NRS 493 Benchmark Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal Topic 10

Sample Answer

The professional capstone change project and practicum entailed weekly journal submissions focusing on different areas and topics from a reflective perspective (McGonigle et al., 2021). These weekly journals focused on the conversations and interactions with the preceptor as well as other stakeholders concerning the various topics explored. The journals were critical as they enhanced my exposure to practice clinical practice issues and experiences. The purpose of this paper is to integrate all the weekly reflective journal entries into a single journal detailing these experiences, especially strengths and weaknesses in each instance.

Week 1 New Practice Approaches

Through the practicum, I discovered that healthcare organizations and providers face various challenges due to dependence on ordinary care models. However, the experience demonstrates that nurses can and are increasingly using new practice approaches like the use of evidence-based practice (EBP) interventions and value-based purchase approaches to deliver patient-centered care. These approaches reduce the cost of care and enhance patient outcomes (Handtke et al., 2019). They should also leverage these models to promote primary care and improve rapport with patients for better outcomes.

I realized during this week that I have a preference for the adoption of new approaches due to eagerness and learning attitudes as well as readiness to accept change. Conversely, my weaknesses include insufficient information and training as well as skills to implement these approaches. Therefore, I realized that sufficient human resources for training will be critical resources to help nurses adopt new practice models.

Week 2 Inter-professional Collaboration

During the second week, I gained more insights into inter-professional collaboration in the delivery of quality care. Hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) are a critical patient safety concern and facilities can only deal with the issue through effective teamwork comprising members from different disciplines in healthcare provision (Reddy et al., 2021). Through the practicum, I realized that collaboration at all levels is critical to quality care outcomes. My strengths in these areas include favoring teamwork, having a shared vision, and focusing on new ways to create teams to attain a common goal.

However, my weaknesses include the need for a diversity and inclusion perspective, nurturing a teamwork spirit, and tolerance for group dynamics that can be demanding (Wei et al., 2020). Therefore, additional resources in this area would include sufficient training and allocation of materials to promote an inter-professional approach and collaboration within healthcare organizations.

Week 3 Health Care Delivery and Clinical Systems

The practicum also entailed focusing on healthcare delivery and clinical systems aimed at having seamless operation and access to health services by different patient populations. The practicum was critical in demonstrating that these systems and delivery models are fragmented and complex yet they remain critical to overall safe delivery of quality care. The clinical systems and delivery models are the foundation of an effective healthcare system that optimizes resources, is accountable, and supports collaborative efforts by all stakeholders to improve health services as reforms focus on primary care (Handtke et al., 2019).

I realized that my strengths on this topic include change focus, effective understanding of the current reforms, zeal for improved patient care, and research skills for better approaches. Conversely, my weak areas include insufficient networking attributes and skills, and limited influence among key stakeholders. Therefore, organizations need to allocate more resources to improve awareness and use of these models to improve accessibility and care quality.

Week 4 Ethical Considerations in Health Care

During the fourth week, the focus was on ethical considerations and issues that providers encounter, especially based on the biomedical principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy, and justice. Nurses and other providers must understand these aspects and apply them in their interactions with patients and their families to avoid any violations and possible ethical dilemmas (Yakusheva et al., 2020). The protection of patient data and autonomy as well as end-of-life decisions are some of the ethical encounters that I had during the practicum.

Healthcare providers are moral agents and should offer safe care (Dittborn et al., 2020). I realized that my strengths include effective insight into biomedical principles, and an urge to implement best practices for quality outcomes. However, my weak area is balancing ethical and legal obligations for patients. Additional resources in this area include more awareness of the intersection of ethics and legal obligations.

Week 5 Practices of Culturally Sensitive Care and Integrity of Human Dignity for Patients

The increased diversity of health populations in the U.S. implies that nurses and other providers should be culturally sensitive with inherent respect for the dignity of patients as human beings irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds (McGonigle et al., 2021). Through the practicum, I realized this aspect and the need for culturally competent care training and practice for nurses and all healthcare providers. I also realized practically that human dignity is essential, especially when handling patients in critical care who are not only delicate but also in deep reflections about their lives (Dittborn et al., 2020).

Therefore, providers should consider the concerns and needs that these patients present and respect them to attain patient-centered care.
My strengths in this area include embracing diversity, showing respect for patients, and increasing implementation of patient-centered care interventions. However, dealing with patients who may not respect the provider’s divergent opinions and suggestions, and biases as well as stereotypes are my greatest weaknesses (McGonigle et al., 2021).

The additional resources that I recommend comprise training and integration of culturally sensitive care approaches in different settings. The implementation of such interventions would lead to better interactions among providers and patients and their families as well as reduce incivility.

Week 6 Population Health Concerns and Health Disparities

Through this topic, I realized the critical role that nurses will play in helping more populations and groups access healthcare services and also reduce the inherent disparities that impact quality care. Reports on nursing and its importance in helping the nation deal with disparities also emerged during this conversation (Schroeder et al., 2022). Initiatives like the Healthy People 2030 and NAM report on ways that nurses can address the gaps in care delivery also emerged. Discrimination, systematic racism, and classism are at the core of the disparities in healthcare access (Ellis et al., 2021). Nurses through advanced education, training, and specializing can help address these challenges and improve primary care provision.

My strengths about this topic include the use of EBP, participation in policy-making, and lobbying for sufficient resource allocation as well as advocacy for cost-effective insurance premiums and medical coverage for the vulnerable populations. However, my core weakness is a limited network and increased collaboration with other stakeholders. Additional resources to address these issues include the promotion of primary care, having more human resources to cater to different health populations, and enrollment of more individuals in nursing schools.

Week 7 Role of Technology in Improving Health Care Outcomes

Technological development and applications in healthcare have become the hallmark of quality care delivery, improved accessibility, and reduced cost of care. From telehealth to artificial intelligence and clinical decision support as well as machine learning, providers and organizations are leveraging technologies to manage patients with chronic conditions like hypertension and delivering care to meet their conditions and needs (Ciccone et al., 2019). The use of electronic health records (EHRs) allows providers to seamlessly share patient information and develop a common plan of care to enhance outcomes.

However, leveraging these technologies can also present ethical and legal issues concerning compliance with legal mandates like HIPAA and HITECH as well as the Affordable Care Act. Therefore, leveraging these technologies improves overall care provision and outcomes among different populations.
My strengths in this area include an effective understanding of informatics, increased learning to apply different approaches, and access to a wide range of resources to improve care delivery. My weaknesses may include compliance with regulatory mandates and, an increased need for ethical compliance. Therefore, offering training and resources will be critical to improving the overall use of technology in healthcare settings.

Week 8 Health Policy

The healthcare system operates through policies developed at different levels, from organizational to state and federal levels. As such, the practicum allowed me to get an in-depth understanding and appreciation of health policies aimed at improving care delivery and accessibility. The practicum also demonstrated the role of nurses in policy development and implementation to improve accessibility to care, reduce costs, and enhance overall quality (Reddy et al., 2020). Therefore, nurses should be change agents and champion patients’ needs and concerns by urging elected representatives to develop and pass policies aimed at improving healthcare access and quality.

My strengths in health policy include possession of advocacy skills, being a change agent, and collaborating with other stakeholders to lobby representatives to sponsor policies that will improve overall care delivery for patients in different settings. However, my weaknesses include limited or lack of interest in political discourses and limited time for advocacy. Additional resources to enhance policy awareness include providing education and information for advocacy groups and change agents within the organization.

Week 9 Leadership and Economic Models

The practicum demonstrated the importance of leadership styles and economic models to optimally use allocated resources while attaining set goals like improving the quality of care offered to patients and health populations. The practicum gave me a chance to experience different leadership approaches and evaluate their effectiveness in improving patient care and quality. The most evident aspect was the positive effect of the transformational leader whose focus is to better the welfare of patients and healthcare providers.

Economic models like value-based purchases and accountable care organizations (ACOs) all focus on reducing the overall cost of healthcare in the country since the U.S. spends more on health based on its GDP yet it does not have universal health coverage for its citizens (Degeling et al., 2019). Therefore, effective leadership approaches and sound economic models in healthcare are essential in improving the overall quality of care.

The background knowledge, increased access to information, and advanced research skills are some of the strengths that I possess concerning the week’s topic. Conversely, my weak areas include limited understanding and appreciation of economic models and having a critical perspective even when not necessary. Additional resources to facilitate these aspects include the adoption of better leadership styles and training providers to embrace better economic models in their facilities.

Conclusion

The practicum offered practical lessons and challenges that providers, organizations, patients, and all stakeholders encounter in healthcare provision in their attempts to offer and also access quality care. Different aspects impact healthcare entities and professionals that should be addressed by all stakeholders. The practicum advanced my understanding of the current healthcare environment and the critical role that nurses play in addressing these issues and disparities. The practicum experience was critical in improving my understanding of key areas that nurses and other providers should uphold to provide better care.

References

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• Yakusheva, O., Rambur, B., O’Reilly-Jacob, M., & Buerhaus, P. I. (2022). Value-based payment promotes better patient care, incentivizes healthcare delivery organizations to improve outcomes and lower costs, and can empower nurses. Nursing Outlook, 70(2), 215-218. https //doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.12.012