The Centre for Family Medicine precepts Practical Nursing students through Conestoga College for a 6 week placement where they learn the role of the Family Practice Nurse.
The Family Practice Nurse assists physicians and patients during office visits which includes but is not limited to triage and patient assessment, telephone advice, immunizations and other injections, wound care, ear syringing, blood pressure monitoring, assisting with office procedures, booking and explaining tests, patient education, disease prevention and health promotion, clarifying physician’s instructions to patients, Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) referral, completing forms, and more.
Other professionals a student may encounter include: physicians, pharmacists, family therapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, chiropodists, chiropractor, and dietitian. The nursing student is an integral part of the nursing team for the 6 week placement.
“It was definitely a very valuable learning experience… Although it was a big change going from a hospital setting to a Family Practice, I feel that I have improved on my goals of becoming more aware of my strengths and weaknesses…”