Course Description
The proposed course is a pediatric nurse that aims to instill knowledge to nursing students on how children grow and develop. Students must have a natural connection with children and win their trust for them to complete the course successfully. This course is designed to provide students with the skill required to take care of children and their families. The course enhances student’s ability to learn and understand children’s behavior. It creates an opportunity for students to showcase their ability to instruct family members on the necessity of children’s basic needs. A pediatric nurse course aims to increase students’ chances of employment in various departments of the hospital as they spend most of their time with relatives of the young patients. For students to be professional pediatric nurses, they should attain grade 4/C and be good in literature and science.
Objectives of the Course
Upon completion of this course, students are able to:
- To identify if a child has been abused
- Ensure that the relationship they have with the child is private and confidential.
- Have the knowledge and skill of detecting any changes in the patient.
- Administer medication according to the age of the child.
- Provide comfort and support to children in pain.
- Differentiate a normal and abnormal child.
- Manage and determine the child’s pain and needs.
- Apply all the procedures required to take care of the child and their families with different needs.
- Offer proper nutrition to a healthy and hospitalized child.
- Administer nursing care to families with children.
- Recognize where clinical practice is required while with the patient.
Materials and Learning Sources
Materials and learnings sources that will aid this course’s success are such textbooks as Pediatric Success (2nd ed.) by Richardson and Child Health Nursing (3rd ed.) by Ball et al., which learners will get information about the course. Other educational sources available for students will include videos containing recorded information from professional pediatric nurses (Albaqawi et al., 2018). The online sources will also aid to research pediatric nurses more. Other relevant to the course materials will also be used. In particular, they are guiding revision materials accompanied with questions that guide students while studying. Through visiting such institutions as hospitals and families with children, students can expand their practical knowledge of the subject. Journal articles will be used by students while researching and getting more information about pediatric nursing.
Teaching Strategies
Participation of students in group discussions aids in analyzing projects together that relate to the course by interacting, sharing views, and suggesting their opinions. Reviewing already tackled topics by discussing and reminding each other what they learned through asking each other questions while writing them down for future reference. The guest speaker, instructor, and students attend the lectures to test their abilities and skills since the beginning of the course. Assigning students to research and present their findings in class, enables them to learn more about pediatric nursing. Reviewing the case studies related to the course and answering questions about it with the instructor aims to help students in their future career. Students will also compare their study topics with past experiences to help them understand the health development of friends and families. Students, instructors, and guest speakers actively participate online discussions on the subject of pediatric nursing and share new information, opinions and the best way the needs of children can be addressed. Field trips for students are organized to be exposed more to what they are learning.
Class Policies and Rules
- Attendance: Student’s attendance will be monitored at every class meeting. Thus, they should attend the courses consistently as it will be used to determine the student’s final grade.
- Disability Students: If a student has any disability, they should contact the Disability Support Services Office, where accommodation will be provided. All students will receive equal quality of care.
- Cell Phones: Students are required to turn off their phones during class activities. If the internet is needed, the instructor will provide laptops for students to use instead.
- Dress Code: Students are required to adhere to the dressing policy of a pediatric nurse. While at the lab, they should have lab coats, put on the nurse uniforms while attending classes and have closed and flat shoes (Albaqawi et al., 2018).
- Exams: Students must take every exam, assignment and group work seriously by sitting for all exams on time and to getting lower grades.
- Assignments: Students who submit their work late will not be accepted and will be awarded zero points. In case of delay, they should communicate to the instructor before the deadline.
- Emergencies: Students are expected to report any issue that prevents them and fellow students from concentrating in class to the instructor via a phone call.
- Behavior: Students are required to respect their instructors and to value each other.
Evaluation Methods
Various exams are given to students and each of them contributes to their grade at the final exam at the end of the course. Students sit for two exams before the final one, where each preliminary exam is worth 25% and the last is 50%. Those who does not attain the overall average score will not be allowed to continue with the course. Student’s grades are posted in 48 hours upon finishing their exams. Then they are given one week of reviewing their grades. Each student is expected to present 200 questions on pediatric content to sit for the final exam. Students must complete a full assessment on one family by doing a follow-up on their health and writing a summary of the family’s progress. The nursing student needs to assess a child whose age is between 6months to 5 years, perform Denver screening tests on them, then present and explain the results. A 10% assignment is given to students concerning the course and is expected to be submitted on time in document form. Students will engage in tests before class activities, earning 10% of the final grade after covering specific topics. Students who come late will be awarded zero and will be required to retake the assignment before moving on to the next stage.
Outline of the Course Content
References
Albaqawi, H., Alshammari, F., Pasay-an, E., Alyami, M., & Dizon, E. (2018). Evaluating course syllabus: Basis for reframing into a learner-centered syllabus for outcome-based nursing education. European Scientific Journal, 14(10), 222. Web.
Ball, J. W., Bindler, R. C., & Cowen, K. J. (2013). Child health nursing (3rd ed.). Pearson.
Richardson, B. (2014). Pediatric success (2nd ed.). FA Davis.