Sarah's Site

So far this semester we have been working on learning more and developing a PICOT question in relation to patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and how participation in programs combating social isolation could help slow disease processes. As a group we have each contributed equally and are all willing to chime in and support each other when doing assignments. It has been a fairly positive experience so far without any issues. Our collaboration has definitely helped strengthen our topic and our willingness to work together to get each assignment done has been able to reduce some of the stress related to the final paper. I have learned more about how to compose a research paper including how to use UNE’s library for sources. Diving deeper into our articles I have been able to acknowledge the research done in correlation to our question.

On a more personal level, I have learned more about my learning style, and I have learned that to be able to read some of these articles requires me to go nice and slow. Before this class I understood that nursing was evidence-based but I did not realize to what extent. I have a deeper understanding of evidence-based nursing practice and the whys behind the research. Each and every action in nursing is thought to be from evidence-based practice on what techniques, care plans, nursing actions, are best for patient centered care with safe and competent nursing actions. For my future nursing career, I see a lot of evidence-based practice. Not necessarily myself writing any research articles but using what has been assessed in these practices to constantly be updating my knowledge and improving my level of care towards my patients.

While reading and learning about the Testing and Remediation section on ATI I came to learn more about alternate forms of testing. More often than not when given an exam it has been multiple choice where if you don’t know the answer you have a 25% chance of getting the question right. We have begun to move away from this within my exams as even now multiple choice has 5 or even 6 options. This can be related to the nursing profession as you will come across situations that aren’t going to have only four options to choose from. Situations in the nursing field will require you to use different nursing processes to fill in the blanks, listen to sounds, and back tract to figure out what the best route of care for that patient will be.

This module helps reinforce some of the knowledge I have begun to learn in my nursing classes. Where exams are going to have more than just multiple choice. You need to go back and practice, read the questions once and then for a second time, and most importantly, be sure to read each and every answer thoroughly. Highlight and mark the important information if in a test question or even a patient chart. I am most excited about labs and clinical with the hands-on experience to be able to reinforce my learning in the classroom. More recently while starting clinicals I am using the nursing frameworks to assess the patients I am meeting to try and map out how to best help them from only the information I gather while being there. It is all great practice in critical thinking and being able to implement the knowledge I am gaining in class and using it in clinical practice.

After reviewing the Priority Setting Frameworks ATI module this module helped reinforce my prior knowledge of priority setting as a nurse. When it comes to a nurse choosing a priority assignment there are many different concepts and frameworks that are incorporated. The biggest framework being ABC, airway, breathing, and circulation. When choosing between two patients to prioritize you use the module to assess the ABC’s and then if one patient has their airway obstructed, they become the priority. Diving deeper you have Maslow’s triangle as well as acute vs chronic, safety risk and reduction as well as the nursing process. Most of this module was a review of what I have learned in my fundamentals of nursing as well as in my adult health course, which I am excited to have all in one location where I can go back and review. 

The newest material I learned about was survival potential during a mass casualty event. There are four different classes of injuries to help prioritize injury treatment in relation to a situation where time and materials are limited. This was interesting to learn about because there is a possibility that an event like this could happen and having the knowledge on how to prioritize in an emergency is important. I will continue to learn and reflect on each of the nursing priority frameworks as each of them play such an important role in quality nursing care. Coming back to this ATI module is an important tool as well as they can all be found in one place, with descriptions, examples, and diagrams. From this module I got a stronger understanding of how to prioritize patient care and can utilize this material in clinical/class, and I am excited to do so.

Being a Patient Advocate

Looking back to my post I wrote last year; I have truly learned so much about the nursing profession and all about what a nurse does along the way to being a patient advocate. With each patient comes a whole new situation where patient centered care is the priority. With that being said, patient advocacy plays an important role in the effectiveness of care for that patient. Following code of ethics noted in the American Nurse Association (ANA), the nurse promotes patient safety and quality of care includes, protecting patient rights, being the patient’s voice, and interpersonal relations. Nurse advocates strive to ensure that all policies, regulations, and services focus on meeting the patients’ needs while keeping them safe. Healthcare advocacy is important because it builds communication and a relationship with the patients. It can reduce the stress for the patients and encourages evidence based patient education.

The importance of gratitude can make a hard, stressful day better. Allowing for gratitude to be effective both parties have to participate, it works both ways. Gratitude allows for staff to not feel alone and allows for them to be appreciated, any little act of kindness can go a long way. In a professional setting gratitude is often seen through thank yous’, and kind acts As well as asking if someone needs help or anything if they have time or eating lunch together. Acknowledging kind acts as well as being grateful are both other examples. While being stressed I try to take a moment to catch my breath and think to myself that everything will be ok. Each situation is different though, sometimes i need to take a step back and reassess or I can listen to music.
One strategy I use to decompress is listening to music. I can cancel out other noises in my atmosphere that are distracting me and just listen to something I enjoy. It helps to calm me as I feel a little separate from the world and it separates my stressors from myself. I could potentially use this strategy in a professional setting only on breaks though. Its hard to find decompresses while on shift and working but while on break I could step outside and get some fresh air and listen to a song or two.