Lorraine Parris-Bouzy
11/21/2012
Community Lecture/ Clinical Objectives Statement Clinical Site: PS 184
I felt that I have demonstrated individual professionalism through personal behaviors and appearance. I have done so by maintaining client confidentiality being that my clinical work was done under the supervision of the clinical instructors assigned to me and under the PS 184 building, I have thereby kept the name of the child and the other children I have been associating with in the Amachi program anonymous from others who are not involved in the program. I have assumed responsibility for my own work by completing all assignments by my own thoughts and my own hand in writing. I have been prepared for clinical learning by attending the classes required and studying the material from the textbooks required and extra outside the clinical setting that pertains to the community assignments required for further learning. I have completed most of the assignments within the designated time frames, by way of leaving my personal life trials behind and by trying to stay focused at the task before me, doing so for the betterment of my community and the kids I must be an example for in the clinical setting that’s been a great privilege for me to experience. I have sought guidance when necessary. I participate actively in clinical conferences by speaking up regarding my experiences and asking for appropriate actions that should take place within the clinical setting. I have attended clinical in accordance with school policy. I have dressed professionally by wearing the appropriate attire which is black pants, white shirt, and closed-toe shoes.
I have been able to employ analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills when providing care to individuals and families in the community setting. This was done by using client interviewing such as a Functional Assessment to collect information about the life-experiences of my mentee in the Amachi program. I have been able to assess the impact of the developmental, emotional, and cultural influences on the client’s health status, for instance, when I assess and evaluate my mentee’s eating, educational, and hygiene patterns. This also gives me information regarding my mentee’s self-care needs. A general physical assessment is made by collecting objective and subjective data. The care is prioritized by analyzing the data I have collected, for example, I have given my mentee learning tools such as a dictionary and times-table chart to help her to organize and focus on her learning skills. I have applied setting my priorities in planning my nursing interventions in order to reach her efficiently for her academic encouragement. Safety and time management is always a priority when implementing nursing interventions that will impact others and this was done by remaining in the boundaries of my nursing practice. It was not required or appropriate for me, at this time, to administer any medications or treatments. I evaluate the outcomes of my nursing care always by asking my mentee how she is doing and how she perceives me as doing in terms of the mentorship experience, whereby, I am able to reflect on my practice. I always think about utilizing principles of my personal safety and others around me working in the community setting.
I effectively communicate with diverse groups and disciplines using a variety of strategies regarding the health needs of individuals and families in the community setting. I am able to utilize therapeutic communication skills with the individuals such as my mentee and the other mentees in my clinical group by actively listening and respecting them when they are around. Unfortunately, the mentee’s families were not available because of their own reluctances. I was able to utilize appropriate channels of communication by communicating clearly and effectively with my instructor, peers and the health care team. I was able to communicate significant data to the instructor and the health care team, clearly, about what I have been observing in the classroom of my mentee. I was able to adapt the communication skills to the developmental needs of my mentee by encouraging my mentee to be empowered to speak up for herself. I have reported and documented assessments and nursing interventions accurately by way of teaching method to my mentee and her classmates.
I have been able to establish environment conducive to learning and use a plan for learners based on evidence-based practice. This was done by developing and implementing a teaching plan for (in this case) a child only (family not available). I have done this, with the collaboration of my colleague in the health care team, by developing a teaching plan for my mentee and her classmates on HIV education appropriate for her academic grade level, proper hygiene practices, diet, and attitude. We would conduct these teaching plans that were conducted in their gym class or in the main classroom. This was done by discussion (questions and answers), student research, or by poster presentation. We evaluated their learning outcomes by asking them questions after the class, at lunch time, to evaluate the outcomes of our teaching and by observing their behaviors and reinforcing the teaching.
Utilizing informational technology when managing individual and families in the community was limited because of the public school setting we served. There was no computerized documentation applicable to this clinical setting.
I demonstrated a commitment to professional development in the community setting. I was able to accomplish this by using appropriate current literature in planning care for client/mentee in the community setting by using materials that were age appropriate for my client. I assumed responsibility for my own lifelong learning and engaged in self-evaluation in order to maintain appropriateness and a caring attitude. I was also committed to adjusting to the challenges of independent practice in community health nursing by purchasing my own materials and using my creativity to promote positive change and encourage healthy behaviors of my client.
I have been able to incorporate professional nursing standards and accountability into practice by utilizing the American Nurses Association Standards in clinical practice by utilizing the nursing process my decision making and complying with agency standards of practice that we must adhere to. I am accountable for my own actions in the clinical area and am aware of the assigned agency ‘s mission which is to provide at-risk children with a different path by establishing the consistent presence of loving, caring people of faith.
I have been able to collaborate with clients, significant support persons, and members of the health care team while in the clinical setting. I have been able to collaborate effectively with health care team to address my client/mentee’s problems such as academically and emotionally with my client’s teachers and mentor leadership instructors. I have been also able to help coordinate client-care based on client needs and therapeutic interventions in collaboration with the teachers. I identified health care resources for the client such as the amachi program and the school’s in-house mentorship program. I was able to provide my client with guidance in making appropriate healthy lifestyle and choices when it comes to hygiene, diet, infection control or prevention (using tissues and hand sanitizers), and promoting a healthy self-esteem. I was not able to assist my client in making connections to other community agencies at this time due to her young age of 10 and her developmental stage.
I recognized the impact of economic, political, social and demographic forces that affect the delivery of health care services. I recognized the gaps in the care system being that my client was from a family of an incarcerated parent and of a low income status, my client/mentee, therefore, does not have the appropriate family support needed to facilitate a healthy life environment. I have begun to identify solutions to complex problems in the clinical area by understanding by providing education and emotional support in a collaborative way can provide healthy promotion to the vulnerable kids of the same situation. I am still actively acting as a change agent in advocating to appropriate health care resources for my clients and their families.
In summary, my clinical experience was a rewarding one. I found that I accomplished all or most of my clinical objectives by using the nursing process, adhering to ANA Nursing Standards, using self-reflection, and utilizing and evaluating the nursing interventions and outcomes of my personal clinical practice in the Amachi mentoring program for my client or mentee. I feel that it is a good way to promote the health of my client and my community. It is a way I may also enhance my life-learning process as well.
