D124 Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship III NURS 6850

The Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship III, also known as NURS 6850, is the final clinical internship course in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. This course provides students with the opportunity to integrate and apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout the program in a clinical setting. In this article, we will discuss the details of the course, its objectives, and its requirements.

Overview of NURS 6850

The NURS 6850 course is a clinical internship that takes place during the final semester of the Family Nurse Practitioner program. This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a clinical setting. During this course, students will work with a preceptor in a primary care setting, where they will assess, diagnose, and manage patients.

Objectives of NURS 6850

The main objectives of the NURS 6850 course are to:

1. Develop advanced clinical skills: The course aims to help students develop advanced clinical skills that are necessary for a family nurse practitioner. These skills include physical assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic health problems.
2. Integrate and apply knowledge: The course helps students integrate and apply the knowledge they have acquired throughout the program in a clinical setting. This includes knowledge of pharmacology, pathophysiology, and health promotion.
3. Enhance communication skills: The course helps students enhance their communication skills, which are crucial for building rapport with patients and collaborating with healthcare professionals.
4. Develop leadership skills: The course aims to develop leadership skills in students, which are necessary for providing comprehensive care to patients and managing healthcare teams.

Requirements for NURS 6850

To successfully complete the NURS 6850 course, students must meet the following requirements:

1. Complete a minimum of 225 clinical hours: Students must complete a minimum of 225 clinical hours under the supervision of a preceptor in a primary care setting. These hours must be completed over a period of 15 weeks.
2. Submit weekly logs and reflective journals: Students must submit weekly logs that document their clinical experiences and activities. They must also submit reflective journals that document their thoughts and feelings about their clinical experiences.
3. Develop and present a case study: Students must develop and present a case study that demonstrates their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
4. Pass the final evaluation: Students must pass the final evaluation, which includes a comprehensive written exam and a clinical evaluation by their preceptor.

Clinical Setting

The clinical setting for the NURS 6850 course is a primary care setting, where students work with a preceptor to provide care to patients across the lifespan. This setting may include a family practice, a community health center, or a rural health clinic. The clinical setting must be approved by the program director and must meet the following criteria:

1. Provides a diverse patient population: The clinical setting must provide a diverse patient population that includes patients across the lifespan, from pediatric to geriatric.
2. Provides opportunities for advanced practice: The clinical setting must provide opportunities for advanced practice, including physical assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic health problems.
3. Provides opportunities for interprofessional collaboration: The clinical setting must provide opportunities for interprofessional collaboration with other healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and pharmacists.

RELATED: D123 Family Nurse Practitioner Clinical Internship II NURS 6861

Preceptor Requirements

The preceptor for the NURS 6850 course must be a licensed family nurse practitioner or physician assistant with a minimum of two years of experience in primary care. The preceptor must meet the following requirements:

1. Holds a current and active license: The preceptor must hold a current and active license as a family nurse practitioner or physician assistant in the state where the clinical setting is located.
2. Holds national certification: The preceptor must hold national certification as a family nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

3. Has a minimum of two years of experience in primary care: The preceptor must have a minimum of two years of experience in primary care, preferably in a family practice setting.
4. Demonstrates expertise in advanced practice: The preceptor must demonstrate expertise in advanced practice, including physical assessment, diagnosis, and management of acute and chronic health problems.
5. Provides supervision and guidance: The preceptor must provide supervision and guidance to the student, including regular meetings and feedback on their clinical performance.

Clinical Hours

Students in the NURS 6850 course are required to complete a minimum of 225 clinical hours over a period of 15 weeks. These hours are completed under the supervision of a preceptor in a primary care setting. Clinical hours must be completed according to the following guidelines:

1. Minimum of 15 hours per week: Students must complete a minimum of 15 hours per week of clinical practice under the supervision of their preceptor.
2. Maximum of 45 hours per week: Students must not exceed a maximum of 45 hours per week of clinical practice, as this can lead to burnout and compromise patient safety.
3. Schedule determined by preceptor: The schedule for clinical hours is determined by the preceptor, based on the needs of the clinical setting and the availability of the student.

Weekly Logs and Reflective Journals

In addition to completing clinical hours, students in the NURS 6850 course are required to submit weekly logs and reflective journals. These documents help students document their clinical experiences, reflect on their practice, and identify areas for growth and improvement. Weekly logs and reflective journals must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Weekly logs: Weekly logs must document the student’s clinical experiences and activities, including patient encounters, procedures, and treatments. They must also document any challenges or successes encountered during the week.
2. Reflective journals: Reflective journals must document the student’s thoughts and feelings about their clinical experiences. They must reflect on their clinical decision-making, their communication skills, and their interactions with patients and healthcare professionals.
3. Submission deadlines: Weekly logs and reflective journals must be submitted on time according to the course schedule. Late submissions may result in a deduction of points.

Case Study

As part of the NURS 6850 course, students are required to develop and present a case study that demonstrates their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills. The case study must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Case selection: The case study must be based on a patient encounter that the student experienced during their clinical hours. The patient encounter must demonstrate the student’s ability to assess, diagnose, and manage a patient with a complex health problem.
2. Case presentation: The case study must include a thorough presentation of the patient’s history, physical examination findings, diagnostic tests, and treatment plan. The presentation must demonstrate the student’s clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
3. Presentation format: The case study may be presented in written or oral format, depending on the preference of the program director. The presentation must be clear, concise, and organized.

Final Evaluation

The final evaluation for the NURS 6850 course includes a comprehensive written exam and a clinical evaluation by the preceptor. The final evaluation must adhere to the following guidelines:

1. Comprehensive written exam: The comprehensive written exam covers all the topics and skills taught in the Family Nurse Practitioner program. The exam may include multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and case studies.
2. Clinical evaluation: The clinical evaluation is conducted by the preceptor and evaluates the student’s clinical performance over the course of the internship. The evaluation includes an assessment of the student’s clinical skills, communication skills, professionalism, and leadership.
3. Pass.

In order to pass the NURS 6850 course, students must meet the following criteria:

1. Complete all required clinical hours: Students must complete a minimum of 225 clinical hours under the supervision of a preceptor in a primary care setting.
2. Submit all required weekly logs and reflective journals: Students must submit all weekly logs and reflective journals on time and in accordance with the course guidelines.
3. Develop and present a case study: Students must develop and present a case study that demonstrates their clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
4. Pass the comprehensive written exam: Students must pass the comprehensive written exam with a minimum score of 80%.
5. Receive a satisfactory clinical evaluation: Students must receive a satisfactory clinical evaluation from their preceptor, indicating that they have demonstrated competence in all required clinical skills.

Conclusion

The NURS 6850 course is an essential component of the Family Nurse Practitioner program, providing students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a primary care setting under the supervision of a preceptor. The course includes a variety of requirements, including clinical hours, weekly logs and reflective journals, a case study, and a comprehensive written exam, as well as a clinical evaluation by the preceptor. By successfully completing the NURS 6850 course, students will have demonstrated their competence as family nurse practitioners and be prepared for the challenges and rewards of a career in primary care.