Meeting the Learning Outcomes in Healthcare: Reflections and Critical Thinking

Running head: MEETING THE LEARNING OUTCOMES
MEETING THE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Name of the student:
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MEETING THE LEARNING OUTCOMES
Within the healthcare system, reflections are considered to be one of the most important
method for reviewing, analyzing as well as evaluation experiences mainly by the procedure of
drawing upon the different theoretical concept of the previous learning to develop the future
actions (Hoeve et al. 2014). Researchers are of the opinion that continual critical thinking as well
as reflection has the ability of closing the gap between the theory as well as practices, which in
turn help in the improvement of the quality of care of the patients, and thereby participating in
stimulating personal swell as professional development (Van Bogaert et al., 2014). This
assignment will mainly reflect on the different learning modules of the semester that I have gone
through. Thereby, I can develop an understanding how well I have performed in the different
discussions and activities of the modules. It will effectively help me to become self-aware and
successfully judge my performance in the sessions to develop the ability of continuous
professional development that the RN standards of practice have already stated.
Before the initiation of the semester, I was not aware that in order to become a nursing
professional, an individual has to go through several theoretical as well as practical sessions to
develop knowledge. I was not aware that a nursing professional has to go through learning of so
many theories for effective application of intervention and to ensure patient health and safety and
higher patient satisfaction. In the beginning months of the semester, I used to believe that I have
to develop huge clinical knowledge and expertise so that I can provide high quality and safe care.
However, with the passing of the days, I realized that often nurses have to face different barriers
in their approach. Therefore, only learning scientific knowledge and modern advancements in
nursing can never help in providing effective care to the patients (Bramley et al., 2014). A
number of attributes that are also important are critical thinking skills, decision making skills,
proper judgmental skills, time management, effective communication, development of proper

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MEETING THE LEARNING OUTCOMES
values and ethics and many others. Therefore, I learnt the fact that being scientifically updated
and knowing all the modern evidences of providing the best scientific and clinical expertise is
sumptuous for providing high quality care. At the same time, the professionals should also apply
values, principles, and ethics and try to learn from their experiences (Chang et al., 2015).
Learning from the different types of experiences is also another way by which individuals can
learn new insights and thereby enhance their theoretical knowledge effectively. Often in many
cases, a number of barriers can arise when the individuals are trying to make clinical decisions.
These may be lack of knowledge and skills, lack of confidence in critical appraisal skills, lack of
educational preparation, negatives beliefs, attitudes and values, lack of time, heavy patient
workloads, limited resources, inadequate staffing and many others (Moss et al. 2016). Improper
decision-making may result in severe harm to patient health or breaches in ethical and legal
requirements. These learning outcomes are mainly helpful, as it would now help me to learn
different ways by which I can overcome such behaviors and take part in effective decision-
making. This semester taught me different curative as well as assessment based learning theories
that acted as guidelines and helped me to understand how I can appropriately apply proper
theories ensuring proper diagnosis, and development of care plans. I also learn about the
effective methods of reflection and the ways reflection helps in development of good quality
practice and skills in healthcare. I never knew that learning nursing is so systematic and such
systematic approach developed the urge to know more in me.
In the initial days, I was mainly fidgety in my approach. I used to place more focus on the
clinical expertise skills and therefore always used to collect evidences that would ensure the
more up to date treatment procedure or medication to the patient (Flinkfan et al. 2015). However,
with the gradual passing of days, I realized the importance of values and principles in nursing