NARRATIVE SELF-REFLECTION
ADEDARA ZACCHEAUS, RN
INTRODUCTION:
I believe that life is a learning experience and being able to recognize our own strengths and weaknesses can help us become better individuals in anything we choose to do. I was assigned to Brownsville community district 16 with zip codes of 11212 and 11233 with population of 86,377 mostly blacks or African-American with poor health outcomes and where residents live in abject poverty. My clinical site is located at East Brooklyn community high school, where health disparities begins.
At the beginning of the course, we were given nine objectives in order to make us reach our goals in this course:-
Objective 1: Demonstrate individual professionalism through personal behaviors and appearance.
The clinical time is every Tuesday at 12:30 pm to 4:30 pm. First, we meet for pre-conference with our instructor for attendance and discussion about the objectives of the day. No lateness through the course and confidentiality is maintained throughout the clinical course. Assignments were submitted at the due dates. We dress professionally with clean dress, neat hair and clean shoes and well-groomed look evidencing that we care about ourselves as a person and therefore we have the capacity to care about others. At exactly 4:00 pm, we all assembled for post-conference to discuss about the experiences of the day.
Objective 2: Employ analytical reasoning and critical thinking skills when providing care to individuals and families in the community setting.
During the clinical time, we use critical thinking to analyze data collected from patients for priorities setting, planning and nursing interventions. Critical thinking that includes questioning, interpretation of data and utilize the principles of personal safety goals when working in the community. We provided quality healthcare to patients and family members and avoids adverse events and patient harm. We provided safe high quality care and ability to reason along with cultural, religion and spiritual influences on the patient health status.
Objective 3: Effectively communicate with diverse groups and disciplines using a variety of strategies regarding the health needs of individual and families in the community setting.
We use good communication during the clinical clearly and effectively to avoid error. Therapeutic communication skills were utilized with patients and family members. Data collected from patients were well documented using clearly and effectively communication with our instructor. We avoid ineffective communication throughout the clinical periods because ineffective communication among the health professionals lead to medical errors and patient harm.
Objective 4: Establish environment conducive to learning and use a plan for learners based on evidence-based practice.
We created work environment conducive to patient safety whereby the patient and families have positive health care outcomes. In nursing, the evidence -based practice where problem solving approach is being used in making decision about patient care.
Objective 5: Utilize informational technology when managing individual and families in the community.
In our clinical area, access to patient computer information is not allowed. Although, During the workshops on Vital Signs Assessment, My Reproductive Life Plan and Plan B, we gave patients some information on websites such as CDC and Healthypeople.gov to check for information that related to their health status. The health informatics is used to store and retrieving using by healthcare to foster better collaboration among patients and healthcare providers.
Objective 6: Demonstrate a commitment to professional development
This course is an eye opener. The course open my eyes to see and learn how some communities are suffering in abject poverty and their health are determined by their zip code. It helps me to know why life expectancy in Brownsville is 11 years shorter than those people living in financial district. This course taught me to gather and to do review on Research Articles . I learned how to get important resources from different places as a community nurse. I believe these are professional development I committed to be as a community nurse.
Objective 7: Incorporate professional nursing standards and accountability into practice.
The American Nurses Association standard of professional performance describes a competent level of behavior which including activities of care, performance appraisal, ethics, collaboration, research and resources utilization. We compliant with standard of practice where patients receiving high quality care.
Objective 8: Collaborate with clients, significant support persons and members of the health care team.
The health care team comprises the nurses, physicians, social workers, Physical therapist, we collaborate to work together and to share goals that reflect patient and family priorities and be cleared, understood and supported by all our team members.
Objective 9: Recognize the impact of economic, political, social and demographic forces that affecting delivery of health care services.
It is the duty of Nurses to advocate for our patients and to manage their health care cases. Although, economy and political shapes the complex interactions among employment, health coverage and costs. We recognize the health disparities between communities and is our duty as a community nurses to identify solution to health care disparities in Brownsville community.
Conclusion:
Health is wealth, this course put me on the right track to be a community nurse. Many people are suffering silently due to lack of knowledge in the community. I observed that people of color with poor health outcomes tend to live in poverty and thereby limits healthy lifestyle choices. Nurses should come out and advocate for these less privileged people in our community.
