Module Reflections. Reading this module has enabled me to grow more into being a professional nurse

Module Reflections

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Institution

MODULE REFLECTIONS

Reading this module has enabled me to grow more into being a professional nurse. It has imparted skills in me that will enable me to practice from a professional point of view. I have appreciated the basis of theory in nursing and its contribution to the development of the profession. After reading the module, I am confident when applying nursing theory in the aspect of the profession, such as teaching in the clinical area, research and, as well, patient care. One other aspect I have found very interesting is learning out the tenets of evidence-based practice. This is a very vital area of modern nursing. Learning about this has given me the required confidence in the clinical area. Learning about the professional basis of practice has been very helpful for me. I am now able to confidently stand before a group of nurses and address them professionally, and present myself with the professional principles required in order to set a role model. This wouldn’t have been possible without the concepts of professional practice that I have learned in this module.

Professional ethics is a very vital aspect of the profession. I connect to the recommendations made by Marrs and Lowry (2006) concerning integration of good personal values to patient’s care. They advise empathizing with the patient instead of only sympathizing with them. I have been able to advance in this area of practice through my interactions with this module. Additionally, I have appreciated the principles of holistic care giving. This has set my basis for me to initiate research in the area of holistic care giving, which has been a very passionate area for me. I am also purposing to apply these skills on holistic care to the clinical area, so that I can better the care I give to patients in the clinical area. Lastly, research is very necessary for nursing. This module, especially the seminars, has enabled me to develop my research skills to a very advanced level.

The combination of knowledge from the recommended articles and the seminars in the module is coming out very well in shaping one to a model of professionalism in the practice of nursing. I have enjoyed reading the modules so much, this has aroused me into reading them frequently and has enabled me make good progress. I am almost through with them all, and I plan to review all of them again before the deadline. They have helped me to find my place in nursing, and I believe by the time I review them for the second time I will emerge a very professional nurse.

Reference

Marrs, J., & Lowry, L. W. (2006). Nursing theory and practice: connecting the dots. Nursing Science Quarterly, 19(1), 44-50.

REFLECTION TO POST 1: THE CONCEPTS: STRESS/BURN OUT By B.P.

Dear B.P,

Good post there concerning a concept and its relevance to the practice of nursing, and nursing research. I interacted with this word when I was doing my first research article, and I was required to explain the conceptual framework. At first I was at ease but the explanations given by Chinn and Kramer (2011) helped me a lot in getting the gist concerning conceptual framework in nursing research. I concur with your observation, based on your analysis of these two studies, that the concept should be well selected, and its relevance to nursing research be outlined. In the future, our nursing profession will gain the place it deserves in the society, courtesy of professional interpretation and application of concepts.

Concerning your discussion on stress and burnout as brought out by your two selected authors, let me first point out that you have brought it out very well, and I agree you have interacted thoroughly with the modules. Concerning the article by Ifagwazi (2006), I will admit here that we share opinion concerning this article. Her research is very systematic towards application of conceptual frameworks. I particularly liked it because I work in a hospice, and psychological burnout is a common phenomenon among workers in such a setting. Severally, I have witnessed verbalizations of my colleagues concerning psychological burnout. In addition, the way in which Ifeagwazi (2006) links concepts to hypothesis is impressive.

Further, I share your sentiments concerning the organization and the focus of Ifeagwazi’s work. It is paramount that research in nursing adds value to the already existing literature. It should also contribute to bettering the tenets of professional, and ethical practice. After reading Ifeagwazi’s article, I recommended it to my colleagues at the workplace because I felt her study was very relevant to the setting I work. In my future research work, I purpose to dedicate some study to stress and burnout among staff. I feel am learning a lot through these interactions, which I need to share with the generations to come.

References

Chinn, P. A. & Kramer, M. K. (2011). Integrated theory and knowledge development in nursing (8th ed). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

Ifeagwazi, C. M. (2006). The influence of marital status on self-report of symptoms of psychological burnout among nurses. Omega, 54(4), 359-373.

REFLECTION TO SECOND POST: CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF QUALITY OF LIFE:

Dear J.D

I have loved your article about quality of life so much. This is particularly on the aspect of the connection between the quality of life and health. I agree that the two are related, and one contributes to the other. I was concerned with this article particularly because I work in a hospice care setting, where the two concepts apply very well. In my place of work, I deal with chronically ill patient. Improving the quality of life for these clients means a lot to them. In essence, the whole concept of care in my setting involves giving priority to health with the aim to improving the patient’s quality of life. I have enjoyed reading your reflection on Plummer and Mohlzahn (2009) on their article that is based on quality of life. You argue that quality nursing care, which focuses on the whole person, contributes to improving a person’s quality of life, through enabling them to live a healthy life. You also point out that the quality nursing care should focus on the individual as a whole, and not the condition of the individual. I would like to introduce the term holistic to explain my understanding of this concept of care.

In “Holistic nursing: A handbook of practice”, Montgomery and Keegan (2008) write that the nurse must focus on the client as a complex system of units, and not just focusing on the condition or the illness of the client. Some of our colleagues in the practice of nursing have left the principles of care, because they are not practicing holistic care. I am a witness that; only the practice of nursing that is holistic will improve a client’s quality of life, thus contributing fully to their healthy living. While approaching nursing, it is important to approach it with a view to improving a patient’s condition of living, rather than focusing on treating the illness alone.

References

Montgomery, B. D., & Keegan, L. (2008). Holistic nursing: A handbook for practice (2nd ed). Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Plummer, M and Molzahn, A (2009) Quality of life in contemporary nursing theory: a concept analysis. Nursing Science Quarterly Vol 22

REFLECTION TO POST THREE: KNOWLEDGE AD CLINICAL PRACTICE

Dear K.B.

I loved your article so much that I had to review it again and again. I am an advocate of knowledge in nursing. I hold the same belief you are expressing here thorough the articles you are discussing. We cannot practice nursing without knowledge, and we cannot practice without adding to what we know. The basis of the profession is the body of knowledge for that profession. Nursing should be taken to the place it belongs I society. For it to get there, nurses must develop a culture of adding value to their practice through research. I particularly identify with the views of Doering (1992), which nursing has to gain power through developing a very comprehensive body of knowledge that distinguishes it from other professions. Even though we have made some steps towards this realization, we have not yet achieved the ultimate goal. Desiring knowledge by a good number of nurses will help us to get there.

I also found interesting the part about bridging knowledge to clinical practice. This is another area of practice where nurses make a mistake. As you have observed, I agree that the propositions of Guiliano (2003) must be so much put into consideration in the practice of nursing. He proposes the integration of the measurements that will better nurse care. I find it that nurses have made a mistake in that; there are those nurses who have so much specialized in studying, while others have so much specialized I clinical practice. I feel that there is need for be a balance so that the nursing professionals can practice in the clinical area, and get a chance to utilize their knowledge on patient care. Similarly, the practicing nurses need to spend some time with books and research, so that they can better their practice of evidence-based nursing.

References

Doering, L. (1992). Power and knowledge in nursing: A feminist’s poststructuralist view. Advances in Nursing Science, 14(4).

Guiliano, K. K. (2003). Expanding the use of empiricism in nursing: can we bridge the gap between knowledge and clinical practice? Nursing Philosophy, 4(1), 44-52.

REFLECTION ON FOURTH POST: PATIENT-CENTERED CARE.

Dear D.H,

I have loved your article so much because it touches on the very foundation of nursing care. Nursing cannot achieve its objective about care if the patient will not be allowed to judge and decide the care they want. Your observations, even according to the two articles agree with the propositions of Stewart (2001), that the patient should be given all the space and freedom to guide their care. Also, I identify with your observation that patient-centered care ought to be multidisciplinary. The members of the multidisciplinary care team need to direct their focus to the progress of the patient. Your observation concerning the article by Hasse (2013) reflects what the module on theories and concepts has been emphasizing, that we must empower the patient in order to produce good results. According to Steward (1992), patient-centeredness has been challenged by many aspects like hospital-centeredness, where the institution focuses on making money from the patients. In other settings, the management has focused on staff, and they have not invested in measuring outcomes from the patient’s perspective. Some have been distracted by the need to employ technology. Sometimes the application of technology limits patient centered care. Even though there is the need to incorporate technology to clinical practice, it should be emphasized that patient-provider contact should be a priority.

References

Hasse, G. L. (2013). Patient-Centered Care in Adult Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 20(3), 163-165. 

Stewart, M. (1992). Towards a global definition of patient-centered care. British Medical Journal, 322(7284), 444-445.

REFLECTION TO POST FIVE: END OF LIFE DECISIN MAKING.

Dear S. P

Thank you for this article. I love the way you articulate issues here. I particularly love it because it is directly touching my current field of practice. In hospice care, we deal so much with end of life care. The issue of decision-making is key in end of life-care, just as you have mentioned. Your articulation of the role of nurses in supporting the patients at this particular time comes out very well. This appears one of the hardest aspects of nursing practice. The nurse has to support the dying patient, the family and the self. Since we are human, we are also affected by a patient’s death when it occurs. Many people, however, and the profession as well expect that the nurse takes the role of a supporter. Since it is part of nursing care, we have to effect it with the precaution that it requires. According to Thacker (2008), nurses stand at the best position to support patients and families during the end of life care.

I would want to add two things that concern end of life care, and in regard to your post. Firstly, your observation concerning the limitation of the role of the nurse in the setting is very vital. Even though both Thacker (2008) and Thelen (2008) agree that nurses are at the best position to support patients at the end of life care, they also express sentiments that the nurse’s role is limited by the fact that decisions are made by the physician. This is an area I feel needs to be reviewed in order to support patients fully at the end of life care. Secondly, culture needs to be considered in end of life care. Phillip and Charles (2003) argue that cultural differences dominate the aspect of decision-making at the end of life. Some cultures empower the patient to make a decision. Other cultures will demand that a decision be made by the family. Still, others trust the physician with decision-making. Culture thus, is a very important component of end-of-life care.

References

Phillip, L. D., & Charles, L. S. (2003). Cultural differences at the end of life. Critical Care Medicine, 31(5), 354-357.

Thacker, S. K. (2008). Nurses’ advocacy in end-of-life nursing care. Nursing Ethics, 15(4), 174-185.

Thelen, M. (2005). End-of-life decision making in intensive care. Critical Care Nurse, 25(6), 28-37.