Nursing Reflection Paper John Mwangi St Joseph School of Nursing Nursing can be a demanding career, but the benefits far much outweigh the challenges. Most importantly, it’s the rewards it offers by allowing an opportunity to make a difference in another person’s life through the provision of care when they need it. Just as Patricia Benner theorized in her book “Novice to Expert,” nursing encompasses both educational knowledge and extensive clinical experience acquired throughout one’s career. This far, I continue to acquire knowledge and clinical knowhow which will promote proper and efficient care to patients. Since I began practicing one year ago in a long-term healthcare facility, I have interacted with patients, families, physicians and other members of the healthcare team to coordinate patient’s care which has enabled me to gain confidence in myself. While I cannot deny that it was difficult to transition from a student to a licensed nurse, I learnt to overcome these challenges and focus on my strengths. Practicing as an LPN has provided a platform to learn and gain experience even though the duties and responsibilities are limited by the scope of practice. My practice in nursing has been influenced by various elements within my career. I have come to embrace that nursing is a learning process and one should expect constructive criticism. When I began as a “novice,” I found myself nervous in some clinical situations but I managed to remain focused on
In continuation, of this writer’s pursuit to continuing a bachelorette education at Grand Canyon University this writer made the promise to complete the program in its entirety to the best of her ability without fault. Since that promise this writer has maintained academic excellent and has remained actively engaged in her studies with the solemn promise to continue her education beyond a bachelorette degree in nursing practice. Likewise, this writer has spent the first years of her career committed to learning, accountability and excellence in her practice area. This has not always been easy and there has been time of self-doubt however with a brand new team and a mentor whom she loves and who is encouraging in every aspect; it has made all the difference in the world. With the proper support and setting novice nurses can persevere through the most challenging of situation, whist maintaining their professional
Conducting an interview with someone makes you see things in many different perspectives and in a new light. The person I interviewed saw nursing as a broader term that saw things in a different way even though she has just started. She knows that special people need to take roles in being a nurse. I interviewed my aunt, Ann Juknevicius. She is 30 years old and she has been a nurse for 2 years in Illinois now. Relatively she is a new nurse. One of the main reasons why I started the nursing program is because I look up to Annie a lot and she showed me so many different perspectives on how to look at people, different situations, and the way you handle things. I thought that it would be a great interview session to see if Annie’s expectations were the same as the nursing reality.
This essay will discuss a clinical skill in which I have become competent in practicing as a student nurse.
As I interact with my patients, I can’t help but think to myself “this is why I became a nurse.” During critical moments of a patients life I am there holding their hand, listening to stories about the “olden” days and giving them the encouragement it takes to leave the hospital healthier than they arrived. Nursing is not just giving medications on time, educating the patients and answering the call light; to me, nursing it so much more.
It makes me wonder if the MS patient you are speaking of was there as a patient when I did my first level II fieldwork in this facility. I know that those patients can be very difficult to work with because of the symptoms that are present during their exacerbation. It really is a sad diagnosis to be given; I cannot even imagine. It is crazy how tight their muscles can become and how with gentle stretch can sometimes see some good results. I recently learned, observed and even participated in myofascial release with a kiddo with CP that is really tight. It is so amazing how this process works. I am hoping to someday go to a conference and learn how to do this. It is very cool! Safety is really important with this though. You have to
My assumptions for nursing before walking into this course were that this profession focused on quality care for all different types of patients. I viewed nurses as someone who is brave, courageous, always up for a challenge, and compassionate. When I made my career choice to become a nurse, I thought their main jobs were to spend time with the patients, help them feel comfortable, provide them with medication that was ordered by their physician, and help patients with day to day tasks. I looked at nurses as someone who is like a close family member – specifically a mother. They provide you with all of the love and care that a mother can provide. My impression of nursing was that nurses were given a plan of treatment ordered by the physician
According to (Brewer, Kovner, Greene, Tukov-Shuser & Djukic, 2012; Trepanier, Early, Ulrich & Cherry, 2012), new graduate nurses face a critical transition period from being a student to a staff nurse with increasing levels of being accountable for every provided care. Meanwhile, Phillips et al. (2014) refer transition as the significant concept in nursing that comprises of individual 's adaptation to new situations along with responses to change over a period. For instance, in my undergraduate program, I have gained substantial knowledge and understanding of practical protocols used and that the primary responsibility is delivering effective and safe care within a hospital environment. However, adaptability to these protocols increased pressure that made me less confident as I was serving the patients. For instance, even though I have practiced looking after patients throughout my placement, I am still worried of breaking any rules of practice or taking care of patient on my own. For instance, I worry of the kind of patient I will be allocated to or the repercussions of not being able to perform my entire
This self-reflective paper focuses on what I’ve learned about myself this semester regarding my strengths, and weaknesses. Concentrating on areas of my professional practice that need improvement and discussing two goals I have created for myself, and how I plan on achieving them. This semester I have discovered I have two key strengths those being a dedication to the Practical Nursing Program, and seeking help in the program when I need it. Both being potential strengths in my nursing career. I have some weaknesses to work on as a student and a future nurse.
The goal of the practicum with Professor Oakley, with Joining Forces for Families in Dane County, was to help me learn how to provide health education to the community. This practicum was a process, in which I had to learn to develop some skill such as listening, and talking to people from different background, adapting my views and my level of comprehension to the community.
The computer system created a dilemma for me. Even though I had been in urgent care before, the layout was different. It was not allowing me to access patient information much less open charts. The computer system was giving me access to a different clinic in town. I informed my preceptor immediately. However, my preceptor didn’t know how to fix it. My preceptor than asked another nurse for assistance, which she was able to fix the current issue. As the day progressed there were other computer issues I came across to. For example, the computer wasn’t allowing me to chart medications that I had given with my preceptor.
Theories, especially in the hands of those competent nurses, served not only as a guide, but also as an inspiration that is applicable in providing care. Furthermore, knowledge gained, enhanced by valuable clinical experiences, are vital in shaping the nurse that I would become. Thus, I appreciate the opportunity that clinical experience gives, notably, being able to spend time with proficient nurses who are not only intent to teach and eager to encourage but also allude to mistakes and turn each into teachable moments. As I continue to learn and hone my nursing skills, traces of self-doubt disappears because of the gentle assurances and steady hands of these prolific nurses. In the same way, rendering patient care would no longer be a daunting task because of the experience and knowledge that I acquired. Indeed, I may be just a student nurse, but being allowed to do as much hands-on procedure inculcated that self-confidence on my ability. Having to work besides professional nurses also helped me see nursing from a different perspective; that nursing is really not just about the theories nor the process, but rather, the competency in the delivery of
To me nursing is not only helping people to get better, but also about being professional by listen to the patient’s views; empowering people to help themselves,
As I progress through my clinical experience, I have seen personal growth. Initially, when I began, I focused on completion of the immediate HPI, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment plan. Currently, I see myself thinking about long-term health goals for the patients. For example, for patients who have had a CVA, I find myself considering the life changes this condition has on patients who are recovering from this potentially debilitating condition. I think about the long-term treatment goals as it relates to controlling hypertension, cerebral vascular disease, and other associated cardiac disease complications. My knowledge base is beginning to expand past the immediate needs, and I am feeling more comfortable with common primary care concerns. I am not ready to be independent. However, I do recognize a lot of growth.
It is important as a student to feel welcomed, included, and valued during clinical placement, as this improves the students’ motivation, self-confidence, and self-respect (Dale, Leland and Dale, 2013). This paper will reflect on an incident that occurred on my third day in newborn special care nursery. This reflection will follow the well-known reflective cycle from Gibbs (1988).
Technical writing is an invaluable course required in the RN to BSN degree plan. The technical writing course educates students on the awareness of technical communication and provides essential tools that can be implemented into any career. Gurak and Lannon (2016) define technical communication as a tool to aid in facilitating the exchange of information between professionals, to ultimately establish goals, create solutions and amend problems as a unit (p. 3). This memo is intended to reflect on the course, writing assignments completed, what I learned and how it relates back to my nursing profession.