Patient Care in the Primary Setting - On Demand

Description of the program:

The nurse caring for a patient in the primary care or ambulatory setting requires a distinctive skillset to provide safe and quality patient care.   Ambulatory nursing’s scope goes beyond the care of just one patient, but rather, the patient, family, and the health of entire populations.  We interact in a world where vulnerable populations need care coordination for acute as well as chronic illness.  We have learned we cannot do this in a silo, but with assistance from an interprofessional team and community resources to navigate the patient with social complexities, mental health issues, substance abuse, social needs and homelessness through often complex and fragmented health systems.  Primary care plays an important role to promote health, reduce healthcare costs, and improve population health. This program will empower the nurse and others in the primary care setting to enhance patient outcomes by using evidence-based guidelines.

Information regarding the Ambulatory Care Nursing Certification (RN-BC) by the American Nursing Credentialing Center can be found at

https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/ambulatory-care-nursing/

Who Should Enroll in this Program?

This program is designed for English-speaking healthcare professionals and others who have or planning to work in the primary care setting.

Program Content

The content is divided into modules. Each module utilizes instructor audio/video recordings, reading assignments, articles, web resources, case studies to augment the learning process. These methods provide the participant with flexibility in completing assignments.   Each module has accompanying study guide with multiple choice questions for participants to complete.  The modules will cover the foundations of primary care, evidence-based guidelines for acute illness and chronic conditions, interprofessional collaborative practice, patient-centered care, and strategies/interventions to promote communication and patient empowerment.      

Learning Outcome

The learner will be able to apply evidence-based guidelines and best practices interventions to the care of patient and their families in the primary care or ambulatory setting.  

Program Objectives

At the end of the program, the participant will be able to:

1. Determine the evidence-based guidelines for acute illness and chronic conditions commonly seen in primary care.
2. Utilize strategies to promote education and engagement for the patient and their families.
3. Facilitate communication between settings.
4. Integrate coaching and counseling approaches for health promotion.
5. Formulate plans of care in the out-patient setting.
6. Apply health informatics to population health.
7. Incorporate caring and advocacy into patient care.
8. Participate in interprofessional collaborative practice.
9. Prioritize patient-centered care into practice.       

Delivery of Content:

This independent study is available on demand.  Completion of the program is required within one year of registration.  

The learner will log into the program via the internet (Blackboard) and work independently through the modules. The independent study provides an opportunity to learn while in the comfort of your own home and office.  Program staff are available during business hours by phone or email to assist participants with technical issues or concerns. 

Note: Many businesses, especially government agencies or health institutions, utilize security firewalls.  Access to web links within program and communication from the instructor, or other students may be blocked. We recommend not using your work email address for this course.

Contact Hours:
10 contact hours

The University of Southern Indiana Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning designates this activity for 10 contact hours for nurses.  

Successful completion of this program does not guarantee expertise in the content. Clinical experience and judgment coupled with an understanding of the content are necessary to attain competency. Achieving certification via a designated professional organization is an additional step to demonstrate competency.

Criteria for Successful Completion:

• Submit registration and payment.
• A certificate for contact hours will be awarded following completion of self-assessment study guides for each module and submission of program evaluation.
• The certificates will be sent via email immediately following the completion of the program evaluation.

Faculty Name and Credentials

We strive to provide interprofessional education by utilizing a variety of content experts, instructors, contributors and reviewers.

Tracy Kinner DNP, RN, FNP-BC, FNP-C
Marilyn Ostendorf DNP, RN
Constance Swenty, DNP, RN
Kate Willegal Russ, DNP, RN
Jane Swartz DNP, RN, ACNS-BC
Katelyn Russell, NED, RN, CCRN
Stephanie A. Herron, MSN, RN, FNP-C

Conflict of Interest Statement

There is no conflict of interest for anyone in a position to control content for this activity.

Expiration date of this content: March 15, 2024

Accreditation Statements

In support of improving patient care, University of Southern Indiana Center for Health Professions Lifelong Learning is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Psychological Association (APA), and the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

State of Indiana
The University of Southern Indiana is an approved provider of continuing education for several professionals licensed in the state of Indiana, including social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants, and dental professionals.

State of California
The University of Southern Indiana is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing. Provider #13378.