September Seminar Reflection

Eric Wyatt

Hahn School of Nursing, University of San Diego

HCI 548: Health Care Informatics Seminar

Dorothy O’Hagan

September 23, 2021

 The first seminar session made me think in new and different ways. I was able to have a

better understanding of what I should aim to accomplish with the course. I want to take

advantage of this opportunity to learn more about what I need to do to market myself and take

full advantage of my learning opportunities. I am excited about the ways in which this course

and program will allow me to explore how exactly I envision my career path.

As a clinical nurse, I identify real problems in my job and I always aim to find effective

solutions to those problems. By better understanding trends in health care informatic, I have

already begun envisioning how my studies can improve how I practice my nursing care. On my

unit, I have been able to see things in a different perspective and this excites me in a way that I

did not anticipate. The seminar discussion put all of this into a concrete context and made my

thoughts more tangible.

However, I feel somewhat lost when it comes to brainstorming what my capstone project

will look like or aim to accomplish. I must try to let my readings, my assignments, and my

modules guide me in trying to imagine what I can try to undertake in this course. This is why I

am thrilled to create a virtual portfolio to show what I can and will achieve. Overall, I feel a bit

overwhelmed with the whole experience, but I am motivated to tackle it all. Nursing school was

an animal and part of me feels that graduate school will be a beast.

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October Seminar Reflection

Eric Wyatt

Hahn School of Nursing, University of San Diego

HCI 548: Health Care Informatics Seminar

Dorothy O’Hagan

October 21, 2021

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The most recent seminar session has me excited about the online portfolio that I will

create as part of the program. I think that there is a great potential to use that tool for marketing

myself when it comes to time to search for a position with a company or organization. The

examples shown in class were professional and polished. Their clean appearance made me

curious as to how mine should ultimately look. It will be important for me to pick an appropriate

site architecture so that I can properly build it as my program progresses. It will take much more

work for me if I decide to change the template at a later time.

As the program has progressed, I have learned a great deal about what a workflow is and

one constructs them. Because of that, I am eager to find a way to access Vizio and Project so that

I can finesse this skillset. I think that being able to construct a workflow will be a talent that will

be enjoyable to learn and master. I have learned that being able to construct certain charts and

graphics can make projects easier to conceptualize. I will try to become better at this in the

future.

The communication workshop that I participated in also made it apparent that I need to

improve my LinkedIn profile and my resume. I think that making these items more refined will

make it easier for me to showcase what I can do and what I know. For that reason, I am happy

that the program not only wants me to progress in my skillset and knowledge, but also wants me

to be better able to showcase the journey in a meaningful way.

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November Seminar Reflection

Eric Wyatt

Hahn School of Nursing, University of San Diego

HCI 548: Health Care Informatics Seminar

Dorothy O’Hagan

November 24, 2021

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The most recent seminar session has me more settled into the program. I finally feel like

a graduate student and I know what is expected. That doesn’t make it any less hard, but it

certainly puts everything into perspective. During many of my past educational endeavors, I have

seen professors almost as managers that are asking me to complete a task and perform the

required duties. However, I now see my professors as partners in my education. I see the

professors in the program as individuals that are invested in my success. I am convinced that

they want to see me through to the end as much as I want that. With that being said, everything is

still in my control. I must continue the efforts and I must ask for help or guidance if that is what I

need.

As I continue my studies, my fellow students have served to be an invaluable resource.

They have encouraged me when I needed it and they have offered support when I have asked. In

return, I have made it a priority to do the same. In my career, I have continually seen the power

of a team and seen what can happen when people work together towards a common goal. To that

end, I have emulated that in my studies because I know that my fellow students work as hard as I

do to see their goals achieved. Their experiences and their insight have pushed my own

knowledge forward because it has inspired me to seek new knowledge with new perspectives.

Seeing their different projects and how they envision each course objective offers me new ways

to think about things and new ideas for future projects.

It will be my task now to focus on my self-care. I see my studies and my career colliding

in ways that have me stretched to my maximum. The stress I experience has made me manage

my time and energy in ways that I am not used to doing. I know that I am only as good as what I

can muster and it is for that reason that I have begun to prioritize my health and mental well-

being. It is with that spirit that I believe I have truly become more settled into my studies.
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December Seminar Reflection

Eric Wyatt

Hahn School of Nursing, University of San Diego

HCI 548: Health Care Informatics Seminar

Dorothy O’Hagan

December 11, 2021

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The most recent seminar session has me excited for the end. I know that this sounds odd

to admit, but I mean that as a purely positive sentiment. Watching fellow students that are farther

into the program was an inspiring endeavor. I saw where they are in their knowledge and where I

still have to explore. The projects and presentations tackled real issues in our healthcare industry

and their interventions had real potential to make real improvements to the way we deliver care

in this country. For example, I have always thought that the discharge process is needlessly

cumbersome and I found the project that explored that process very intriguing.

I know that this is early in the program, but watching all the presentations has me

thinking of capstones I may want to explore. When you are a nurse, you must think of discharge

as soon as a patient is admitted. In that same fashion, I think that it is appropriate to start thinking

about capstone projects at the beginning of the program. It took me a decent amount of time to

think about what ideas and topics I could investigate for all of my class assignments that were

due this semester. Similarly, it will take time for me to choose where my project will take root.

As the program has begun for me, I have grown increasingly concerned with not

completely knowing where I want to take my career. If nothing else, seeing all of the

presentations and projects made me realize that there are so many different flavors of health care

informatics. The world of informatics is a great expanse of specialties, disciplines and expertise.

Because of that I know that gaining a greater knowledge of informatics will give me a greater

education, but it will also help me understand what I enjoy most about the subject. I see this as a

way for me to envision my career. I can see what flavor of informatics may spark my greatest

interest. Some of my colleagues see where they want to navigate their career and conversations

with them have proven helpful in searching out my own interests. Continuing to learn more will

allow me to see where I may fit in the future.