To 1250 Words Students Maintained And Submitted Weekly ✓ Solved

1000 To 1250 Wordsstudents Maintained And Submitted Weekly

Students maintained and submitted weekly reflective narratives throughout the course to explore the personal knowledge and skills gained throughout this course. This assignment combines those entries into one course-long reflective journal that integrates leadership and inquiry into current practice as it applies to the Professional Capstone and Practicum course. This final submission should also outline what students have discovered about their professional practice, personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced during the process, additional resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given situation to influence optimal outcomes, and, finally, how the student met the competencies aligned to this course.

The final journal should address a variable combination of the following, while incorporating your specific clinical practice experiences: New practice approaches, Interprofessional collaboration, Health care delivery and clinical systems, Ethical considerations in health care, Practices of culturally sensitive care, Ensuring the integrity of human dignity in the care of all patients, Population health concerns, The role of technology in improving health care outcomes, Health policy, Leadership and economic models, Health disparities.

While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

Paper For Above Instructions

The healthcare field is continuously evolving, and as a nursing student, my weekly reflective narratives allowed me to explore and understand personal knowledge and skills that are essential in providing quality healthcare. This reflective journal encompasses my experiences throughout the Professional Capstone and Practicum course, with a focus on falls in hospital settings, a common and significant issue affecting patient safety and quality of care. Through this journal, I will integrate leadership and inquiry into my clinical practice while addressing various aspects relevant to this topic.

Understanding Falls in Hospital Settings

Falls in hospitals have been a frequent concern for healthcare providers due to their detrimental effects on patient safety and recovery. According to a study by Krauss et al. (2018), falls can lead to serious injuries, prolonged hospital stays, and increased healthcare costs. During my clinical practice, I became acutely aware of the different factors leading to patient falls, such as environmental hazards, patient reluctance to ask for help, and the effects of medication on balance. By observing and documenting these incidents, I was able to develop new practice approaches that promote a safer hospital environment.

Clinical Practice Experiences and New Approaches

In my clinical rotation, I participated in an initiative aimed at reducing falls by employing multifaceted strategies, including regular patient assessments, comprehensive staff training, and the introduction of safety protocols that were consistently evaluated. Understanding the significance of interprofessional collaboration was crucial, as effective communication among the care team members enhanced our ability to identify at-risk patients promptly. For instance, during interdisciplinary meetings, we discussed individual patient cases, which allowed us to formulate appropriate interventions based on collective expertise (Barker et al., 2020).

Personal Strengths and Weaknesses

Throughout this process, I discovered my strengths as a proactive team member and leader dedicated to improving patient safety. I actively volunteered for patient safety rounds, reminding patients of their risk factors and informing them about preventive measures. However, I also recognized weaknesses, including my tendency to take on too much responsibility, which sometimes hindered effective collaboration. I realized that, as much as I aimed to lead, it was equally important to foster an environment where every team member felt empowered to contribute their insights (Price et al., 2019).

Addressing Ethical Considerations

One primary ethical consideration in dealing with falls is ensuring the dignity of all patients. I encountered various patients with differing levels of cognitive ability; some were aware of their vulnerability, while others were not. Thus, it became crucial to engage patients in discussions about their care, highlighting the importance of remaining safe while allowing them to make choices about their mobility. This experience taught me that ethical dilemmas often arise in healthcare, necessitating a balance between patient autonomy and safety (Beauchamp & Childress, 2019).

Culturally Sensitive Care

Cultural competence also played a vital role in addressing falls among diverse patient populations. By adopting culturally sensitive care practices, I was able to understand better the various beliefs regarding mobility and independence. For instance, in some cultures, patients may be reluctant to seek help, considering it a sign of weakness. Recognizing these differences allowed me to tailor conversations and interventions according to individual needs, promoting a greater sense of safety and collaboration (Bhopal, 2018).

The Role of Technology

During my practicum, I observed the role of technology in enhancing patient outcomes, particularly in monitoring patients who are at high risk for falls. Utilizing bed alarms, mobility equipment, and electronic health records, our team was able to track fall incidents and promptly respond to patients' needs while maintaining comprehensive documentation. With the help of technology, we could analyze patterns and improve fall prevention strategies (Huang et al., 2021).

Health Policy and Leadership Models

Health policies play a vital role in shaping the way falls in hospitals are addressed. Familiarizing myself with local policies has strengthened my ability to advocate for necessary changes, such as requiring safety assessments during patient admissions. I also studied various leadership theories, which taught me the importance of transformational leadership in motivating team members to adhere to safety protocols and achieve shared goals (Northouse, 2021).

Addressing Health Disparities

Another vital discovery in my learning journey was understanding how health disparities can affect patient safety outcomes. Patients from marginalized communities may face barriers to accessing proper care or resources to prevent falls. By advocating for equitable healthcare practices, I believe that we can improve outcomes and mitigate risks among vulnerable populations (Williams & Mohammed, 2009).

Conclusion

In conclusion, my weekly reflective narratives throughout this course have been instrumental in exploring the complexities of falls in hospital settings. They have allowed me to uncover personal strengths and weaknesses, develop new clinical approaches, and align my practices with competencies expected in the nursing profession. The experiences documented in this reflective journal emphasize the importance of leadership, collaboration, and ethical considerations in providing quality healthcare while addressing the issue of falls in hospitals.

References

• Barker, G., McRae, S., & Wright, A. (2020). Interprofessional collaboration in healthcare: An integrative review. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 34(3), 381-391.
• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2019). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Bhopal, R. (2018). Ethnic differences in health: Implications for research and policy. Oxford University Press.
• Huang, H., Wang, X., & Chen, W. (2021). Technology-enhanced patient safety: An integrative literature review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(4), 1916.
• Krauss, M. J., Wakim, A., & Lewis, K. R. (2018). Preventing falls in hospitalized patients: A systematic review. Nursing Clinics of North America, 53(4), 577-597.
• Northouse, P. G. (2021). Leadership: Theory and practice (8th ed.). SAGE Publications.
• Price, G., Gallo, L. C., & Vance, R. (2019). Building a culture of safety: The role of leadership in a patient safety journey. Health Services Research, 54(4), 824-830.
• Williams, D. R., & Mohammed, S. A. (2009). Discrimination and racial disparities in health: Evidence and needed research. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 32(1), 20-47.
• Yuan, Y., Lu, Y., & Zhang, M. (2020). Factors influencing falls in hospitalized patients: A systematic review. Journal of Nurs Practice, 6(2), 134-144.
• Zhan, L., & Elixhauser, A. (2021). Trends in hospital falls and associated injuries among adults in the United States. Health Affairs, 40(5), 804-811.