Reflective Journal # 6

Name: _____________Marie Smack_________________________ Date: _____________02/20/14_____________

Course: NURS 2500_x___ NURS 2530_____ Unit: ________________________________________________________

CLINICAL ACTIVITIES: Describe the clinical activities you observed and in which you participated.
Pass meds, patient education, IV fluids/ABX changes, IV Push meds, toileting, positioning, I/O documentation, neuro
assessments, SBAR

WHAT WENT WELL: Describe the interventions that you implemented for the patient, communication & assertiveness
challenges, etc that made a difference.
My SBAR communication with the physician went well. I was a little uneasy about taking a telephone order but my nurse
was very supportive and made sure I had all available information to talk with the doctor. I also feel that my ability to
understand report and communicate with my nurse went well.

SPECIFIC AREAS TO IMPROVE: What do you feel were your weaknesses or areas of deficient knowledge?
Technical skills. I have a hard time with IV bag caps, tele leads, and the IV clamps. I need to work on my dexterity and
technique in dealing with these everyday items. As with every week, I need to improve my medication knowledge.

LESSONS LEARNED:
Patients are often more knowledgeable than we think. We cared for a patient that knew the pills were the wrong dose and
the wrong type to which the nurse responded by looking up home meds verses hospital meds and made sure that errors
were corrected.

CONCEPTS: Focus on one or more of the Nursing Concepts included in this course.
Education. Due to the patient informing us about her medications we had to be extra clear on our explanations and
receptive to the patient educating us. Education goes beyond the labels on the med bottles, and is not always presented by
the medical professionals.

EXPERIENCE WITH NURSE PRECEPTOR: Include preceptors name and specific feedback
Holly. I enjoyed the day with her. She expected me to perform and was very knowledgeable. She answered all my
questions and thought of new things for me to practice doing, such as calling a doctor.