Peer Responses:
- Length: A minimum of 180 words per post, not including references
- Citations: At least two high-level scholarly reference in APA per post from within the last 5 years
- Reflect to other journal reading
I have achieved multiple initial objectives as well as learning aspirations throughout this term. One of my objectives involved enhancing my clinical decision-making skills. I was able to achieve this by actively participating in patient care rounds and making evidence-based decisions. I worked alongside my preceptor, who supervised me to ensure that the care applied was up to standard. At one point, I managed a complex case of a diabetic patient. The case was complex as this patient had multiple comorbidities, calling for the need for an individualized care plan. By working alongside other practitioners and specialists such as dietists, I was able to develop a comprehensive care plan, ensuring that the patient’s blood glucose level was well controlled.
Throughout the course, I was also faced with challenges that hindered my ability to achieve my goals as needed. For instance, I failed to gain hands-on experience with certain procedures due to factors like time constraints. I found that despite expressing my interest in performing more procedures, I had limited opportunities. Nevertheless, I hope to address this challenge in my next rotation by continuously seeking out such experiences early on.
I had a meaningful interaction with a terminally ill patient and his family. As I reflect, I recall that this encounter heavily impacted my interpersonal and emotional connection skills. The family as well as the patient were experiencing great emotional distress. I addressed this by taking my time to listen to them, providing more comfort to the patient as he was in severe pain, and also engaging in empathetic conversations with the family. I learned that compassionate care is of high significance and that providing emotional support can have a positive impact on patients’ overall well-being. As I reflect on this term, I realize that I need more exposure to pediatric cases. I hope to gain more experience in pediatric care in future rotations to improve my clinical skills.
The literature emphasizes that reflective practice is crucial for continuous professional development and improving patient care outcomes (King et al., 2021). Through reflection, healthcare professionals can critically analyze their actions. In turn, this leads to better clinical judgment and enhanced learning. As a nursing practitioner, I engage in reflective practices outside classroom requirements, using discussions with my peers. I can state that this practice has significantly improved my ability to learn from experiences, better my approach, and provide more effective patient care. Some barriers associated with reflection can include the issue of time constraints as well as the emotional burden of reliving challenging events (Khoiriyati & Sari, 2022). That said, it is important to address these barriers to enhance one’s personal and professional growth in nursing.
References
Khoiriyati, A., & Sari, N. K. (2022). Reflective Practice on Nursing Students: A Qualitative Study. INDONESIAN NURSING JOURNAL OF EDUCATION AND CLINIC (INJEC), 6(2), 201-209. http://dx.doi.org/10.24990/injec.v6i2.391
King, R., Taylor, B., Talpur, A., Jackson, C., Manley, K., Ashby, N., … & Robertson, S. (2021). Factors that optimise the impact of continuing professional development in nursing: A rapid evidence review. Nurse education today, 98, 104652. https://doi.o
