Specialty Nursing (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

The course provides an overview of the basic skills of a manager and applies these skills through a series of projects and case studies. It examines the evolution of management and the organizational culture and environment. It also teaches the decision-making skills and the skills involved in planning, organizing, leading and controlling, including planning and facilitating change, teamwork, applying motivational techniques and effective communication.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Introduces diverse perspectives on teaching and learning related to specialty nursing and explores the impact that connected teacher-learner relationships have on effective learning. Teaching and learning are viewed as mutual and parallel processes, being influenced by beliefs, intentions, and capacities of both teachers and learners. Teaching and learning abilities are further developed according to mutually agreed upon learning outcomes and intentions.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

In this online course, learners explore how research informs evidence-based nursing practice. Foundational research concepts and processes in quantitative and qualitative paradigms are examined. Learners critique primary research reports of interest, both individually and in groups, and address research utilization in practice.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This on-line course offers students the opportunity to develop their leadership knowledge and skills within the context of specialty nursing. Leadership is explored from multiple perspectives with an emphasis on contemporary theories and frameworks. Topics that are examined include followership, contextual influences, power, navigating change and transitions, and teambuilding. Students engage in a work related leadership project to apply leadership knowledge and skills to their practice.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Professional growth is explored from personal, professional, and historical perspectives. Students choose a focus for growth which is fostered by ongoing critical reflection and journaling. Relational practice is explored through the lenses of mentoring and harmful workplace relationships. Contemporary trends in ethical practice are examined, including the contextual influences on practice; the development of moral identity; and the enhancement of moral integrity. An anticipated trajectory for professional development is envisioned and described.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

This course explores contemporary community health nursing, examining multiple perspectives on community, health, and relational practice. Community health nursing is examined through the lenses of primary health care, health promotion, and ethics. Clinical practice is focused on facilitating participatory dialogue with a selected group to explore perspectives on relational practice in health care.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

​Provides the opportunity to pursue a particular area of interest in specialty nursing. You and the course tutor determine the learning intentions, activities and evaluation strategies for the course. For further details, contact the program head in your chosen specialty. Requires program head approval to register.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Provides the opportunity to pursue a particular area of interest in specialty nursing. You and course tutor determine the learning intentions, activities and evaluation strategies for the course. For further details, contact the program head in your chosen specialty. Requires program head approval to register.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Provides the opportunity to pursue a particular area of interest in specialty nursing. You and course tutor determine the learning intentions, activities and evaluation strategies for the course. For further details, contact the program head in your chosen specialty. Requires program head approval to register.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Provides the opportunity to pursue a particular area of interest in specialty nursing. You and course tutor determine the learning intentions, activities and evaluation strategies for the course. For further details, contact the program head in your chosen specialty. Requires program head approval to register.
Prerequisite(s):

• No prerequisites are required for this course.

Based on the Canadian Community Health Nursing Standards of Practice, this course provides opportunities for exploring contemporary perspectives on health promotion, protection of health, a community health nursing process, and participatory decision making. Clinical experience occurs through engaging in participatory dialogue with a selected group; exploring salient health issues; and facilitating collective health action.
Prerequisite(s):

• 75% in NSSC 8600

This course is an introduction to the dynamic forces which enhance effective communication between persons from various cultural backgrounds, primarily in a professional setting. By helping students to develop a truly international perspective, COMM 7100 encourages intercultural communication competency, otherwise known as ICC. Due to rapid globalization, ICC is not an option, but a necessity.
Prerequisite(s):

• 6 credits of COMM 1100 level or above, or 3 credits of university/college writing course.

This course introduces students to contemporary issues in health ethics by examining and applying ethical theories to moral dilemmas at the clinical, professional, and organizational levels. To this end, developing competence in moral reasoning is an important goal, one that will be emphasized through the analysis of case studies that test personal, professional, and societal values.
Prerequisite(s):

• BCIT ENGL 1177, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of a university/college first-year social science or humanities course.