Reflective Journal Entry for Nursing Course

This assignment presents a reflective journal entry from a nursing student. The student analyzes their strengths and weaknesses, focusing on critical thinking, self-management, and communication skills. They also discuss their ability to influence positive health outcomes for patients through culturally sensitive care and advocacy. The journal entry highlights the importance of professionalism and ethical considerations in nursing practice.

Running head: NURSING CAPSTONE
Week 10 Assignment
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NURSING CAPSTONE
Reflective journal for the course
Area Awareness
New practice approaches I have realized that evidence based medicine
encompasses a systematic approach that helps
to solve a clinical problem. For this purpose we
are required to integrate best available research
evidences with our clinical expertise. We
should also give due respect to the preferences
and individual needs of a patient before
implementing any such intervention (Melnyk
et al., 2012). Thus, we should adopt an
approach that focuses on the following:
 asking questions
 searching for latest research
 incorporating clinical experience
 accommodating patient demands
 applying the results
Intraprofessional collaboration The week long courses helped me realize that
the best guideline for nursing is to strengthen
interprofessional collaboration among nurses
due to the fact that such collaborative practice
is essential for promoting best possible health

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outcomes for all our patients (Pfaff et al.,
2014). We should foster an effective
collaboration at our workplace by including a
variety of healthcare professionals to deliver
optimal quality care services to all patients
within and across the healthcare setting.
 For this purpose, I intend to talk to all
professionals to share their
perspectives.
 I also need to be clear about my roles
and responsibilities, in addition to roles
of other multidisciplinary healthcare
workers
 I have also realized the importance of
supporting and assisting each other in
the best interest of the patients
Healthcare delivery and clinical system While undertaking the course I understood that
all patients must receive the benefits of high
quality healthcare system in order to enjoy
optimal health, on an individual basis, or for
the entire population. Thus the primary aim of
all healthcare delivery and clinical system
should be to make amendments in the primary

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care practices for improving the overall
efficiency and quality of patient care (Curran et
al., 2012). I was also able to realize that the
healthcare settings need to adopt strategies that
will help to transform the practices for
enhancing patient satisfaction and reducing
costs. Furthermore, the course also made me
recognize that as clinical staff, we all should
get empowered for providing suggestions and
helping in implementation of effective
changes.
Ethical considerations in health care While dealing with a range of health issues, I
realized that ethical concerns are quite
common in the field of healthcare services.
Certain incidents made it evident that almost
all decisions made while delivering
interventions might have severe ethical
implications. I found that these implications
created direct effects on the patients, healthcare
leaders, patient families and us, the providers.
Some of the most common ethical challenges
that I encountered or came to know about
during the course include the following:

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 Improving access to care
 Addressing issues that are related to
end-of-life decisions (Whitehead et al.,
2015)
 Sustaining the healthcare workforce
 Allocating limited medications
 Organ donation
 Balancing between care efficiency and
quality
Population health concerns The course helped me to gain a deeper
understanding of the various health concerns
that worsen the health of the population. While
working with the patients I realized that the
major public health concerns were related to
overweight and obesity, nutrition and physical
activity, tobacco consumption, substance
abuse, mental illness, HIV/AIDS,
immunization risks, vehicle injuries,
cardiovascular disease and stroke, and alcohol
related harms (Althouse et al., 2014). Thus, I
realize that it is difficult to define population
health due to the unique challenges that exist.
Role of technology in improving health care I observed the senior healthcare professionals

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outcomes utilise a range of IT services, with the aim of
improving patient safety. Working in
collaboration with the healthcare providers
helped me recognize the benefits of healthcare
technology namely,
 Facilitating communication between all
clinicians and clients (Free et al., 2013)
 Reducing rates of medication errors
 Providing improved access to
information
 Increasing patient-centered care
Health policy This course also facilitated gaining a sound
understanding of the healthcare industry that
accounts for more than 1/6th of all expenses of
the nation. I became aware of the existing
healthcare policies such as, the Affordable
Care Act of 2010, also known as Obamacare
that aims to expand health insurance coverage
for more residents of the nation (Blumberg,
Corlette & Lucia, 2014). I also became aware
of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1985 that allowed all
employees to continue use healthcare coverage,

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on losing it otherwise (Patel & Rushefsky,
2014). A sound understanding of these
healthcare policies helped me realize that most
Americans are enrolled in private insurances
through their employers. It also helped me
increase awareness of my patients regarding
the healthcare benefits they were entitled to.
Leadership and economic models The course also acted in a beneficial way in
increasing my understanding of the
transformational leadership model that all
nursing professionals must adhere to, while
caring for their patients. I realized the need to
forming partnerships with physicians and other
professionals in redesigning the healthcare
service that is to be delivered to all patients.
Moreover, I also recognized the fact that nurses
should be accountable for their contributions
and actions.
There is also a need to formulate economic
models of cost saving policies that will help in
improving health outcomes and preventing
adverse health events.
Health disparities I encountered several instances that helped me