Parent and Newborn Nursing
Competencies: Mother and newborn assessments; female catheter insertion
Patient teaching: Infant feeding and care; breastfeeding teaching; 'back to sleep'
Evidence based practice: Breastfeed early and often for success; mixture of oxygen and room air for newborn
Personal reflection: Having the knowledge and ability to help mothers to breastfeed successfully created such a great feeling of accomplishment and pride. I loved this clinical experience and could easily see myself working in this area.
Pediatric
Competencies: Pediatric assessment including physical and developmental criteria
Patient Teaching: Asthma control for school-age children; peak flow monitor daily use and interpretation
Evidence based practice: Harmful effects of second-hand smoke in pediatric patients with asthma
Personal reflection: It was very rewarding to be able to improve my therapeutic communication through interactions with pediatric patients and their parents. Used critical thinking in the assessment and care of the pediatric patient population.
Nursing of Adults
Competencies: Assessment of adults with acute illness or postsurgical care needs; IV medication administration
Patient teaching: Medication dose, side effects, and reason for administration
Evidence based practice: SCDs for immobile patients for prevention of emboli formation
Personal reflection: I enjoyed this experience and was able to provide excellent nursing care for patients with a variety of ailments.
Psychiatric Nursing and Mental Health Nursing Care
Competencies: Therapeutic communication and goal assessment with mentally ill patients
Patient teaching: Provided teaching to small group on stress reduction techniques
Evidence based practice: Painting shows evidence of significant reduction in stress levels
Personal reflection: Able to provide therapeutic communication and care for patients in a psychiatric unit
Community Health Nursing
Competencies: Utilized the nursing process in health care facilities in various communities
Patient teaching: H1N1 informational brochure prepared and distributed
Evidence based practice: Gordon's Functional Health Patterns utilized in assessment and diagnosis of community of Akron
Integration of Leadership and Management in Nursing
Competencies: Enhancing nursing skills through practicum on obstetrics unit at Alliance Community Hospital
Patient teaching: Breastfeeding latch instruction and assistance
Evidence based practice: Use of positioning of mother and oxygen therapy to aleviate decelerations in fetal heart rate
Personal reflection: I learned a lot during this experience and feel confident in my knowledge base and skills as a nurse.
Critical Care
Competencies: ECG strip interpretation, care of post open heart surgery patient with multiple titrated drips
Patient teaching: Coumadin teaching of risks and side effects
Evidence based practice: PT, PTT and INR monitored when patient on Heparin or Coumadin respectively
Personal reflection: I loved this experience in caring for patients with a wide variety of ailments.
