NR 351 Week 8 AACN BSN Essentials and Your Future Practice (Graded)

Sample Answer

Each essential is important but I have a special interest in effective communication. I selected Essential IV Interpersonal Communication and Collaboration for improving Patient Health Outcomes because I know how important it is to have strong communication skills in the nursing profession. I have struggled with poor communication in many aspects of my career and moving forward, I want to be the best communicator that I can be. I try to be kind and brief as well as effective. Patient safety depends heavily on good communication. “Building a safer healthcare system has become the focus of all health professions” (2008).

According to the AACN, having strong communication skills and collaborating among health care professionals is paramount to providing patient-centered, safe care (2008).

AACN states also that by incorporating communication and collaboration as well as employing teamwork in your approach to healthcare, can allow professionals to deliver high quality and safe patient care (2008).
Communication is the core of my practice as a circulator. Changes are frequent within our scheduling of cases and surgeon preference cards. In addition, each patient and their families have individual concerns and needs. I always inform my charge nurse of delays because I know this can have a spiral effect on our daily schedule. I aim to keep my patients updated on any delays as well.

Continuous improvement in communication is essential in all aspects of nursing. There is always room for improvement. Moving forward in my career, I will educate myself and strive to not just communicate but lead by example in the way I communicate. My passion is to have everyone communicate effectively and have a smooth, problem free, time efficient work flow, there-by providing a safe patient environment. Passions, according to Hood, “are described as activities, ideas, and topics that can elicit emotions” (Hood, 2008). Perceiving the world as having opportunities, instead of obstacles allows you to focus on your own abilities, rather than limitations” (Hood, 2018).

I like to say that you are in charge of what you focus on. You can focus on the good and build yourself up, or focus on the negative or what is missing and fall into despair. I choose to do my best and constantly find ways to improve my communication. Each day, I find new ways to improve my communication because each day brings interactions between myself and others.

References

• American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. Retrieved from http //www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/baccessentials08.pdf
• Hood, L. J. Leddy and Pepper’s Professional Nursing (9th ed.). Philadelphia, PA Wolters Kluwer