Module 11 Discussion – Reflection Course Competencies

Explain principles of care for clients with oncological disorders.
Identify components of safe and effective nursing care for clients experiencing fluid and electrolyte imbalances.
Describe strategies for safe, effective multidimensional nursing care for clients with acid-base imbalances.
Select appropriate nursing interventions for clients with upper gastrointestinal disorders.
Select appropriate nursing interventions for clients with lower gastrointestinal disorders.
Evaluate responses to nursing interventions for clients with endocrine disorders.

This course competency was achieved through the facilitated discussion amongst classmates about the current mental health system. By understanding the history of mental health, the nurse can better understand the role that nursing plays in mental health. New knowledge gained includes the mental health system’s changes over the past few decades. Understanding this knowledge will impact this student nurse’s future nursing practice because by understanding where things have started, one can understand what needs to change in the future. This student nurse can advocate for systemic and policy changes that are essential to making positive changes in the mental health nursing field.

Explain current legal issues and social concerns in mental healthcare.

By studying the ethical principles and client’s rights, this course competency was achieved. Ethical principles are vital while implementing care within the mental health world. The ethical principles include; autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, veracity, and fidelity. The ethical principles should be implemented and taken seriously to avoid social issues. A professional nurse must understand a client’s legal rights in a mental health setting to prevent legal problems. One new knowledge gained is the right to informed consent and the right to refuse treatment. This new knowledge will benefit this student nurse because informed consent will be used every day in nursing practice. Understanding the patient’s rights is a crucial piece to being a competent, professional nurse.

Select appropriate nursing interventions for clients with certain cognitive, addictive, and psychotic conditions.

This competency was achieved by thoroughly researching conditions like delirium, dementia, substance abuse, and overdose. This student nurse learned the importance of nursing interventions such as evaluating how culture and history can affect how patients view their substance abuse or addictive disorder. One new knowledge gained is the concept of delirium. This student nurse had previously heard people throw around the world “delirious,” but by achieving this course, competency learned the actual meaning of delirium. This new knowledge will be helpful in nursing practice as this student nurse will be able to recognize the causes and symptoms of delirium. Not recognizing delirium in a patient can lead to significant consequences, so it is very beneficial that this student nurse has this knowledge. Module 11 Discussion – Reflection Course Competencies

Evaluate nursing care strategies for clients with certain mental health/mood/personality and eating disorders.

This course competency was achieved through the study of nursing interventions such as suicide assessments, creating a safe environment, implementing one-on-one supervision, maintaining boundaries, and allowing client input in the plan of care. Mood, personality, and eating disorders encompass so many different disorders and diagnoses. One new knowledge gained includes the importance of continuous reassessment in regards to suicide. This student nurse did not previously understand that an increase and energy and mood makes a patient more at risk for suicide. Mood improvement is not an indication that the patient is no longer suicidal. This new knowledge gained will play a vital role in this student nurse’s future professional nursing career. Being able to recognize suicidal thinking is essential. The follow-up questions after a client reports having suicidal thoughts are imperative to understanding the why, how, and the when. This student nurse must continue to recognize the signs and know how to address them should they come up in practice.

Assemble nursing care interventions for clients with mental health/stress related disorders.

This competency was achieved by completing a case study about anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). One nursing intervention explored is the therapeutic communication technique of asking clarifying questions. Anxiety disorder and OCD can present in many different ways. A professional nurse must ask the right clarifying questions to understand what the patient is thinking, feeling, and experiencing. One new knowledge gained is the importance of moving a patient to a quiet area with minimal stimuli when experiencing an anxiety attack (Vera 2019). This knowledge will be helpful in the future for this student nurse because it can be a tool in helping a patient’s anxiety deescalate if certain external stimuli are removed. Remembering the importance of moving where there are minimal stimuli can make a massive difference to a patient experiencing what feels like a situation that cannot be fixed.

Identify factors that impact mental health in special populations.

This course competency was achieved by doing in-depth research about intimate partner violence, child abuse, older adult abuse, and the grieving process. Any professional nurse should understand special populations such as people experiencing intimate partner violence. A new knowledge gained by this student nurse is why pregnancy can trigger or increase intimate partner violence. This student nurse had not previously known that doubts about paternity and seeing the baby as competition could make a partner more at risk for intimate violence. This essential knowledge will benefit this student nurse because it will make them more aware of screening questions during pregnancy. The nurse must ask the pregnant patient if their partner has ever harmed them physically, emotionally, financially, or sexually. Patients suffering from intimate partner violence need nurses to identify any abuse to help them get the help they need to get away from the violent situation.

Describe how you achieved the transferable skill, , including at least one example of new knowledge gained related to the transferable skill.

The transferable skill of communication was achieved through the research this student nurse did about therapeutic communication techniques. Communication techniques like using silence, asking clarifying questions, offering self, active listening, and giving broad openings are just a few ways this student nurse can better communicate with patients and other team members. One new knowledge gained is the importance of providing broad openings when speaking with a patient. This transferable skill will help this student nurse better communicate with patients and obtain the information needed to help the patient get the care they need. Using broad openings allows the nurse to help the patient discuss things more in-depth, which would, in turn, help the nurse better understand what the patient is thinking, what they need, and how they’re feeling. Using silence when appropriate is also something this student nurse will keep in mind during their nursing practice. It may be someone’s instinct to try to “fill the silence” because the moment may feel awkward or don’t want to seem rude. Keeping in mind that silence can be a great asset during clinical conversations will help this student nurse be a master at communication in the future. Module 11 Discussion – Reflection Course Competencies