NUR 460 Capstone

NUR 460 Capstone: Documentation of Practicum Experiences

Name: Crystal Parks

Practicum Agency: Saint Francis Hospital
Department or Division Location: House Supervisor
Preceptor: Fanta Cabah

Date of Practicum Hours: 11/06/2020

Hours of the experience: 12
Objectives: PGC #2 & PGC #6
During the evening shift, many hospitals in Delaware communicated to the House Supervisor
that they were on Total Divert in their Emergency Rooms. This caused an influx of patients to
fill the ER during my rotation with the house supervisor. All ER rooms and hallway beds were
full with many patients waiting in the waiting room for more than 180 minutes. The house
supervisor showed me how all beds available on the admission units where full along with
telemetry monitors all used and no ICU beds available. The house supervisor communicated on
many different levels to assist in-patient through put and clearly advocating for patients and staff.
The house supervisor demonstrated leadership skills by communicating to physicians to please
re-evaluate patients who can possibly be discontinued from telemetry, communicate to
administration to also call the Delaware Fire Board and go on Total Divert, implement a high
census alert of a code purple (meaning not enough staff: patient ratio). By the HS initiating all
the above she demonstrated patient safety, staff safety, communication skills, and administering
high quality healthcare.
.
Objectives: PGC # 8
During my rotation with the house supervisor, she demonstrated professional nursing within an
ethical framework by the interactions with families and funeral directors coordinating the release
of the deceased. The HS is responsible for contacting family to list and give permission to
release the body of their loved one to a named funeral home along with insuring the proper
paperwork is completed and signed by the funeral home when they pick the deceased up from
the hospital morgue. When communicating with family who just lost a love one it is important to
try your best to respect cultural, spiritual, and ethical wishes of the family and deceased. For one
example, one of the deceased was not released to the funeral home until the priest arrived to
administer last rights over the body by request of the family. The house supervisor also is
responsible to address any patient and family concerns or complaints during their visit. Many
times, I witnessed Fanta having to redirect, calm, or explain care process, patient conditions, and
plan of care to angry upset families and patients. This must be done in a professional, respectful,
peaceful way of communication.