QI Inter-professional Education Work Experience with BSN Students

Denise Hirst, MSN, RN Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation June Conference 2008

Practicum in Nursing: Health Services Improvement Work Experience

 Practice in health care settings is the course focus. Students participate in a reflective experience that provides the context to integrate classroom and experiential learning into an evolving professional identity.  One of three electives:   Practicum in Nursing: International Work Experience Practicum in Nursing: Nursing Assistant Work Experience

Course Specifics

Students

 Accelerated BSN students  24-month BSN option students

Classes

 “Hybrid” course   4 on campus classes • “touch points” for sharing experiences and key learning opportunities • Online classes with weekly assignments 84 clinical practicum hours

Clinical Partnerships

     Clinical Sites are arranged with existing Clinical Practice Partners Quality Improvement Directors identify project opportunities A project description completed by the Project Coordinator in collaboration with the faculty  The stage of the project is determined (conceptualization, early stages, middle, late) Projects are selected Project coordinators, students and faculty meet and discuss the project and clinical expectations

Clinical Practicum

  Education opportunities for Practice Partner staff and students Clinical hours include  Research (literature review)  Benchmarking  Development of tools  On-site activities • • • Surveys Monitoring Data collection

Evaluation

 Asynchronous group discussion boards  Learning Contract (developed by student)  Reflective Journal  Clinical Evaluation of student performance by both faculty and project coordinator  Final Presentation

Pearls

   Win/win Students gain valuable insight into practice issues, “real” solutions and processes Students develop inter-professional communication skills and enhanced self confidence Enhanced relationships with clinical partners  Opportunities for mentoring Clinical Partner managers/coordinators/staff

Pitfalls

 Project ends abruptly due to unforeseen issues (example: medication error project ended due to turned to research project and had to apply for IRB approval)  Student has difficulty with autonomous role  Project opportunities less than projected

Questions