My Clinical Experience

Nursing is one of the most intimate health care professions. They are connected to their patients as soon as they are admitted into their care right through until they are discharged into someone else’s care. With this, nurses have a strict professional identity and scope of practice to prevent a nurse from over stepping their professional boundaries. A nurses’ duty of care does go beyond the average healthcare professional but still does not impair the

Regrettably, the existence of nursing depends on the medical inadequacy of others. Unfortunately, nursing exists because people get hurt, cannot care for themselves, or need assistance with daily activities. Carol Taylor (2011), author of Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care, writes, “Nursing care involves any number of activities, from carrying out complicated technical procedures to something as seemingly as holding a hand” (p. 5). Taylor explains it is the duty of a nurse not only to learn the pertinent skills but also to bond with and comfort others. Nurses have to do and become many things: They must be stern when necessary, compassionate when needed, open minded

Not all patients are capable of independently identifying and articulate their care needs, so the nurse also adapts the role as an advocate. Clarity and continuity in a trusting environment enables good communication. Progressive identification of needs takes place as nurse and patient communicate with one another in the interpersonal relationship (Peplau 1988, p. 84). Being considerate to the needs and vulnerability of patients is a moral attribute, as nurses are accountable for the care they deliver.

On my first day on the ward it was decided that I should shadow one of the staff nurses to acustomise myself with the ward. During this induction we had to assist an elderly gentleman with sever diarrhoea the gentleman in question was quit large and almost completely immobile. On inspection of the

This clinical experience took place at Peyton Elementary School and Prairie Heights Elementary School. Kamille, Ben and I were to teach hand hygiene, covering your cough and brushing your teeth to three Pre-K classes. First we developed a lesson plan and teaching aid for our students. Then, we gathered supplies such as spray bottles, dye, subject specific coloring sheet and a dinosaur with large teeth and tooth brush. Kids Rock dentistry in Colorado Springs was nice enough to borrow us the dinosaur and also gave us activity books for the kids. When we arrived at Peyton Elementary School at 0800, we noticed it was a very nice school. We met the school nurse at the office where we signed in. She showed us to classroom where the children

The following essay is a reflective account on an event that I, a student nurse encountered whilst on my second clinical placement in my first year of study. The event took place in a Fountain Nursing Home in Granite City. I have chosen to give thought to the event described in this essay as I feel that it highlights the need for nurses to have effective communication skills especially when treating patients that are suffering with a mental illness. Upon arriving to the Nursing home for the second time on Thursday November 14,2013; assigned the same patient as before. On meeting my patient the first thing I noticed myself doing without even thinking about it was giving her a visual inspection. Before nursing school I never really looked at

Whilst on duty on a general ward I was asked by my senior nurse, if I could go down to the pharmacy to pick up some new medication for a new client, who would be needing them at lunch time. On my way to get them, I was approached by another health care assistant who requested my help with a client, who was lying in their own faeces. I therefore felt that the medication could wait, and that my main

The two clips compare two different approaches by the nurse to the patient. Non-verbal and verbal communication is both key factors in nurse patient relationships. Observing the first clip it can be seen where the patient is very stressed with pain and anxiety. The nurse's approach is abrupt and lacking empathy. The patient becomes more agitated. Whereas the second clip the nurse gently approaches the patient and sits down, talking in a calm point soothes the patient's anxiety as the nurse shows compassion and concern. The Code of Ethics for nurses emphasizes having empathy, respect and kindness to

The sociological theory of Functionalism takes upon the perspective that society consists of systematic processes, which revolve around set structures. Functionalist theory allows for the creation of health and illness as variables (Stam, 2000). These variables all lead to development and require that certain structures be used to restore proper function. The intended purpose of this reflective piece is to identify how my Patient-Practitioner experiences could be viewed from the sociological theory of functionalism. The essay will present a case study and then proceed to analyse the case through the lens of functionalism. The analysis will include limitations of functionalism and consider implications of this analysis upon future paramedic practice.

Prior to my own experience with illness, neither the physical pain nor the crippling uncertainty illness could provide was ever very clear to me. In my first semester of college, I was diagnosed with viral meningitis. The time following my hospitalization was met with a setback in my academics accompanied with an unsettled feeling towards my health. Despite advisors encouraging me to change majors and career paths, I persevered through because I knew as a patient I had endured pain that was far greater from what I was experiencing in school. However two years later, this same feeling of uncertainty washed over me during a visit with my family doctor.

This video grounded me once more by sweeping me back to the days that I was an eager novice nursing student with fresh eyes, ready to take care of every aspect of the needs of my older patients. During the beginning of my nursing career, I ensured I had enough time to explore the depths of my patients emotional, cultural, religious, and social background. Nowadays with the lack of time and the demand to spend more time charting electronically, I am forced to cut my personal interaction time with my patients. This is detrimental to the elderly as he or she will need additional time due to the aging process. In the video, this poor old woman must feel frustrated being trapped in her old body, although proud of her past. Through her journey in life, she has experienced good times and bad, learning through it all. Near the end, she has succumbed to the sentence of being mortal. Reminiscing about her life over the years brings forth her dignity as she is feeling judged by her caretakers. Her view has provided me a glimpse into what my future may hold as an elderly woman. As a result, I will be changing my practice by being more patient with my older patients when passing medications, turning and repositioning, ambulating, and assisting with activities of daily

Comparing my clinical experiences from last semester to this semester, I would say that I have already experienced more this semester than I would have at this time last semester. Even though I am doing LNA work while incorporating RN aspects, I feel the work that we are doing this semester is more RN aspect based rather than LNA work. Clinical was my favorite part of last semester, and it is still my favorite part of the semester. Over the past couple of weeks at Riverside, I have had numerous new experiences, including following a nurse, following the wound care nurse, and going in on my day off to follow both the wound nurse and the nurse practitioner of the facility.

During my clinical experience, I encountered an unforgettable situation which holds significance to me as a nursing student. My patient had an intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, as well as dementia. As a result of her conditions, she was a two- person assist. While researching my patient’s health conditions the night before clinical, I became concerned about how I was going to take care of my patient due to the anticipated immobility. When I first met my patient, I began to feel apprehensive because I realized that it was a patient who I had seen on the unit two weeks ago. This patient was groaning and crying at night, disturbing other patients who were trying to sleep. Due to her restlessness, the nurses moved the patient to the nursing station every night and then moved her back into her room in the morning. Looking at

Example: During my clinical experience, I worked with some staff of St Vincent to treat patients with wound and infection. In addition, I helped to clean patients’ room immediately after discharge and also prepared the rooms for the next available patients. As a responsible stewardship, I cared for patients using the skills I acquired in school to take care of God’s

Serving as a nurse, I am in a position to care for individuals in their most vulnerable states. When I go to work, I hold the idea that every patient is somebody’s somebody. This helps me to always treat the patient as if I would want someone to treat my family member. Joyce Travelbee (Meleis, 2012) defined the goal of nursing as the following, to assist an