Sarah's Site

I found it interesting how much their experiences differed. It was interesting to hear the bsn vs absn how in the end the process for job application and graduation is very similar. Something that stood out to me was how more often new grads are placed on night shift. It also stood out the time frame for the testing times for the nclex. I still don’t fully understand the process but it was interesting to get started with just some basic information. In addition, it was good to know that we will have a whole class next semester that will set us up for the nclex and for a job post graduation.

For my first nursing job I am really still trying to figure that out. I’m thinking of just a general med surg to get my foot in the door and get some experience under my belt. In addition I need to figure out what state I’ll be practicing in. At this moment in time I’m not very sure where I will be living once my lease is up in May. This has been a fair amount of stress since I need to figure out where I’m living to be able to apply to jobs. 

Listening to the two new grad talks helped in some way to hear how their experiences differed and how they have confidence we will be able to do it. Something I learned from them is the fact that even when I graduate I still won’t know everything and that is okay. It’s reassuring knowing that it’s okay to not know everything and that I will have an onboarding experience that will enhance my clinical skills.

Initially the location of the care needs to be accessible to the client to get their care needs treated. The building and services provided must be able to accommodate anyone with any sort of disability. The client may also need transportation to said health care location. Medical equipment must be able to accommodate the clients disabilities as well. The care team must be able to communicate as well which may be a challenge if the client can’t hear or see.  

We should prioritize education on disability awareness which allows for care team members to get more familiar with how to care for these individuals as people. It is important to actively engage with each patient to understand their needs and avoid making assumptions. Health care providers should utilize assistive communication tools to accommodate these patients. It is crucial to create a supportive environment that respects each and every person who comes through their door and listens and respects each individual’s abilities and preferences.

Providers may lack the knowledge, experience, and skills to care for people with disabilities. There are common attitudinal barriers which affect the delivery of care to clients with disabilities. These barriers include viewing the disability as an illness, having a lack of knowledge, fear of harming the patient, and misconceptions.Some providers may view a disability as an abnormality that needs to be fixed, rather than a natural part of a person’s life.

Something I never really considered before about patients with disabilities is all the extra thought and planning which goes into receiving the care they need. It’s about having to call the day before to ensure you can get an accessible room. It never even crossed my mind about how online pre screening forms can easily be inaccessible to so many.

 For this project I will utilize my group members for a total collaboration from topic proposal to dissemination. Communication is key for this to be successful, and for each member of the group to do their part as we can collaborate together to get to our final project. Holding myself accountable will entail me keeping a close eye on due dates for this project as well as scheduling time together as a group to discuss and work on the different portions.

This will be useful in my further nursing career because this project will utilize evidence based practice as well as group collaboration. Communicating with my group members allows for me to practice working as a team and helping out where I can which is often used in nursing.  Another concept this project utilizes is prioritization and delegation both are important nursing skills for time management and safe patient care.

Having a general knowledge on ESRD helps to provide better care to my patients. I may not be specializing in renal however it doesn’t mean that I won’t come across a patient presenting with this disease. Understanding the pathophysiology and how this is affecting the patient allows for me to create a care plan specific to meet their needs and to provide safe and competent care. I want to understand expected and unexpected findings and be able to perform focused assessment and monitoring for these patients. As a nurse a way I can help reduce the risk of ESRD is by educating my patients on causes of this disease as well as lifestyle and diet modifications. Educating patients to manage blood pressure, blood sugar, exercising, keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and eating a healthy diet. 

Some people believe that they must travel to receive dialysis. However this is incorrect as there are options to be able to complete dialysis, both a facility and at home. There is another thought that dialysis is painful which in reality, there may be some discomfort with the needles but the treatment itself is painless. I have never specifically cared for a patient in end stage renal disease. My only interaction has been with one patient who has a fistula which I was allowed to listen to and palpate. That allowed me to begin to acknowledge how ESRD may affect the patient as well as what is done to the vein to be able to have frequent dialysis.

Listening in on this recorded presentation I was able to learn more about the importance of affirming care for LGBTQ patients. It is always important to remember that assuming a person’s preferred gender is not appropriate. One way to start any conversation is by asking the patient how they would like to be addressed along with asking what their preferred pronouns are. By learning and being mindful of gender affirming care the nurse can work towards building safer and more inclusive practices. 

Understanding the significance of affirming care provides a more positive impact on the care I will be providing. Working my patients my goal is to be a resource and advocate for them Maine is open to many different online and in person resources for the LGBTQ+ community. There are programs from youths, parents, educators, allies, and training for professionals all of which are easily accessible through outmaine.org. This website also has a quick exit feature which allows for privacy when accessing their site. Other resources include Equity Maine, Hallowell pride alliance, HEAL and MaineTransNet all of which can be accessed through namimaine.org/lgbtq. There are even more campaigns, schools, projects and more all dedicated to this community and helping them with any need imaginable.

Correctional nursing is a specific type of nursing that provides care for those incarcerated in the criminal justice system. Correctional nurses are often the first health care professional which the inmate will see for medical care. They often screen inmates when they enter the facility and will provide care for a wide range of different medical concerns. I have never had any interaction with anyone who is in a prison. So, I am not completely sure what to expect when it comes to what I might see. During my volunteering experience I have created two learning goals. My first  goal is to be able to better understand and explain what correctional nursing does. Another goal of mine is to identify common health problems of the individuals that the nurses see in the prison. I am not specifically nervous about anything in particular but more interested in what I will be able to see or potentially do. I am definitely looking forward to learning more about what this experience entails since I truly do not know anything about what I will be going to do. 

Community programs in Maine consist of self-help groups, support groups for loved ones, and programs for reentry. More specifically there is a Maine prisoner community reintegration project which focuses on increasing public safety for those reentering the community. There is a reentry network, and center which offers community newsletter and there is a residential center which provides skills and experience to live successfully. Additionally there is Rose’s room which is a monthly support group for loved ones and family who have someone incarcerated which allows for community support and faith based organizations. 

Prior to this class presentation I had only heard the name “Needle Exchange Program” and nothing more. I never thought to take the time to understand their purpose and why they do what they do. I had a very baseline understanding which included simply a program from drug users. Little did I realize the positive impact this program has on not only that specific population but also on the community. By participating in this program participants are less likely to have fatal overdoses and they are being provider safer options for syringe use.

There is not one specific solution for resolving this problem and drug use in our community. The needle exchange program is on the right track and a specific program focused on providing strategies for this population. Continuing to offer support, education and safe location for this population is crucial in improving the health of those affected. Having educational programs and being able to share with the state what the needle exchange is and allow more of the community to be involved is another way to work towards creating more strategies to help this population as well.

For this experience I learned how to interact with patients in a safe setting where mistakes were able to be made. Even though we had a mental health clinical this semester; I gained a deeper insight into the four different mental illnesses today then through those clinicals. In my clinical this semester I worked only with kids ages 8-12 which more so have behavioral issues rather than bipolar, substance abuse, or schizophrenia. My exposure to different mental conditions was quite limited prior to this simulation. 

With all simulations comes some challenges to overcome. I found myself sometimes struggling to find the word on how to continue a conversation or felt I didn’t have enough knowledge to properly help the client. For example there was the conversation about ECT where I have a foundational understanding about it however I have never seen or experienced it in real life. Explaining it sounds scary and overwhelming and I hesitate on how to support the client when I myself didn’t have all the information. Another challenge I experienced was working within a group of four. It was definitely an adjustment letting us all speak and finding a flow where there weren’t interruptions and we could all build on each other. With both these challenges, we worked as a group and talked them out, picking up where each other left off to fill in the gaps as well as pausing to let eachother speak. 

I learned about the importance of meeting the patient where they are. Every patient you will meet will have a different presentation and it is important to greet them in whatever shape they are in, being an active listener, showing empathy, an understanding, and respect. This helps build that therapeutic alliance to help meet patient goals. We are creating a space where the client may feel space, validated, with no judgment. Today showed the importance of building that connection.