Welcome to the blog for our 8 week long elective course titled 'Nursing Role in Health Care, Policy, and Politics'. It is my pleasure to facilitate the course. This blog has been designed to help you further explore the role nurses play in policy and politics. Although the course is 8 weeks long, the blog will only be utilized in weeks 2 through 5 for a total of 4 weeks.
I will post 2-3 times a week and include additional resources for your review. Some posts will focus on further discussion of in-class topics, while other posts will include links to videos, articles, or other relevant documents. In order to get the most out of the blog I encourage you to check it frequently throughout the week. You can expect a post from me every other or every third day from the previous post. I do ask questions within my post and I expect you to reply to each of them. This is done to encourage deeper thought and reflection on course content and concepts. I do not expect you to post long responses here as that is what the discussion boards are for. Replies are to be a few sentences to a small paragraph in length. Feel free to comment on each other's posts and I will be commenting as well.
If you have not yet setup a Google email account, I encourage you to do this as soon as possible. This will allow all of us to participate and comment within the posts. If you need help setting up a Google email account I am more than happy to walk you through it during my office hours. Additionally, I have provided you with step by step directions in your student resources tab of our course.
As this course uses a blended learning design (both in-class and online learning environment), the blog will give us additional opportunity to interact and learn from one another. Please refer to the syllabus for specific information regarding expectations for participation and professional conduct within the blog. Keep in mind that participation within this blog counts toward your final participation grade in the course.
Please take a moment to read my bio/introduction as it will give you a little more information regarding the blog. I am excited to share my thoughts and knowledge with all of you, and cannot wait to start learning alongside of you! ~ Laraine
P.S. Let's see who can post what the 4 spheres of political action in nursing are first! (Hint: Look in your text book :-)
