Date of Award

2017

Publication Type

Master Thesis

Degree Name

M.Sc.N.

Department

Nursing

Keywords

camp; clinical; non-traditional; nurse; placement; student

Supervisor

Kane, Debbie

Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Abstract

Although traditional clinical placements (hospital or community) are providing direct practice experience for nursing students, BScN programs are experiencing a shortage of these placements (Council of Ontario Universities, 2013). Various types of camps with diverse populations of campers could provide rich exposure to pediatric patients with medical problems, behavioral disorders and learning challenges. Using summer camps as an alternative placement for nursing students could address the shortage of clinical placements and add diversity to the learning experience offered in the BScN program. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative narrative design will be used to explore how course level outcomes are achieved by fourth year level nursing students in the camp setting. Course level outcomes, which are based on nursing competencies, are developed by educational institutions to measure a nursing student’s performance. Data collection was done by phone interviews. Six registered nurses who have nursing experience in a camp setting participated in this study. By sharing stories, participants provide examples to demonstrate how nursing students can meet level outcomes while in this type of placement. Through data analysis, these stories are organized into themes to help identify if the collective experiences meet competencies for nursing students. Preliminary data analysis shows that nursing students can demonstrate: principals of patient safety, critical inquiry, preventative/promotional health, reflective practice and advocacy for health care services in the camp setting. IMPLICATIONS: The results of the study will be used to determine if camp settings meet the clinical requirements for direct practice experience for fourth year level nursing students.

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