Practicum Journal
Walden University
Nursing 6541,
Primary Care of Adolescents and Children
Week One Nursing Theory, September 3, 2013
The nursing theory that I will use to guide my student clinical practicum is the
...
Practicum Journal
Walden University
Nursing 6541,
Primary Care of Adolescents and Children
Week One Nursing Theory, September 3, 2013
The nursing theory that I will use to guide my student clinical practicum is the Theory of
Caring. This theory is based on the human being is comprised of mind, body, and soul, and the
health of the individual is dependent upon all three aspects (Polit and Beck, 2012). The pediatric
patient has different needs depending upon their developmental stages, but pediatric care also
encompasses the family and the patient’s culture. The Theory of Caring requires that the focus
of the provider remain on the patient, and in the pediatric population this would include their
parent whom the patient is dependent upon for care. Watson explained the theory by explaining
that each patient interaction is an opportunity to consciously create an environment where the
patient feels the provider was caring in their words and actions (Watson, 2012). The
combination of caring with knowledge turns the provider encounter to a caring-healing encounter
(Watson, 2012). The patient’s and parent’s perception that they are being well cared for by a
knowledgeable provider will be the goal of my practice throughout the clinical practicum while
applying the Theory of Caring to patient care.
Utilization of the classroom objectives will serve as my guide for weekly clinical
objectives. Using the objectives that have been predetermined to be essential for the family
nurse practitioner education will allow me to ensure that my goals are comprehensive in using
the scientific process as a basis for critical thinking for practice application while learning
standards of care appropriate to a nurse practitioner (Peterson and Potter, 2004).
Goals and Timeline for Goal Completion
I will utilize advanced assessment skills and critical thinking to evaluate patients for
normal and abnormal findings to formulate differential diagnoses, identify appropriate screening
diagnostics, and formulate treatment plans for disease processes under the guidance of my
preceptor during the clinical practicum.
I will perform targeted physical exam as indicated by the patient’s presenting complaint
and correctly perform those assessments while being observed by the preceptor during the
clinical practicum.
I will learn to assess patients, formulate differential diagnoses, and determine appropriate
treatment plans for viral and bacterial infections in presenting patient conditions and apply
evidence based practice guidelines of antibiotic therapy under the direction of my preceptor
during the clinical practicum.
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