Critical reflection of your growth and development during your practicum experience in a clinical setting has the benefit of helping you identify opportunities for improvement in your clinical skills
This week, you will write a Journal Entry reflecting on your clinical strengths and opportunities for improvement.
Based on your experience,
- Describe an interesting case or a case that you have never seen before.
- Explain what you found challenging.
- Explain what you would do differently from your Preceptor.
- Explain the cultural differences you found challenging.
This will all need to be based off of PEDIATRIC clinical rotation in a PEDIATRIC OFFICE not hospital setting. This is my first time working with pediatrics. Which I have honestly really enjoyed. My previous experience is with adults.
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Introduction: During the pediatric clinical rotation in a pediatric office, it is important to reflect on your clinical skills and identify areas for improvement. Critical reflection is a valuable tool that can help you become a better clinician. In this journal entry, you will describe an interesting case, highlight the challenges you faced, explain what you would do differently from your preceptor, and discuss any cultural differences you encountered.
1. Describe an interesting case or a case that you have never seen before.
During my pediatric rotation, I had the opportunity to work with a young child who presented with a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. The child had difficulty with gross motor skills and exhibited uncommon facial features. Although I had never encountered this particular disorder before, I found the case to be intriguing and challenging.
2. What did you find challenging?
The most challenging aspect of this case was working with the child’s parents. They were understandably worried and stressed about their child’s diagnosis and prognosis. It was difficult to communicate complex medical terminology and recommendations in a way that they could understand and feel comfortable with. Additionally, providing care for a child with a rare disorder required extensive research and consultation with other medical professionals.
3. What would you do differently from your Preceptor?
I would have liked to spend more time educating the parents about their child’s diagnosis and discussing treatment options. My preceptor was very busy and had limited time to spend with the family, so I took on the responsibility of communicating with them as much as possible. In the future, I would try to be more proactive in facilitating communication between the medical team and the family.
4. Explain the cultural differences you found challenging.
The pediatric office where I completed my practicum had a very diverse patient population. One of the cultural differences that I found challenging was dealing with families who spoke a different language. Even with the help of interpreters, it was difficult to communicate effectively with families who had limited English proficiency. I realized that it is important to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care to all patients, and that this requires sensitivity to differences in communication styles, beliefs, and values.
