PRACTICE SUMMARY PAPER
PRACTICE SUMMARY PAPER
NURS 403: Transition to Baccalaureate Nursing Practice
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Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this paper is to guide you through a process of self-reflection and self-evaluation to discover the scope of your personal and professional development while enrolled in the RN>BSN nursing program at Old Dominion University.
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Approach to the Assignment
My approach to this assignment varied through unique clinical practice examples and coursework outlining my attainment of the eight core competencies. I also utilized self-reflection and evaluation of my personal growth and development while in the ODU BSN program.
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Reason for Inclusion
The reason for inclusion is to depict outcomes that were met within the program that were not showcased in previous work. This paper gives examples and outlines my demonstrations and achievements of the core competencies within this course.
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Critical Thinking
Uses decision-making skills in making clinical or professional practice
I used decision-making skills within clinical practice when I prompted my clinical instructor to the issue I thought was arising in my patient when I was disregarded. This led to further assessments and lab work that led to an ultimate diagnosis and surgery of the patient. Without this decision-making my patient could have lost an arm or worse due to the compartment syndrome that arose from the rhabdomyolysis.
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Evaluates nursing care outcomes through the acquisition of data and the questioning of inconsistencies
I demonstrated evaluation of nursing care outcomes through data and the questioning of inconsistencies within the critical thinking section of this paper. This was through gathering data on my patient with rhabdomyolysis and questioning if he was progressing into compartment syndrome. I further gathered data of the five P’s and lab work to question the primary nurse who did not think this was occurring.
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Revises actions and goals based on evidence rather than conjecture
At first my actions and goals were to simply provide pain management to my patient that was diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis. Based on evidence that was collected through assessments and lab work I revised my actions and goals to provide life saving measures. My goals and actions were revised through evidence of the patient I had experiencing compartment syndrome secondary to rhabdomyolysis. This was my working theory at first that I gathered evidence and data on to alert the doctor of the arising problem. This ultimately led to a safe patient outcome and quality care received by the patient.
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Nursing Practice
Applies appropriate knowledge of major health problems to guide nursing practice
My knowledge of major health problems that occur in women of color and increased age during childbirth helped to guide my nursing practice in promptly identifying her placental abruption. This was outlined in the nursing practice section of this paper.
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Performs therapeutic interventions that incorporate principles of quality management and proper safety techniques
I performed therapeutic nursing interventions that involved birthing mothers. This was done through carrying out their intended birthing plans while implementing proper safety techniques to ensure the health of both the mother and child during this process. That includes continuous monitoring throughout the entire birthing process. Of course this was all addressed through the principles of quality management by effectively communicating with the mother, patient-centered care, timely and efficient interventions while providing optimal health care outcomes for both the mother and the child.
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Implements nursing care practices as appropriate to provide holistic health care to diverse populations across the lifespan
Unmedicated births from several patients ranging in ages from adolescent to geriatric proved to help me implement holistic nursing care practices across the lifespan within my rotation on the Labor and Delivery Unit. This was outlined in the nursing practice section of this paper.
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Demonstrates an awareness of complementary modalities and their usefulness in promoting health
Many different forms of complementary modalities were outlined to assist in a non-pharmacological birthing process. This included guided imagery/visualization, repetitive positive phrases, music, soft lighting, quiet voices, hydrotherapy, therapeutic touch by the husband, a birthing ball, and breathing techniques. This was useful to enable the mother to progress in labor without the need for other types of pain management. The usefulness of these modalities in promoting health is evident through managing pain, increasing self awareness and strength, and encouraging positivity in the birthing process.
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Communication
Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship
I was able to use therapeutic communication within my nurse-patient relationship during a rapid response on my patient. I was able to utilize this communication to my patient while she could not see due to crepitus and was fearful of what was happening. This is outlined in the communication section of this paper.
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Adapts communication methods to patients with special needs
My patient with Down’s Syndrome would not participate in hygiene care. I gathered that it was a lack of communication and understanding so I adapted to using visual communication as well as non-verbal communication. This was outlined within the communication section of this paper.
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Research
Applies research-based knowledge from nursing as the basis for culturally sensitive practice
Within the culture portion I applied research-based knowledge as the basis for culturally sensitive practice with regard to end of life communication in Chinese culture. A goal of a good death is the most important aspect for this culture outlined by Ching Lee et al., (2018) and if someone is sick it is often thought that their inner and outer forces are out of balance. This may result in communication through the patient, family, and collaboration team which may result in diet modification and holistic treatments that they want to be implemented.
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Leadership
Delegates and supervises the nursing care given by others while retaining accountability for the quality of care provided
During clinical rotation I took on the role of the charge nurse. Through this experience I was able to supervise and delegate nursing care while retaining accountability for the care that was provided. This was outlined within the leadership section of this paper.
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Professionalism
Understands the effect of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and health care delivery
I showed an understanding of the effects of the legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and health care delivery by reporting the primary nurse of one of my patients. This nurse was not performing legal and ethical care for my patient, and I made sure to take the correct legal and regulatory processes to ensure proper health care delivery of my patient. This was outlined in the professionalism section of this paper.
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Demonstrates accountability for one’s own professional practice as well as limits to one’s own scope of practice
I took accountability for my own professional practice and how this program aided in my accomplishments, but I also noted how I still have room for improvement and growth. This will of course come with time and experience, however, my clinical time, projects, and assignments have formed my professional growth, accountability, and accomplishments.
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Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political processes
I advocated for the professional standards of practice of my patient by using organizational and political processes. The primary nurse of my patient was titrating and hastening the death process by her own means. I used organizational and political processes to advocate for my patient by going through the correct channels and reporting this nurse.
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Culture
Articulates an understanding of how human behavior is affected by culture, race, religion, gender, lifestyle, and age
Within the culture section of this paper, I articulate an understanding of how human behavior is affected by culture, race, religion, gender, lifestyle, and age. One of my course assignments had us explore different cultures other than our own. I chose the Chinese end-of-life experiences. Their culture and race affect their behavior in this process by not allowing for organ donation and a consideration of bad luck if death or dying is talked about. Their religion is one of the critical factors in the dying process and regardless of lifestyle and communication the child must take on the responsibility of the parent no matter their age. This culture also abides by subordination of women to men.
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Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and how those beliefs influence an individual’s reactions to the illness experience and end of life
I demonstrate sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health and how these beliefs influence an individual’s reactions to the illness, experience and end of life throughout this cultural exploration of Chinese culture. The main goal you can give them in end-of-life care is a good death. They believe that death is final and therefore must prolong life expectancies. News is often given to the family rather than the patient in this culture for fear of pushing them into death with the news. All of these demonstrations are depicted within the culture section of this paper. As for illness, I outlined how illness is believed to be inner and outer forces that are out of balance. This can be restored through holistic and herbal medicine combined with diet.
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Considers the impact of research outcomes and, the effects of health and social policies, on persons from diverse backgrounds.
This was covered in the culture section of this paper in regards to increased mortality rates in women of color. These research outcomes affect African American and Hispanic mothers by resulting in worsening health outcomes and gaps in insurance coverage. A policy was put into effect in 2021 to extend insurance coverage up to a year after birth, however, without more resolutions for these women of diverse backgrounds numbers may continue to rise.
Reference
Lee, M. C., Hinderer, K. A., & Alexander, C. S. (2018). What Matters Most at the
End-of-Life for Chinese Americans?. Gerontology & geriatric medicine, 4, 2333721418778195. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333721418778195