Course Description and Objectives
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course explores the philosophical and theoretical underpinnings that inform
nursing knowledge relevant to the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse. Emphasis is placed on use of the
best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to improve healthcare quality.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply knowledge from the art and science of nursing, the natural/behavioral sciences and humanities to
nursing education, practice and research. - Utilize theoretical frameworks as a basis for nursing and inter-professional practice, research, and
education. - Examine the assumptions and conceptual frameworks inherent in nursing’s core values that influence
the quality of health care for individuals and families. - Demonstrate knowledge and skill in utilizing research evidence for nursing practice.
- Recognize the important leadership contributions that each nurse can make to implement EBP to
promote quality and safety. - Explore the use of theory and evidence based knowledge to guide a systematic approach to nursing care.
- Analyze and evaluate selected nursing theories for translation into practice, research and nursing
education.
Thinking about the journey
My ongoing experience as an EMT has sparked a desire in the tactical side of medicine. I can see myself pursuing a career in emergency medicine, as a flight nurse, or in a critical care setting. Out of the different specialties I mentioned, I am leaning towards the field of emergency medicine to begin acquiring experience once I become an RN. As a first responder I learned how to be resourceful, have great attention to detail, and thrive in high stress situations, and working in an emergency room would continue to provide the atmosphere of spontaneity and adrenaline rush of not knowing what it is to walk through the doors. More so than the atmosphere, I look forward to collaborating closely with other healthcare workers, whether it is MDs, NPs, ED techs, RT, and pharmacists, in order to ensure high quality care for our patients. As a newly registered nurse, I feel that working in an ER will help expose me to an array of medical conditions, as well as help me hone in on my skills and focused/emergency assessments, and help anticipate the needs of my patients.
I would love to learn how different emergency departments tackle the issue of equitable healthcare for underserved populations but also how they achieve culturally congruent care. I come from a diverse, low-income, community that struggled with all of these issues and one of my goals as I progress through my healthcare career is to advocate for minority populations and provide them access to quality healthcare. I am excited to learn more about how different institutions are addressing these healthcare disparities especially in the department of emergency medicine. Moreover, I want to know how emergency department leaders help create a safe environment for their staff to prevent high rates of burnout and turnover.
When I think of evidence-based practice, I think of protocols, policies, and practices that have been scientifically proven to improve and ensure a patient’s health, wellness, and safety. With that being said, it is my assumption that to make something a practice, healthcare professionals first detect an issue in the healthcare setting and so they unite and come up with different theories and solutions that address the issues. Once enough evidence has been accumulated, they begin to implement these practices within the organization and are later adopted by other institutions.
As I progress through the ABSN program I will begin to think more critically about why certain treatments and nursing management of patients are performed and find literature that supports why certain practices have been set forth. Furthermore, by improving my research skills and learning how to decipher the information, I will be able to keep up with current clinical practices that are effective and apply them to my nursing knowledge to provide quality care for my patients. This is a skill that will follow me through the rest of my healthcare career.
