Benchmark – Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal
Students are required to maintain weekly reflective narratives throughout the course to combine into one course-long reflective journal that integrates leadership and inquiry into current practice as it applies to the Professional Capstone and Practicum course.
In your journal, you will reflect on the personal knowledge and skills gained throughout this course. The journal should address a variable combination of the following, depending on your specific practice immersion clinical experiences:
- New practice approaches
- Intraprofessional collaboration
- Health care delivery and clinical systems
- Ethical considerations in health care
- Population health concerns
- The role of technology in improving health care outcomes
- Health policy
- Leadership and economic models
- Health disparities
Students will outline what they have discovered about their professional practice, personal strengths and weaknesses that surfaced, additional resources and abilities that could be introduced to a given situation to influence optimal outcomes, and finally, how the student met the competencies aligned to this course.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Please refer to the directions in the Student Success Center.
RUBRIC
Attempt Start Date: 18-May-2020 at 12:00:00 AM
Due Date: 24-May-2020 at 11:59:59 PM
Maximum Points: 100.0
Percentage 100
Weekly topic:
Topic 1: Change Proposal Subject and Purpose Identification 1
- Topic 2: Change Proposal Subject and Purpose Identification 2
- Topic 3: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Development Plan 1
- Topic 4: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Development Plan 2
- Topic 5: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project Development and Implementation Plan 1
- Topic 6: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project Development and Implementation Plan 2
- Topic 7: Change Proposal Project Evaluation and Dissemination Plan 1
- Topic 8: Change Proposal Project Evaluation and Dissemination Plan 2
- Topic 9: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project 1
- Topic 10: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project 2
Benchmark – Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal
Week 1 (January 21-27)
As my BSN journey drew closer to the end I’m faced with the most anticipated class, my capstone project. As I entered into week 1, I spent a few hours in the classroom making sure I’m going through all my professors’ announcement and gathered all the necessary research information on Identifying two GCU Library scholarly databases that will assist me in finding the best research articles to support my EBP proposal for week 1 DQ. The ISP took hours to complete as it’s a planner for the next 10 weeks ahead. As nervousness sets in I promise myself to stay on path with the all the requirements of this course. I met with my mentor during the week and discussed what is expected throughout the course, she completed and signed all necessary forms needed for her approval, mentor was approved by instructor
Week 2 (January 28- February 3)
During week 2 our priority was to choose our PICOT and submit to individual forum for approval from instructor. The anticipation of presenting my PICOT was here as I’ve been formulating my PICOT statement on educating the adherence for patients who are receiving anticoagulation therapy in the home settings to prevent stroke, PE/DVT etc.. my instructor approved topic which was very exciting for myself and mentor. Prior to this approval I had to change my implementation and add a few things with the feedback from my professor. It was concluded to educate on effectiveness regarding in home adherence, including diet and blood monitoring for older adults receiving anticoagulation therapy over a 6 months period. GCU library was my source to gather much needed peer review articles for this weeks’ assignment and DQ’s. Met with my mentor and went through articles that I gathered to find the best fit for assignment. As I feel I’m getting a hang of what’s expected throughout this course, I reflect on intraprofessional collaboration and its importance in solving concerns associated with improving medicine and technology and increasing the demand for healthcare services. Health care tasks are mostly challenging, complex and multifaceted. One problem may require the input of many health professionals from diverse specialties. It is therefore very important for a nurse to understand that he/she cannot provide quality care alone. I have learned that inter professional collaboration extends further to educational contexts.
Week 3 (February 4-10)
Week 3 required me to submit six of the peer review articles previously researched along with the strength and weakness. We also discussed different methods of evaluating evidence with compare and contrast. The PICOT statement paper was also submitted which I did my best on but was a bit disappointed with the grades. I spoke with my mentor to figure out where I went wrong and came up with different ideas on how to approach papers moving forward. Finding better peer review articles was one of our solution along with narrowing them down to what best fits my PICOT. I also spend some time reflecting on Ethical consideration in Healthcare. Most of the times, nurses struggle due to the ethical challenges associated with patient care. Ethical concerns may come up within any healthcare circumstance whereby moral questions of whether one was right or wrong are asked. As a nurse, I was able to acquire knowledge on the importance of ethical culture in the health facility I was working. Ethical culture can be defined as the way ethical circumstances that develop ethical problems are addressed within a facility. Ethical practices in nursing can be sustained by constantly engaging with ethical experts. The experts play a key role in the collection of code of ethics that have various guidelines and recommendations that indicate how to effectively respond to ethical issues (Char, 2018).
Week 4 (February 11-17)
I had the opportunity to spend a few hours with my mentor in the anticoagulation center. After completing what I was assigned to do for the patients that day, my mentor and I looked over the peer review I choose to complete the literature evaluation table. DQ’s were also done. After a thorough and meaningful research, we narrowed down to eight peer review articles. I decided to reflect upon Health Policy this week. Health policy can be defined as the decisions, plan and actions incorporated to achieve various health care objectives in the society. Health policy decisions in the United States are made at the federal and congress level and also by other healthcare organizations. As a nurse, I have learnt that nurses play a significant role in the formulation of policies that will have great benefits not only in the short run but also in the long run. A majority of nursing agencies encourage nurses to actively participate in policy formulation. As a nurse, I can participate in the policy formulation process by analyzing various healthcare policies and laws, advising policy makers and the general public and also developing and proposing various healthcare policies.
Week 5 (February 18-24)
This week was spent doing DQ’s and meeting up with my mentor to discuss other ways to assist me as I move forward in this course. As I approach the midway of my course my stress levels are soaring high. A completion of 7 hours was logged, no assignment schedule for this week so I took the opportunity to read up on assignment for the following weeks ahead. This week I chose to reflect on Population Health Concern. The main determinant of the health of a community is the environmental factors. Social determinants such as unemployment and food insecurity also have a great impact on population health which is a main component of the Affordable Care Act. As a nurse, I have been able to recognize that social determinants have always been part of nursing. Various nursing institutions have identified the importance of social determinants in enhancing healthcare and have begun developing nurse practitioner programs which will ensure Social determinants of health are a part of the curriculum.
Week 6 (February 25- March 3)
This week assignment requires me to reflect back on article picked weeks ago. It was a challenge and the toughest week so far. The literature review paper had its challenges and complication, both my mentor and I were both confused and how to complete this assignment. We struggled, and it was evident with the grades I received. All DQ’s completed along with other requirement for this week. I decide to reflect on health care delivery and clinical system. Optimal health can only be enjoyed by Americans when they benefit from health care services which are high in quality and properly coordinated. The health care sector in the United States is made up of clinicians, hospitals, insurance plans and health care professionals. Insurance plans play an integral part in healthcare delivery systems because they ensure those who can/cannot afford to pay for various health costs receive quality healthcare. Insurance plans play a significant role in improving the health outcomes of individuals through efficient preventive, screening and chronic disease care. As nurse, I have learnt that clinical perspective services such as medical procedures and tests also play an integral part in healthcare delivery systems. The services are useful in preventing ailments and enhancing health of individuals.
Week 7 (March 4-10)
As I picked myself up from a hard week I decided to meet with mentor at the anticoagulation center and help with the project at hand. We prepared pamphlets and brochures and hand them out to the patients at the INR clinical, patient teaching was also done on an individual level. I felt satisfied to have helped to educate them on the adherence to their therapy. DQ’s completed and I started my planning ahead to meet week 9 assignments. I reflected on Leadership and economic models. The current health care system in the United States is unstainable. All patients have a desire to receive the best care, but it needs to cost less. The healthcare system must therefore be changed to align with the interests of the public in order to regain public trust. The various different stakeholders in the healthcare system have developed challenges in enhancing the value of care. Health care professionals such as doctors and nurses are in a better position to enhance the value of care. As a nurse I have identified servant leadership as the best way for health care facilities to enhance value because it pays attention on the strength of a team, creating trust and serving patients’ needs.
Week 8 (March 11-17)
No assignment due, I completed my DQ’s and truly believe I have a better understanding with what’s expected from my instructor. I spent a total of 6 hours this week on assigned work. As the week drew closer to the end my anxiety level is at its peak, along with work and family stressors. Health disparities is what I reflected on. Despite the fact that it is the responsibility of nurses to ensure health services are easily accessible to all patient populations, enhancing health care equity agenda has faced various barriers. For example, individuals are faced with inequalities based on their race in assessing health care services. Health disparities occur when a certain group of individuals has better access to health care services than the other. This is often illustrated in the differences in death rates among various diverse populations in the United States. The differences in the level of income for various individuals is the main cause of health disparities. For instance, poor blacks may find it difficult to access quality health care services compared to medium class whites (National Center for Health Statistics, 2016). Nurses play a key role in evaluating various health inequalities through a process called selection. Selection can be defined as the tendency of people to group themselves according to social gatherings, age or residential places.
Week 9 (March 18-24)
Even after I started reviewing weeks 9 assignment since week 7, I still became overwhelmed. A mental breakdown was seeping at my feet. I met with my mentor and discussed proposal change necessary for my EPB. My mentor felt we were on the right path with the amount of research completed for this assignment. We also reviewed all feedback from instructor to help formulate this paper in the right direction. A total of 15 hours spent in completion of all tasks. DQ’s were interesting and informative. I decide to reflect on New Practice Approaches. The field of nursing has gone through major transformations in the past few decades. To effectively be able to provide the best care to patients, I have mastered the art of adapting to the transformations. For example, the continuous incorporation of evidence- based practice in nursing has been very crucial in addressing various health conditions such as asthma and diabetes. However, I have come into a conclusion that such principles are not efficiently embraced in the health care setting. The traditional setting paid key attention to improving quality and patient safety through analyzing records to assess the safety concerns of a patient. Currently, nursing has provided key leadership for enhancing care through the employment of the findings in practice. The continuous incorporation of evidence- based practice in nursing has transformed healthcare in various ways. Higher learning institutions have recognized this trend and have begun changing various nursing programs to incorporate evidence-based practice (Burstin, 2016). As a nursing student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, it is important to have course materials that are not only meant to enhance the knowledge base of a student but also to stress of the importance of transparency in the profession.
Week 10 (March 25-31)
I took the opportunity to meet with my mentor for a few hours and review the ISP along with other necessary forms due for submission to conclude my capstone project. We had a thorough discussion and reflect on the last 9 weeks and decided that new approached need to understand ways to help patients on anticoagulant therapy better adhere to improve their way of life. As I reflect on the last 9 weeks, EBP may seem simple to many but it requires extensive research and time to incorporate findings among the needed population. I’m reflecting on the role of technology in improving health care outcome. Information technology is the basis of an efficient healthcare system in the current and future generation. The main focus in the development of new concepts in healthcare technology is patient care. Technological advancement in clinical applications has had a significant impact in the healthcare system and will continue to have a key role in the years to come (Gao, 2015). As a nurse, I have come to learn that nursing documentation is a very important element of healthcare information. Information systems are designed for nurses whereby documentation can be used to enhance a nurse’s knowledge regarding quality care. The field of nursing has received significant knowledge on how to improve patient care due to the new concepts that have been developed through information technology
References
Burstin, H., Leatherman, S., & Goldmann, D. (2016). The evolution of healthcare quality measurement in the United States. Journal of internal medicine, 279(2), 154-159.
Char, D. S., Shah, N. H., & Magnus, D. (2018). Implementing machine learning in health care—addressing ethical challenges. The New England journal of medicine, 378(11), 981.
Gao, Y., Li, H., & Luo, Y. (2015). An empirical study of wearable technology acceptance in healthcare. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 115(9), 1704-1723.
National Center for Health Statistics (US. (2016). Health, United States, 2015: with special feature on racial and ethnic health disparities.
**Weekly Reflective Journal Entries**
**Week 1: Change Proposal Subject and Purpose Identification 1**
During this first week, I identified the subject and purpose for my change proposal project. I chose to focus on improving patient hand hygiene compliance in our healthcare facility. Through research and discussions with colleagues, I recognized the significance of hand hygiene in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and improving patient outcomes. My goal is to develop and implement strategies that will increase hand hygiene adherence among healthcare workers, ultimately enhancing patient safety and reducing the risk of HAIs.
**Week 2: Change Proposal Subject and Purpose Identification 2**
In continuation from the previous week, I delved deeper into defining the subject and purpose of my change proposal project. I conducted a thorough review of existing literature and evidence-based practices related to hand hygiene compliance in healthcare settings. I identified key stakeholders and potential barriers to implementation. My understanding of the importance of clear communication and collaboration among interdisciplinary team members was reinforced during this process.
**Week 3: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Development Plan 1**
During this week, I began developing the plan for my evidence-based practice proposal. I outlined the specific objectives and goals of the project, focusing on measurable outcomes related to hand hygiene compliance rates. I also started to consider the various interventions and strategies that could be implemented to achieve these goals. It became evident that a multifaceted approach, including education, training, and environmental modifications, would be necessary to address the complex nature of hand hygiene behavior.
**Week 4: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Development Plan 2**
Continuing from the previous week, I refined my evidence-based practice proposal development plan. I conducted further research on effective interventions for improving hand hygiene compliance and reviewed potential resources and tools that could support the implementation process. Additionally, I considered the financial and logistical aspects of the project, including budgetary constraints and staffing requirements. Collaborating with colleagues and seeking input from stakeholders proved invaluable in shaping the direction of the proposal.
**Week 5: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project Development and Implementation Plan 1**
This week marked the transition from planning to action as I developed the project implementation plan for my evidence-based practice proposal. I outlined the specific steps and timeline for executing each component of the intervention, ensuring clarity and accountability among team members. I also identified potential challenges and mitigation strategies to address unforeseen obstacles during the implementation phase. Effective communication and coordination emerged as critical factors in facilitating the successful execution of the project.
**Week 6: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project Development and Implementation Plan 2**
Building upon the previous week’s work, I finalized the project development and implementation plan, incorporating feedback from stakeholders and considering practical considerations such as resource allocation and sustainability. I emphasized the importance of ongoing evaluation and monitoring to track progress and make necessary adjustments as needed. As I prepared to initiate the implementation phase, I reflected on the significance of flexibility and adaptability in navigating the complexities of real-world healthcare environments.
**Week 7: Change Proposal Project Evaluation and Dissemination Plan 1**
In this penultimate week, I focused on developing the evaluation and dissemination plan for my change proposal project. I identified appropriate metrics and indicators to assess the effectiveness of the interventions and measure outcomes related to hand hygiene compliance. I also outlined strategies for disseminating project findings and best practices to relevant stakeholders within the organization and beyond. Effective dissemination of results is essential for promoting sustainability and facilitating knowledge transfer to other healthcare settings.
**Week 8: Change Proposal Project Evaluation and Dissemination Plan 2**
As I approached the conclusion of my reflective journal entries, I finalized the evaluation and dissemination plan for my change proposal project. I reviewed the methods for data collection and analysis, ensuring alignment with project objectives and evaluation criteria. Additionally, I identified opportunities for sharing project outcomes through presentations, publications, and educational forums. Reflecting on the journey thus far, I recognized the transformative potential of evidence-based practice and the importance of continuous learning and improvement in advancing patient care.
**Week 9: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project 1**
During this week, I commenced the implementation of my evidence-based practice proposal project. I executed the planned interventions and closely monitored their implementation to ensure fidelity and effectiveness. As the project unfolded, I encountered both challenges and successes, underscoring the dynamic nature of healthcare improvement initiatives. Through ongoing communication and collaboration with stakeholders, I remained committed to achieving the desired outcomes and making a positive impact on patient safety and quality of care.
**Week 10: Evidence-Based Practice Proposal Project 2**
In the final week of my reflective journal entries, I concluded the implementation phase of my evidence-based practice proposal project. I conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the interventions and collected data to assess their impact on hand hygiene compliance rates. While there were areas of improvement identified, overall, the project yielded promising results and demonstrated the value of evidence-based approaches in driving positive change in healthcare practice. Looking ahead, I remain dedicated to continuous learning and innovation to further enhance patient outcomes and contribute to the advancement of nursing practice.
**Reflection Notes**
Throughout this course, I have gained invaluable insights into the process of developing and implementing evidence-based practice proposals. I have learned the importance of collaboration, communication, and leadership in driving meaningful change within healthcare organizations. One area of personal growth has been in recognizing the significance of resilience and adaptability in navigating challenges and setbacks encountered during the project. Moving forward, I will continue to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in this course to my professional practice, striving to be a proactive agent of change and advocate for quality patient care.
**References**
*References will be included based on the specific sources used in each weekly topic.*
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