What I have Discovered About My Professional Practice?
Nurses interact directly with patients, and they are in an ideal position to provide support for everyone on a personal basis. As Chua (2022) states, the provision of patient care needs the preservation of human self-respect through integrity. I discovered that keeping patients’ self-esteem starts with an individual healthcare provider. During a nurse-patient interaction, human dignity can be upheld by promoting appropriate communication, maintaining respect, and being person-centered. In my professional journey, I also discovered that maintaining patients’ integrity results in pleasant feeling and an environment that promote healing. Compromising patients’ integrity has a negative impact on the treatment process as patients develop aggressive behavior, withdraw essential information, and avoid following examination instructions. Patients’ dignity is threatened when they feel worthless and lack support. Therefore, the promotion of dignity and integrity results in winning patients’ trust leading to better treatment.
Personal Strengths and Weaknesses
In my professional practice, reflective practice has been my strength in delivering care services to patients. I have proactively sought support and evidence from superior healthcare practitioners to allow effective assessment of clinical problems and learn from their experiences. Critical reasoning skill has given me an in-depth understanding of evidence-based care and its implication on patient satisfaction. Another strength that I possess lies in effective time management, application of health informatics in disease surveillance and communication, teamwork, and cultural competence that properly cares for patients with complexities. Shift-to-shift reporting has also allowed me to be an effective clinical communicator and provide patient education. The nursing practice has also accorded me an opportunity to identify and reflect on my weaknesses. My weaknesses include a lack of self-confidence, the inability to use some equipment, and the safe administration of medications.
Additional Resources and Abilities to Influence Optimal Outcomes
In clinical practice, realizing optimal outcomes requires integrating multiple abilities and resources. The ideology of self-reflection practice is a symbol of the nursing practice that promotes optimal outcomes. Some of the abilities required to overcome the mentioned weaknesses and influence optimal outcomes include proper communication skills, teamwork, critical thinking, and learning skills. Encouraging proper communication helps in preventing misinformation and minimizes clinical errors. Information resources such as peer-reviewed journals and other relevant publications that support evidence-based care also help influence optimal outcomes.
Reference
Chua, K. Z. Y., Quah, E. L. Y., Lim, Y. X., Goh, C. K., Lim, J., Wan, D. W. J., & Krishna, L. (2022). A systematic scoping review on patients’ perceptions of dignity. BMC Palliative Care, 21(1), 1-18. Doi:10.1186/s12904-022-01004-4.