Guidelines for Student Placements The Hospital for Sick Children The Following are guidelines that students and faculty need to follow in order to request a placement at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Applications: Application forms can be found on the SickKids website at the following address: www.sickkids.ca/nursing. Applications must be filled out by all students who request placement. This will assist us to ensure that students needs are being appropriately met. Applications are to be faxed or e-mailed to the Nursing Education administrative assistant at the Centre for Nursing. If they are e-mailed, they need to be electronically signed by the placement coordinator / instructor / professor as stated on the application. Once clinical placements are determined, SickKids will contact the school s placement co-ordinators Students will be contacted by their placement coordinator / instructor if their request has been accepted. Students, please do not contact SickKids for confirmation of your placement request. Prior to final acceptance of the student application, students will be asked to contact the Advance Nursing Practice Educators from the individual programs to arrange an information interview. The purpose of this interview is to ensure that the students learning needs can be appropriately met. Eligibility for Student Placement: The Hospital for Sick Children is a tertiary/quaternary paediatric facility. As such we have outlined minimum expectations for our different placement areas. Please see Appendix A for the Nursing Student Placement Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills document and see Appendix B for the Nursing Student Experiences at SickKids document. Please note that due to our patient population and acuity, we ONLY accept requests for 3 rd and 4 th year placements. Communication with the Hospital for Sick Children Nursing student placements will be co-ordinated by the Nursing Education Department in the Centre for Nursing. The following guidelines will assist student placement coordinators. All communications must occur between the school s placement coordinator, and the Nursing Education Department at the hospital. This will minimize miscommunication between the school and the hospital. Deadlines for student applications are attached. Please refer to Appendix C for the Nursing Student Placement Deadlines document.
Collaboration In order to ensure that nursing students receive the best experience possible we ask for the following: Current syllabus on the clinical course and the nursing program in general. This information helps Nursing Education Department to understand the needs of students coming for placement. We encourage schools to make us aware of upcoming trends that affect their students/number of students. Being aware of these trends helps us to plan to meet the placement needs of students. The name(s) of whoever should be contacted for any issue/concern related to a student. A current Sick Kids Affiliation Agreement needs to be in place with The Hospital for Sick Children prior to any student placement. Please contact the Student Placement Coordinator at the Centre for Nursing to arrange for this. Arrangements for Students Once students have been placed, the Nursing Education Department will send out details about the following: Training dates for our computerized charting system as needed Student Orientation Day and Preparation Immunization Requirements N95 Mask Fit Testing Student Agreement Lockers ID Badges Contact Information Nursing Student Placements The Hospital for Sick Children Centre for Nursing 555 University Ave, Rm. 4736 Atrium Toronto, ON M5G 1X8 Tel: 416.813.6941 Fax: 416.813.8273
Appendix A Nursing Student Placement Prerequisite Knowledge and Skills Strong academic and clinical performance (a minimum of B average grade) Content Knowledge Skills Patient Assessment Growth and Development Baby Basics Factors influencing physical assessment Elements of a complete physical, psychosocial, spiritual, and family assessment. Norms and abnormals for all body systems as seen from birth to 18 years. Paediatric differences in: a) anatomy and physiology b) gross/fine motor skills c) psychosocial skills d) cognitive levels e) language skills Growth and development stages Factors influencing how families care for their infants Principles of infant safety Theoretical knowledge of how to perform: a) baby bath b) diapering Performance of a systematic head to toe assessment Able to take a full set of vital signs Basic ability to obtain subjective and objective data through history taking, physical exam, review of patient records, and communication with family and the health care team Communication of relevant data to health care team (requires ability to analyze data and critical think through patient situation) Identification of patient s developmental stage Beginning to integrate developmental knowledge into assessment and nursing plan of care Helpful to have skills in: Baby baths Diapering Feeding Skin care Cord care Safe holding/handling of a baby
Medication Administration Fluid and Electrolyte Balance c) feeding d) skin care e) cord care f) safe holding/handling of a baby Resources for medication administration Knowledge of how to look up and consider the following for each medication: a) indications for use b) side effects c) adverse reactions d) contraindications e) normal dosage ranges f) method of administration g) special considerations Basic theoretical knowledge of how to give medications by all routes Knowledge of electrolyte functions, regulatory mechanisms, and clinical indicators of imbalances Knowledge of fluid requirements, regulatory Administration of meds using the 5 RIGHTS Calculation of dosages based on weight Calculation of IV medication rates Basic knowledge of how to identify clinical indicators of over hydration, dehydration, fluid shifts and electrolyte and ph imbalance Maintenance of accurate intake and output records Calculation of maintenance fluids based on weight Calculation of adequate urine output based on weight
IV Assessment and Maintenance Principles of Asepsis Infection Control Ability to Work Within a Multicultural Environment mechanisms, and clinical indicators of imbalance Rationale for IV therapy Common complications of IVs and theoretical knowledge of how to treat Knowledge of commonly used IV solutions and their functions Types of IV access Types of asepsis (medical and surgical) Principles of medical asepsis Principles of surgical asepsis Principles of infection control Definition of and when to use routine precautions Definition of and when to use transmission based precautions Knowledge of isolation surveillance techniques (i.e. swabs, cultures) Importance of recognizing one s values, beliefs, and attitudes and how these influence the therapeutic relationship Basic ability to assess the IV site, the tubing, the pump, the patient response to IV therapy and the fluid type. Considers compatibility of solution with medications and other IV therapies Changing of IV bags and tubing Priming of IV lines Utilization of techniques that maintain medical asepsis (i.e. hand washing, keeping soiled items away from clothes or the floor) Utilization of techniques that maintain surgical asepsis (should have beginning ability to apply these with sterile dressings or sterile urinary catheterizations) Demonstration of routine practices Demonstration of transmission based precautions (i.e. gloving, gowning, masking when identified as appropriate) Beginning ability to assess and integrate patient and family s individual cultural beliefs and practices.
Effective Verbal and Written Communication Family-Centred Care Patient Teaching Importance of developing cultural knowledge and integrating knowledge into care Factors influencing the communication process Developmentally appropriate communication Standards of Nursing documentation (as per College of Nurses) Importance of recognizing one s own values, beliefs, and attitudes towards family Principles of familycentred care Factors that might influence patient/family learning Appropriate media, learning strategies, and learning environment. Assessment of communication needs of the patient/family Demonstration of communication that is appropriate for the patient and family Communication of findings to health care team members verbally and in written format Assessment of family s cultural beliefs, attitudes, values and practices that may influence the plan of care Beginning ability to identify patient and family needs and to implement a plan of care based on needs Beginning ability to assess educational needs and learning styles of patients and families Beginning ability to integrate findings into educational plan Evaluation of effectiveness of learning plan
Appendix B Nursing Student Experiences at SickKids Unit Experience Required Skills Required Education Provided by SICKKIDS 7BCD Prerequisite knowledge and Paediatric Medicine Infectious Diseases Respiratory Medicine All final year students 3 rd year of 4 year degree students 1 st year of 2 year degree students RN refresher Shock class** CVC class** Emergency procedures** ECG basic** 5AB General Surgery Dentistry Orthopaedics Ent 4C Medical Short Stay 5C Neurosurgery Trauma Ophthalmology 7A Psychiatry Adolescent Medicine Child Development 8C Burns Plastics And Urology 3 rd & 4 th year of 4 year degree students 1 st and 2 nd year of 2 year degree students Previous surgical placement is ideal All final year students All final year students RN refresher Final year students 3 rd year students Final year students 3 rd year of 4 year degree students 1 st year of 2 year degree students Prerequisite knowledge and Prerequisite knowledge and Critical assessment skills Proficient with technical skills Shock class*** CVC class** Emergency procedures** ECG basic** Info on common patient populations and * Prerequisite knowledge and Unit orientation*** (EVD management, Glascow Coma Scale, Neurological assessment) Prerequisite knowledge and Knowledge of transference/ counter transference Insight/awareness into adolescent development Prerequisite knowledge and Unit orientation classes*** Paediatric sedation class** Shock class**
8AB Hematology/Oncology Immunology Bone Marrow Transplant 4D Cardiology CCU NICU Emergency Department OR 4 th year of 4 year degree students 3 rd year of 3 year diploma students 2 nd year of 2 year degree students (final term only) 4 th year of 4 year degree students (in semesters 1 or 2) 3 rd year of 3 year diploma students (in final semester) 2 nd year of 2 year degree (final semester only) 3 rd year of 4 year degree student (must have had acute care placement within the past year) RN refresher (with paediatric experience) post RN All final year students 4 th year of 4 year degree students 2 nd year of 2 year degree students 4 th year of 4 year degree students 2 nd year of 2 year degree students RN refresher Must be enrolled in OR certificate course as a post-rn student Prerequisite knowledge and Knowledge of oncology Understanding of death and dying concepts Prerequisite knowledge and IV medications including direct IV administration Communication with parents in crisis Prerequisite knowledge and Prerequisite knowledge and Prerequisite knowledge and Self-directed Prerequisite knowledge and Care of CVC s*** Review of cardiac & respiratory anatomy and physiology** Use of Marquette Tram monitor (done on unit)*** ECG basic** ECG advanced** Cardiac defect classes** NICU unit orientation** CIMMS** Emergency department orientation*** (i.e. charting/ documentation, department flow, trauma and resuscitation rooms, use of ER monitors)
PACU/ASCU 4 th year of 4 year degree students Prerequisite knowledge and Pain management Airway management Knowledge of emergency procedures Sedation and analgesia knowledge Airway management*** Sedation and analgesia*** SICK KIDS Emergency procedures class** Infusion pumps*** Assessment of the post-op surgical patient*** 6A Rheumatology, Gi/Nutrition, Nephrology, Transplantation SICKKIDS CLINICS All final year students adult or Prerequisite knowledge and 6A unit orientation day*** CVC class*** ECG basic*** *See Appendix A Nursing Student Placement Prerequisite knowledge and Skills **Recommended orientation ***Mandatory orientation Placements can also be requested in the SICKKIDS Clinics. Be aware that the availability of many of our clinics changes from term to term. Below is a list of clinics that have accepted students in the past. Many of these clinics are not suitable for students seeking a final consolidation placement. Contact the Nursing Student Coordinator at 416.813.6941 for a list of currently available clinics. About Kids Health Ophthalmology Haematology/Oncology Safe Kids Neurology Sickle Cell/Thalassemia Occupational Health Paediatric Consult Immunology Clinic Same Day Admit Respiratory Medicine Plastic Surgery SickKids International Dermatology GI clinic Gynaecology Infectious Diseases Bone Clinic Cardiac Metabolics Transplant Clinic
Nursing Student Placement Request Deadlines The Hospital for Sick Children WINTER TERM Placement Request Deadline* 2 nd Friday of September Advanced Confirmation of Placements 4 th Friday of September Final Confirmation of Placements 3 rd Friday of November Students Contact Unit Educators** 1 st Friday of December to 2 nd Monday of December Students To Start Clinical Placements 2 nd Week of January Student Orientation Date TBA SPRING/SUMMER TERM Placement Request Deadline* 2 nd Friday of January Advanced Confirmation of Placements 4 th Friday of January Final Confirmation of Placements 3 rd Friday of March Students Contact Unit Educators** 1 st Friday of April to 2 nd Monday of April Students To Start Clinical Placements April/May/June/July Student Orientation Date TBA FALL TERM Placement Request Deadline* 1 st Friday of May Advanced Confirmation of Placements 3 rd Friday of May Final Confirmation of Placements 3 rd Friday of July Students Contact Unit Educators** 1 st Friday of August to 3 rd Monday of August Students To Start Clinical Placements 2 nd Week of September Student Orientation Date TBA WINTER TERM Placement Request Deadline* 2 nd Friday of September Advanced Confirmation of Placements 4 th Friday of September Final Confirmation of Placements 3 rd Friday of November Students Contact Unit Educators** 1 st Friday of December to 2 nd Monday of December Students To Start Clinical Placements 2 nd Week of January Student Orientation Date TBA Note: A portion of the clinical placements will be confirmed approximately 4 months prior to their starting dates. SickKids will send an Advanced Notice of Confirmation for the selected students. As more placements become available closer to the date of the clinical placements, additional students will be accepted and the Schools will be notified of those placements at the time of the Final Notice of Confirmation. *Due to the increased requests for placements at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) placement requests for each term will not be accepted after the submission deadlines for each term. Late placement requests will be designated as requests for the next term intake of students. Replacements for students placed at SickKids will be considered on an individual basis.
**Students that have been placed at SickKids must contact the Advanced Nursing Practice Educator that has been designated as their contact person during the above period of time indicated. Students will not be placed at SickKids if they do not contact the Educator in the time periods designated above. These students will be designated as requests for the next term intake. Contact information for the Educators will be provided after placements have been confirmed. For any further inquiries, please contact The Nursing Education Department at 416.813.6941.