Technical Writing Course Reflective Report

Communication is one of the basic survival skills of human and also a fundamental part of nursing. Effective communication would help to promote a positive nurse-client relationship which is crucial for the delivery of quality nursing care (Sheppard, 1993; McCabe 2003).

Target population was pregnant women less than fourteen weeks gestation that had a sedentary lifestyle. The researcher used two data collection instruments to complete this study. The first is The Cornell Protocol Fitness Tool that measured cardiovascular fitness level and peak oxygen consumption. The second data collection instrument used was The Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire assessed energy expenditure and daily physical activity. Candidates were excluded if they had chronic hypertension, gestational diabetes, and any medical condition that will prohibit daily exercise, communication problems, or recommendation of primary care provider not to participate (Yeo 2009).

As my senior year here at Jersey College of Nursing moves quickly to its end, I reflect on how far I have come and what exactly my experience here at Jersey College of Nursing has meant to me.

In nursing practice, communication is essential, and good communication skills are paramount in the development of a therapeutic nurse/patient relationship. This aim of this essay is to discuss the importance of communication in nursing, demonstrating how effective communication facilitates a therapeutic

“Effective communication is integral in every profession, but in nursing, it could mean the difference between life and death,” (E.S Alitin, personal communication, 31 March, 2016). Effective communication is a skill that must be adopted as it is a means in achieving optimal outcome in all professions. To demonstrate this, I recently had the opportunity to interview a professional in nursing to discuss the important role of effective communication and how this may help me for my future profession as a lawyer. Using the 4 R’s model, the following essay will present this topic, highlighting the influence of communication in developing respectful relationships with both patients and colleagues in the workplace.

This essay will discuss a clinical skill in which I have become competent in practicing as a student nurse.

This objective will affect my future nursing practice because conducting physical head to toe assessments and obtaining vital signs is a different process when working with paediatric patients rather than adults. It is crucial to note any changes that I can catch throughout my assessments, and vital signs since paediatric patients might not be able to communicate with me if they feel any changes in their health. By understanding the anatomy and physiology, the developmental stages of children, and obtaining accurate vital signs and assessments, it will increase my knowledge, skill, ad judgment to successfully complete and distinguish any abnormities and changes during my assessments. Also, knowing the developmental stages and distraction therapy method techniques can help me provide thorough examinations and find ways to help my patients cope if they are feeling anxious and scared.

Nursing can be a demanding career, but the benefits far much outweigh the challenges. Most importantly, it’s the rewards it offers by allowing an opportunity to make a difference in another person’s life through the provision of care when they need it. Just as Patricia Benner theorized in her book “Novice to Expert,” nursing encompasses both educational knowledge and extensive clinical experience acquired throughout one’s career. This far, I continue to acquire knowledge and clinical knowhow which will promote proper and efficient care to patients. Since I began practicing one year ago in a long-term healthcare facility, I have interacted with patients, families, physicians and other members of the healthcare team to coordinate patient’s care which has enabled me to gain confidence in myself. While I cannot deny that it was difficult to transition from a student to a licensed nurse, I learnt to overcome these challenges and focus on my strengths. Practicing as an LPN has provided a platform to learn and gain experience even though the duties and responsibilities are limited by the scope of practice.

Communication is any form of expressing and receiving of messages between individuals. The importance of Communication in the nursing profession is to maintain high quality care for the patient but also maintain effective collaboration between professionals. Boykins, D (2014) states that the “registered nurse is expected to communicate in various formats and in all areas of practice”. Various formats include speaking to patients and coworkers as well as utilizing appropriate protocols and systems to effectively communicate regards to patient’s status.

Written communication in healthcare system comprises of care plans, daily reports, handover sheets ,medication sheets in general ,(record keeping). These clinical records are essential skills of communication that a nurse should be able to write as well as extracting vital information from which to provide relevant and precise care. This makes continuity of necessary care possible and fulfils one of NMC’s (2008) core principles of the code of working with others to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of those in nurse’s care and obligation to ensure total and effective information is communicated to your colleagues concerning people in your care (NMC 2010). These records help to increase answerability to the part of the nurse if the nurse is aware of this will be more considerate knowing that any mistake will come around. In addition these records help as the basis for decision –making for nurses and multi-disciplinary team of which the nurse

Each nurse also has specific ideas or beliefs about what information should be communicated during a verbal report. Valuable information may not be provided or may be forgotten (Casey & Wallis, 2011). Writing information down may help a nurse recall the data later, but if there is no consistent format for recording the information, it may be lost regardless. Interruptions, distractions, and the frequency of communications also may negatively effect the communication process and contribute to a nurse forgetting to share important information (Cacolice-Hildebrand, 2008). Active listening, which involves reflecting back a meaningful understanding of one’s message, is one of the most important skills in effective communication.

In summary, professional communication is a very core for the therapeutic relationship. In detail, knowing how to create a successful communication will show the sincere intention of the nurse to patients’ concern because they are not only sufficient to assist patients’ data but also convey the message that patient can trust then accept. Therefore, choosing to be a nurse means increasing interpersonal communication knowledge and skills. Nurses should always remember this as a basic qualified standard to reflect of how they sympathize with

Starting the Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelorette of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Jacksonville University in June 2015 was a simple transition for me. I had graduated an Associates Degree in Nursing (ADN) program in December 2014 and became a licensed RN in January 2015. I had just gotten hired for my first nursing position the month prior to the start of class and had not yet started working. I was very much still in student mode. While this makes it a bit easier to learn and process information in a classroom setting, I had no real world experience to help guide me. Through the knowledge I have gained as a student at Jacksonville University I have become a competent and well-rounded nurse. I am able to quickly problem solve and utilize critical thinking to identify and rectify issues. I have even put together, and will be presenting, and presentation about nursing practice for staff members at the facility where I work.

In the career field of Nursing, professional writing skills and abilities are very important to be successful. Some specific writing skills needed are detailed, accurate spelling and punctuation, and conciseness. When it comes to writing, both professionals who work in the field and career guidebooks suggest that if a person is interested in this career path, he or she should be able to write clear and effective. He or she also should be able write professionally, the way something is written is a reflection on the type of writer he or she is. In nursing, a great deal of writing is read by many healthcare professionals, such as, doctors, lawyers, therapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists. If there is confusion in the document, the point may not get across. Everything a nurse writes is important, from quick notes to full length documents, it is all vital. Making errors in the career path could cost his or her career.

These past five weeks have opened my eyes and changed my way of thinking. In this memo I will share with you my reflection of the course through three points; the course, the assignments, and my career. When I first registered for this course, I did not know what to expect. I thought that technical writing was just another English class that would require me to write long essays.