The information I have gained from this cause has been crucial in advancing my nursing education. It has helped me learn more about healthcare principles and laid the foundation for achieving Program Outcome 2. This paper briefly reflects on the course and its impact on me. It focuses on how different assignments we have engaged with have prepared me to be better at creating a caring environment. Moreover, it touches on how it has helped me be a better communicator and a more ethical professional.
Creating a Caring Environment for Quality Health Outcomes
This course has helped me understand the essence of a care-focused approach in nursing. A caring environment is often viewed as the infrastructure necessary to support care. However, there is more to a caring environment than such a clinical setting. A caring environment also involves emotional, psychological, and social support nurses provide to patients and their families(Babaei et al., 2022). Therefore, I have learned the importance of empathy, respect, and compassion as a way to improve on these aspects. For example, some case studies have shown the importance of creating a supportive atmosphere where patients feel valued and understood. Subsequently, such an environment improves health outcomes and patient satisfaction.
Achieving AACN Essentials: Engaging and Communicating for Effective Care
Among the AACN Essentials, I focused on “2.2 Communicate effectively with individuals.” I feel that effective communication is a key pillar of nursing practice. For example, it enables the establishment of trust with patients. Two specific examples from the course that have helped me develop this competency are:
- Role-playing Exercises: These exercises simulated real-life patient encounters. They allowed me to practice my communication skills. For example, through feedback from peers and instructors, I learned how to adjust my communication style to meet patients’ needs. This skill ensures that information is conveyed effectively.
- Patient Education Projects: The assignments we submitted on various aspects of patient care have also improved my communication skills. For instance, they taught me to break down complex medical information into understandable language. In essence, they highlighted the importance of clear, effective communication in empowering patients with the knowledge to manage their health conditions. This helps foster a partnership in care.
Achieving NONPF Competencies: Promoting Care Coordination
“NP 4.3 Promote the ethical conduct of scholarly activities” resonates with my professional goals. Ethical conduct in nursing extends beyond adherence to professional codes. It involves advocating for patients’ rights, privacy, and dignity. Two course activities that have prepared me for this competency are:
- Ethical Dilemma Discussions: Engaging in discussions on ethical dilemmas in nursing practice has enhanced my ability to navigate complex situations more effectively. Notably, they have prepared me to advocate for ethical patient care and research practices. These aspects ensure that patients’ welfare is always the priority.
- Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Assignments: EBP assignments require researching and applying the best available evidence to clinical issues. Therefore, such assignments have helped me learn the importance of ethical conduct when sharing or applying knowledge. This ensures patient care is grounded in the latest and most reliable research.
Conclusion
The course has equipped me with the skills to create a caring patient environment. Moreover, it has helped achieve quality health outcomes. Consequently, I feel better prepared to meet the challenges of advanced nursing practice. Therefore, I feel that the lessons learned in this course will help my career in the long term. Notably, they will serve as a foundation for providing compassionate, patient-centered care that adheres to the highest standards of ethical conduct in nursing practice.
Reference
Babaei, S., Taleghani, F., & Farzi, S. (2022). Components of compassionate care in nurses working in the cardiac wards: A descriptive qualitative study. Journal of Caring Sciences, 11(4), 239–245. https://doi.org/10.34172/jcs.2022.24
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