JOURNAL ENTRY
Journal Entry #1 (450–500 words):
In your journal entry, answer the following questions:
Learning from Experiences
Reflect on the 3 most challenging patient encounters and discuss what was most challenging for each.
What did you learn from this experience?
What resources did you have available?
What evidence-based practice did you use for this patient?
What new skills are you learning?
What would you do differently?
How are you managing patient flow and volume?
Communicating and Feedback
Respond to the following reflective questions:
How might I improve on my skills and knowledge, and how to communicate that back to my Preceptor?
How am I doing? What is missing?
What type of feedback am I receiving from my Preceptor?
ANSWER
Journal Entry
Learning from Experiences
One of the challenging encounters was language barriers for most of the patients due to their Indian background. They could not speak English fluently, making it hard for them to communicate with me as the service provider. Another key challenge was the failure to open up due to the sensitivity of their issue. Many patients portrayed reluctance to offer me details regarding their gynecological situation. This affected effective analysis of their problems due to the lack of adequate information. Lastly, some of the patients felt that I did not understand them because they expected me to show my feelings and emotions. However, as a healthcare provider, one is only expected to be empathetic and not directly portray their emotions.
The experience that I obtained from the clinical rotation targeting gynecology patients taught me that it is essential to have an interpreter service when handling patients from different backgrounds. This bridges communication issues to accelerate healthcare outcomes. Also, I learned that patients might conceal information due to fear and anxiety. The care provider should create a viable environment to enable the patients to open up and share their plights.
I invested in resources like a stethoscope, penlight, pen, notebook, and the reference book or report. I believe that these are crucial elements that clinicians should have when undertaking rotations. I ensured that I had these resources at my disposal to deliver quality care for the patients.
Some of the evidence-based strategies that I integrated include providing antibiotics, continuous support, and active management of associated conditions. These approaches enabled me to achieve significant milestones in the care delivery process.
I am building new skills like sensitivity, emotional resilience, and excellent communication skills. I believe that being sensitive to issues experienced by the patients is a fundamental approach. Notably, cultivating emotional resilience will enable me to cope effectively under pressure. Lastly, when handling a diverse patient population, observing essential communication processes is a required course of action.
In the future, I would ensure that I accommodate an interpreter system to allow me to interact and communicate well with the patients. This is a crucial element that translates into quality goals and objectives. It enables care providers to interact well with the patient leading to effective healthcare outcomes.
I handled patient flow and volume through improved communication processes from one unit to another, reducing non-clinical services, and tracking cycle-time measurements to enable me to make quality courses of action.
Communication and Feedback
I intend to undertake various learning opportunities to improve my skills and knowledge. For example, I will visit libraries, online educative sites, and peer feedback to sharpen my care handling tactics. Having advanced my skills and knowledge, I will need to share this with my instructor. I will establish a discussion forum with the Preceptor to analyze the skills and knowledge that I will have acquired through the different learning opportunities.
I have made significant strides as far as expanding my skills and knowledge are concerned. This lays the foundation for successful outcomes in my career. However, one of the aspects that I am missing is professional certifications that portray my learning milestones.
My Preceptor has passed essential positive ideas that I will invest in my professional growth. Some of the feedback insights that I have received include being a motivated and driven care provider. He believes that my milestones show that I am highly motivated and enthusiastic about providing care services.
