NURS 366
Nursing of the Childbearing Family
1. Catalog Entry
NURS 366. Nursing of the Childbearing Family
Three hours lecture; six hours practicum (5).
Prerequisites: NURS 321, 340, 342, 352
Semester offered: Fall and Spring
In-depth consideration of the childbearing phase of the lifecycle with application of theory
through nursing care of clients and their families related to childbearing in a variety of health
care venues in the community.
2. Detailed Description of Content of the Course
The objectives and content of this Level 2 Course are derived from the School of Nursing’s
philosophy and conceptual framework, and facilitate achievement of the School’s program
objectives. Additionally, the major topics and skills covered in this course are common to major
leadership and professional development nursing textbooks, and represent areas covered on
standardized achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research and
advancement in theory and clinical practice also determine content.
1. Choice in Childbearing Decisions: Promoting and Protecting Reproductive Health
a. Contraception
b. Surgical termination of fertility
c. Social issues regarding choice
d. Care of women during the cessation of the childbearing phase of their lives
2. Pregnancy Achieved: Nursing Interventions to Promote and Protect Health
a. Development of the maternal-fetal unit
b. Pregnancy from a fetal perspective
c. Pregnancy from a maternal perspective
d. Pregnancy from a family perspective
3. Childbirth
a. Labor and birth
b. Nursing measures to promote and protect health
c. Immediate care of the newborn
4. Parents and Newborn Postpartum: Promoting and Protecting Health
a. The developing family
b. The newborn
c. Maternal recovery from pregnancy and birth
5. Childbearing Family: Restoring Health
a. Reproductive risk: Achieving pregnancy
b. Reproductive risk: Pregnancy
c. Reproductive risk: Labor and Delivery
d. Reproductive risk: Postpartum
e. Reproductive risk: The sick newborn
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The following teaching strategies will be employed:

Lectures, discussion, multimedia, case studies, and guided clinical practice.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply skills basic to the nursing process interdependently, working in partnership with
individuals and families.
2. Adhere to AWOHNN Standards of Maternity Nursing Practice, accepting individual
responsibility for nursing interventions.
3. Demonstrate increasing skill in the use of health care and information technology in the care
of newborns and their parents/families.
4. Use basic skills of critical thinking in nursing care of the childbearing family.
5. Demonstrate increasing competency in therapeutic nursing interventions in the care of women
and their families related to childbearing.
6. Refine/utilize effective written, oral, and nonverbal communication skills relevant to the care
of childbearing families.
7. Demonstrate interdependent ethical decision making skills in care of the childbearing family.
8. Demonstrate appreciation of cultural variations and diversity of childbearing clients and their
families.
9. Demonstrate growing self-directed learning and personal/professional development.
10. Accept accountability for own nursing actions, applying basic leadership skill in providing
professional care to childbearing clients and their families.
11. Examine legislative and policy issues related to health care provided to childbearing families.
12. Use the nursing roles of educator, collaborator, consumer of research, and advocate in
providing care to childbearing families.
5. Assessment Measures
May include:






Exams; Quizzes
Paper
Project, Individual or Group
Care Plan
Oral Presentations
Class Participation
The course grade is determined by an evaluation of the extent to which the student meets the
stated course objectives. Students must have a minimum of 75% (“C”) in theory, measured
through testing. Other written or class participation work will be included in the final grade after
the minimum 75% (“C”) has been attained through testing.
Final Grades are a combination of at least 75% (“C”) on both theory and clinical/lab
components. Clinical/lab performance must be satisfactory to pass the course.
6. Other Course Information
Honor Code: By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment
to understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or
exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be conducted in
strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook for details.
Students with Disabilities: If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the Americans
With Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource Office (DRO).
The DRO is located in Room 32, Tyler Hall, telephone 540-831-6350. To receive academic
accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper DRO forms and meet with me no later
than the second week of the semester.
Attendance: For Attendance policies and other course-related requirements, see School of
Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook and Course Description.
7. Review and Approval
Date Action Reviewed by
April 2006 Undergraduate Curriculum Marcella Griggs, Director
NURS 366
Nursing of the Childbearing Family
1. Catalog Entry
NURS 366. Nursing of the Childbearing Family
Three hours lecture; six hours practicum (5).
Prerequisites: NURS 340, 341, 342, 352
Semester offered: Fall and Spring
In-depth consideration of the childbearing phase of the lifecycle with application of theory
through nursing care of clients and their families related to childbearing in a variety of
health care venues in the community.
2. Detailed Description of Content of the Course
The objectives and content of this Level 2 Course are derived from the School of Nursing’s
philosophy and conceptual framework, and facilitate achievement of the School’s program
objectives as well as the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education (AACN). Additionally, the
major topics and skills covered in this course are common to major leadership and
professional development nursing textbooks, and represent areas covered on standardized
achievement examinations and the NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Current research and advancement
in theory and clinical practice also determine content.
1. Choice in Childbearing Decisions: Promoting and Protecting Reproductive Health
a. Contraception
b. Termination of fertility
c. Social issues regarding choice
d. Care of women during the cessation of the childbearing phase of their lives
2. Pregnancy Achieved: Nursing Interventions to Promote and Protect Health
a. Development of the maternal-fetal unit
b. Pregnancy from a fetal perspective
c. Pregnancy from a maternal perspective
d. Pregnancy from a family perspective
3. Childbirth
a. Labor and birth
b. Nursing measures to promote and protect health
c. Immediate care of the newborn
4. Parents and Newborn Postpartum: Promoting and Protecting Health
a. The developing family
b. The newborn
c. Maternal recovery from pregnancy and birth
d. Prevention, identification and reporting of abuse and neglect within families.
5. Childbearing Family: Restoring Health
a. Reproductive risk: Achieving pregnancy
b. Reproductive risk: Pregnancy
c. Reproductive risk: Labor and Delivery
d. Reproductive risk: Postpartum
e. Reproductive risk: The sick newborn
3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The following teaching strategies will be employed but not limited to:

Lectures, discussion, multimedia, case studies, and guided clinical practice.
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
1.
Apply knowledge of historical, social and cultural factors to the care of diverse
populations in maternal/newborn area.
2.
Provide nursing care of mothers and newborns based on evidence that contributes to
safe and high quality patient outcomes within healthcare and assumes accountability
for personal and professional behaviors.
3.
Demonstrate an understanding of the basic elements of the research process and
models for applying evidence to maternal newborn clinical practice.
4.
Demonstrate skill in using patient care technologies, information systems and
communication devices that support safe maternal newborn nursing practice.
5.
Apply knowledge of legislative and regulatory processes within the health care
delivery system in the provision of safe, high-quality, and cost effective nursing care
with maternal newborn populations.
6.
Utilize written, verbal, nonverbal and emerging technology methods to communicate
effectively with all members of the healthcare team, including the patient and the
patient’s support network and assumes accountability.
7.
Utilize scientific principles of nursing knowledge in an interdependent manner when
working in collaboration with individuals and families to promote health, manage
illness and disease, and care for emerging families.
8.
Demonstrate ethical decision-making in an interdependent manner in ethical
dilemmas faced by individuals and families and assumes accountability for personal
and professional behaviors.
9.
Demonstrate the professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct. Adheres
to AWHONN Standards of Maternity Nursing Practice, accepting individual
responsibility for nursing interventions.
10.
Delivers compassionate, patient centered, evidenced based care that respects
patients and family preferences.
5. Assessment Measures
May include but not limited to:




Exams; Quizzes
Comprehensive Clinical Logs
Oral Presentations
Class Participation
The course grade is determined by an evaluation of the extent to which the student meets
the stated course objectives. Students must have a minimum of 75% (“C”) in theory,
measured through testing. Other written or class participation work will be included in the
final grade after the minimum 75% (“C”) has been attained through testing.
Final Grades are a combination of at least 75% (“C”) on both theory and clinical/lab
components. Clinical/lab performance must be satisfactory to pass the course.
6. Other Course Information
By accepting admission to Radford University, each student makes a commitment to
understand, support, and abide by the University Honor Code without compromise or
exception. Violations of academic integrity will not be tolerated. This class will be
conducted in strict observance of the Honor Code. Refer to your Student Handbook
for details.
The Waldron College has distinct expectations of students that are in addition to
those outlined in the Radford University Student Handbook. These standards are
aligned with students’ abilities to become effective health and human service
professionals and are provided so that students and faculty can be clear about
expectations and procedures to address practice performance. The ultimate goal of
the standards is to help students become successful health and human service
professionals. All students are expected to read and sign the Waldron College
Standards for Professional Practice Education. Students are expected to review these
standards every semester.
Students with Disabilities: If you are seeking classroom accommodations under the
Americans With Disabilities Act, you are required to register with the Disability Resource
Office (DRO). The DRO is located in Room 32, Tyler Hall, telephone 540-831-6350, 540831-6350. To receive academic accommodations for this class, please obtain the proper
DRO forms and meet with me no later than the second week of the semester.
Attendance: For Attendance policies and other course-related requirements, see School of
Nursing Undergraduate Student Handbook and Course Description.
7. Review and Approval
Reviewed February 2011, Kim Carter, Director