...Reflective Essay The aim of this essay is to reflect on an incident, which took place in a hospital setting during the first month of my Foundation Degree Assistant Practitioner course. It will explore the importance of communication amongst the health care professionals and how a good nursing documentation is an integral part of nursing. It will also demonstrate how reflection enabled me to make sense of and learn from this experience, as well as identify any further learning developments needed to improve my practice and achieve the level of competency needed for when I qualify as an assistant practitioner. While discussing the knowledge underpinning practice, evidence based literature will be reviewed to support my discussion and for the purpose of reflection the essay will be written in the first person. Spouse, J, et al (2008). Jonhs, C (2009) defined reflection as learning through our every day experiences, towards realising one’s vision of desirable practice as a lived reality. He also added that it is a critical and a flexible process of self inquiry and transformation of being and becoming the practitioner you desire to be. However, Ghaye, T et al. (2000) stated that for the health care professionals to develop a more reflective posture, they must fully embrace both the principles and the practices of reflection. It is about becoming more aware of how we learn and how this affects what we think, feel and do. There are different models for reflection; some are more...
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...Examples of Reflective Writing Example 1 I arrived on the ward at 7:30 ready to begin a 12-hour shift. After receiving handover, my mentor assigned me the job of bathing Mr B with the help of a healthcare assistant. Mr B has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a progressive disease of the nervous system with rapid deterioration due to spongiform encephalopathy. He is not expected to live to Christmas, even though he is only 19 years old. He is mentally aware of what is going on but is physically unable to demonstrate activities of daily living, including eating and drinking, has limited communication skills and is doubly incontinent. He is unsafe on his feet so mobilises with a wheelchair. I approached Mr B’s bed and asked his consent to take him for a bath. While the bath was running we began helping him to undress. He looked rather nervous. At the thought of myself being in his position, being the same age as him, I began to feel embarrassed too. I thought that I could not possibly be a professional individual if I let my embarrassment and sympathy get in the way of my nursing care. We assisted Mr B into the bath and started his wash. I knew he was uncomfortable and wanted to be able to wash himself, but was unable to do so. I was finding it difficult to look him in the eye, especially when it came to washing his genitalia. I tried to ease this by making conversation, but in a way this made matters worse. After the bath we dried Mr B, dressed him and returned him...
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...Examples of Reflective Writing Example 1 I arrived on the ward at 7:30 ready to begin a 12-hour shift. After receiving handover, my mentor assigned me the job of bathing Mr B with the help of a healthcare assistant. Mr B has Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a progressive disease of the nervous system with rapid deterioration due to spongiform encephalopathy. He is not expected to live to Christmas, even though he is only 19 years old. He is mentally aware of what is going on but is physically unable to demonstrate activities of daily living, including eating and drinking, has limited communication skills and is doubly incontinent. He is unsafe on his feet so mobilises with a wheelchair. I approached Mr B’s bed and asked his consent to take him for a bath. While the bath was running we began helping him to undress. He looked rather nervous. At the thought of myself being in his position, being the same age as him, I began to feel embarrassed too. I thought that I could not possibly be a professional individual if I let my embarrassment and sympathy get in the way of my nursing care. We assisted Mr B into the bath and started his wash. I knew he was uncomfortable and wanted to be able to wash himself, but was unable to do so. I was finding it difficult to look him in the eye, especially when it came to washing his genitalia. I tried to ease this by making conversation, but in a way this made matters worse. After the bath we dried Mr B, dressed him and returned him...
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...F108NMH PERSONAL, ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. COURSEWORK TWO ID: 1376702 WORD COUNT: 1448 This assignment will reflect on an issue that has arisen in my workplace and its impact on me and other colleagues. Using Gibbs (1988) Reflective Cycle I will identify the situation in which the issue arose, the thoughts and feelings it evoked, an evaluation of positive and negative aspects experienced. I will analyse the situation in order to reach a conclusion and to formulate an action plan. To preserve patient and staff confidentiality no one will be named. I believe Gibbs model of reflection to be a framework with which I can address an issue from the workplace as I find it easy to utilise and believe it supports my reflective learning style as a pragmatist. Cottrell (2008). This approach to learning advocates Ryle (1949) where thoughts and feelings impact directly on the way we behave. This way of thinking suits me personally as I trained as a Cognitive Behavioural Counsellor and believe I take a rational and cognitive approach to problems. Neenan and Dryden (2004). Consequently I believe it to be a model or framework with which I can use as I develop as an Assistant Practitioner. The incident I am using for reflection for this essay involves an 87 year old lady that had suffered a pre-tibia laceration and attended the minor injuries department of Accident and Emergency. Following examination by a Nurse Practitioner I was asked to treat the injury...
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...Reflective Essay on Managing Compex Situations Name Course Details Professor’s Name University Affiliation City and State Date Reflective essay on Managing Complex Situations Introduction As a health care assistant working with the district of nurses, I have gone through some of the most complex situations that often leave me with complex decisions. Ideally, some of these situations have greatly impacted on my understanding of various patients who I handle on my day-to-day activities in the health care sector. While working with District Nurses who are involved with visiting patients in various homes in the community, I encountered patients with various psychological and physiological disorders. Prudently, it is worthwhile to note that the patients who we visited had various health problems that ranged from individuals who were housebound and could not travel to seek medical attention. Besides, some of the patients had nursing needs such as leg ulcer dressing, wound dressing, pressure ulcer dressings, and catheter insertion as well as its removal. Description One of the most complex situations that I experienced was trying to take blood from an elderly patient with dementia. Since the patient was at her residential home and had never seen me before, she was not aware of my main purpose for visiting. Moreover, I had no prior knowledge of her state with dementia. At the time of my arrival, the patient was comfortably sitting in her chair while cradling her...
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...Reflective Essay on Managing Compex Situations Name Course Details Professor’s Name University Affiliation City and State Date Reflective essay on Managing Complex Situations Introduction As a health care assistant working with the district of nurses, I have gone through some of the most complex situations that often leave me with complex decisions. Ideally, some of these situations have greatly impacted on my understanding of various patients who I handle on my day-to-day activities in the health care sector. While working with District Nurses who are involved with visiting patients in various homes in the community, I encountered patients with various psychological and physiological disorders. Prudently, it is worthwhile to note that the patients who we visited had various health problems that ranged from individuals who were housebound and could not travel to seek medical attention. Besides, some of the patients had nursing needs such as leg ulcer dressing, wound dressing, pressure ulcer dressings, and catheter insertion as well as its removal. Description One of the most complex situations that I experienced was trying to take blood from an elderly patient with dementia. Since the patient was at her residential home and had never seen me before, she was not aware of my main purpose for visiting. Moreover, I had no prior knowledge of her state with dementia. At the time of my arrival, the patient was comfortably sitting in her chair while cradling her...
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... Therefore, the importance of effective communication in nursing cannot be overstated as miscommunication causes misunderstandings, misdiagnosis and even a lack of trust in the professional. In agreement with this, Walker et al state that interpersonal aspects of care are central to patient’s perceptions of quality of care. (2007:149). In this reflective essay, I will discuss the issues of prejudice and discrimination and how communication can convey both negative and positive attitudes. From my first clinical placement, I have learned how attitudes could have a profound effect on the level of care a client or patient receives. “Positive responses to cultural diversity include acceptance and knowledge, not bias or prejudice. A culture is a system of behaviours people learn from the people they live and grow up with. Each culture may have different lifestyles, religions, customs and behaviours”, (Alvare et al, 2005:129). Gibbs Reflective Cycle (1998) is the framework for my reflection. In accordance with the code of professional conduct (NMC, 2004), confidentiality will be maintained throughout this essay, no trust or staff/patient names shall be used. On my Out of Hospital Placement, I was “spoked out” from my main clinic to observe a Health Visitor involved...
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...A REFLECTIVE COMMENTRY. The document Essence of Care (2010) published by the Department of Health addresses twelve fundamentals, which are important guide lines in providing holistic care for the patient admitted in this ward.. Food and drink is one such area, which is the focus of my service improvement initiative. The change I propose was to introduce different colour lids for the water jugs to indicate fresh water is being provided twice a day in the ward where I was under going my recent placement. This ward caters “step down” patients who are initially admitted to cardiac care unite, thus involvement of multidisciplinary team and interprofessional working is essential. The paper ‘Making a Difference’ Department of Health (1999) suggests that ‘effective care is the product of interprofessional working. Professionals working in collaboration provide care which is designed to meet the needs of the patient’ I shall use a model of reflection in order to describe the proposed change I have suggested. Reid (1993) suggests ‘that reflective practice is potentially is both, a way of learning and a mode of survival and development once formal education ceases’. I have chosen Gibbs model (1988) of reflection as it incorporates the following: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion and an action plan thus Gibbs’ reflective cycle encourages me to think systematically about the phases of an experience and therefore I shall use all the headings to structure...
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...3000 word essay on patient with left sided stroke with one identified health need/problem: Dysphagia Student Name: Dashante` Burgess Green Cohort- Group 1 Module: NIP 1000 Word count: 3,010 A stroke is a life changing disease and sudden attack of weakness to one side of the body resulting from a interruption to the flow of blood going to the brain that can be a minor attack and resolved in a few days or major attack leaving the person with physical disabilities and cognitive deficit (McFerran 2008). Therefore, stroke can affect the quality of life of an individual from the lack of communication, mobility and independence and intern can cause one to become depressed. This essay is concerning the case of Mr. Alfred Smith who was admitted to hospital with muscle and facial weakness with asymmetry and no movement to the left side of his body. He was eventually diagnosed with left-sided stroke resulting in right-sided hemiplegia affecting his balance and mobility. With the many health problems associated with stroke this essay will focus more on the problem of dysphagia and the patient’s needs related to this particular problem. Dysphagia is a condition in which the action of swallowing is either difficult or where the swallowed material seems to be held in its passage (McFerren 2008). The assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation (A.P.I.E) of the patient on admission and discharge will be discussed in further and more precise detail throughout the essay while maintaining...
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...This essay aims to reflect on an incident that took place during my six weeks practice placement on an elderly day care hospital. I chose this incident because it had a big impact on me due to the fact that I was not aware of the serious nature of feeding patients diagnosed with dysphagia as would be demonstrated in the critical incident. The model I have chosen to use is Gibbs (1988) reflective model because it gives a framework which I am able to follow in order to develop my understanding of the situation. Reflection is a process that involves gaining practical knowledge, the ability to get used to new situations, developing self-esteem and satisfaction as well as valuing professional practice (Taylor 2006). For the purpose of confidentiality and to protect the patient’s anonymity I have called her Tee, these measures are in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2008) guidelines regarding consent and confidentiality. I was assigned to help feed Tee during lunch time, Tee had suffered a stroke, resulting in very limited speech, suffered from dysphagia. Dysphagia is a medical term for difficulty with swallowing and is common in patients with neurological disease, dementia and parkinson’s disease (Chang and Roberts 2011). Tee has a pureed diet and thickened fluids. I collected her meal and dessert from the trolley, sat next to Tee then started to feed her. After the first helping I proceeded and gave her a second helping while she still had food...
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...Reflective practice account Based on Gibbs reflective cycle Name Kielley Ann Myers Date 27th July 2012 When asked to do a self reflecting account on identifying a new skill achieved during the module, I could have chosen such accomplishments as VAC (Vacuum Assisted Closure) therapy, Maggot therapy or Nutrition and Dietetics. But I wanted to go back to basics and review and fully expand a skill that I knew of, which is Pressure Ulcers (also called pressure sores or bed sores). A stated by the NHS Choices website “It is estimated that in any given year fewer than half a million people in the UK will develop at least one pressure ulcer. About 1 in 20 people who are admitted to hospital with acute sudden illness will develop a pressure ulcer; this is usually people with underlying health conditions.” I have been a H.C.A (Health Care Assistant) for over 17 years to now, and I have always been aware of pressure ulcers, and how to try to avoid them but never really knew the complete details of What, How or When of them. I have been on many different courses for H.C.A’s through the years, but they have all really skimmed over the subject of pressure ulcers. I now work on a vascular ward of the hospital where many of the patients are bed or wheelchair bound due to lower limb amputations, caused by complication from diabetes mellitus to circulatory problems. So I thought that by widening...
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...DEADLINE: 09:05: 2013 WORD COUNT: 2047 The developed world talks of a demographic time bomb in the 21st century as the proportion of people aged over 65 in the UK rose from 15% to 17% from 1985-2010, an increase of 1.7m people, and is projected to reach 23% by 2035, according to the office of national statistics (ONS 2012). Of most significance for the social care system is the growth in the number of people aged over 85, which doubled from 690,000 in 1985 to 1.4m in 2010 and is set to reach 3.6m, or 5% of the population, by 2035( ONS 2012). This made it necessary for the government to launch the National Service Frame work (NSF) for older people(2001) which contained eight standards relating to older people’s services covering the full range of care older people need. The standards embody fundamental principles ensuring care is based on clinical need, not age, and that services treat older people as individuals, promoting their quality of life, independence, dignity and their right to make choices about their own care. This essay aims to explore how guidelines and policies are implemented in a residential care home in London to promote the well-being of the elderly and also further investigate the specific risk factors concerning the health and well-being of the elderly. Well-being has become an important focus for health and social policy in general, and in relation to older people in particular (Reed et al 2004). Well-being as a phenomenon involves more than happiness...
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...| | | Experiential Analysis A Reflective Structured Essay Introduction A successful organisation is built on the communication that develops between its constituents (Dietz & Den Hartog 2006). Encouraging efficient communication within any organisation can prove a difficult task, especially when faced with the complexity of a diverse workforce. The organisation being considered is a small accounting company (‘The Company’) located in Zimbabwe, South Africa. Due to its ‘multiplicity of traditions and skin tones’ (Brand South Africa 2011), South Africa has been portrayed as a ‘Rainbow Nation’ since the end of the Apartheid era. When diversity is not managed and monitored carefully, differences can lead to highly counter-productive communication dilemmas. Two fundamental aspects of diversity will be discussed: Firstly, cultural differences are common throughout The Company and have proven to be an issue of emotional and economic importance. Five of Hofstede’s (1994) dimensions of culture can be used to explain the reluctance of employees from different countries to effortlessly integrate their personalities and ideas within The Company. Power distance, individualism, uncertainty avoidance, masculinity and long-term orientation will be analysed in terms of their affect on interpersonal communication...
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...Diversity and Culture Catina Pierre Alexander, Ed.D. Walden University My childhood family adapted to the “The Standard North American Family” (SNAF). My family was a traditional African American family whereas they sought each other for the union of marriage. In Louisiana, most families did not practice arranged marriages and kinship marriages. In other words, boy meet girl and vice versa, fall in love and get married. Both parents were present in my childhood home along with my three siblings. My father was not the ultimate “breadwinner” of the family. My mother worked and contributed to the economic resources of our family too. Neither of my parents’ attended a four-year college. My father served four years in the Army and served two of those years in the Vietnam War. My mother earned an Associate’s Degree in Business from Delgado University. My parents held respectable and descent paying jobs. My father is a retired welder of 30 years from the Local Union 60. My mom is a retired customer service representative of 33 years of service from AT&T. They are now retired and enjoying life even more. Christianity is a very important characteristic of my family. We attended church almost every Sunday. I attended Sunday school, participated in the youth choir, and attended vacation bible school (VBS). Family bonds and values are important characteristics of my family too. My cousins and I grew up close as if we were siblings. We attended church services...
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...languages. As a native of Asia, I am familiar with the increasingly important markets of this region, and as such I am thoroughly prepared for the demands and challenges presented by undertaking study in the MBA program at your institution. From a young age, I set goals beyond those of my peers. I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in International Hotel Management, but in recognition of the limitation of programs in this field in my native country, I decided to pursue my undergraduate degree in Europe. The international hotel management course I joined was run by Goodwell University in the UK, and due to the experience of the instructors and the overall sophistication of the program, I received an incredibly valuable learning experience, beyond that which I could have received elsewhere. My undergraduate coursework at Goodwell University focused on management marketing, accounting, and various aspects of tourism. I received broad business-based education while immersing myself in European culture and language on a daily basis. As a result, I am confident in my ability to adapt to your environment and join your MBA program. After graduation from Goodwell University, I returned to my native country, but the limitations of the rapidly growing domestic hotel industry quickly became apparent to me. I therefore sought employment in a...
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