NURS FPX 6107 Assessment 2 Course Development and Influencing factors NURS-FPX 6107 Curriculum Design, Development, and Evaluation ​​​​​​​Course Development and Influencing Factors

Description of Appropriate Course and its Position in the Curriculum

The chosen course for inclusion in the BSN curriculum is titled “Inter-professional Collaboration and Leadership in Healthcare.” This course aims to enhance students’ abilities to work in multidisciplinary teams and provide healthcare leadership, both integral parts of contemporary healthcare services. The need for inter-professional collaboration in healthcare arises from the complexity of patients’ needs in today’s healthcare environment, which often requires input from various health professionals for comprehensive care. Leadership skills are vital for nurses to coordinate patient care and advocate for their needs effectively. As for the placement within the curriculum, this course would be ideally situated as part of the senior-level coursework. At this stage, students would have already been introduced to the basics of nursing care and the fundamentals of the healthcare system through their foundational and intermediate-level nursing courses (Dang et al., 2021). 

The advanced placement of the course will ensure that students can integrate their clinical and theoretical knowledge into real-world team settings, emphasizing patient-centered care, communication with team members, ethical considerations in team settings, and leadership in managing patient care. They will be equipped to take on significant roles within their healthcare teams and lead efforts in providing high-quality patient care. This placement not only aligns with the course’s advanced concepts but also allows students to practically apply the interprofessional and leadership skills they have learned in a clinical setting, which they start to engage with more extensively at the end of their BSN program (Steele Gray et al., 2020).

Rationale for Adding the Course

The rationale for integrating the course “Inter-professional Collaboration and Leadership in Healthcare” into the BSN curriculum stems from the increasing complexity and multidisciplinary nature of contemporary healthcare. Healthcare systems around the globe are recognizing the importance of teamwork and leadership in delivering effective and patient-centered care (Zorek et al., 2021). One of the crucial gaps identified in many nursing curricula is the insufficient emphasis on developing effective communication, leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and conflict resolution skills. These competencies are crucial for nurses to work effectively within a diverse team of healthcare professionals and contribute positively to patient outcomes (Zorek et al., 2021).

The proposed course is designed to fill this educational gap, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of healthcare teams and strategies for effective collaboration. Moreover, it fosters the development of leadership skills that empower them to take initiative, coordinate care plans, advocate for patients, and contribute to decision-making processes. The health professionals who are adequately trained to work collaboratively demonstrate a higher level of patient satisfaction, improved healthcare outcomes, and a decrease in medical errors (Brooks Carthon et al., 2020). Therefore, this course is not just a valuable addition but a crucial element in preparing students to effectively participate in and lead inter-professional teams, thereby improving patient outcomes and the overall effectiveness of healthcare delivery.

Topical Outline and Relationship to Other Courses

The proposed course “Inter-professional Collaboration and Leadership in Healthcare” is designed with a comprehensive topic outline that ensures coverage of all crucial areas related to inter-professional healthcare teamwork.

1. Inter-professional Communication: This topic will delve into effective strategies for communication within healthcare teams, encompassing different professional languages, respect, active listening, and clarity in conveying information.
2. Team Dynamics and Leadership: Students will explore the roles and responsibilities of different members within a healthcare team, also the leadership skills necessary to facilitate efficient team dynamics.
3. Ethics in Inter-professional Collaboration: Students will learn about ethical considerations in collaborative practice, including confidentiality, informed consent, conflict of interest, and ethical dilemmas in team decision-making.
4. Patient-Centered Care in Team Settings: This topic focuses on the role of teamwork in delivering patient-centered care, involving shared decision-making, respect for patient preferences, and coordination of services.
5. Quality Improvement and Patient Safety in Collaborative Environments: Students