Blog 18: Third Answer

EQ
What is the best way for a nurse to help a patient recover from surgery?

Answer #3
Decrease recovery time by involving patients in the process of their own care.

3 details

• Patients' active participation can contribute to increased motivation to improve, follow prescription orders, get better treatment results and have a high satisfaction with received care. Patient and carers create a Q&A notebook throughout stay in Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
• Ensure that the patient/ client is at the centre of care delivery through the formation of relationships between provider and patient. John Hopkins Medicine Pediatrics Hospital implemented family centered rounds where physicians, nurses and other members of the health care team met with patients and their families all together. From 2012 to 2013, they went from the 56th percentile to the 94th.
• In 2004, the National Institute of Medicine published a report stating that nurses have a critical role in securing patient safety. At my mentorship/ independent component I see that whenever a situation arises, an alarm goes off or a patient that isn't supposed to be moving and is at risk for falling starts to get up, it is the nurse that goes to patients' rooms to talk and make sure they understand that everything is okay and how they can help their own recovery or impede it.

Research Sources

• KAE Plos, et al. "Patient Participation In Nursing Care From A Patient Perspective: A Grounded Theory Study." Scandinavian Journal Of Caring Sciences 21.3 (2007): 313-320. CINAHL Plus with Full Text. Web. 20 Sept. 2013.
• McCance, T., McCormack, B., Dewing, J., (May 31, 2011) "An Exploration of Person-Centredness in Practice" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 16, No. 2, Manuscript 1. Web. 2 Oct. 2013.
• Fink, Shawn. "Trust in us." Nurse. Gannett Company. 5 Aug. 2013. Web. 22 Aug. 2013.
• Dunton, N., Gajewski, B., Klaus, S., Pierson, B., (September 30, 2007) "The Relationship of Nursing Workforce Characteristics to Patient Outcomes" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Vol. 12 No. 3, Manuscript 3. Web. 9 Oct. 2013.
• Mentorship/ Independent Component

Concluding Sentence
Involving patients in their own care by developing interpersonal relationships between patient and provider allows both to meet each others needs resulting in decreased recovery time.

Blog 10: Senior Project - The Holiday

1. What did you do over the break with your Senior Project?
    The first week of break I went out of town with my family and was unable to work on my senior project. However, I was able to continue my mentorship at San Dimas Community Hospital the next week. I volunteered for my usual 4 hour shift in the Medical/Surgical Unit.

2. What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why? What was the source of what you learned?
    Through experience on the floor of my unit and being given the opportunity to talk to patients I learned just how important interaction with patients can be. I met an elderly patient while making my rounds through the rooms asking if  anyone needed anything. Since I was almost finished I decided to stay and chat a bit since he seemed a little lonely. He seemed really eager to talk and began to regale me with stories of being a US Air Force Pilot in Korea and about his life in general. After all had been said, I found the man in tears when I had to go.  He thanked me for the company and told me how glad he was that someone had come to chat with him. It was a touching experience to find just how much giving a part of your day to someone can mean. I've also seen this happen when the nurses would stop and talk to their own patients if only for a few minutes.

3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?
    I would talk to one of the nurses at the hospital I volunteer at, specifically in the Medical/Surgical Unit which is what my EQ is geared towards. I'm familiar with a couple of them (like former iPoly student Aubree) because I've volunteered there for a while now and they have more patient contact than any other hospital staff.

Blog 9: EQ

Content

1. I reviewed the rule of three for writing an EQ.
An essential question must:

• Provide a framework for studies (It calls for breadth and depth of research, Is not a yes/no question)
• Takes a stance (Allows you to argue some point, Cannot be a recitation of facts or a list)
•  Format (It is specific, The wording makes sense)

2. a. What is the most important factor in healthy weight loss?
           Doesn't meet the rule of 3 criteria, because it isn't specific on format. I'm not sure whether they are talking about what is healthy weight loss how to achieve it.    
    b. What is most important to securing a conviction in a criminal investigation?
           Doesn't meet the rule of 3 criteria, because it isn't specific on format. They should be more specific on what they're going to be researching, such as the most important method to...
    c. What is most important in creating a hairstyle that best satisfies a customer?
           Yes, it does meet the rule of 3 criteria, because it is an open ended question. However, there doesn't seem to be much they can research.
    d. How can an Anesthesiologist best treat chronic pain?
           No, it doesn't meet the rule of 3 criteria, because it doesn't allow them to take a stance and they'd just recite a list.

3. What is the most important factor for a registered nurse to provide the best quality care for their patient?
        I'm not sure how I would change this, because I believe it covers the rule of 3 criteria already.

Blog 8: Research and Working EQ

1) EQ: What factor is the most important for a registered nurse to provide the best quality care?
2) Possible EQ answers:

• Focus on person-centred care; this helps nurses deviate from treating only the problems but the patient as a whole.   
• Continuing education, such as obtaining a baccalaureate degree, which will result in a better prepared and more knowledgeable nurse.

3) Most important source: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing is the only website I have found containing free, scholarly nursing articles so far. They have numerous articles on different issues that are currently happening within the nursing field. One specific article that has helped is "Measuring Compassion in Nursing " by D. Sturgeon. It's about patient satisfaction and how nurses can work towards it.
4) I am volunteering at San Dimas Community Hospital in the Medical-surgical unit for inpatients. Since I just started I stay at the main desk of that area taking calls from patients in their rooms that need anything. It is important to my EQ because the focus of my project is on nursing and patient care. I get to observe first hand what is happening in the field. Even though I'm at the desk I have an important role to play in patient care. I relay information about what a patient needs to the specific nurse that is assigned to them. As I continue to volunteer, I hope I will be able to go to patient rooms and help assist nurses in their work with what is permissible.

Blog 5: Project Reflection and Working EQ

The Pentagon: 
(1) Positive Statement: What positive thing happen as a result of what you have completed so far?
     I'm actually really excited about delving deeper into the world of nursing. Every step I take in the senior project makes me realize how much I am interested in the topic I chose. I love how it's a busy hands on job and I won't have to sit at a desk all day. Nursing has now become my top choice for a future career and I can't wait to learn all about it!

(2) EQ Content:  
     My interview with Deza Avelino allowed me to get a better understanding of what it means to be a nurse. She told me her first hand experiences and helped me see the job through her eyes. She told me about the harsh realities of the job as well. Nursing is a serious profession that can be very stressful at times. However, the satisfaction from helping people and knowing that she can make a positive impact on their lives is worth it for her.

(3) What has worked for you so far in the senior project?
     Getting a head start on what needs to be accomplished for my senior project has been beneficial. I got into a Citrus College class on Nursing which will help me fulfill my first Individual Component.

(4) What hasn't worked so far?  
     I haven't been able to get in contact with a mentor so far. Over the summer I had tried to contact several hospitals in my area for volunteering opportunities with no luck. I decided to go to the San Dimas Community Hospital and they gave me an application that I've filled out and will hopefully be contacted soon.

(5) Finding Value:  

•  What is a potential question you would like to study this year?                              How can a nurse provide the best quality patient care?
•  What do you plan to do for mentorship?                                                                       I plan on mentoring at San Dimas Community Hospital. I currently do not have a mentor. My mother works in the lab at the hospital and can help me find a mentor there.  

Blog 1: 2013 2-Hour Presentation Reflections

1. The presentations I viewed were:

Clinical Pharmacy- Gina
Disease Prevention- Jazmin
Singing Professionally- Jamilex
Radio Production- Alfonso
Voice Acting- Deanna
Dance Performance- Valerie
Solar Cup Competition- Jesse
Theatrical Performance- Danielle
Suicidal Youth- Marissa
Independent Short Films- Yesenia
Wedding Planning- Sydney
Law Enforcement- Jared
Physical Therapy- Olivia
Immigration Law- Yareli

2. All of the questions I had for the Senior Project were answered during my interview with a senior and the presentation weeks.

3. Based on the 2 hour presentations, I believe the most important of the senior project is knowing your information. By having an in depth knowledge on your topic through research, mentorship and independent components you can have a successful presentation.

4. I'm not sure what topic I want to do specifically for my senior presentation at the moment, but maybe something health related. I understand that it's important to choose a topic I'm interested in and possibly in a field I'd like to pursue. So, I will explore my options over the summer by volunteering at various places.