Practicum Experience Research Paper

As I Reflect over this semester, it is difficult to believe that I am halfway through the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. The (DNP) program has changed my life considerably by providing me with the tools I need to become successful in my nursing career. My goal in this program is to become the best care provider and nurse educator possible. Acquiring knowledge, technical skills, and examples of the reading assignments continue to help me meet my outcomes in this program. Also, each semester, my experience in writing continues to grow as well as my understanding of the purpose of a scholarly project (Kung, 2012).

The transition from student nurse to registered nurse can be exciting, stressful and challenging and reality shock can be experienced (Kaihlanen, Lakanmaa, & Salminen, 2013). The skills knowledge and values learned during the 3 years period of the undergraduate program should be demonstrated while working as a Registered nurse. The transition from nursing student to professional nurse is complex and multifaceted experience (Clark & Springer, 2012). Therefore, it’s essential to guide the student during their learning process for their professional development. It is difficult for the student nurse to work on their own unsupervised right after completing their program. Being independent registered nurse will take lots of practice skills wise and knowledge wise. The transition from student to staff nurse ‘is a common rite of passage that marks the end of initial educational preparation in the discipline and the

Transitioning from an licensed practical nurse to a registered nurse is of the hardest things I have ever done. Twelve years ago I took my boards and became a licensed practical nurse. Going to school to become an LPN was difficult, but I was not a mother and I did not work full time as I do now. Getting to know the students I attend school with has made me realize that each student’s role transition is different, with unique outlooks and emotional roller coasters. In the following paragraphs I will preview licensed practical nurse to registered nurse role comparisons, my change in

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.

A number of emotions were felt during this experience, in regards to transitioning from a student nurse to the registered nurse role. Primarily, the transition in role from student nurse to registered nurse was similar to any clinical experience I have had at Midlands Technical College. I was placed in a medical-surgical rotation. I felt slighted that not only were we required to complete a data tool but we also participated in the teamwork model demonstrated in prior semesters. Personally, I did not feel a transition during this particular clinical experience.

On August 2015, I started the RN-BSN program with the Transition to Professional Nursing as my first course. I took one class at the time because I was working as a full time nurse at the same time. I did not take a break and started a new class each start date because I wanted to complete this program as soon as possible. The journey has been a long, hard road and the stress was constant and many times I felt that I could not complete it; it has been a difficult but very satisfying journey.

In today’s healthcare system, nursing is a challenging field as a result of rapid technological advances and changes in healthcare policies. As a dedicated nursing professional, with a great passion for learning, I strive to stay on top of these changes. I am determined to increase my knowledge to be an instrumental part of providing quality healthcare. The demands of nursing are high; however the rewards are even higher. Nursing requires both a supreme understanding of the science of health, and a caring bedside manner befitting only those who seek a position of such a personal involvement in the well-being of a patient. Academically, I will put forth all of

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.

The beginning of a new graduate nurses career rarely begins easily, there seems to be a distinct disconnect between the fantasy of what it means to be a nurse and the reality of bedside nursing. Nursing school seems to feed into this disconnection, in that it does not prepare the new graduate registered nurse (NGRN) for their professional practice. What nursing school does is give the NGRN the basics, a peak into what is to come. The NGRN has to find out for themselves what the true meaning of being a nurse is and if it fits their preconceived ideas.

I believe this course is going to be an enrinched experience for us all. Good job to us all for taking the steps in adding another degree to our walls or desks in order to accomplish our career goals. I  understand this is a large but I do hope to speak, even better, network with the majority of you. I wish you all the best on your educational voyage.

Throughout this program, each class has really broadened by skills and knowledge to prepare me for practice as a family nurse practitioner delivering excellent evidence-based medicine. The first class where we learned about the role of the advance practice nurse really set the tone for what to expect as a provider and what each role entails. Moving on to the theory class, it was discovered how much nursing theory really plays a part in caring for patients. My knowledge was increased on the different theories and how one can relate them to patient situations by participating in discussion questions and preparing papers. Also, it was known that theory is what guides research to better patient care. Pathophysiology was really the building block for the makeup of the human body. One has to be proficient in knowing how different systems in the body function and how they can be affected by other processes. By reading the provided textbooks, writing papers, and participating in discussion with other classmates, my knowledge of pathophysiology was taken to a new level. The 2 advanced nursing classes really reinforced common problems that can affect different parts of the human body and how care should be managed for these conditions. There was an abundance of learning during these 2 classes that really helped prepare us for clinical rotations and

As I complete my final 144 hours needed to earn my second baccalaureate degree, my practicum comes to an end. The purpose of this paper is to perform a self-assessment of how I have progressed throughout the 12-month accelerated nursing baccalaureate program. Areas of focus based upon my own strengths and weaknesses include: clinical skills, leadership and management skills, professional conduct and behavior, and professional communications. Overall, I believe that I have grown an immense amount as a person, while my nursing skills and knowledge have developed significantly since my first day in the accelerated nursing program through my last day of practicum.

There are several situations that students may face during their practicum placement such as; failure to adhere to the authorization expiration date, clients can set a date when their authorization expires. Improper disposal of patient records, shredding is necessary before disposing of patient’s record. Insider snooping, this refers to family members or co-workers looking into a person’s medical records without authorization this can be avoided with password protection, tracking systems and clearance levels. Another situation could be missing patient signature, any HIPAA forms without the patient’s signature is invalid, so releasing information would be a violation. Failure to log off your computer or a computer system that contains private

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.

My four weeks of clinical placement had thought me lots of things that can help me to become a better nurse in the future. I give my outmost respect and thanks to my clinical preceptors to the learning and knowledge they have imparted. I have learned a lot from clinical placement because 2B ward is a surgical unit I came to understand the complexity of wound care. Every wound should be assessed according to its type and severity because every type of wound has its appropriate dressing. Aside from learning clinical procedure such as wound dressing, drug administration (within scope of practice), naso-gastric feeding and etc, I came to learn the importance of teamwork it makes the job easier and allows good communication within staff members of the ward. I am looking forward for my upcoming clinical placement in 3rd year to gain more knowledge in and experience to develop my nursing skills and become a competent nurse in the future.