework, course project, self–reflections, etc.
– Students are expected to engage in course activities and submit work by due
dates and times.
The associate student nurse needs to follow the steps below for communityplacement to improve the health promotion.
4.2 Steps for Community Nursing DiagnosisStep 1: Assessment
Assess a targeted population in the community to see what needs exist. This
is done by searching health data for the specific population. Interviews may be
conducted among the community members from the population, select and define
the community by noting its history. What makes the community thrive today,
describe the physical environment of the community, capture a picture of your
selected community. What are the vital health needs of the community? Think about
socioeconomic status. What illness or diseases are present in that community? Do
members in that community have easy access to primary care? What are the most
prevalent health problems in that community?
Characteristics of the assessment process:
– A participatory process among stakeholders to encourage information sharing
and increase awareness on health risks and problems in the community
– Community health-care team building comprising representatives from the
community or members of stakeholder organizations
– Conducting the assessment process concurrently with other functions
throughout the course of the community health-care interventions and
programs
– Identifying community people’s health-care demands (individuals, families and
groups in the community) which lays a strong foundation for other functions
– Collecting up-to-date information, representing both the people’s perspective/experiences and academic perspective.
Step 2: Community Diagnosis
Formulate a community health nursing diagnosis related to this health need, based
on this data, survey results and community input. After conducting the survey and
community assessment, what are the strengths and needs of that community?
Step 3: Plan the community intervention
This includes analyzing data collected and reviewing evidence-based interventions.
The intervention must be based on data showing the intervention that has been
done in the past somewhere and was effective. Planning will also include reflecting
on barriers, social and cultural considerations. The student should ask him/herself
if this will have a positive health impact in the designated population, whether the
goals are realistic and whether there will be any need for spending money.
Step 4: Implementation
The student creates an educational presentation describing how the program
would be implemented, present the plan to the teacher to see if the plan will be
implemented.
Step 5: Evaluation
States how to evaluate the intervention and how the evaluation will impact thepopulation
4.3 Student Responsibility
– Attendance in community setting is encouraged and compulsory
– The students need to understand the community contexts
– There are readings that have to completed so as to adequately participate in
assignments
– In order to complete this course successfully, the students have to participate
in all course activities like homework, course project, self–reflections, etc.
– Students are expected to engage in course activities and submit work by duedates and times
4.4 Reporting the community placement
At the end of the community placement, students will be required to submit certain
assignments from each course to demonstrate that they have met the objectives of
the program. All assignments should be submitted in time and feedback also givenin time for proper progression of students.
CONCLUSION
The program for the associate nurse requires intensive theoretical and practical
package simultaneously. To learn the basic theory, there is need to understand
the concept of professional behavior and develop the dexterity to perform practical
skills to prepare for clinical placement is a large undertaking.
The complexity of learning in the clinical environment is challenging, the student
needs to learn to think critically in applying theory to a variety of individuals in
unique contexts as well as developing the ability to care for individuals. They also
learn to work with other members of the health care team, again in a variety of
settings.
The students in this program are expected to undergo clinical experience assigned
to them enthusiastically using the nursing process approach as well as current
trends and issues in nursing profession.
It is hoped that this clinical manual will provide the information and tools to preparewell and participate in a productive, enjoyable clinical learning experience.
APPENDIX