Nursing Learning Experiences - Coursework Example

Nursing Learning Experiences Number - Professional Seminar III Nursing Learning Experiences In this technological era, nurses are obliged to have information literacy skills in addition to their education in order to be in a position to evaluate and implement evidence-based practice. Advancement in technology has a direct impact on disease prevention and detection. Broad understanding of the role of nursing as well as possession of leadership skills is also very essential in nursing practice (“South University”, 2009). Portrayal of professionalism as well as practice of good communication skills is also crucial; they enhance the success of nursing activities in a given nursing environment. In tandem to this, this paper aims at providing detailed information on the learning experiences that were gained through learning the nine essentials outline in the course resource “The Essenials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice (2008).” The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice (2008) According to “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice (2008)”, “the nine essentials outline the results expected of graduates of baccalaureate nursing” (“The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice”, 2008). The essentials enhance a nurse graduate to work in diverse fields because they oblige an individual to integrate skills, knowledge and attitudes developed from the study in his or her daily activities. Additionally, the nine essentials are the key to nursing activities; they involve learning and portraying knowledge and skills in all aspects of nursing. Essential I: Essence of liberal education Through this essential, nurses learn that good cohesion between a nurse and the community is very essential in nursing profession. It enhances success in most of the activities involving patient care. According to “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice” (2008), liberal education constitute broad understanding of wide scope of science, cultures, social practices, and ability to implement the learnt elements in overcoming complex problems and challenges. From this, it is evident that nurses do learn that having broad understanding of different cultures as well as social practices assist significantly in offering nursing care to patients from different backgrounds. It is also evident that broad understanding of science as well as arts enables a nurse to solve complex problems and challenges associated with nursing care. Additionally, it is evident that broad understanding of cultures as well as social practices enables a nurse to advance his or her leadership skills through intermingling with people of different societies and cultural practices easily. Essential II: Essence of leadership skills The study of leadership skills in nursing make a nurse learn that the success of any nursing activity also relies entirely on the ability of a nurse to make amicable decisions within a very short time as possible. Additionally, it also makes them know that good leadership skills also enhance the existence of good working relationships between personnel in a healthcare or healthcare providers with patients and the community. According to “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice” (2008), “organizational and systems leadership, quality improvement, and safety are critical to promoting quality patient care” (14). From this, it is evident that nursing as a profession requires an individual to not only be creative, but also have effective leadership skills and communication skills in order to be successive in carrying out nursing roles in different healthcare settings. Additionally, it is also evident that a baccalaureate graduate has the responsibility of ensuring all the activities carried out in a clinical micro-system are successive by initiating basic quality, safety investigations as well as monitoring the products of these actions. In addition, it is also evident that safety in health care is also determined by an individual’s leadership skills. Thus, from this study one can deduce that inoculation of safety principles in leadership skills enhance success in nursing. Essential III: Essence of evidence-based practice Apart from possession of good leadership skills, ability to put current evidence into practice is also a good experience for a nurse. It enhances success in nursing practice. According to “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice” (2008), baccalaureate graduates are obliged to collaborate with other healthcare personnel in order to improve patient outcomes. From this, one can deduce that collaboration as well as sharing of knowledge enhances success in nursing. It is also evident that a professional nurse should be in a position to integrate knowledge learnt theoretically, practically, and through research in his or her clinical practice (King & Perry, 2009). Additionally, consistent checks on the patients’ outcomes also play a very significant role in determining the effectiveness of nursing activities. Essential IV: Essence of technological knowledge In their work, King and Perry (2009) assert that advancement in technology has a very significant role in prevention and detection of diseases. According to them, nurses are supposed to have experience as well as broad understanding of the essence of technology in healthcare delivery system. Additionally, they also argue that nurses are obliged to use information technology effectively in promoting optimal outcomes for patients. In connection to this, “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice” (2008, p. 18) also asserts that “knowledge and skills in information and patient care technology are critical in preparing baccalaureate nursing graduates to deliver quality patient care in a variety of healthcare settings.” From these arguments, one can deduce that a professional nurse must have a broad understanding of technology in order to provide effective care to patients. Additionally, it is also evident that good record keeping as well as information management is enhanced by use of technology. Fortunately, essential four of the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice prepares and introduces a nurse to different uses of technology in healthcare provision. Essential V: Essence of healthcare policy Acquaintance of productive healthcare policies is very essential; healthcare policies play very significant roles in enhancing success in nursing practices. They also provide a platform for discussion of essential matters pertaining quality and safety in the healthcare environment. Essential V learnt from the Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice, provides a nurse with some experience on effective healthcare policies. For instance, it is evident that essential V outlines the importance of the professional nurse having a clear understanding of how patient care are organized, financed as well as how reimbursement is formulated. It is also clear that through these essential nurses learn about the essence of understanding how healthcare issues are recognized as well as how healthcare policies are developed and changed in order to provide effective care to patients. Additionally, it is evident that healthcare policies enhance practice of safety in the nursing environment. Essential VI: Essence of Inter-professional communication Effective communication as well as collaboration is very essential for the well being of the patients. Effective communication brings about teamwork which is a key to nursing practice. Through essential VI, professional nurses gather inter-professional communication skills that enable them carry out different healthcare roles which as a result enhance collaboration among themselves. According to “The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice” (2008, p. 23) one must have an inter-professional education in order to have a good communication skill. Essential VII: Essence of improved population health Nursing profession requires baccalaureate nurse to ensure that he or she has promoted health by employing prevention mechanism against diseases and injuries. It also involves dedication and provision of emergency services to casualty disasters, families and group of people in need of medical services (Johnson & Pintz, 2013). Fortunately, effective study of the essentials of nursing practice provides a nurse with enough experience on how to handle patients ranging from young children to the aged. It achieves this, by expounding on the essence of the nurses participating in improving population health. Essential VIII: Essence of professionalism Portrayal of professionalism is very crucial in nursing practice. It involves applying aspects such as altruism, excellence, and accountability to the patients as well as the community around. It also involves advancement of nursing knowledge continuously. Additionally, it requires one to demonstrate civility. Through essential VIII, nurses learn about the importance portraying professionalism in their daily activities. It makes them to demonstrate civility in all their activities in order to enjoy respect from the public and other personnel. Baccalaureate education enables a nurse to develop professional values as well as value-based behavior. Essential IX: Generalist nursing practice Inoculation all learnt skills in nursing practice in the field is very important (“South University”, 2009). It contributes immensely towards the healing process of patients. Knowledge acquisition to aspects such as wellness, health promotions as well as disease management and care for the dying through this essential element of nursing is also fundamental to nursing practice. Additionally, the general knowledge learnt via this essential enhances a nurse to provide support to diverse diseases. References Johnson, J. & Pintz, C. (2013). Protecting the Public: Ensuring Nursing Education Quality. Retrieved from http://www.naeducation.org/xpedio/groups/naedsite/documents/webpage/naed_086001.p df King, M. & Perry, P. (2009). Course Development: Nursing Informatics. Online Journal of Nursing Informatics (OJNI), 13, (2). Retrieved from http://ojni.org/13_2/Perry_King.pdf South University. (2009). Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program: Nursing Student Handbook. Retrieved from http://www.southuniversity.edu/documents/generic-bsn-student- handbook.pdf The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Practice, (2008). American Association of Colleges Nursing. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education- resources/baccessentials08.pdf Read More