Student Name: Dave Jay S. ManriquezInstructor Name: Asal Makhmour

Final Self-Reflective Journal

1. Nursing Skills

In performing any nursing procedures and skills, it is important to think first what you are doing. Think first about the rationale behind doing things, ask the reason why there is a need to do the procedure. If in doubt always ask the staff in the unit because they are knowledgeable and certainly they can help. Before calling the instructor prepare all the materials needed, estimate or get an extra dressing or gauze so that you will not be going back and forth. If there is a wound protocol to be followed, read the protocol first and try to understand what needs to be done. If there are terminology that you don’t understand you need to do a quick search in the internet for the reason that you don’t want to be embarrass in front of the patient. Do not rush things, think, listen to the instructor, talk to the patient they know things and they can help you. Maintain sterility at all times. I know I mess up on this on some misunderstanding, but I finally get it now. I think more experience on wound dressing will help me to be comfortable in doing it. On other nursing skills that I did perform, I think my performance is fair enough, just need more practice and exposure, hopefully I can practice all the skills that I miss to perform this CPE exposure during the preceptorship.

2. Drug Administration

All the comments that I heard from my instructor regarding drug administration, I tried to observe it. I am guilty of this because I usually cut corners and rush things most of the times. During drug administration days, I tried to organize myself so that I can give the medication on time. For me giving medication keep me on schedule. It also allows me to understand more on my patient condition by knowing the reason why they are receiving those particular drugs. In preparing my medications I always bring the MAR with me leaving the whole binder on the shelf so that other people can use it. In giving injectable insulin I always confirm it with my instructor or any staff in the unit. I always do my checks, and two identifiers before giving the medication to the patient. After giving the medication, I usually stay and wait just to make sure that the patient is really taking the medication and not just keeping it aside.

3. Time Management

Asal always keep reminding all of us to manage our time properly. First thing in the morning, I am checking right away the patient charts, attend the morning shift report, introduce self to the primary nurse informing them of the things that I will be doing on that particular day. Go to the patient room, introduce self, ask pertinent question, do a quick head to toe assessment and vital signs. Chart the vital signs on the flowsheet and then report any significant findings to the primary nurse. After the charting that’s the time I will prepare my medication. But there are days that what you are planning to do is not happening. For example, there are days that the patient assigned to you is quite complicated, has issues that you need to attend, have lots of medication to prepare, there are nursing skills need to be perform, and a lot more. With all of

these happening, what is important is that you know how to manage your time. As a nurse, a good character is that we need to be flexible with inevitable events. Everything we do in the unit we need to force ourselves to be organize about it. We need to be organize and systematically do our nursing intervention, in this way we are providing some time and space for our patient to rest and do their stuff.

4. Personal Growth

I learned a lot from this exposure. Comparing me from the first day until the last day, there is really a change in me. I am becoming more confident and comfortable dealing with different kind of people/patient, performing nursing skills, proficient in my drug administration, my relationship to my colleagues, staff in SPH, and instructor is stronger and indestructible with all the hardship that we went together throughout the whole exposure. Every day that we have duty, even though I am tired, I am always happy and satisfied when I go home, knowing that I help someone. I never regret going back to school because I know with the profession I chose is one way for me that I can help. I considered nursing a noble job. I am a Roman Catholic, I vow in front of the saints to share what I have, to care for people who need help. I do have option, I can stay at home doing trading and marketing advertisement the whole day but at the end it doesn’t give me the happiness that I’m longing for. This exposure help me to be more mature, to be more responsible, it also teaches me a valuable lesson which is to listen, to think, to act in a matter that is appropriate and within the norms or what is being taught by our instructor and my alma mater.