Perinatal Nursing Specialty (Perinatal - Perioperative 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.

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.

This course focuses on nurse ­family partnerships, and is shared among the Neonatal, Pediatric and Perinatal Nursing Specialties. Using a post­modern family framework, NSPN 7400 provides students with the opportunity to engage with a selected family in order to establish a relationship characterized by creative listening, respect for diversity, power sharing, and appreciation of own family values. Students will explore concepts such as family health, power, diversity, narrative, lived experience, meaning, context, and imagination.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPN 7200

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.

The focus is on how perinatal nurses provide care in the perioperative scrub role for patients undergoing caesarean birth surgery. Participants learn about the key concepts of caring, clinical decision-making, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients and team members. The course introduces theory and standards that support development of basic perioperative scrub nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice in the scrub role are introduced and reviewed. Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy and physiology to deepen their understanding of how perioperative nurses provide care in the scrub role for patients undergoing caesarean birth surgery. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

The eight, 12 hour shift clinical course is an introduction to perioperative nursing care in the scrub and circulating roles for perinatal nurses working with patients and families undergoing cesarean surgery, with a focus on developing beginner competency in the scrub and circulating roles. NSPO 7330 provides the opportunity to implement theory from NSPO 7230/7430 in the practice setting. By engaging in nursing practices that progress from simple to more complex, participants will develop skills to manage the sterile surgical environment and provide safe patient care during cesarean birth. Participants will apply the concepts of safety, surgical conscience, and aseptic technique in all roles to promote a safe and supportive environment for patients and perioperative team members. Students will apply the concepts of caring and advocacy through participation of intraoperative experiences for patients and families. Learners will also develop and utilize comprehensive assessment techniques. Students will use effective communication, organization, and prioritization strategies to provide safe, patient-focused care, including setup and monitoring of the sterile environment. Additionally, participants will apply sound clinical decision-making processes during all phases of perioperative care in all roles. Emphasis is placed on the perioperative nurse’s collaborative role with patients and families, and multidisciplinary team members. Students will humanize the perioperative environment for patients and team members using collaborative strategies. Leadership strategies at a novice level will be employed when providing perioperative care. By course completion, learners will implement a framework for practice and develop skills to function independently as a novice nurse for stable, noncomplex cesarean section patients in all perioperative nursing roles.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPO 7230 and 75% in NSPO 7430

This course focuses on how perinatal nurses provide care in the perioperative circulating role for patients undergoing caesarean birth surgery. Participants learn how circulating nurses assess and prepare patients and families for anesthesia, caesarean birth surgery, and recovery from regional anesthesia. This course builds on the concepts and frameworks presented in the prerequisite course. Participants will continue learning about the key concepts of caring, safety, aseptic technique, and surgical conscience. Learners will consider how these concepts are used to maintain a safe and supportive perioperative environment for patients, families and team members. The course introduces theory and standards that support development of basic perioperative circulating nurse skills in preparation for clinical learning. Clinical decision-making frameworks that guide practice are reviewed and applied to the circulating role. Participants will build on nursing knowledge of anatomy and physiology to deepen their understanding of how perioperative nurses provide care in the circulating role for patients and families undergoing caesarean birth surgery. Learners will examine ways of developing collaborative relationships with patients and families, colleagues, instructors, and perioperative team members. Participants will also consider how to employ effective leadership strategies, including advocacy and effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills during the perioperative period.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSPO 7230