Neuroscience nursing elective for senior nursing students.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Neuroscience Nursing

Background:

• Baccalaureate students requested more clinical experience in specialized areas.
• Neurological and neurosurgical nursing offers limited clinical opportunities for students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an experimental neuroscience nursing course for senior baccalaureate students.
• To enhance student competence and confidence in caring for patients with neurological dysfunctions.
• To provide comprehensive clinical experience and family support training.

Main Methods:

• A five-week, three-credit elective course titled "Discovering Neuroscience Nursing" was developed.
• The course included 30 hours of lecture/laboratory, field trips, and over 200 hours of clinical experience.
• Students were paired with staff nurse preceptors in various clinical settings.

Main Results:

• Student and staff preceptor evaluations indicated successful program acceptance.
• The course provided significant clinical exposure to neurological patient care.
• Students gained competence and confidence in neurological nursing.

Conclusions:

• The experimental neuroscience nursing course was well-received and effective.
• The program successfully met student demand for specialized clinical experience.
• The course will be continued and refined as a senior elective.