IX. Master's- Level Nursing Practice (AACN, 2011)
This essential has proved to be the most important to me over the course of this program. "Master’s-prepared nurses have developed a deeper understanding of the nursing profession based on reflective practices and continue to develop their own plans for lifelong learning and professional development" (AACN, 2011, p. 28). During the course of my master's program at King University, I have spent time learning from great physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other members of the multidisciplinary team. All of the members of the healthcare team have helped mold me into the advanced practice nurse I am today. I have had so many enriching clinical experiences from assessing a newborn baby in newborn nursery clinicals to helping guide a child and their family after receiving a diagnosis of acute lymphoid leukemia. This essential shows my growth as an advanced practice nurse and my ability to advocate for my patients and their families.
During my master's program, I did a case study on a 9-year-old African American obese male. The case made me examine social determinants, race perceptions, and how to be culturally competent in providing efficient care. The master's prepared nurse must remain culturally appropriate to deliver evidenced based goals and modalities of care. In the case study, I talked about ways to incorporate the families' beliefs into the child's care such as exercising together and preparing meals together. Changes to promote the child's health require family involvement. Interventions that engage parents and support parent-child relationships, while enhancing motivation and the abilities to change behavior should be implemented by the provider. By having the parent adopt a healthier lifestyle, the child will then adopt the same lifestyle.
Case Study
I took my knowledge of pediatric gastroenterology and applied those facts into a presentation on colic. By using knowledge of illness and disease management, I was able to provide evidenced based care to pediatric populations, perform risk assessments, and implement plans of care. In this presentation, I identified risk factors, etiology, complications, and treatment recommendations. I believe that in my role as the master's prepared nurse you must have sympathy for your patients. Having a baby with colic can be exhausting, stressful, and frustrating for parents. APRNs must provide constant reassurance and praise to help families gain more confidence and decrease stress levels.
Colic Presentation
Next, I was able to do an evidenced based research project on necrotizing colitis. Being a neonatal nurse, NEC is a topic that I have always been passionate about. I have taken care of many premature infants that have been diagnosed with NEC. Some infants required total resection of their small intestine requiring a colostomy and some infants have had to remain on TPN for years. As the master's prepared nurse, I want to design strategies that promote lifelong learning that
incorporate professional nursing standards and accountability for practice. By constantly keeping evolved in the latest evidenced based research, the master's prepared nurse can develop new treatment plans and therapies to promote lifelong learning.
NEC EBP
Finally, during the course of my master's program we were asked to look and depict a painting. During my life, I have always had a hard time opening up to individuals. During my career as a nurse, I have created trusting and open relationships with my patients. In the picture, I depicted hope and maternal attachment. My husband and I have struggled with infertility problems for the last three years. As a nicu nurse, I have taken care of micro preemies and done bereavement care on the many infants that have passed away. All these mothers were still mothers even if they only got to hold their infant for one minute before being transported to the NICU.
Yes, there has been many times I wanted to quit due to own personal issues but I have learned that a part of being a great provider is to use your own personal struggles to help your patients. I sympathize with mothers who have been through fertility problems and pregnancy struggles. This only makes me a better advanced practice nurse. My goal is to provide hope to these patients. Hope that God will see families through trying situations. My faith is the epitome of what has helped me get through this program. Despite covid, the passing of my mother, and personal struggles I can see the end in sight. King University gave me the tools and resources to be a great pediatric nurse practitioner. The kids, providers, and professors have helped me integrate an evolving personal philosophy of nursing and healthcare into my own nursing practice. The future definatly looks bright!
Concepts in Art
Strengths
&
Weaknesses
My strengths include being able to provide a voice to my patients and to act as an advocate on their behalf. By establishing therapeutic relationships with patients, the APRN can help grown into the role as advocate to promote efficient patient care. When I first started my nursing career, I was told to not get attached to patients. This statement has followed me during my nursing career and I have come to find out that by establishing a trusting; open relationship with your patient only makes you a better provider.
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My weaknesses during the essential was being honest about the art depiction. The assignment made me look deep into my soul and made me realize what kind of APRN I want to be. By using your own personal struggles, providers can turn those struggles into growth to help promote mental health issues with patients. I feel like mental health is an social determinant in our region of Northeast, Tennessee and Southwest, Virginia. Today mental health is becoming not just a local and state issue. Mental health is a global issue at hand partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic highlighted many mental health issues in the general public. Social isolation and depression being two topics of interest for many patients. The master's prepared nurse should be proactive in learning how to talk with patients about their mental health issues. Mental health is crucial to the holistic care of a patient.
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