Perinatal Nursing Specialty (Standard Option)

Healthy Childbearing Experiences and The Newborn, is the combined introductory theory course of the Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing Specialty Programs. This course explores a number of concepts that are foundational to the practice of both perinatal and neonatal nursing, and healthy childbearing experiences. Within the context of building partnerships, learners are exposed to holistic caring for childbearing women, their fetuses and newborns, and their families.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

The Breastfeeding Experience course explores foundational concepts for healthcare providers who support mothers, newborns and their families through the breastfeeding continuum. This is a theory-only course that will enable students to acquire the knowledge required by health care providers to support mother/infant dyads in a successful breastfeeding experience. This 3 credit course may be used for those seeking International Board Certified Lactation Consultants (IBCLC) certification or recertification: 1) For certification through pathways 1 and 3 ONLY; this course is equivalent to 45 education hours that may be used as part of the total 90 education hours required. 2) For recertification; this course has been recognized by IBCLC for 45 L-CERPs. Please note that those challenging this course will not receive IBCLC L-CERPs. The IBCLC L-CERPs will be reserved for those who complete the whole course.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

NSPN 7200 is one of three theory courses in the Perinatal Nursing Specialty Program. This course builds on the concepts presented in NSPN 7100: Healthy Childbearing Experiences. Social determinants of health, cultural safety, and trauma informed care provide the foundation for this course, which explores some of the more common perinatal health challenges. Multifaceted case studies assist learners to consider the diverse population of women and families they will care for. Health challenges include; preterm labour, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, multiple gestation/assisted human reproduction, post-term pregnancy/perinatal loss, gestational diabetes, and substance use/mental health in pregnancy. Comprehensive assessment and clinical decision-making are emphasized throughout the course.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPN 7100 and S in NSPN 7250

The Fetal Health Surveillance (FHS) course introduces learners to the principles of antenatal and intrapartum fetal health surveillance. This course reviews the research concerning fetal surveillance and principles of fetal/maternal physiology as well as their relevance to antenatal and intrapartum methods of surveillance. Acid/base balance, team communication, and documentation are also explored. The course was developed based on the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) and Perinatal Services of British Columbia (PSBS) FHS guidelines. Perinatal specialty students should take NSPN 7100 prior to taking this course. NSPN 7250 is a prerequisite for NSPN 7200 and NSPN 7300, Perinatal Clinical 1 and NSPN 7500, Perinatal Clinical 2.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPN 7100

Perinatal Clinical 1 introduces learners to the nursing care of healthy women, their newborns, and their families throughout the childbearing continuum. This four ¬week clinical course takes place in a hospital setting, with a focus on five key areas of practice: woman and family centered care, assessment of maternal/ fetal/ neonatal well-being, labour support, infant feeding, and documentation. A BCIT instructor and/or a clinical site preceptor will facilitate this course. Registered Nurses (RNs) with six months of full-time experience caring for healthy women, their newborns, and families in a low-risk perinatal setting may be able to challenge this course.
Prerequisite(s):

• (75% in NSPN 7100 and 75% in NSPN 7200) and (S in NSPN 7250 and S in NSPN 7450)
• Current RN practicing licensure in a provincial/territorial college of Registered Nurses.

The Newborn Resuscitation Program (NRP) is an eight hour interactive skills testing day that builds on the knowledge gained by reading the Neonatal Resuscitation text book. The text must be read in its entirety prior to attending the one-day workshop. Each participant must complete the online NRP exam prior to coming to the on-campus workshop. The exam can be accessed on the Canadian Pediatric Society website. Proof of successful completion of the online exam must be brought to the one day workshop. Participants will be turned away without proof of exam completion. The workshop includes practicing and testing the hands-on skills of newborn resuscitation. To ensure adequate time for course preparation and pre-readings, enrolment in the course will be closed three weeks prior to the course start date. Perinatal Specialty students must complete NSPN 7100 and 7200 prior to enrolling in NRP. NSPN 7450 is a prerequisite for NSPN 7300, Perinatal Clinical 1 and NSPN 7500, Perinatal Clinical 2.
Prerequisite(s):

• This course is prioritized for learners in the Perinatal/Neonatal SN programs.

Perinatal Clinical 2 builds on the competencies developed during NSPN 7300. Through the provision of care to low-risk childbearing women during the intrapartum and postpartum periods, the learner transitions from requiring supervision to independence. Learners may also be introduced to the care of women experiencing perinatal health challenges. This four ¬week clinical course takes place in a hospital setting. In addition to the five key areas of practice outlined in NSPN 7300 – Perinatal Clinical 1, there is an additional emphasis on clinical decision making using a Situated Clinical Decision Making Framework (SCDMF). A clinical site preceptor will facilitate this course. Registered Nurses (RNs) with more than six months of full time experience working with childbearing women in an acute perinatal setting may be able to challenge this course with approval of the program head.
Prerequisite(s):

• (75% in NSPN 7100 and 75% in NSPN 7200) and (S in NSPN 7250 and S in NSPN 7300 and S in NSPN 7450)
• Current RN practicing licensure in a provincial/territorial college of Registered Nurses.

​The purpose of this course is to examine the trends and issues in the health and health care of patients in relation to reproductive health and pelvic exams. The course builds on the nurse's/clinician's knowledge and skills in reproductive health to enable them to offer a quality, patient-centered cervical cancer screening and Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) testing for whom services are inadequate or inaccessible. The course is available to clinicians whose scope of practice includes pelvic examinations. A theoretical framework based on the social determinants of health and trauma informed practice provides the foundation for learning the skills and information required to provide pelvic exams for clients. Included is a skills workshop to provide participants with the opportunity to learn and practice: inspection of external genitalia, speculum insertion, bimanual examination, cervical cancer screening techniques, and STI testing. During the skills workshop this course utilizes Clinical Teaching Assistants, who are trained to teach and guide students in pelvic exams while receiving exams themselves. The Course is split into 2 sections: Theory and Clinical. The 2 week online theory portion is self paced and we recommend 4-6 hours of study time each week. The one day clinical skills workshop occurs on the second Saturday of the course in-person at BC Women's Hospital from 9-5pm. The skills workshop takes place over one day at BC Women's Hospital in Vancouver always on the last Saturday of the course. This course is strongly recommended as a pre-requisite to NSPN 7736, Sexually Transmitted Infections Practicum Course. Students who take this course can use up to 3 hours credit towards the completion of the NSPN 7736 practicum hours.​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​This 6 week online self-paced, course is for Registered Nurses (RNs) and Registered Midwives (RMs) who are seeking competencies for Contraceptive Management Certified Practice. Students will be provided with the minimum requirements for safe assessment, provision and management of Combined Hormonal Contraception (CHC) and Progestin only Hormonal Contraception. (POC). It is recommended that learners spend an average of 4 – 6 hours per week of study time. Students will become competent in the certified practice realm of Contraceptive Management (CM) as mandated by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives Registered Nurses (BCCNM)). Registered Nurses: Upon completion of the course nurses will write an Exit Evaluation and if successful, will apply to be placed on the BCCNM Certified Practices Register and be eligible to use the certified practice designation. Registered Midwives: Upon completion of the course, midwives will write an Exit Evaluation and if successful, will apply to be placed on the BCCNM Specialized Skill Register. BCCNM/NNPBC-approved CM Decision Support Tools (DSTs) are supported by the World Health Organization & US CDC Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. For full information on BCCNM certified practice please visit https://www.bccnm.ca/RN/CertifiedPractice/Pages/Default.aspx
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This 10 week online, asynchronous and self-paced course provides students with baseline theoretical knowledge for diagnosing and treating various sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Students will apply the theory learned to the development of clinical skills, within the scope of certified nursing practice, with clients experiencing or at risk for STIs. It is recommended that learners spend an average of 4 – 6 hours per week of study time. Comprehensive assessment integrates history or present illness and review of systems into the sexual history when appropriate. Registered Nurses seeking certification in Reproductive Health – STI Management with the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) must complete both NSPN 7735 theory course & NSPN 7736 – Sexually Transmitted Infections Management Clinical Course within a specified timeframe in order to be eligible to apply for certified practice designation. Students must be BCCNM registered to be eligible to take the practicum component NSPN 7736. ALL Students require approval from the BCIT to take the theory and clinical course. Registered Midwives: Registered Midwives become competent in the certified practice realm of STI Management as set out by the British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM) and are not required to take NSPN 7736.​​
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course is a 25 hour (20 - 24 hours of clinical time, with the remaining hours for assessing clinical competency) clinical course for which NSPN 7735 is a pre-requisite (NSPN 7710 is also strongly recommended). Within the scope of nursing practice with clients experiencing, or at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), students will learn various clinical skills designated as BCCNM certified practice. Students enrolling in this course must have completed NSPN 7735 and hold current BCCNM registration. Placement requirements: - All placements are prearranged prior to entering NSPN 7735 (theory). Only students with pre-arranged practicum site will be enrolled in NSPN 7735/and NSPN 7736. In the event that students cannot arrange their own preceptorships BCIT will request/attempt to find placement but cannot guarantee placements due to ongoing limited clinical capacity . - Preceptors and placement sites must be approved by BCIT Faculty, prior to the student beginning any clinical hours or registering in the course. - Practicum sites for this clinical must be done in health authority sponsored or health authority-affiliated sites (placements do not occur in private clinics). Students entering STI employment are encouraged to arrange their preceptor-led led placements within the community that they will be practicing. Practicum hours are completed in a series of 3 – 4 hour shifts usually spanning 6 – 8 weeks depending on the clinical site. Registration is rolling and there are no cut-off dates, registration is approved when the placement site is confirmed. Please review the process for approval here prior to contacting BCIT to receive approval for course registration www.bcit.ca/files/health/clinical_sn/pdf/sti-reg.pdf
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPN 7735

This introductory course is unique in Canada. It introduces health care professionals to the complex biopsychosocial role that sexual health has in patient care and best practice standards for this practice. The course uncovers the interplay between physiological, psychological and social contexts of sexuality and sexual function through an exploration of the health care professional's personal values and beliefs around sexuality. The course explores sexual issues stemming from medical, surgical and psychiatric illnesses, with a focus on chronic illness and disability including: An in-depth exploration of issues faced by our patient populations, exposure to modes of therapies and treatments for sexual health concerns, instruction on methods for sexual interviewing and history-taking and discussion of educational and counselling theories and methods. This course was developed in conjunction with industry partners, including the BC Centre for Sexual Medicine and Sexual Health Rehabilitation Service (Vancouver Coastal Health), Men's Health Initiative of British Columbia, the University of British Columbia's departments of psychiatry, gynecology and urologic sciences, and the Rick Hansen Institute (funding partner).
Prerequisite(s):

• This in an introductory course open to all healthcare professionals including undergraduate learners in their final year of study or completing research in this area. Registrants include Registered Nurses & Allied health professionals and must have (or be enrolled in) a diploma or degree in a health profession or discipline, which may include (Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Medical interns or residents, Physicians, Kinesiologists, Massage therapists, Midwives, Occupational therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychologists, Social Workers).

This course is for healthcare professionals who are seeking advanced learning in the area of Prostate Cancer and Sexual Health Rehabilitation with an informed overview of the factors associated with this medical condition through systematic inquiry. It will provide the healthcare professional with the necessary foundational knowledge required to build competencies in Prostate Cancer and Sexual Health Rehabilitation. The overall objective is to make the healthcare professional feel more comfortable in recognizing and acknowledging the sexual concerns of their patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. The course is comprised of an overview of prostate cancer and sexual rehabilitation inclusive of biology (anatomy, physiology), psychosocial aspects, sexual consequences, and sexual adaptation.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

NSPN 7755 Sexual Health Rehabilitation - Prostate Cancer and Sexual Health Mentorship, offers a two-week clinical mentorship at the Vancouver Prostate Cancer Centre at Vancouver General Hospital in the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care Program (PCSC). This clinical mentorship will give the student the opportunity to apply, integrate and build upon the sexual health knowledge gained in the sexual health theory courses; NSPN 7740, 7745 and 7750. The clinical mentorship helps the student to reach learning outcomes and utilize critical thinking and clinical decision making skills in sexual health practice.
Prerequisite(s):

• (75% in NSPN 7740 and 75% in NSPN 7745 or 75% in NSPN 7741) and 75% in NSPN 7750