| CODE | NUR3180 | ||||||
| TITLE | Orthopaedic Care Elective Practice Placement | ||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | ||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 6 | ||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Nursing | ||||||
| DESCRIPTION | During their clinical placement students are expected to participate by either assisting or performing, under supervision of the mentor or qualified staff, in the care of a patient with various orthopaedic treatment such as, 'external fixation device', 'internal fixation', 'skin traction', 'skeletal traction', 'plaster of Paris cast' and 'wound over a compound fracture'. During this placement students are taught to practice, and are then expected to participate in providing education to patients with various orthopaedic conditions including patients with back pain. Besides patients, students are also taught and than expected to disseminate information to junior students on orthopaedic nursing and also teach them how to handle and move patients in order to prevent students from back injury. Students will also be taught to practice pre and post operative nursing care for patients with fracture neck of femur and hip joint replacements. Students are taught and then expected to participate by observing and assisting in the nursing care required for a patient with musculoskeletal weakness/disease e.g. Ankylosis spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis. Students are taught to practice by participating in the nursing care required for a patient with spinal injury. Students are taught what to observe in order to apply an effective safe plaster cast, and than assist in it's application. Students are taught to observe and assess the application of a plaster on a patient with a fracture. Students will be taught what advise should be given to patients after the application of a plaster cast to prevent complications. Consequently, students will practice what they have learnt. Students will be taught how discharge planning is practiced and required to participate or assist in the discharge planning of patients with the above mentioned conditions. Study-unit Aims: To equip students with practical knowledge on nursing and how to care for their patients using a holistic approach. Consequently, during their clinical placements students will be able to integrate the acquired knowledge and skills into their practice. Moreover, during their orthopaedic clinical placement, students are expected to critically reflect in depth on the care given to patients in the orthopaedic wards. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Carry out a nursing assessment of a newly admitted patient to the orthopaedic ward using the Activities of Daily Living assessment tool; - Develop and document a plan of care for patients with various orthopaedic cases, by using the nursing process: assessment, nursing diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation; - Demonstrate safe education to patients, with different orthopaedic conditions by explaining procedures, after care to patients in the presence of a qualified member of staff; - Describe to the mentor or qualified staff, how to avoid injuries to her/his back when handling patients in the orthopaedic ward; - Describe to the mentor, the precautions that should be taken to prevent injury or infections, in the orthopaedic setting, to her/him and others; - Describe to the mentor or qualified staff, how to use correct positioning and moving of patients in the orthopaedic clinical setting; - In the presence of the clinical mentor, demonstrate knowledge and understanding of pre and post operative nursing care of a patient undergoing arthroplasty through assisting and participating in the patient’s care; - Explain, to the mentor, the specific orthopaedic post operative care/attention needed by patients with different orthopaedic operations, during the transfer from the theatre to the ward; - In the presence of the mentor or qualified staff, demonstrate the knowledge through practice, of the care of operation wounds and drains; - In the presence of the mentor, demonstrate knowledge by practicing the care of a patient with different orthopaedic conditions such as osteoarthritis and hip arthroplasty; - Explain to the mentor, the understanding of the importance of the collaboration with other Multidisciplinary Team members by discussing orthopaedic cases and cooperating with them; and - Explain to the mentor, the planning of discharge of a patient from the orthopaedic ward, including patient education. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: (In an orthopaedic clinical setting, in the presence of the mentor or qualified staff) - Interview patients with orthopaedic problems on their arrival to the orthopaedic ward to identify actual and potential problems to develop and document a plan of nursing care; - Give education to patients and junior students, according to specific literature, on different orthopaedic applications such as: a. external fixation device; b. internal fixation; c. skeletal and skin traction; d. plaster of paris and other casts; e. knee and hip prosthesis; - Demonstrate collaboration with the resident physiotherapists of the orthopaedic ward in which the student is allocated; - Implement possible nursing interventions required by orthopaedic patients following identification of problems and complications such as: a. deep vain thrombosis; b. fat embolism; c. compartment syndrome; - List own limitations and seek advice accordingly, from her/his mentor or other senior members of the MDT; and - To safely assist (in accordance with literature and policies): a. in the handling of patients from the theatre to the orthopaedic ward; b. in the post operative care of a patient following hip replacement; c. in the post operative care of a patient following knee replacement; d. in the care of a patient with an external fixation device. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Perry, A Griffin edited by Potter, P.A. (2006), Brunner & suddarth clinical nursing skills & Technique (6th ed.), Elsevier Mosby. Smeltzer S.C, and Bear (2010), Brunner and Suddarth text book of medical and surgical nursing (12th ed.), lippincott & Willking. Walsh, M., (2002) Watson's clinical nursing and related science, Bailliere Tindall. Maher, A.B., Salmond, S.W., Pillino, T.A. (2002) Orthopaedic nursing (3rd ed.), W.B Saunders Co. The above books are available in the Health Sciences Library, however such orthopaedic nursing text books exist with a more recent year of publication. |
||||||
| RULES/CONDITIONS | While TAKING THIS UNIT YOU MUST TAKE NUR2358 | ||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Placement | ||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||
| LECTURER/S | Martin Camilleri |
||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||