NR 393 WEEK 6 COURSE PROJECT PHASE 3: REFLECTION PAPER

NR393 Course Project Phase 3: Reflection Paper Chamberlain University College of Nursing NR393 Nursing History Reflection Paper Discussions with seasoned nurses can not only provide understanding and insi ...

NR393 Course Project Phase 3: Reflection Paper Chamberlain University College of Nursing NR393 Nursing History Reflection Paper Discussions with seasoned nurses can not only provide understanding and insight, but also trigger beneficial information for future nurses. These conversations should consist of a nurse with experience in many different aspects of nursing and be inclined to share their wisdom and experiences with the audience participant. The listener in return should be conscientious and captivated by the expert nurse’s information. I enjoyed my discussion with accomplished nurse, Jett Vincent RN, MSN. The interview gave me insight into what the future may hold for my own career and I learned interesting information that I consider valuable. The interview was productive and engaging, as we both discussed our own opinions of each question asked. In the following reflection paper, I will think back and communicate my thoughts on the information shared from the nurse’s answers, how the conversation reflects on leadership, and also discuss the significance of nursing history on professional practice today as well as in the future. Reflection on Learning from Nurse’s Answers As I reflect on my discussion with Jett Vincent RN, MSN, I think about the answers she gave and the different experiences she talked about. She went to nursing school almost 30 years ago and some things have changed but some have always been the same. It was comforting to hear that she was also very intimidated at the beginning of her nursing career. When I graduated, I remember starting my first job and thinking “I know nothing!” As time went on, I realized I knew much more than I had realized and like my expert nurse states, it all comes down to safety. One intriguing thing I learned from the interview was the way she stated she used to practice wound care. Drying out the wound bed with a heat lamp and leaving open to air is something I had never heard of in the few years of experience in wound care. Makes me understand even more so why evidence-based practices are used and how they influence the future. After my interview and speaking with Jett, I also learned that I would love to follow in her footsteps and become a nurse educator. Thinking about how much she impacted my nursing career and as a student, makes me want to be that sort of inspiration for someone else. Nursing school is exceedingly difficult and compassionate and understanding teachers are needed for today’s world. Jett was always that nurse educator that made students feel confident in their experiences in the classroom, lab or clinicals. Insight Gained from Conversation Regarding Leadership, Provision of Care, and/or Evidence-Based Practice The interview questions answered by Jett indicates that she is a leader and inspires students with her teaching. She has many years of experience and the critical thinking skills to problem solve and instruct others how to as well. She has a positive attitude and wants to help others in spite of how her nursing school experience was with teachers who made school especially hard to get through. She is a committed leader that works hard to continue her own education by getting her doctorate so that she may carry that knowledge into another set of students and impact the future even more. Insight gained from this discussion also included the influence that Florence Nightingale had on Jett as well. Nurses are taught so much information and knowledge in nursing school, it is fascinating that every nurse can remember learning about the history of Florence Nightingale. Jett may not consider herself to be like Florence, but they consume the same leadership skills. Jet states that she believes in the significance of high standards in nursing education to help facilitate safe, competent nurses. Jet, like Florence, teaches about proper infection control techniques to provide safe and effective patient care. She teaches students approaches to prevent an infection to oneself and how to not spread to others. She also maintains the policies for the school related to infection among other things. In my opinion, Jett is one of the many great leaders I have come in contact within my nursing career. Analysis of Impact of Nursing History on Professional Practice Today and in the Future The nursing profession is ever changing and will always keep the mind learning. Todays nurses would not be able to discover and expand their knowledge with nursing history and experiences of the past. Nursing histories give the nurses of the future a strong foundation to flourish from and events to learn from. Florence Nightingale will always be a legendary nurse and educator. She will be discussed in nursing programs for years to come and the leadership skills she possessed continues to be sought for by nurses today. Florence not only influenced mine and Jett’s career, but so many across the country. As infection control seems to be on the forefront of today’s news discussions, the need of cleanliness is necessary to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. We are taught at the very beginning of nursing classes how significant hand hygiene is and ways to prevent the spread of infection. Without the evidence-based practices and nursing history, patients could be at a potential risk from the nurses uneducated on infection control and its relevance. We must educate ourselves on nursing history to understand if certain approaches worked and why or why not. Nursing practices often change due to increased technology and usefulness in the nursing healthcare field. Nurses will continue to adapt and grow from past experiences just the same way Jett talks about learning that wound care evolved from a heating lamp to actual dressings and wound vacs. Conclusion Leadership is everywhere throughout our world. Having a leader that is confident but not intimidating is important for a nursing student or nurse to learn from and trust. A leader must use their own experiences and the current situation to problem solve and facilitate a plan of action. A leader should be accepting of continuing their education as there will always be changes to the medical field, technology, and different patient situations. As a leader we must use nursing history to make educated decisions about our professional nursing careers.