The purpose of this essay is to analyze my first experience with giving an injection. To help me reflect, I will use De Boon's Six Thinking Hats (1985) technique, which is often used in business and management but can also be applied to nursing. De Bono emphasizes the importance of deliberate thinking rather than reactive thinking in order to generate valuable ideas and come to sound conclusions (1985). With this in mind, De Bono introduced the concept of the six thinking hats.
The six thinking hats each represent a distinct color and signify various thinking processes. The white hat focuses on presenting facts. The red hat emphasizes emotions and feelings. The black hat focuses on identifying errors. The yellow hat emphasizes identifying the positive aspects of the event. The green hat encourages thinking about lessons learned
...from the event. Finally, the blue hat allows for evaluating the event and planning improvements for the future. In this written discussion, I will incorporate each hat to reflect upon and analyze the event.
The white hat's main responsibility was to administer an intramuscular (IM) injection of vitamin B to an 86-year-old woman. The injection needed to be given in the arm. Since it was their first time performing this task, they sought guidance from a nurse who provided them with detailed instructions. The medication had already been prepared by a qualified nurse, and two registered nurses oversaw the entire procedure. One of these nurses supervised and guided the white hat, while another student nurse also observed.
The nurse advised me to insert the needle with a controlled thrust, similar to throwing a dart, as she believed
I had done it too slowly. The red hat enables the exploration of emotions and feelings before, during, and after the event. I was enthusiastic about giving my first injection and felt confident I could do it safely. However, I also experienced a strong sense of nervousness, especially with three people observing me. When I received the syringe, I suddenly felt overwhelmed.
I felt a great sense of expansibility and was acutely aware of the potential for causing harm if I made any errors. I was especially concerned about the possibility of causing pain to the patient. This thought completely undermined my previous confidence. Once I administered the medication, all I felt was relief that the task was completed. However, I was disappointed in myself for inserting the needle too slowly and wished I had practiced on an inanimate object beforehand. I felt guilty for possibly causing unnecessary pain. Despite having some preparation, I lacked knowledge on safe injection practices. Since then, I have read multiple articles on this topic to enhance my understanding of giving an IM injection. I believe there were too many people present during the injection, which added immense pressure and worsened my nerves. The biggest mistake I made was inserting the needle too slowly. It is crucial in IM injections to enter the skin firmly with a controlled thrust (Workman 1999). Wearing the yellow hat allows you to think positively about the event.
In general, my performance in administering the injection was satisfactory, particularly considering it was my first time. I demonstrated proficiency in effectively communicating with the patient and providing them with information about the procedure to ensure their
preparedness and active involvement. Moreover, following Wentworth's (2000) recommendation, I adhered to proper protocol by aspirating the syringe after inserting the needle to check for inadvertent blood vessel access. The green hat symbolizes the key takeaways from this experience, notably acknowledging the importance of practicing safely.
Nurses must acknowledge the substantial trust patients place in them and ensure that procedures are carried out with competence, safety, and utmost effort. Recognizing the immense responsibility nurses bear is vital and should not be underestimated. Additionally, I have gained a basic comprehension of how to administer an intramuscular injection. I now comprehend the possible complications linked to such injections and can continue enhancing my expertise in this domain. The blue hat allows me to reflect on the incident and consider methods for improving my future approach.
Following my successful completion of my initial injection, I am now feeling more self-assured and prepared for future intramuscular injections. My objective is to have a comprehensive understanding of the process in order to ensure safety and provide proper education to the patient. I aim to foster their active participation and readiness by imparting pertinent information. If feasible, I will minimize the number of onlookers present during these procedures to alleviate any pressure on myself and uphold the patient's privacy. Finally, effective communication with the patient and maintaining a serious demeanor during these procedures are paramount concerns for me.
The emotions and lessons gained from this experience will definitely be carried with me in my practice. Utilizing De Boon's thinking method has allowed me to effectively reflect on this event. The act of 'putting on' different hats has enabled deliberate and conscious
thinking. This approach helps me dissect the various components of the event and analyze them individually towards achieving a concrete result.
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