Practicum Objectives
The clinical evaluations are based upon the course objectives of the Practicum in which the student is enrolled. Below is a list of links for each practicum's objectives.
Doctor of Nursing Practice Practicum Objectives:
Adult/Gerontology Acute Care Specialty Track
Practicum I, Practicum II, Residency I, Residency II
Family, Adult/Gerontology, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Specialty Track
Practicum I, Practicum II, Practicum III, Practicum IV, Practicum V, Practicum VI
Neonatal Speciality Track
Practicum I, Practicum II, Residency I, Residency II
Nurse Midwifery Speciality Track
Practicum I, Practicum II, Practicum III, Practicum IV, Residency
Psychiatric / Mental Health Specialty Track
Practicums I, II, & III, Practicums IV, V, & Residency
Women's Health Specialty Track
Practicum I, Practicum II, Practicum III, Practicum IV & Residency
NURS 7650 – Adult Acute Care Practicum
The student will:
- Analyze presentations of illness and determine correct diagnoses in clients with selected acute care problems.
- Propose appropriate intervention plans and case management for individuals and groups of clients with selected acute care problems.
- Use a collaborative model to provide direct services to clients with selected acute care problems and acute exacerbations of chronic illness by: Assessing clients using appropriate general and specialized skills; Performing advanced interventions; and Evaluating outcomes.
- Assess clients for the presence of symptoms and human responses that commonly accompany acute exacerbations of chronic illness.
- Implement management for symptoms and human responses that commonly accompany acute exacerbations of chronic illness.
- Collaborate and consult with physicians and other providers within health care systems in order to provide effective care.
- Demonstrate independent and interdependent decision making and direct accountability for clinical judgment.
- Complete learning experiences and demonstrate competence in performing technical skills using patient simulation devices. This objective will be based on individual learning objectives and course requirements for minimal achievement.
- Develop diagnostic skills through application of medical decision-making concepts.
- Consider health risks that are specific to the geriatric population and make changes to the medical treatment plan to minimize those risks.
Students will work with a preceptor in an acute health care setting to integrate and synthesize knowledge about health and disease using research findings and advanced knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics in order to apply this knowledge to the needs of patients and their families. Clinical conferences and seminars include discussion of the nurse practitioner role within the context of state and national health issues; presentation and analysis of clinical cases; and discussion of other clinical topics. Students develop diagnostic skills through application of medical decision-making concepts. Procedural skills are developed using simulation models.
This course is designed to teach assessment and management of patients who are acutely ill or have an acute exacerbation of chronic illness. The purpose of the clinical seminars is to develop clinical skills required when caring for an acutely ill patient. In addition to assessment and management, the student will be taught differential diagnosis, laboratory and radiological interpretation, and how to formulate a plan of care. Clinical experiences with preceptors in acute care settings are intended to promote the learning of these skills. In addition to acquiring new clinical skills, the student will have the opportunity to shadow other professions who contribute to patient care in the acute care setting.
In the first few days of the clinical rotation, you may choose to have the student follow you to allow the student to better understand your clinical approach to patient care. By the end of the rotation, the student should have progressed from shadowing to the beginning phases of providing patient care. This should include obtaining a medical history from the patient or the patient’s family, performing a physical exam, reviewing pertinent diagnostic studies, formulating a differential diagnosis, and proposing an assessment and plan for the patient.
The student will receive two clinical evaluations conducted by a faculty member during the semester. At least one of these will occur at your clinical site. During these visits, we do not want to interrupt patient care. The faculty member providing the site visit will not be involved in the care of the patient but will observe the student’s progression in obtaining a history, conducting an appropriate physical exam, and interacting with you and the staff. We would also like to discuss any comments or concerns regarding the student or our program.
We ask that you complete an evaluation of the student at the middle and end of the semester and review it with the student. The student will need to receive the completed evaluation forms from you. Your evaluation of the student’s progression is important and is used to determine the student’s final grade. The student will provide you with the evaluation forms.
Lead Instructor Contact Information:
Denise Ward, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC
801-581-4642
denise.ward@nurs.utah.edu
NURS 7651 – Adult Critical Care Practicum
The student will:
- Incorporate cultural diversity principles when analyzing human responses and presentations of selected organ failure, multiple system failure, and catastrophic illness to determine correct diagnoses.
- Incorporate cultural diversity principles when proposing appropriate intervention plans and case management for individuals and groups of clients with selected organ failure, multiple system failure, and catastrophic illness.
- Use a collaborative model to provide direct services to clients with selected critical care problems by:
- Assessing clients for the presence of symptoms and human responses that commonly accompany critical illness using appropriate general and specialized skills;
- Performing advanced interventions for symptoms and human responses that commonly accompany critical illness; and
- Evaluating clinical outcomes.
- Collaborate and consult with physicians and other providers within health care systems in order to provide effective care.
- Coordinate care resources with other disciplines, family, and community agencies.
- Demonstrate independent and interdependent decision making and direct accountability for clinical judgment.
- Critically analyze new data and best practice evidence when formulating medical care plans for clients.
- Demonstrate proficient and ethical use of the electronic medical record system utilized by the health care agency.
- Complete learning experiences and demonstrate competence in performing technical skills using patient simulation devices.
- Perform roles such as acute care nurse practitioner, staff educator, and case manager.
Students will work with a preceptor in a critical or advanced specialized health care setting in order to integrate and synthesize knowledge about health and disease, research findings, and advanced knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics. This knowledge will be applied to the needs of patients and their families. Clinical conferences and seminars include discussion of the nurse practitioner role within the context of state and national health issues, analysis of clinical cases, discussion of selected clinical topics, and acquisition of clinical skills using simulation models.
This course is one of two practicums in which the student will develop advanced clinical skills with the goal of patient assessment and management of clients who are acutely or critically ill, including those with acute exacerbations of chronic illness.
In the first few days of the clinical rotation, you may choose to have the student follow you to better understand your clinical approach to patient care. By the end of the semester, the student should have progressed to performing the majority of the patient’s assessment independently. This should include obtaining a medical history from the patient or the patient’s family, performing a physical exam, reviewing pertinent diagnostic studies, formulating a differential diagnosis, and proposing an assessment and plan for the patient.
The student will receive two clinical evaluations conducted by a faculty member during the semester. At least one of these will occur at your clinical site. During these visits, we do not want to interrupt patient care. The faculty member providing the site visit will not be involved in the care of the patient but will observe the student’s progression in obtaining a history, conducting an appropriate physical exam, and interacting with you and the staff. We would also like to discuss any comments or concerns regarding the student or our program.
We ask that you complete an evaluation of the student at the middle and end of the semester and review it with the student. The student will need to receive the completed evaluation forms from you. Your evaluation of the student’s progression is important and is used to determine the student’s final grade. The student will provide you with the evaluation forms.
Lead Instructor Contact Information:
Mary Vietti, APRN
801-581-2436
mary.vietti@hci.utah.edu
NURS 7652 – Adult Acute Care Residency
The student will:
- Perform as an advanced practice nurse in a nursing specialty by doing the following for clients, both individuals and groups: accepting accountability for client management; assessing and diagnosing psychological and physical health care needs; prescribing interventions; and evaluating outcomes.
- Collaborate with other health care providers to facilitate an interdisciplinary approach to holistic health care.
- Serve as a consultant to other health care providers.
- Educate personnel and/or patients by identifying educational needs; participating in planning and coordinating education; directing teaching in clinical or classroom settings; and evaluating teaching and learning.
- Provide leadership in clinical nursing practice.
- Solve problems related to clinical nursing practice.
Under the supervision of clinical faculty and an onsite clinical preceptor, the student will demonstrate beginning competence as an Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP). The student will apply evidence-based didactic knowledge and clinical skills while directly managing patients who are acutely, chronically, or critically ill for a total of 320 clinical hours.
In the first few days of the clinical rotation, you may choose to have the student follow you in order to understand your clinical approach to patient care. Within a few weeks, the student should progress to performing patient assessments independently. This should include obtaining a medical history from the patient or the patient’s family, performing a physical exam, reviewing pertinent diagnostic studies, formulating a differential diagnosis, and developing the final assessment and plan. The student should consult with you throughout the entire process but is expected to provide medical care and complete the necessary documentation.
The student will receive one clinical evaluation conducted by a faculty member during the semester. During this visit, we do not want to interrupt patient care. The faculty member providing the site visit will not be involved in the care of the patient; rather, they will observe the student’s progression in obtaining a history, conducting an appropriate physical exam, and interacting with you and the staff. We would also like to discuss any comments or concerns regarding the student or our program.
We ask that you complete an evaluation of the student at the middle and end of the semester and review it with the student. The student will need to receive the completed evaluation forms from you. Your evaluation of the student’s progression is important and is used to determine the student’s final grade. The student will provide you with the evaluation forms.
Lead Instructor Contact Information:
Denise Ward, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC
801-581-4642
denise.ward@nurs.utah.edu
NURS 7653 – Adult Acute Care Residency
The student will:
- Incorporate cultural diversity principles when analyzing human responses and presentations of selected organ failure, multiple system failure, and catastrophic illness to determine correct diagnoses.
- Incorporate cultural diversity principles when proposing appropriate intervention plans and case management for individuals and groups of clients with selected organ failure, multiple system failure, and catastrophic illness.
- Use an interprofessional collaborative model to provide direct services to clients with selected critical problems by:
- Performing appropriate assessments of the physical and emotional responses of the critically ill and/or injured client;
- Performing advanced interventions often required when managing a critically ill and/or injured client; and
- Evaluating clinical outcomes and providing appropriate follow-up care when indicated.
- Collaborate and consult with physicians and other health care providers to augment medical care outcomes.
- Coordinate medical care with other medical and social disciplines, family, and community agencies.
- Demonstrate independent and interdependent decision making and direct accountability for clinical judgment.
- Critically analyze new data and best practice evidence when formulating medical care plans for clients.
- Demonstrate proficient and ethical use of the electronic medical record system utilized by the health care agency.
- Perform the roles of adult gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, staff educator, and case manager.
Students work with a preceptor in a critical or advanced specialized health care setting to integrate and synthesize knowledge about health and disease, research findings, and advanced knowledge of pharmacology and therapeutics. They apply this knowledge to the needs of patients and their families. Clinical conferences and seminars include discussion of the nurse practitioner role within the context of state and national health issues; presentation and analysis of clinical cases; discussion of selected clinical topics; and acquisition of clinical skills.
This course is the second-semester residency and final clinical course. Students should take the opportunity to enhance previously developed clinical skills, with the goal of working independently while caring for patients in the clinical setting.
In the first few days of the clinical rotation, you may choose to have the student follow you in order to understand your clinical approach to patient care. Within a few weeks, the student should progress to performing patient assessments independently. This should include obtaining a medical history from the patient or the patient’s family, performing a physical exam, reviewing pertinent diagnostic studies, formulating a differential diagnosis, and developing the final assessment and plan. The student should consult with you throughout the entire process but is expected to provide medical care and complete the necessary documentation.
The student will receive one clinical evaluation conducted by a faculty member during the semester. During this visit, we do not want to interrupt patient care. The faculty member providing the site visit will not be involved in the care of the patient; rather, they will observe the student’s progression in obtaining a history, conducting an appropriate physical exam, and interacting with you and the staff. We would also like to discuss any comments or concerns regarding the student or our program.
We ask that you complete an evaluation of the student at the middle and end of the semester and review it with the student. The student will need to receive the completed evaluation forms from you. Your evaluation of the student’s progression is important and is used to determine the student’s final grade. The student will provide you with the evaluation forms.
Lead Instructor Contact Information:
Denise Ward, DNP, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC
801-581-4642
denise.ward@nurs.utah.edu