Assignment: Journal Entry
To Prepare
- Refer to the “Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies” found in the Week 1 Learning Resources and consider the quality measures or indicators advanced nursing practice nurses must possess in your specialty of interest.
- Refer to your “Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form” you submitted in Week 1 and consider your strengths and opportunities for improvement.
- Refer to your Patient Log in Meditrek and consider the patient activities you have experienced in your practicum experience and reflect on your observations and experiences.
In 450–500 words, address the following:
Learning From Experiences
- Revisit the goals and objectives from your Practicum Experience Plan. Explain the degree to which you achieved each during the practicum experience.
- Reflect on the three most challenging patients you encountered during the practicum experience. What was most challenging about each?
- What did you learn from this experience?
- What resources were available?
- What evidence-based practice did you use for the patients?
- What would you do differently?
- How are you managing patient flow and volume?
Communicating and Feedback
- Reflect on how you might improve your skills and knowledge and how to communicate those efforts to your Preceptor.
- Answer the questions: How am I doing? What is missing?
- Reflect on the formal and informal feedback you received from your Preceptor.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
As a medical professor, I understand the importance of reflection and self-assessment in the learning process. The following is an assignment that requires nursing students to reflect on their practicum experience and to evaluate their own skills and knowledge. In this assignment, the students are asked to consider their goals and objectives, reflect on their experiences with challenging patients, and evaluate their use of resources and evidence-based practice. Additionally, students are asked to consider their communication skills and evaluate their relationships with their preceptors.
Answer:
During the practicum experience, the main goal was to develop and apply clinical skills in a population-focused nursing environment. This included enhancing my ability to assess and manage patient care, creating individual care plans, and understanding best practices for clinical decision-making. I believe that I achieved the majority of my goals and objectives during this practicum.
The three most challenging patients I encountered during my practicum experience were those with complex medical histories, multiple chronic conditions, and limited resources. One particular patient was challenging because of non-compliance with medication and treatment. Another patient was challenging because of a language barrier. Lastly, a patient with a mental illness required a significant amount of emotional support and understanding.
From these experiences, I learned that communication is key in patient care. As a nurse practitioner, it is important to communicate effectively with patients, caregivers, and other members of the healthcare team. Additionally, it is essential to recognize that each patient’s experience is unique, and it is necessary to tailor the care plan to reflect the patient’s individual needs.
During my practicum, I utilized evidence-based practice to provide the highest level of care to my patients. I utilized online databases, peer-reviewed journals, and clinical guidelines to inform my decisions. The resources available to me included the facility’s electronic health record system, various medical reference books, and expert consultation from other medical professionals.
If I were to approach similar cases in the future, I would focus on strengthening my communication skills with patients, caregivers, and members of the healthcare team. This includes improving my ability to convey information in an empathetic and compassionate manner, as well as improving my listening skills to better understand the patient’s needs.
In terms of patient flow and volume, I managed this by prioritizing tasks and delegating responsibilities to other members of the healthcare team, including medical assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
In terms of feedback, I believe that my preceptor and I had excellent communication throughout the practicum experience. I received both formal and informal feedback on my performance, which helped me to identify my strengths and opportunities for improvement. Moving forward, I plan to implement the feedback I received to improve my clinical skills and knowledge.
