Professional Capstone Reflective Journal 2022

Running head: PROFESSIONAL CAPSTONE REFECTIVE JOURNAL
PROFESSIONAL CAPSTONE REFLECTIVE JOURNAL
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

PROFESSIONAL CAPSTONE REFLECTIVE JOURNAL1
Introduction
The aim of this reflective journal is to outline the key reflections and experiences
encountered during the 10 week capstone project underlying ‘the reduction and prevention of
neonatal respiratory diseases in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).’
Discussion
New Practice Approaches
During my experience in conducting evidence-based research concerning the required
pharmacological strategies for neonatal respiratory diseases (NRDs) in the NICU, I gained new
knowledge in terms of practice approaches for treatment. NRDs like pneumonia has been
traditionally treated using antibiotics like amoxicillin and ciprofloxacin. However, recent
research, based on my findings for this project, suggested the prevalence of side effects like
tendonitis and tendon rupture upon ciprofloxacin administration (Masoumi et al., 2019). Based
on my capstone research, I learned novel practice approaches in terms of evidence-based
recommendations of treating NRDs with amoxicillin as a safer pharmacological strategy for
neonates (Pacifici & Marchini, 2017).
Intraprofessional Collaboration
As a part of the literature review which I undertook for my capstone project, I learned
that a number of interventions by the multidisciplinary care team, can be considered for the
purpose of NRD management such as the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) at
the NICU. These include: stringent compliance with infection-control protocols such as hand
washing and disinfection by all healthcare professionals, administration of dietary zinc, chest
physiotherapy and inflammatory medications like Mucosolvan, deliverance of a ventilator

PROFESSIONAL CAPSTONE REFLECTIVE JOURNAL2
bundle and nebulization with Budesonide (Yang et al., 2017; Min & Tan, 2017). Thus, such
evidence-based findings within my capstone project demonstrate personal learning on the
importance of inter and intraprofessional collaboration underlying VAP prevention and
management.
Healthcare Delivery and Clinical Systems
In addition to the above multidisciplinary interventions, a key aspect which I learned
during my capstone project is how nurses can facilitates the deliverance of healthcare and
clinical systems for NRD management at the NICU. Nurses can indeed play a key role in
improve NRD care delivery via timely administration of hydration and oxygen therapy to the
affected neonates as well a comprehensive nursing assessments of respiratory rate, airway
clearance, risk of infection, pain, antibiotic administration and continuous screening for
pulmonary discomfort (Khanali Mojen et al., 2019). Thus, my capstone project played a key role
in teaching me on improving my future nursing practice in terms of healthcare delivery and NRD
management at the NICU.
Ethical Considerations in Health Care
During my capstone project, in addition to caring for neonates, I also learned that parents
encounter considerable stress as a result of neonatal administration at as a result of NICU. Thus,
as a part of my learning for improved future nursing professional practice, a key ethical
consideration which I must consider during nursing management of NRDs at the NICU, is the
implementation of family centered practice in the form of allowing entry of parents at the NICU,
parental involvement during neonatal treatment and collaboratively communicating with parents
of affected neonates (De Bernardo et al., 2017).