92613 Principles of Child and Family Health Nursing

This subject introduces students to the clinical specialty of child and family health nursing. It describes the scope of practice and displays the level of competent practice to be exhibited in the professional knowledge, skills and behaviours of beginning practitioners. Students' understanding of evidence-based practice is reviewed and applied in child and family health nursing practice. The subject situates primary health care as the philosophical basis of health services for well children and their families, and defines the prominent position of health promotion within the practice of child and family health nursing. As effective communication skills are considered essential for competent practice in child and family health nursing, the subject refreshes and expands prior learning in communication and counselling skills and increases students' capacity to establish supportive therapeutic relationships with client families through a counselling workshop.