The third module, called “knowledge and clinical judgment,” focuses on the knowledge required for patient care, as well as clinical judgment, to ensure safe, high-quality client-centered care. Concerning the knowledge of patient care, I have learned that a nurse needs a fundamental understanding of many aspects that influence excellent patient care. These aspects include physiology and pathophysiology, pharmacology, nutrition, effective communication, comprehensive knowledge of nursing procedures, mathematic calculations, technology, ethics, and laws. Before this module, my knowledge of ethical and legal issues associated with the nursing world was limited. Although the module briefly summarized these issues, it expressed the importance of legal and ethical issues with the nursing profession. Legal issues are of the utmost importance to protect the public by providing a safe and secure environment by maintaining best practices implemented in certain institutions, continuing education, and promoting the most elite skills in a rapidly evolving discipline. At the same time, ethical issues are significant to consider because some situations could or could not be supported by legal requirements. Often, personal views and feelings could potentially impact ethical issues in the nursing environment, so it is essential to consider these issues before encountering them in practice.

Additionally, this module was beneficial because it corresponds well with the curriculum in my classes this semester. In this first semester of my program, I have learned about effective communication, nutrition, mathematical calculations and have had some experience with actual nursing procedures within the field of nursing. Overall, my new understanding of the importance of nursing practices, including critical judgment, will influence my integration into the nursing culture because now I am aware of the significance of the many facets involved, which will help me become a better nurse.

The fourth module, “Priority Setting Framework,” outlined the significance of priority setting and decision-making in the nursing field. It provided a good understanding of aids to good decision-making on prioritizing matters that cold face us daily, which is greatly important in preparing us for the integration into the nursing culture. This module discusses various vital techniques and schools of thought; however, the significant two included “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” and “Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.”

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” describes that as a nurse, we should prioritize the physiological concerns and needs of the patient, such as oxygenation, circulation, nutrition, elimination, fluid balance, activity and exercise, rest, and sleep. Then to follow in order includes the patient’s safety and security (e.g., safe environment, stable income, shelter), love and belonging (e.g., love, affection, relationships with others and the community), self-esteem (e.g., self-respect and personal worth), and self-actualization (e.g., personal growth). This theory correlates well with the material I am learning in my courses because we can apply this to various nursing situations. Also, it will be a valuable tool to utilize on exams when questions are asked about “which patient is a priority?” or “which patient should the nurse see first?”. In the same regard, the technique “Airway, Breathing, and Circulation” relates well to current class material and current testing methods in my courses this semester. “Airway, Breathing, and Circulation” discusses how a patient who is having an “airway” complication such as obstruction is the top priority, then as follows; a patient who is in respiratory distress and having inadequate ventilatory effort; and lastly, circulation, which pertains to an individual’s cardiovascular system.  Overall, this module will influence me as a nurse because now I have gained a greater understanding of how to integrate decision making and priority setting in patient care, so each patient will receive the best outcome physically, emotionally, and mentally.

This Peanuts cartoon image is a perfect example of collaboration, which means working together to achieve a goal. Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the whole Peanuts gang are working together to clean their park, illustrating the many aspects of collaboration. The group is working amicably on a project that benefits the park and its community and environment. The collaboration involves various tasks that different members of the Peanuts gang perform as part of the collaboration, such as raking, picking up leaves, collecting garbage, and painting the lamp post, which helps achieve the project as a whole. Collaboratively, the group achieves the overall goal.

 

Image:

Rachel Kohler. Snoopy Cartoon. Pinterest. 2013.

Module One:

The first module, “Testing and Remediation,” outlined several ways to prepare for and successfully take standardized tests, which is critical to integrating into the nursing culture. These preparatory recommendations included the importance of completing class assignments and readings as well as attending and engaging in lectures and discussions in the classroom. Of great importance, the module discussed multiple study habits and learning strategies that will be beneficial to use throughout my nursing education. As someone who generally uses flashcards to study, in the module, I learned additional positive study techniques that I will implement to assure my success with testing. For example, this module outlined an essential study aid, known as the “ABCs,” which emphasizes the use of acronyms to remember key fundamentals and cluster together related content as a means of studying. Throughout this semester and the entire program, we will be learning a vast amount of material; therefore, finding ways to remember content is of utmost importance. In addition, I also learned the importance of where and when to study for an exam. For example, I learned that studying should be scheduled when I am alert and focused, and I should plan other obligations around my study schedule to avoid being preoccupied. Also, it is crucial to study in a room that is isolated from interruptions and has excellent lighting and a comfortable temperature.

Along with studying techniques, this module offered optimum test-taking strategies, which will benefit my success this semester as most of our classes are measured by exams. Most of the exams involve multiple-choice answers in our current courses. Some recommendations for successful test-taking are that sleep should be a priority prior to test day and that I should review important study material a few hours before the exam. In addition, I should incorporate good comprehensive skills, such as reading the question and choices slowly and carefully. Also, I learned to utilize techniques to help eliminate incorrect options in multiple-choice exams to increase my chances of selecting the correct answer. In this module, I learned to use the symbols (+) for correct and (-) for incorrect as well. Overall, to fully integrate into the nursing culture, the above techniques will help me successfully strengthen my attributes, improve my competency, and provide me with optimum skills to provide the best patient care possible eventually.

Module Two:

Module Two, “Nursing Concepts,” is inherently designed to provide helpful recommendations and valuable tools to enable me to integrate comprehensive nursing knowledge, skills, and attitudes into my clinical decisions, patient care and to facilitate my transition from a student to a professionally competent nurse. This module taught me the importance of acquiring significant knowledge and skills to provide client-oriented care, including the nursing process, therapeutic communication, advocacy, and cultural competence. For example, the nursing process is a framework that I will use as a nurse to develop a care plan for my patients, including the five basic but critical steps: Assessment, Analysis, Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation. This semester, in my lectures, I am learning how to collect subjective and objective information from patients to formulate conclusions, care plans, and goals based on the clients’ conditions, which correlates well with the information I learned from this module. With the information I receive from my courses this semester and using the framework of the care process that I have collected from this module, I can implement effective interventions to maximize patient satisfaction and care. I will not only carry out the five fundamental steps of the nursing process as I transition into the nursing culture, but I will also use effective verbal and non-verbal therapeutic communication with each patient. While actively listening, clarifying, and summarizing the patient’s statements, and using empathy and compassion, I will maintain appropriate eye contact, facial gestures, hand gestures, and body posture. At the same time, I will also advocate for every patient to ensure they receive safe and high-quality care. Also, throughout my transition into the culture of nursing, I will strengthen my cultural competence to understand the differences between cultures, education levels, health care histories, life experiences, and perspectives among patients.

In addition, this module focuses on many other concepts relevant to care. To name a few, I learned about ways to maximize patient and personal safety, professionalism, striving for excellence, leadership, and time management. For example, it can be challenging to balance academics and daily tasks. I enjoyed learning about the tips to be successful with time management in nursing, so I am ready to be a fully competent nurse. For example, some suggestions were to organize group activities together; estimate the time that the activities will take to accomplish; complete challenging tasks in advance; visualize procedures; document a patient’s care as it is completed. Overall, the information I have learned from the module relates well with my class material, which will prepare me for my integration into the culture of nursing. It will help enhance my competency and ultimately help me become the best possible nurse I can be.