Midsemester Self Review and Analysis

Mid Semester Self Review and Analysis

Course Clinical Objectives
1)Function as a client advocate through collaboration with health care providers.
I felt that I had the opportunity to advocate for the patient when I was able to attend a policy review committee meeting. In this meeting I had the opportunity to verbalize patient concerns specifically, regarding food brought in from the outside to the patient by family and friends. There was an issue regarding where the food would be reheated and who was responsible for patients keeping personal items in their room. Some staff were refusing to heat up the food in either the staff microwave or in the unit kitchen where there was a microwave to heat up patient’s food. The idea is that the kitchen was clean, and food brought from outside of the hospital was dirty, therefore food should not be heated up in the unit’s kitchen. The policy really didn’t address the issue, but several unit managers felt that staff should not reheat patients food on the unit, truly, in effort to discourage them from bringing in outside food. I was able to advocate for the client in reminding the managers that our dietary service does not cater to specialized diets such as vegetarian diet, or various foods specific to certain cultures that we service. After discussing the limited service that we offer to patients when it comes to their diets, the committee, made up of unit managers, decided that there was no know specific research that supported their concerns and would recommend clarifying and expanding that particular policy regarding food kept and served on the unit.
2)Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals,
groups and health care providers.
I felt I achieved this objective when I attended a meeting with the DON and all of the unit managers in the hospital. The meeting was a collaborative effort to request medication carts for all of the hospital units. I had used the equipment that they were requesting at a different hospital and I was able to give my opinion and views, as well as, discuss how that unit adapted to the change after implementing the use of the medication carts. The purpose of bringing all the unit managers together was to give everyone a chance to give input on how to word the request. The had made the request several times before and it was rejected. I had the chance to work with the nurse manager in charge of writing the request on behalf of the nursing department with the blessings of all the unit managers. I had the opportunity to take an active role in writing the request, suggesting key words and ideas. It was a great opportunity and I was glad the my preceptor respected my input.

Personal Objectives
1)Evaluate barriers of time management and select ways to decrease stress
and increase performance.
I had a wonderful preceptor. She was very organized and managed her time well. She was very technologically savvy and it was readily apparent. She had a routine that she tried hard to stick to. She was able to take on various duty with skill because of her time management ability. She was always moving. But the minute she wasn’t she was doing several things at once, following up on emails, returning emails, checking telephone messages, returning calls, scheduling interviews, reading mails, checking her calendar, reviewing discharge paper work, and intending to make discharge follow up phone calls. She even created a census form for all the units to use to make sure that bed control had all the needed information. So from her, I learned how to stay on task, how to prioritize, and the importance of using technology. Constant interruptions is a way of life for any nurse in any position.
2)Analyze person-position fit.
After spending time with the nurse manager, I concluded the position wasn’t for me. It seems to me that you have to be a very organized person and be detailed oriented. I think you also have to have a desire to be in this position, willing to take on the complexities, often with limited support and training preparing you for the position itself.

Review
My main objective was to gain insight into the world of hospital management. I wanted to know what really goes on. Is it comparable to long term care. Is management really management no matter where you go. Working with my preceptor, and gaining an understanding in the complexities of this role, I think an individual must be formally prepared for this position to be really successful. There are skills that are required beyond just good people skills. I think one must really be computer savvy not just computer literate. I think you really must possess good communication skills that flow from the top to the bottom and maintain professionalism at all times, knowing when to be light hearted and knowing when to be serious. You can learn a routine, but a person in this position has to able to use critical thinking skills, as well as, be knowledgeable about evidenced based practice and hospital policy. Overall, I think I have accomplished my objectives.

Discussion of professional growth
I have grown this semester professionally because I have a greater understanding of nursing from several points of views. And I think the turning point for me more than anything, was when I attended the meeting in the DON’s office with all the unit managers. I saw how hard they were fighting on our behalves. How they were trying to sway the ‘powers that be’ to create a better work environment for us. I saw their dedication. I heard their commitment to the staff. It all really came together for me. I was impressed with the support and positive energy that they gave to each other. They worked well together as a team. And they way the worked together, noting all their personality difference, ages and races, it inspired me to be more committed to my unit and want to help. Because I knew they cared, when they asked me what I thought about this or that, I didn’t feel the need to just whine and complain, but objectively identify the problem, discuss the root of the problem, and offer a solution.