PRACTICE SUMMARY PAPER

NURS 403: Transition into BSN Practice

Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this paper is to guide you through a process of self-reflection and self-evaluation
to discover the coper of your personal and professional development while in the RN to BSN
nursing program at Old Dominion University.
Approach to Assignment
As I approached this assignment, I first went over all of the projects and papers that I included in
my portfolio. I then identified all of the bullet points that I was unable to address. I then decided
searched for documents and thought about any clinical experiences I may have had that
addressed these various bullet points.
Reason for Inclusion
This assignment was required for my portfolio. This paper shows my progression into the
Bachelorette prepared nurse. It highlights my achievements toward the Core Competencies of the
Old Dominion University’s RN to BSN program.
Critical Thinking
Uses nursing and other appropriate theories and models to guide professional nursing practice
 In this paper, I discuss how I use Swanson’s Theory of Caring to guide my professional
practice. I specifically use this theory when dealing with clients who are struggling with
a new medical diagnosis.
Uses decision-making skills in making clinical or professional judgments
 In this paper, I discuss a situation in my clinical practice where I had to use my critical
thinking skills to make a clinical judgment. As a public health nurse, I manage
tuberculosis cases. On an initial visit to a client’s home, I witnessed a situation that I
knew required assistance. The client was weak, frail and needed more medical assistance
than I was able to provide. I advised the client’s wife to take him to the emergency room
to be evaluated and to be sure to let them know that he is currently being evaluated for
active tuberculosis. I tried to contact his primary care physician but was unable to reach
anyone on the phone. I was able to contact the office of his pulmonologist to inform her
of my findings. This decision was the best decision to make for the patient.
Nursing Practice
Implements nursing care practices as appropriate to provide holistic health care to diverse
populations across the lifespan
 In my current role as a public health nurse, I have provided holistic care to Vietnamese,
Filipino, Hispanic, African American and Caucasian populations ranging from age 20 to
 83. When providing care, I am sure to also take into consideration the client’s cultural
beliefs as well. I take care of the client’s physical body and mind.
Demonstrates an awareness of complementary modalities and their usefulness in promoting
health
 As a nurse, I often educate patients on complementary modalities such as diet, exercise
and lifestyle modifications to promote health. For example, teaching patients about low
sodium diets, smoking cessation and exercise to prevent hypertension. I have
implemented complementary modalities such as heat, guided imagery to aid in pain
management.
Communication
Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse patient relationship
 In the clinical setting, I always ensure that I am communicating effectively with my
patients. Communication is key in building a trusting nurse patient relationship. I am
honest and I use open communication between the patient and myself. I explain
everything in laymen terms so that I am confident that patients understand.
Adapts communication methods to patients with special needs
 Working in the hospital, I was caring for a patient who was deaf. I used written
communication, gestures, sign language, pictures and interpretation to adapt to her needs.
Expresses oneself and communicates effectively with diverse groups using a variety of media
 In the clinical setting, effective communication is very important in order to provide great
care to patients. I express myself and communicate effectively with patients from diverse
populations primarily through face to face communication. I communicate with other
healthcare professionals via email, text paging, phone calls and face to face
communication. While working in group projects during this program, I was able to
communicate effectively and express myself through both email and texting. Effective
communication when working in group projects is the only way to succeed.
Teaching
Provides teaching to patients and or professionals about health care procedures and technologies
in preparation for and following nursing or medical interventions
 Working as a cardiovascular telemetry nurse, I frequently educated patients and family
members on cardiac catheterizations to prepare them and help relieve some anxiety
leading up to the procedure. They were informed that they would not be able to eat or
drink anything besides water after midnight, the night before the procedure. I also
educated them on the post-procedural interventions that would be performed once they
arrived back on the unit. For example, I would tell them about the process of the
 procedure and then tell them about the close monitoring of vital signs and the procedural
site to ensure no complications arise.
Research
Differentiates between descriptive nursing literature and published reports of nursing research
 Descriptive nursing literature are primary research articles such as pilot studies,
randomized clinical trials and cohort studies. Other published reports of nursing research
can be clinical journals, medical encyclopedias, meta analysis, practice guidelines and
standards. This paper discusses my use of descriptive nursing literature such randomized
clinical trials and other published reports of nursing research such as practice guidelines
standards and patient education information.
Evaluates research that focuses on the efficacy and effectiveness of nursing interventions
 One of the simplest tasks to protect against the spread of healthcare associated infections
is through proper hand hygiene (Castellucci, 2018). In NURS 363, we discussed
evidence-based practice that supported the prevention/reduction of healthcare associated
infections in the hospital setting.
Leadership
Initiates community partnerships to establish health promotion goals and implements strategies
to meet those goals
 In my current job as a public health nurse, I utilize community partners such as the
Department of Social Services, Community Services Board and Southeaster Virginia
Health System. I recently started a community partnership with Peninsula Agency on
Aging to help the elderly population gain access to meal, transportation and personal care
services to promote health. I often provide recommendations on health promotion goals
for clients and help them access the resources to help them meet those goals.
Delegates and supervises the nursing care given by others while retaining accountability for the
quality of care provided
 In the hospital setting, I would often delegate tasks the nursing assistants. For example, I
would ask the nursing assistance to re-check a blood sugar level for me if I was unable to.
When delegating, I still oversaw that the task was performed correctly because I still had
to retain accountable for the patient’s care.
Professionalism
Differentiates between general, institutional, and specialty-specific standards of practice to guide
nursing care
 A general standard of practice to guide nursing care is the hand hygiene
recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as discussed in my
Safety Performance Improvement paper written in NURS 490.
  At the first nursing job, special trained registered nurses were the only nurses allowed to
access an implanted port. This is an example of institutional standard of practice.
 While working on the cardiovascular telemetry unit, all nurses were required to read and
document telemetry strips three times a day for each patient. This was an example of
specialty-specific standards of practice.
Understands the effects of legal and regulatory processes on nursing practice and healthcare
delivery
 As a nurse, I understand that it is beyond my scope of practice to order medications and
diagnose a client with a medical condition. Performing tasks beyond my scope of
practice, can lead to legal consequences. For example, if a patient is experience anxiety
prior to a procedure, I cannot diagnose the client or prescribe a medication to help ease
the symptoms. I can only document my findings and contact the provider to address the
problem.
Culture
Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and how these beliefs
influence an individual’s reactions to the illness, experience and end of life
 In NURS 458, I discuss the Islamic Cultural viewpoints and end of life. This paper
discusses that Muslim’s believe that there is a cure for every disease, so any treatment
option available should be mentioned to them. Before death, a Muslim should declare his
faith by reciting a prayer. Immediately following death, the eyes should be closed, and
the body should be covered then another prayer is recited by the family. It is important to
all the family to have this time with the deceased. Burial is usually requested within 24
hours so advanced planning may need to be done to grant the families wishes.