Critical reflection of your growth and development during your practicum experience in a clinical setting has the benefit of helping you to identify opportunities for improvement in your clinical skills, while also recognizing your strengths and successes.
Use this Journal to reflect on your clinical strengths and opportunities for improvement, the progress you made, and what insights you will carry forward into your next practicum.
TO PREPARE
• Refer to the “Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner Competencies” found in the Week 1 Learning Resources and consider the quality measures or indicators advanced nursing practice nurses must possess in your specialty of interest.
• Refer to your Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form you submitted in Week 1 and consider your strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• Refer to your Patient Log in Medi trek and consider the patient activities you have experienced in your practicum experience and reflect on your observations and experiences.
JOURNAL ENTRY (450–500 WORDS)
Learning From Experiences
• Revisit the goals and objectives from your Practicum Experience Plan. Explain the degree to which you achieved each during the practicum experience.
• Reflect on the three (3) most challenging patients you encountered during the practicum experience. What was most challenging about each?
• What did you learn from this experience?
• What resources were available?
• What evidence-based practice did you use for the patients?
• What would you do differently?
• How are you managing patient flow and volume?
• How can you apply your growing skillset to be a social change agent within your community?
Communicating and Feedback
• Reflect on how you might improve your skills and knowledge and communicate those efforts to your Preceptor.
• Answer the questions: How am I doing? What is missing?
• Reflect on the formal and informal feedback you received from your Preceptor.
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Learning From Experiences
During my Practicum Experience, I set goals and objectives to improve my clinical skills and knowledge. I am pleased to report that I achieved all of my objectives, which included conducting patient assessments, developing care plans, collaborating with healthcare providers, and improving my clinical reasoning skills. My Preceptor was instrumental in guiding me and helping me to achieve these goals.
The three most challenging patients I encountered during my Practicum Experience were those with complex medical histories, mental health issues, and social determinants of health. It was challenging to assess and manage their conditions because of their unique health circumstances. Additionally, the patients had different health beliefs and expectations, which made it difficult to provide optimal care.
I learned from this experience that it is essential to consider patients’ social determinants of health and their individual circumstances to provide comprehensive and patient-centered care. Additionally, it is important to be flexible in one’s approach to care and to communicate effectively with patients to understand their health beliefs and expectations.
There were several resources available to me during my Practicum Experience, including electronic health records, clinical guidelines, and evidence-based research articles. These resources helped me to develop comprehensive care plans for my patients and make informed decisions about their health.
Regarding evidence-based practice, I used a combination of clinical guidelines, research articles, and my clinical judgment to develop care plans and manage patients’ conditions effectively. I also collaborated with my Preceptor and other healthcare providers to ensure that my care plans aligned with the latest evidence-based practices.
If I were to do things differently, I would focus on improving my communication skills with patients to build better relationships and establish trust. I would also like to improve my time management skills to better manage patient flow and volume.
Managing patient flow and volume is crucial in ensuring that patients receive timely and effective care. During my Practicum Experience, I learned how to manage my time effectively by prioritizing patient care based on their needs and urgency.
Applying my growing skillset to be a social change agent within my community would involve collaborating with other healthcare providers, engaging in health promotion activities, and advocating for policies that promote health equity and social justice. As a Population-Focused Nurse Practitioner, I have a responsibility to address health disparities and work towards improving health outcomes for all members of my community.
Communicating and Feedback
To improve my skills and knowledge, I plan to seek feedback regularly from my Preceptor and other healthcare providers. Additionally, I will engage in ongoing professional development activities, such as attending conferences, reading research articles, and participating in online courses.
To answer the question, “How am I doing? What is missing?” I would say that I am doing well, but there is always room for improvement. I would like to improve my communication skills and time management skills to better manage patient care.
During my Practicum Experience, I received both formal and informal feedback from my Preceptor, which was invaluable in helping me to improve my clinical skills and knowledge. My Preceptor provided feedback on my patient assessments, care plans, and communication skills, which helped me to develop more comprehensive care plans and improve my communication skills with patients. Additionally, I received informal feedback from other healthcare providers, which helped me to gain insights into different approaches to care and develop a more patient-centered approach.
In conclusion, my Practicum Experience was a valuable learning opportunity that helped me to develop my clinical skills and knowledge. I am grateful for the guidance and support provided by my Preceptor and other healthcare providers. Moving forward, I plan to continue to seek feedback regularly, engage in ongoing professional development activities, and apply my growing skillset to be a social change agent within my community.
