1. Assess your nursing practice
From a reflection of my nursing practice, I discovered three basic things that revolve around my practice. First, being patient centered is not easy, but it requires good listening and interpretational skills. Moreover, the recommendation process for further appraisal requires sound judgment as the patient’s wellbeing depends on them. Secondly, the school curriculum does not equip us with some things on nursing. The experience itself is a valuable teacher. As nurses, we need to understand that patients always teach new things and that means that we will not always seem knowledgeable, expert or in control. However, the principal thing is to help the patients make their decisions when need be. Thirdly, to help patients, the listening skill is important. Apart from the description of the illness, it is vital to w
...atch how they describe the pain thus get the extent of the illness. Sometimes, we are required to allow the patients feel heroic in the event of illness (Meleis, 2011).
2. Identify career situation that has shaped your practice
My first job as a registered nurse originated from a simple nursing clinical experience. It was during my final days I was assigned to a busy ICU area. The working nurses were thoughtful, kind and they appreciated my presence as they wanted to teach me. Watching the nurses come together to save a life was an essential moment in my nursing career. My experience in the ICU department shaped my practices as it led me to my first job (Duncan, 2011).
3. Identify techniques you have learned to utilize to prioritize and organize your workday
I have learned that to prioritize my workday; I should develop
a complete picture of what my day should constitute. Since safety comes first, I learned to create a triage system that organizes patients’ needs while performing the unit responsibilities. Moreover, being steps ahead betters the day as I am ready for any emergency situation. Familiarity with the time it takes the little things to happen in my unit allows me to plan my workday effectively.
4. Recall an experience in your practice when you were able to work through a situation that required critical thinking. Reflect on how you proceeded and the outcome. Describe your feelings regarding the outcome and how it influenced your present and future practice.
I dealt with a patient who had joint pain. My training requires a theoretical approach to treating the illness. However, the patient decided to use different approaches that I did not support. It is required that as a nurse, listening to the patients is critical. I had to use critical think to decide how to use the patient’s method in treatment while applying the theoretical approach. At first, when the patient informed me of his method, I had mixed-feelings of confusion and surprise. I was also angry as the patient had decided to challenge me, but I learned to suppress my feelings for the broader picture. The experience with the patient shaped my relationship with patients and intuited the act of critical thinking when dealing with patients. The experience has enabled me work comfortably wit patients with no surprises.
5. Reflect on your commitment to the role of the registered nurse.
Providing the best care to patients’ while following the care unit rules has been my everyday routine as a nurse.
The virtue of patience and good decision making is principal in my encounter with patients. Moreover, I have dedicated myself to learning more basic skills that have helped sharpen my roles as a registered nurse.
6. Predict 3 nursing trends in the future.
- Mobile phones will become nurses’ classroom, office, and attendant- due to the increment of the nurses’ work; the mobile phones will replace the desktop thus facilitating more efficient work (Meister 2010).
- Global shortage of nurses- due to the low demographic rates, the number of people who pick nursing as a professional may reduce, thus, creating a shortage in the care unit.
- Reputation will be the basis of employment- due to the advances in technology; nurses may get hired based on their popularity on social media.
References
- Duncan, G., & DePew, R. (2011). Transitioning from LPN/VN to RN: Moving ahead in your career. Australia: Delmar Cengage Learning.
- Meister, J.C. & Willyerd, K. (2010). The 2020 Workplace: How Innovative companies attract, develop and keep tomorrow’s employees today. New York: Harper Business.
- Meleis, A. I. (2011). Theoretical Nursing: Development and progress. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
