Perinatal Nursing - Registered Nurse Ontario College Graduate Certificate
ObjectivesThis post-diploma program offered through Distance Education is designed to enhance and support the knowledge and skills of RNs who work with childbearing families. The curriculum is based on the guidelines established by AWHONN, SOGC, IBLCE, and DONA and applies a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. This program emphasizes the importance of the partnership between the care provider and the childbearing family. Students will learn how to apply the process of assessment, counselling, education, and confidence development for the new parent. Students can choose from a variety of electives, all of which relate to the current trends and research in perinatal health.
Academic titlePerinatal Nursing - Registered Nurse Ontario College Graduate Certificate
Course descriptionNURS8025 Introduction To Perinatal Health
Description: Admission: RN. This course will provide the student with knowledge and skills regarding the influential factors affecting childbearing families. Historical,social, cultural, and situational factors will be explored as they affect the nursing care of expectant families. Discussion areas will include medicalization of women's power, current trends in birthing, global political trends, marketing formula/baby friendly environments, renewal of midwifery/doula and interest groups.
Hours: 10
Credits: 1
NURS8035 Physiological Challenges Of Pregnancy
Description: Admission: RN with current certificate of Registration with the College of Nurses of Ontario. This course will provide the student with the knowledge and skills required to care for the expectant mother with health challenges. Conditions such as diabetes, P.I.H., renal disorders, placenta abnormalities, and substance abuse will be discussed.
Hours: 20
Credits: 1
NURS8045 Emotional And Physiological Adaptation to Pregnancy
Description: Admission: RN or permission of Co-ordinator. This course is designed to enhance and support the knowledge and skills of the nurse working with childbearing families. The core competencies required for the nurse to care for women (and those within her circle of support) as they adapt to the emotional and physiological changes of pregnancy will be addressed. The focus will be on promoting pregnancy as an extension of normal physiology and as a state of wellness. Also included will be the role of the nurse as an educator.
Hours: 10
Credits: 1
NURS8055 Clinical Experience-Pre-Birth/Birth/ Post-Birth
Description: Admission: Must be a program student with completion of all core and elective courses. The student will select an area in which they will apply the skills reviewed in the prebirth courses. The student may select to teach a childbirth education class, a breastfeeding class, or attend an antenatal clinic setting such as a midwifery clinic. The student will engage in and maintain a one-on-one experience in the nursing management of a woman in both a vaginal and caesarean birth. A preceptorship model will be utilized and it is recommended that this be completed in an environment other than the students place of employment.
Hours: 60
Credits: 2
Pre-Requisites: NURS8025, NURS8035, NURS8045, NURS8105, NURS8135, NURS8155, NURS8205, NURS8215, NURS8545, NURS8595
NURS8105 Nursing Care Of The Mother Experiencing Complicated Birth
Description: Admission: RN. This course will review nursing management of complicated and operative births. Such topics as preterm, labour, precipitous labour, health challenges, (eg. diabetes, eclampsia, malpresentation) catastrophic conditions (eg. prolapsed cord, embolus), augmentation, induction, and caesaren birth. Scrubbing and circulating will be reviewed. The nurse as advocate, support person, educator, and care partner will be incorporated throughout.
Hours: 30
Credits: 2
Pre-Requisites: NURS8195
NURS8135 Introduction To Community - Post-Birth
Description: Admission: RN or permission of the Co-ordinator. This course will assist the student in facilitating care for the mother and infant following the discharge. The student will be knowledgeable with respect to community resources and support groups for follow up care.
Hours: 25
Credits: 2
NURS8155 Emotional And Physiological Process Of Birth
Description: This course examines the normal physiological and emotional process of birth. The focus will be on the partnership that forms throughout all stages of the childbirth experience for women and their significant other. Review role of the nurse as an educator.
Hours: 10
Credits: 1
NURS8195 Nursing Care During The Birth Process
Description: Admission: RN. The focus of this course is the nursing management of the expectant woman throughout the childbirth process. This course will review skills based on AWHONN standards such as the triage assessment, vaginal examinations, maternal wellbeing, fetal lie and presentation and documentation of the birth and the importance of physical and emotional support in labour.
Hours: 25
Credits: 2
NURS8205 Management Of Fetus In Labour
Description: RN with current Certificate of Registration from College of Nurses of Ontario The course will review the current recommendations for fetal assessment during birth based upon current SOGC guidelines, and AWHONN standards. The student will review external/internal fetal monitoring, auscultation of FHR and cord blood gases.The role of the nurse as care partner and educator will be reviewed.
Hours: 24
Credits: 2
NURS8215 Pain Management/Comfort Measures/ Supportive Care
Description: Admission: RN. This course will include both the non medical and medical management of pain in labour. Labour support skills will be reviewed in depth as well as nursing management of women with inhalants, administration of narcotics, epidurals, general anesthesia.
Hours: 15
Credits: 1
NURS8545 Transition To Extrauterine Life - Infant Health
Description: Admission: Registered Nurse Certificate of Registration This course will provide the student with knowledge and skills required to care for the well newborn and introduction to the infant with health challenges in the immediate postbirth period. The role of the nurse as educator and care partner will assist the family in their new parental roles to gain confidence and competence in their infant care skills. Assessment of the infant and family will include physiological, behavioural and cognitive components. Integration of the new family member and adjustment will be explored.
Hours: 25
Credits: 2
NURS8595 Breastfeeding I/Maternal Health
Description: Admission: RN or permission of Coordinator. This course will address competencies required for the nurse to care for the new mother including the physical and emotional adjustment to the post-natal period in the context of both expected and challenging outcomes. The nurse will develop expertise in educating the parents in breastfeeding and care of the newborn. The course components are: Principles of Partnership: The Perinatal Nurse and Family; Physical Adaptation After Birth Expected Outcomes; Physical Adaptation; Challenges; Psychological Adaptation After Birth-Expected Outcomes; Psychological Adptation After Birth-Challenges; Social Cultural and Situational Factors Influencing Health After Birth; Establishment of Breastfeeding; Infant Care Basics.
Hours: 40
Credits: 3
Electives: Program Option
Description: Student must complete a minimum of 40 Hours
Elective Courses:
COUN8240 Introduction To Counselling I
Description: This course teaches a broad base of knowledge and skills related to the counselling process. The focus of the course will emphasize the practical aspects of the helping relationship and will include simulations and opportunities for developing a variety of counselling skills.
Hours: 30
Credits: 2
NURS8165 Breastfeeding II/Advanced Breastfeeding
Description: Admission: Completion of Health History and Immunization. This course will build on the principles of successful breastfeeding. The nurse will develop expertise in supporting, protecting and promoting breastfeeding in unique and challenging situations related to maternal and infant health. Application to IBCLC for approval of this course has been made. The ten units of stdy are: Principles of Successful Breastfeeding, Challenges with Milk Supply and INfant Growth, Maternal Health Challenges, Infant Health Challenges, Breastfeeding in Unique Situations, The Relationship between Medication and Lactation, The Relationship between alternative therapies and breastfeeding, Human Milk Banking and The End of the Breastfeeding Relationship and the Preparation for the Lactation Consultant Examination.
Hours: 40
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: NURS8595
NURS8235 Critical Thinking
Description: Admission: Current Certificate of Registration - RN/RPN, EMCA.Recommended: General Assessment 31300503 OR permission from the Coordinator. This course will provide the opportunity for the RN and RPN, to integrate his/her assessment skills and knowledge with techniques used in Critical Thinking. It will assist the nurse to integrate knowledge of all aspects of critical thinking when making clinical decisions and judgements.
Hours: 15
Credits: 1
NURS8240 Anatomy And Physiology For Intravenous Therapy
Description: Admission: Certificate of Registration - RN and other allied health professionals with the permission of the co-ordinator. This independent learning course is designed to enable students to review the main components of anatomy and physiology which relate to Intravenous Therapy. This module focuses on normal cellular homeostasis including maintenance of fluid, electrolytes and acid-base balance. These topics as well as the anatomy and physiology of the vascular and renal systems provide the basis for subsequent program courses.
Hours: 12
Credits: 1
NURS8245 Infants With Health Challenges - Level II Care
Description: RN with current Certificate of Registration with College of Nurses of Ontario Students will acquire the knowledge and skills applicalbe to families with an infant experiencing health challenges in the first weeks of life. Stabilazation of preterm infants, treatment of infants with cardiac and respiratory difficulties, and preparation for transport to a tertiary centre will be explored. Partnering with parents for support and education will be integrated throughout.
Hours: 40
Credits: 3
Pre-Requisites: NURS8545
NURS8250 Introduction To Intravenous Therapy
Description: Admission: Current Certificate of Registration RN and other allied health professionals with the permission of the co-ordinator. Recommended: Anatomy and Physiology for Intravenous Therapy. Advances in technology have altered and expanded the use of intravenous therapy, both in the hospital and in the community. This course provides the student with the basic knowledge and legal responsibilities of administering IV therapy.
Hours: 22
Credits: 2
NURS8300 Anatomy And Physiology For Assessment
Description: Admission: Certificate of Registration - RN/RPN, EMCA. This independent learning course is designed to enable all students to review the main components of anatomy and physiology.
Hours: 20
Credits: 1
NURS8310 Starting Intravenous Lines
Description: Admission: Current Certificate of Registration - RN/RPN and other allied health professionals with the permission of the co-ordinator. This course may not provide sufficient clinical preparation to meet the requirements of all agencies. This workshop involves guidelines for vein selection, a review of venipuncture devices, infection control and some practical experience in insertion techniques. Both pre and post insertion client teaching will be reviewed as well as the minimal documentation which is required to accompany this skill.
Hours: 8
Credits: 1
NURS8600 Team Building: Today For Tomorrow
Description: Rapid organizational changes are occurring throughout the health and human service fields. Institutions and community agencies are shifting towards a teamwork philosophy and culture that encourages empowerment and personal responsibility. Through experiential exercises students will be able to gain an understanding of the current team work concepts and acquire the knowledge and skills critical to maintaining effective practice.
Hours: 30
Credits: 2