““Practice Makes Perfect”Practice Makes Perfect”International Conference 2007International Conference 2007

The Family Nursing Unit:The Family Nursing Unit:

Examining 25 years of Pedagogical PracticesExamining 25 years of Pedagogical Practices

in Clinical Learningin Clinical Learning

Janice M. Bell, RN, PhDJanice M. Bell, RN, PhDLorraine M. Wright, RN, PhDLorraine M. Wright, RN, PhD

Nancy J. Moules, RN, PhDNancy J. Moules, RN, PhDBrenda I. Paton, RN, PhDBrenda I. Paton, RN, PhD

University of CalgaryUniversity of Calgary

The Family Nursing Unit (FNU), University of Calgary is a unique faculty practice unit

focusing on clinical scholarship and advanced nursing practice with families who suffer with

serious illness.

Family Nursing Faculty (left to right):Family Nursing Faculty (left to right):Dr. Lorraine Wright, Dr. Janice Bell, and Dr. Nancy MoulesDr. Lorraine Wright, Dr. Janice Bell, and Dr. Nancy Moules

The clinical knowledge developed The clinical knowledge developed within this unit is called within this unit is called Family Systems NursingFamily Systems Nursing and has been published and and has been published and disseminated internationally.disseminated internationally.

(Bell, 2002; Moules, Thirsk, & Bell, 2006; Wright, (Bell, 2002; Moules, Thirsk, & Bell, 2006; Wright, 2005; Wright, Watson, & Bell, 1990, 1996).2005; Wright, Watson, & Bell, 1990, 1996).

Focus on graduate level learning Focus on graduate level learning about how to care for families about how to care for families through the medium of through the medium of therapeutic conversationstherapeutic conversations between between the nurse and family.the nurse and family.

Beliefs of EducatorsBeliefs of Educatorsabout Graduate Level Teaching and about Graduate Level Teaching and Learning of Clinical Practice with Learning of Clinical Practice with

FamiliesFamilies

Beliefs of EducatorsBeliefs of Educators

1. We believe that an understanding about 1. We believe that an understanding about multiple realitiesmultiple realities invites students to a new invites students to a new appreciation of the reciprocity between family appreciation of the reciprocity between family dynamics and illness, and allows them to enter dynamics and illness, and allows them to enter into therapeutic conversations in a more curious into therapeutic conversations in a more curious and less certain manner.and less certain manner.

Beliefs of EducatorsBeliefs of Educators

2. We believe that therapeutic conversations 2. We believe that therapeutic conversations with families are best learned through with families are best learned through live live supervision of each family sessionsupervision of each family session rather than rather than through role playing, process recordings, or through role playing, process recordings, or case consultation supervision methods. case consultation supervision methods.

Beliefs of EducatorsBeliefs of Educators

3. We believe that a strong base of 3. We believe that a strong base of conceptual/perceptual skillsconceptual/perceptual skills about about assessment and intervention with families are assessment and intervention with families are required before one is ready to develop required before one is ready to develop executive skillsexecutive skills through the clinical through the clinical application of knowledge to practice.application of knowledge to practice.

Beliefs of EducatorsBeliefs of Educators

4.4. We believe in the We believe in the synergysynergy of a clinical team of a clinical team composed of learners at various levels composed of learners at various levels (master’s and doctoral students) and faculty (master’s and doctoral students) and faculty members who share in the responsibility and members who share in the responsibility and creativity of the clinical work offered to creativity of the clinical work offered to families.families.

Beliefs of EducatorsBeliefs of Educators

5.5. We believe students learn best in an We believe students learn best in an environment of respect when their environment of respect when their strengthsstrengths are identified and magnified rather than are identified and magnified rather than focusing on their limitations and deficiencies.focusing on their limitations and deficiencies.

BelieBeliefs of Educatorsfs of Educators

6.6. We believe that We believe that being compassionate and being compassionate and caringcaring are qualities that can be brought forth in are qualities that can be brought forth in clinical skill development to soften suffering. clinical skill development to soften suffering. Skills such as “deep listening” and Skills such as “deep listening” and “acknowledging suffering” can be learned, “acknowledging suffering” can be learned, which invite healing in individuals and which invite healing in individuals and families.families.

Pedagogical practices of teachingPedagogical practices of teachingAdvanced Nursing Practice in the Specialty Advanced Nursing Practice in the Specialty

of Family Systems Nursing of Family Systems Nursing

Nancy J. Moules, RN, PhD (Principal Investigator)Nancy J. Moules, RN, PhD (Principal Investigator)Janice M. Bell, RN, PhD (Co-investigator)Janice M. Bell, RN, PhD (Co-investigator)Brenda I. Paton, RN, PhD (Co-investigator)Brenda I. Paton, RN, PhD (Co-investigator)Lorraine M. Wright, RN, PhD (Collaborator)Lorraine M. Wright, RN, PhD (Collaborator)

Lorraine M. Thirsk, RN, MN (Research Assistant)Lorraine M. Thirsk, RN, MN (Research Assistant)

The University of CalgaryThe University of CalgaryFaculty of NursingFaculty of Nursing

Funding provided by:Funding provided by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of

CanadaCanada

WEB SITESWEB SITESDr. Janice M. BellDr. Janice M. Bell

www.janicembell.comwww.janicembell.com

Dr. Lorraine M. WrightDr. Lorraine M. Wright

www.lorrainewright.comwww.lorrainewright.com

Family Nursing UnitFamily Nursing Unitwww.ucalgary.ca/NU/fnuwww.ucalgary.ca/NU/fnu

Family Nursing ResourcesFamily Nursing Resourceswww.familynursingresources.comwww.familynursingresources.com

ReferencesReferences

Bell, J.M. (2002). Bell, J.M. (2002). 2020thth Anniversary of the Family Nursing Unit [Editorial]. Anniversary of the Family Nursing Unit [Editorial]. Journal of Family Nursing, 8Journal of Family Nursing, 8(3), 175-177.(3), 175-177.  Moules, N.J., Thirsk, L.M., & Bell, J.M. (2006). A Christmas without Moules, N.J., Thirsk, L.M., & Bell, J.M. (2006). A Christmas without memories: Beliefs about grief and mothering--A clinical case analysis. memories: Beliefs about grief and mothering--A clinical case analysis. Journal Journal of Family Nursingof Family Nursing, 12(4), 426-441., 12(4), 426-441.  Wright, L.M. (2005). Wright, L.M. (2005). Spirituality, suffering, and illness: Ideas for healing. Spirituality, suffering, and illness: Ideas for healing. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.Philadelphia: F.A. Davis.  Wright, L.M., Watson, W.L., & Bell, J.M. (1990). The Family Nursing Unit: A Wright, L.M., Watson, W.L., & Bell, J.M. (1990). The Family Nursing Unit: A unique integration of research, education and clinical practice. In J.M. Bell, unique integration of research, education and clinical practice. In J.M. Bell, W.L. Watson, & L.M. Wright (Eds.), W.L. Watson, & L.M. Wright (Eds.), The cutting edge of family nursingThe cutting edge of family nursing (pp. (pp. 95-112). Calgary, Canada: Family Nursing Unit Publications.95-112). Calgary, Canada: Family Nursing Unit Publications.  Wright, L.M., Watson, W.L., & Bell, J.M. (1996). Wright, L.M., Watson, W.L., & Bell, J.M. (1996). Beliefs: The heart of healing Beliefs: The heart of healing in families and illness.in families and illness. New York: Basic Books. New York: Basic Books.