Course of Study

NURS 20010- Interpersonal and Communication Skills for Health Care Professionals (Fall 2011):

Competencies:

• APA formatting
• The importance of critical thinking
• Facilitation
• Teamwork
• Inter and Intra-disciplinary Communication
• Portfolio Development

Personal Reflection:

This class gave me the tools necessary to understand the APA format, to learn how to become a strong critical thinker, the importance of teamwork and the skills necessary to begin my career as a Nurse.

 
NURS 20020- Foundation of Assessment and Communications in Nursing (Fall 2011):

Competencies:

• Understanding the importance of the Nursing Process and Concept Care Maps
• Cultural Diversity
• Patient Education
• Head to Toe Assessment
• Critical Thinking Skills

Personal Reflection:

The fundamental of Nursing allowed me the opportunity to understand that as a Nurse, I have many roles in the community and that I will always have much to learn. I enjoyed the “on-hands” learning experience about things I will be doing one day in the community. 

NURS 20030 - Foundations of Nursing Interventions (Spring 2012): Mercy Medical Center

Competencies:

• The Nursing Process and gathering assessment skills in a clinical setting
• Sterile Technique-Applying sterile gloves; Setting up and maintaining a sterile field
• Wound care-Wound irrigation and dressing changes
• Medication Administration- Oral, Topical, Subcutaneous and Intramuscular Injections
• Mixing Insulins; Intramuscular injections
• Catheterization and Enemas
• IV and Dosage Calculations

Patient Teaching:

• Infection Control
• Deep Breathing
• Incentive Spirometer
• Safety Techniques
• Wound Care
• Nutrition

Evidence Based Practice:

• Medications Administration (Flushing Saline Lock)
• Repositioning/Turning Client (Q2)
• Hand Washing
• Facility Protocol

Person Reflection:

This course allowed me to practice selected aspects of the professional nurse's role in the clinical setting. The course also allowed me to apply the interpersonal process in the nurse-client relationship. Finally, I was able to use selected physiological principles in promoting health, along with implementing the nursing process within selected settings.

NURS 30010-Parent Newborn Nursing (Spring 2013): Aultman Hospital

Course Description:

A study of nursing assessment, need identification and evaluation for individuals and families during the child bearing cycle.

Competencies:

I learned many new skills during my OB rotation not only how to care for a new born child, but also how to care for the postpartum mother. We dealt with many different scenarios from the normal non complicated pregnancy to causes where infant as well as mother were at high risk for injury and even death. The skills we gained via class and clinical teaching allowed us to analyze lab values, assessment findings and subjective data to build nursing diagnosis and develop a plan of care for mother and child. I learned how quickly a newborn child's condition can change and how to respond to these rapid changes. I got to participate in multiple delivers including vaginal as well as caesarian section which showed me the many roles of the nurse in the OB setting. 

• Newborn assessments
• Administration of IV, Oral, Sub-Q, and IM medications
• Postpartum assessments
• Fetal Monitoring 
• Stages of labor and delivery
• Birth control education
• Caring for high risk Mothers and Premature infants

Patient Teaching: 

Patient teaching is a major part of the child birthing process for first time mothers and fathers as well as people with other children. I taught my patients proper ways to care for their infants by feeding properly on a schedule, how to care for the child's cord, developmental cues, etc. I learned that patients may not know or feel comfortable asking questions, but as the nurse it was important for me to initiate the teaching process and engage the patient in all aspects of the child's care. 

• Breastfeeding
• Birth Control Options
• Postpartum care and activities
• Newborn Care

Evidence Based Practice:

Evidence-based practice is a major contributing factor in the decision making process of the nurse. Basing patient care decisions on practices that have already been put to test allow for less guess work as to the result of a treatment, medication administration, etc. Here are a few examples of evidence-based practice that I was able to use on the OB unit.

• Pitocin is used to induce labor and stimulate contraction.
• Uteran position can be assessed by locating the fundus in relation to the umbilicus.
• Breastfeeding mothers should frequently switch breast to avoid pain and engorgement.
• Newborn babies are given an Apgar score upon birth.
• Infants should always go "back to sleep" meaning they should always sleep on their back to prevent SIDS
• Magnesium-Sulfate for the treatment of pre-eclampsia
• Kangaroo care for thermoregulation and parental bonding
• Brethnine for the treatment of pre-term labor
• Methotrexate for the treatment of ectopic pregnancy

Personal Reflection:

OB really opened my eyes to another aspect of nursing that interest me. During this course we learned about the reproductive cycle and birth process. I quickly learned that approaching every situation with confidence allowed me to establish a good rapport with the patients and their families. We were given the opportunity to work with postpartum patients and laboring patients. In addition, we worked with newborns. We also had the opportunity to observe a C-section. I loved this rotation at Aultman Hospital I learned many new skills that I can carry with me throughout my career as a nurse even if I do not choose to work in the OB field.

NURS 30020-Healthcare of Children (Spring 2013): Aultman Hospital

Course Description:

Nursing process in family-centered care of children including health and developmental promotion and illness and restorative intervention.

Competencies:

Pediatric nursing has taught me not only how to interact with children but how to interact with a whole family almost as one single patient. In class I learned not only how to calculate appropriate medication for children but how to actually get the child to accept me as a caregiver and enable me to administer these much needed medications. As the student nurse I evolved my critical thinking skills to adapt to a young child's needs as well as their family. With the assistance of my teacher as well as fellow students I learned how to communicate with the children in order to facilitate the child maintaining and regaining health.

• Assessment of the pediatric patient
• Administration of IV, Sub-Q, IM, and Oral medications
• Use of a respiratory pathway
• Monitor age-appropriate growth and development as well as developmental milestones.

Patient Teaching: 

In order to teach a young child you must develop a strategy that not only appeals to their developmental abilities, but also includes parents and family in the plan of care. I taught children and families about many things including vaccinations, breathing treatments, medication administration, and cessation of smoking. In order to make sure the child will be cared for properly at home I made sure the parents of the children could grasp individual concepts as well as explain to me the reason behind certain care techniques they would be performing at home.

• Age appropriate care on monitoring of the pediatric patient
• Medication administration
• Monitoring and care for the dehydrated pediatric patient
• Pediatric nutrition

Evidence Based Practice:

Pediatric nursing taught us many things including how to research and rely on evidence based practice to form decisions pertaining to our specific patient. When dealing with children their conditions can change so rapidly that it becomes important to base decisions of treatment on what research before us has proven.

Some of the proven skills we used during clinical:

• How to calculate medication doses according to children's weight to insure we are giving the appropriate dose.
• To suction a child when retractions were noticeable, nasal flares presented, and work of breathing became harder.
• The administration of albuterol to children with Bronchiolitis to promote dilation of the Bronchioles.
• Measuring a child’s level of consciousness using the Glasgow Coma Scale.
• Administer Toradol intravenously over 15 seconds with a normal saline flush.
• CRIES, NIPS, PIPP, FLACC, OUCHER, and FACES are all pain scales to use when assessing different age groups.
• Proton-pump inhibitors and thickened liquids for the treatment of GERD
• Synagis used as prophylaxis for high risk children and infants for the prevention of RSV
• Corticosteroids used for treatment of Asthma
• Amoxicillin used for the treatment of Otitis Media

Personal Reflection:

During this class we learned how to care for children from birth to the adolescent. Upon entering my pediatric clinical experience I was reluctant to communicate with small children in a medical setting. Through guidance and new technique I was able to utilize my skills as a nursing student and harness the knowledge I had obtained in class to care for the children properly and expanded my nursing experience. We also had the opportunity to spend the day in NICU. I gained a lot of knowledge during that day and felt comfortable in that setting. This clinical experience drastically changed my outlook on a possible career as a pediatric nurse, and showed me that it truly takes a patient and knowledgeable type of person to care for these patients. The skills and experience I have gained throughout this rotation have opened my eyes to a new form of nursing and given me the courage to try different aspects of the nursing field.

NURS 30030- Nursing of Adults (Fall 2012): Mercy Medical Center

Course Description:

Emphasizes health promotion and prevention of episodic illness and maintenance of health status. Utilizes nursing process as foundation to provide nursing care composed of clinical experience in acute care settings.

Competencies:

• Examine major causes of morbidity and mortality for the United States population.
• Identify levels of prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary) for major diseases affecting adults.
• Describe normal aging and pathophysiological processes of major diseases affecting adults.
• Demonstrate application of nursing process to provide care to adults and families in acute care settings.
• Utilize a variety of nursing and learning resources, including nursing research, to provide quality, cost-effective nursing care.
• Explore effects of cultural and spiritual diversity on adults in health and illness.
• Assume responsibility for professional development and nursing actions.
• Medications administration to multiple patients
• Central line dressing, flush, and tubing change
• Discharge planning and patient home care instructions

Evidence Based Practice:

• MercyNet - Mercy Hospital
• Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk
• Fall Risk Assessment
• Nursing Process Paper
• Diagnostic Testing Interpretations
• Using a gait belt, non-skid shoes/slippers, and assistive devices
• Alternative special experiences

Patient Teaching:

• Alternative choices for transfer techniques (above the knee amputation)
• Suggested slide board

Personal Reflection:

This clinical rotation offered me an opportunity to learn many new skills, and improve on skills that I have learned previously. I have worked with patients from all walks of life, different socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, and generations and learned from each of these experiences. This clinical rotation has encouraged my desire to become a nurse and provide the best care possible for my patients.  I learned about diagnostic testing, and am better equipped to educate my patients on procedures and testing that they will experience. Delegating and asking team-members for help is vital to nursing survival. Prioritizing work load during report is an absolute must to ensure patient needs are being met in a safe and efficient manner. Staying task on target seems impossible but with good communication skills and organization it can and does get done.

NURS 30040-Nursing of Adults with Gerontological and/or Rehabilitation needs (Fall 2012):

Mercy Medical Center & Altercare of Nobles Pond

Course Description:

The purpose of this course is to offer a foundation in gerontological and rehabilitation nursing.

Competencies:

• Gained knowledge of the relation to the psycho-physiological changes in older adults and those undergoing rehabilitation.
• Learned to identify changes, consequences, and nursing care related to aging and rehabilitation for individuals and families in a variety of settings.
• Identified community resources and interdisciplinary team members that are both necessary and available to adults and families who are dealing with the effects and changes related to aging and/or rehabilitation.
• Successfully applied the nursing process in caring for adults and families that are affected by the major chronic diseases found throughout the population of the United States.
• Learned to utilize a variety of nursing sources in order to substantiate the basis of care.
• Incorporated elements of the role of the professional nurse in providing culturally competent nursing care for older adults and those who are undergoing rehabilitation.

 Evidence Based Practice:

• MercyNet - Mercy Hospital
• Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Ulcer Risk
• Mini-Mental Exam
• Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living
• Geriatric Depression Scale
• Fall Risk Assessment
• Nursing Process Paper
• Diagnostic Testing Interpretations
• Clinical Journaling
• Alternative special experiences

Patient Teaching:

• Signs of infection
• Infection control
• Importance of proper hand washing

Personal Reflection:

The patients in both the nursing home and at the hospital's rehabilitation unit each had something to offer in teaching me, the nurse in training, about relating to people and thinking ahead to be able to meet patient needs.  These patients all had their own challenges, and another thing that I learned a great deal about was patient mobility.  I felt that this clinical rotation was very beneficial both for the skills learned as well as skills practiced.  I feel comfortable working with patients that have an extensive range of needs with care. Lastly, I feel that I became much more comfortable in communication with patients that have an impaired ability due to illness, injury, or disease. The elderly patient requires more time and support when completing tasks. Allowing the patient to reminisce builds the patient-nurse relationship. Teaching needs to be reinforced by all health care providers. Providing patients with community resources can be the difference between staying independent or having to be institutionalized.

NURS 30050- Basic Nursing Informatics (Spring 2012): Online

Course Description:

Focuses on the use of nursing informatics for clinical nursing practice, inquiry and communication

Competencies:

• Demonstrate knowledge of basic concepts of the development, scope and application of nursing informatics.
• Describe and discuss legal, ethical, regulatory and economic issues surrounding the management of clinical information.
• Demonstrate use of selected information technology and terminology related to nursing informatics.
• Apply informatics competencies needed for nurses practicing in the current health care environment.
• Discuss informatics applications for quality care and patient safety.

Patient Teaching: 

Developed an educational pamphlet on Shaken Baby Syndrome. Please click here for more information.

Evidence Based Practice:

Ontological approach. Care Map; please click here for more information.

Personal Reflection:

There were things that I really enjoyed with this class and things that I thought could be changed to help students who are not familiar with nursing informatics. This class did a wonderful job in teaching me organizational skill, as assignments were due at a certain time each week. Since this class was mainly online, I had to learn to prioritize my personal life with my educational goals. Any class that helps build your organizational skills is a benefit to your overall nursing career

NURS 30060- Basic Pharmacology (Spring 2013): Online

Course Description:

Introduction to general principles of pharmacology. Major classes of pharmacotherapeutic agents, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, dosage and administration; effects and nursing responsibilities.

Competencies: 

Demonstrate a knowledge of the actions, dosage ranges, therapeutic uses, adverse effects, and drug interactions of the common classes of drugs, apply the nursing process, including assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation to the therapeutic use of drugs in patients across the lifespan.

Patient Teaching:

Medication implications and side effects.

Evidence Based Practice:

Medication administration and therapeutic effects of drugs.

Personal Reflections:

Medications have basic classifications that help identify the behavior of the drug. I found it helpful to have knowledge about different medications and their action, side effects, and contraindications, and to be able to relate that information to my patient.

NURS 40005 - Professional Nursing Development (Spring 2014): Online

Course Description:

Course focuses on professional development and the transition from student to graduate nurse, including interviewing techniques and resume preparation. Explores health care economics and policy, political activism, cultural competence, nursing theory, leadership of meetings and managing group dynamics, the future of nursing and health care, nursing practice opportunities, role development, professional nursing organizations, graduate education and specialty certification.  

Competencies:

• Creation and presentation of nursing education seminar
• Resume and cover letter writing
• Refined professional writing skills
• Leadership concepts
• Delegation practices
• Quality improvement
• Staffing
• Critical thinking
• Organizational skills and Time management, Patient Priorities
• Communication skills and Team building
• Problem solving, Decision making, Conflict management
• Legal and Ethical issues
• Budget concepts
• HIPAA and confidentiality
• Evidence Based Practice

This course allowed me to gain experience in writing a cover letter and resume and even practice my interview skills with a mock interview. I was able to gain more information on several subjects in nursing from a presentation and intensive paper. 

Course Description:

Holistic approach to assessing, intervening and evaluating critically ill persons. Nursing practice in critical care settings with diverse populations.

Competencies:

• Assessment of the critically ill client with multi-system failure
• Incorporates the nursing process in the care of critically ill adults.
• Acquired knowledge and skills specific to nursing practice in the critical care setting.
• Enhanced professional role developed through participation in the social, cultural, and political influences on the critical care unit
• Care of the client on ventilators with multiple IVs
• Care of the clients with a respiratory and heart failure
  
• Care of a client with a gun shot wound to the head
  
• Use of critical and analytical thinking in application of the nursing process
• Performed head to toe assessment of the critically ill patient
• Refined previously learned nursing skills
• Acquired nursing knowledge and skills specific to the critical care setting
• Chest tube and tracheostomy care, oropharygeal and endotracheal suctioning, ventilator support, cardiac monitoring
• Enhanced professional development
• Documentation and charting skills
• Organizational skills
• Hemodynamic monitoring and interpretation of EKG strips
• Medication administration
  
• Electrolyte alterations
• Intravenous therapy including PICC lines, Central lines, IV piggyback and IV push medications

Patient Teaching:

• Educated clients about energy conservation techniques
• Taught family members about diagnostic tests and several medications such as anticoagulation therapy (purpose of medication and the recovery plan)
  
• Educated clients with heart failure the importance of daily weights and diuretics 

Evidence Based Practice:

• Researched patients with alterations in: cardiovascular function, tissue perfusion, neurological and pulmonary function, gastrointestinal function, fluid volume and electrolyte imbalances, and dysrhythmias.
  
• Performed a case study on a patient with a medical diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and Respiratory Failure
  
• Practiced nursing care at Mercy Medical Center in the Intensive Care Unit, the Emergency Room and the Cardiac Care Unit. 

Personal Reflection:

The critical care experience helped me to refine my previous skills and enhance my critical thinking skills by caring for clients with multi-system failure.  I was able to better understand the pathophysiology of a patients' condition by incorporating knowledge I have acquired through nursing courses. This course allowed me to build confidence in myself as a professional nurse. This is a specialized area of nursing and I was able to experience clinicals on a step down floor, ICU, ER, and CVSICU.  

Course Description:

Concepts of community health nursing with emphasis on health promotion and prevention of population-based health problems.

Competencies:

• Health promotion for the community and national objectives from Healthy People 2020.
• Levels of Prevention: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary
• Epidemiology: Agent, host, environment, and vulnerable populations
• Community Health Nurse's Role and Ethical Decisions

• Reinforced sterile technique for administering IV antibiotics to a patient receiving home care and patient gave return demonstration.
• Explained to patient with peripheral neuropathy the importance of wearing comfortable, well-fitted shoes and to avoid walking barefoot.
• Taught secondary prevention by explaining importance of weight loss for a pre-hypertensive patient.

Personal Reflection:

This course has taught me the importance and the role of the community health nurse and how members of the community are apart of a bigger picture. I was able to learn how to facilitate the nursing process within the community by working with a team by focusing on a particular population and develop a nursing diagnosis to help improve and promote a healthy lifestyle for the community. I received the opportunity to attend different facilities within Stark county to help better my knowledge of Community Health Nursing. It was also beneficial in allowing me to learn all the different kinds of resources that are available within the community so I can take this into my own career and provide my future patients with this information.

NURS 40030 –Psychiatric Nursing & Mental Health Nursing Care (Summer 2013): Heartland Behavioral Healthcare

Course Description:

Focuses on the development of therapeutic relationships with individuals, families and vulnerable populations across the lifespan who have potential and/or identified mental health needs. Students will learn and apply theory about mental health illness.

Competencies:

• Attendance of Alcohol Anonymous meeting
• Improved therapeutic communication through completing and Interactional Process Recording (IPR) paper 
• Understanding resistance, transference, countertransference, genuineness, respect, empathic understanding, confrontation, immediacy, nurse self-disclosure, emotional catharsis, and role playing.
  
• Increased self-awareness with regard to verbal and non-verbal communication
  
• Learned about different treatment modalities to increase coping skills
  
• Demonstrates self-Awareness reflected through journals
• Biopsychosocial Assessment Nursing Care Plan
• Awareness of client's beliefs, culture, and developmental stage to integrate them into the diagnosing, planning and implementing of nursing care.
  

Patient Teaching:

Utilized Pilates technique to combat stress, anxiety, and depression

Evidence Based Practice:

Utilized therapeutic communication skills with the psychiatric patient.

Personal Reflection:

In this course I compiled several self-awareness journals. Each was a reflection of my own personal and professional opinion of the psychiatric patient. As the semester progressed my opinion changed for the better. The AA meeting I attended was helpful in my understanding of people with drug and alcohol additions. I also completed a biopsychosocial assessment nursing care plan in which allowed me to understand the many aspects of a patient in this setting. This course was mentally challenging. The patients I interacted with were in such disparity, instilling hope seemed almost impossible.

NURS 40045 – Integration of Leadership and Management in Nursing (Summer 2013): Mercy Medical Center

Course Description:

This course provides students with the knowledge and skills for a beginning leadership position (team leader, module leader and primary nurse), applicable to the care of patients in a health care environment. This course provides students with opportunities to synthesize their nursing knowledge and collaborate with their clinical preceptor in preparation for their professional nursing role.

Competencies:

• Establish rapport with preceptor and unit
• Completed 120 practicum hours
• Presented professional issue
  

Patient Teaching:

• Reviewed discharge instructions
• Reviewed plan of care
• Side effects of medications
• Wound care
• Diet and weight in accordance with health (diabetes and stroke)
• Dressing changes
• Medication administration
  

Evidence Based Practice:

• Transfer of patient to chair or bed which allowed the patient the highest level of safety. 
• Hand-washing to reduce the risk of infection amongst the patients and staff. 
• Fall risk assessments to prevent further injury to patients.
  
• Braden scale and neurology checks periodical which indicated further needs of patients.
  

Personal Reflection:

This class has been by far my favorite class because it allowed me to utilize the information I have learned in previous classes to be incorporated into my day to day routine with my preceptor. During my practicum I was able to gain strength and confidence although with new skills that will provide me with success in my future. 

NURS 40872 - Introduction to Nursing Research (Spring 2015): Online

Course Description: Scientific approach and methods of research design in clinical nursing. Evaluation of specific nursing studies. Development of a researchable nursing problem, analysis and critique of studies of problem and implications for clinical practice.

Competencies:

Researching nursing focused subjects, understanding the importance of research for Evidence Based Practice in nursing, formulating research questions and critiquing other research articles and develop the ability to critique research studies in nursing with understanding and comprehension.

Personal Reflection:

This course allowed me to gain experience in researching nursing related topics.  It will benefit me in my future career as a nurse because I have experience in researching new nursing subjects and can stay up-to-date on new changes or policies in the nursing field.  I now know how to find Evidence Based Practice articles and use what I learn to apply it to my own methods of practice in nursing.