Academic Artifacts
Below, please find information on learning outcomes in conjunction to their corresponding American Association Of Critical Care Nurses' domain. To demonstrate competency, academic artifacts are linked accordingly. Reflective analyses are included to demonstrate how each item has contributed to my professional development as a nurse.
Knowledge of Nursing Practice: Utilize established and evolving disciplinary knowledge and ways of knowing, from a variety of disciplines including liberal arts and natural and social sciences to inform clinical judgement and innovative practice (AACN Essential 1).
This learning outcome allows me to embrace the interdisciplinary collaboration between health care team members, while emphasizing how the arts and sciences of nursing can be incorporated into my clinical judgment/practice.
Alcohol Withdrawal Presentation
This presentation explains the diagnosis of Alcohol Use Disorder and discusses the pathophysiology of patients experiencing withdrawal. Treatment protocols at San Joaquin General Hospital were compared to evidence-based practice to identify possible deviations that may affect patient outcomes. Details of a personal clinical experience were disclosed while maintaining patient confidentiality and providing evidence of successful treatment. Challenges, barriers, and a possible ethical dilemma in this population were also identified, in order to raise awareness on the disadvantages minorities may face in attempts to improve their health.
Through applying concepts from a variety of disciplines, such as mental health, natural sciences, and social sciences, my clinical judgment allowed me to recommend practices, such as providing information on Alcoholics Anonymous and suggesting effective coping skills. I was also able to observe the symptoms of Alcohol Use Withdrawal, interventions, and barriers, which was helpful in providing patient-centered care and accessible resources. This experience enabled me to grow professionally by demonstrating positive patient outcomes based on an alignment of established protocols with evidence-based practice. It allowed me to examine my personal philosophy with related ethical dilemmas that may occur.
Pediatric Care Plan
This care plan goes into depth regarding the treatment of a 10-day-old female. In order to understand the patient's condition and how interventions can treat "failure to thrive," details about the following are disclosed while maintaining patient confidentiality: patient data, pathophysiology, lab values and their implications, physical assessment findings, nursing diagnoses, evaluation of interventions, and recommendations.
My pediatric care plan meets the criteria of "Knowledge of Nursing Practice" by demonstrating how natural sciences and social sciences informed my clinical judgment and innovative practices. Through an examination of the natural sciences, such as the consideration of the patient's pathophysiology, lab values, and patient data, the diagnosis of "failure to thrive" was confirmed. With an integration of social sciences, I was able to assess the mother's symptoms of postpartum depression and the parents' knowledge deficit for burping. These assessments allowed me to formulate nursing diagnoses, interventions, and evaluations in order to supplement the treatment and provide patient-centered care. It contributes to my development as a nurse by allowing me to build strong patient-nurse rapport, evaluate treatment, and practice interventions.
CP4.docx.pdfCAREPLAN 5.pdfPerson-Centered Care: Implement person centered care that is holistic, individualized, and reflects an understanding of human growth and development, the determinants of health, pathophysiology, pharmacology, medical and nursing management across the spheres of care (AACN Essential 2).
This domain reinforces foundational nursing skills to ensure that treatment is always individualized and holistic, in aims of achieving positive outcomes to ensure optimal health and well-being.
Adult Health II Care Plan
This care plan goes into depth regarding the treatment of a 73-year-old male. In order to understand the patient's condition diagnosis of severe sepsis secondary to pneumonia and pharyngitis, details about the following are disclosed while about his treatment while maintaining patient confidentiality: patient data, pathophysiology, lab values and their implications, physical assessment findings, medications, nursing diagnoses, evaluation of interventions, and recommendations.
Care plans allow me to understand the implementation of patient-centered care that is holistic and individualized by encouraging thorough analysis and reflection of a patient's treatment. By integrating knowledge from my nursing courses, I was able to evaluate the current state of my patient with careful consideration to his medical history, potential symptoms, side effects, and precautions. This demonstrates an understanding across the spheres of care, as I factored in all aspects of his treatment in order to achieve effective nursing and medical management. This contributed to my development as a nurse, as it allowed me to practice critical thinking, reinforced treatment plans for sepsis, and apply foundational nursing skills.
Mental Health Care Plan
This care plan explains the treatment of a 30-year-old female diagnosed with an unspecified psychotic disorder, who was admitted for experiencing an episode of an acute unspecified mood disorder. It includes information regarding the patient's mental health history, medical history, lab values, medications, nursing management, interventions, and recommendations.
This assignment allowed me to reflect on the holistic, individualised treatment and management of a psychiatric patient. Though the patient was primarily admitted for psychiatric concerns, implementing considerations towards determinants of health and pathophysiology allowed providers to also treat the patient for a urinary tract infection. With continuous assessment, planning, diagnosing, and evaluation of patient outcomes, I learned various methods of implementing interventions catered to impaired social interactions, ineffective coping skills, and risk for injury/suicide, which contributed strongly to my developing skills of practicing individualized, holistic care.
Population Health: Create action plans, interventions and influence policies, towards health equity and improved health spanning the healthcare delivery continuum from public health prevention to disease management of populations (AACN Essential 3).
Through the encouragement of creating plans, implementing interventions, and influencing policies, this learning outcome provided me an opportunity to positively impact communities to promote health equity.
Healthy Eating on a Budget Presentation
This population health intervention was presented at Ronald E. McNair High School in Stockton, CA, catered to students ranging from freshmen to seniors. Our target audience was chosen after completing a windshield survey, which was also addressed in the presentation. It served as a feasible guide to promote healthy eating with financial benefits. The students were able to practice making healthy choices through a series of hands-on activities and were encouraged to practice these habits daily. They were also motivated to share these practices with their family members and were provided information on local accessible food resources in aims of improving public health and health equity.
In this project, my group members and I were able to create an action plan and implement interventions geared towards supplementing improved health equity with health spanning by directly targeting this population with feasible recommendations. In aims of reaching optimal health and well-being, considerations to possible limitations in finances and location were also accounted for. It contributed to my developement as a nurse, as it demonstrated how advocacy and education can influence communities in making changes towards healthier lifestyles.
Hand Washing Presentation
This presentation was created to be presented to preschoolers with goals of promoting hand hygiene in order to prevent the transmission of illnesses and diseases. Interventions included education regarding germs, when to complete hand hygiene, signs of illnesses, and general treatment to promote recovery. Visual, auditory, and tactile demonstrations were included with reinforcement of learning through the teach-back method.
At this age, preschoolers may forget to initiate handwashing, so providing the education in a fun, interactive way aided in creating a positive impact on their health and well-being. It contributed to my development as a nurse, as it provided insight on various methods to educate and promote public health to diverse age groups. This presentation contributed to public health prevention and disease management of preschoolers, as it informs children hand hygiene and its significance in preventing illnesses.
Scholarship for the Nursing Discipline: Synthesize, translate, apply, and disseminate knowledge to improve health and transform health care (AACN Essential 4).
This domain allows me to integrate evidence-based research and newly acquired knowledge into current healthcare practices, allowing healthcare facilities to implement changes in their policies and procedures in order to achieve increase positive outcomes.
Quality Improvement Presentation
This presentation contributes to the nursing discipline as it synthesizes, translates, applies, and disseminates knowledge regarding catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI). By defining CAUTI, its symptoms, and its recent incident rates at St. Josephs's hospital, my group members and I were able to propose a quality improvement plan in aims of decreasing CAUTI rates. This intervention was created by evaluating current policies and procedures while comparing them to evidence-based practice findings. General principles and appropriate indications for urinary catheter insertions were listed in order to provide concise guidelines to improve the health of patients while transforming healthcare.
This project was important for my development as a nurse because it allowed me to evaluate whether current hospital policies were performing best practice aligned with current research. In comparing policies to evidence-based practice, I learned that it's important to be up-to-date with the most recent studies to encourage positive outcomes for patients via advocacy. This experience helped me achieve the learning outcome by giving me an opportunity to evaluate policies, disseminate new evidence-based practice recommendations, and thus, improve health to transform healthcare.
Preeclampsia Presentation
This presentation provided a comprehensive overview about the diagnosis of preeclampsia in pregnant patients. It was presented to my classmates during my obstetrics rotation at Doctor's Medical Center and providing information on preeclampsia's pathophysiology, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prognosis.
I chose to present and research preeclampsia because during my labor and delivery rotation, I assisted in the treatment and care of at least three patients diagnosed with this condition. By presenting my research findings and providing examples of my clinical experiences, I was able to synthesize, translate, apply, and disseminate knowledge to improve the health of preeclamptic and, thus, transform health care. It contributed to my development as a nurse by allowing me to share my experiences with my classmates and advocate for patient-centered care when suspicion of preeclampsia arises.
Physical Assessment.pdfQuality and Safety: Employ quality care, established and emerging principles of safety, and improve science through both system effectiveness and individual performance (AACN Essential 5).
This domain allows me to build foundational skills with assurance to safety and high-quality care that contributes to success at the systematic and individual level of performance in healthcare.
Medication Administration & Physical Assessment Competency
A performance checklist was completed every semester of the program to ensure competency in medication administration and physical assessment. Each check-off was completed at school through a simulated experience and/or during a clinical rotation with a patient. Patients' consents were obtained prior to check-offs if completed during clinicals, as instructors would accompany me in completing these check-offs.
These evaluations allowed me to consistently employ quality care, as it reinforced my learning of foundational nursing skills and allowed me to practice my skills in a thorough manner. In doing so, established and emerging principles of safety were solidified, which then provided me an opportunity to practice medication administration and physical assessments independently under my preceptors' supervision. Additionally, by practicing evidence-based practice throughout my clinical rotations, I added to the contribution of improved science with my individual performances, thus, also assisting hospital facilities to demonstrate system effectiveness at the staff level.
Interprofessional Partnerships: Engage in professional collaboration across disciplines and with other stakeholders including patients, families, and communities, to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes that recognize the unique contribution of all members (AACN Essential 6).
This domain has allowed me to practice advocacy for my patients through interprofessional collaboration in order to create effective care plans that are individualized and holistic.
Family Assessment Paper
During my pediatric nursing course, my classmate and I assessed a family unit, whose child was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. An interview was conducted in order to assess the family unit, parenting style, health perception, and child. Anticipatory guidance, health promotion, and resources were then included to conclude the paper.
When treating patients with certain diagnoses, specialized interventions and recommendations may be required in order to ensure patients receive the utmost care. This can necessitate the need for expertise from other fields like psychiatry and education. By interacting with this family unit and planning for potential referrals, I learned the importance of professional collaboration and its role in patient-centered care. By interviewing this family on a personal level, I learned that it's crucial to account for patients' lifestyles, diets, cultures, religions, and more when planning interventions. By showing consideration to individualized interventions and communicating this to other disciplines, healthier habits can be introduced more feasibly, thus, optimizing care and promoting maintenance in lifestyle changes.
Senior Practicum Clinical Reflection
Throughout my senior clinical practicum, I precepted in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and shared my experiences about my shifts on a weekly basis. Details about my shifts included skills practiced, observations, reflections, and researching findings to support clinical interventions. This journal, in particular, focused on the clinical assessment of a patient with Trisomy 21 and a patient with possible Necrotizing Enterocolitis.
This assignment allowed me to share my experience in offering professional collaborations across disciplines, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, individualized education plans, specialists, support groups, and mental health counseling. By being aware of these disciplines and readily providing guidance to families/communities, the healthcare experience can be supplemental in optimizing care, especially to those who have neonates diagnosed with an uncurable condition. As a result, this would strengthen patient outcomes by helping them navigate the transition during the discharge process. This contributed to my development as a nurse, as I was able to recognize how various disciplines can assist a family unit to provide clarity and assistance in a time of uncertainty.
Systems-Based Practice: Coordinate resources to provide cost effective, safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations within complex systems of health care (AACN Essential 7).
This domain helped me learn about the coordination of accessible resources, stakeholders, and quality improvement to promote cost effective, safe, quality, and equitable care.
Community Self-Help Groups Paper
This paper provides insight on two 12-step meetings that I attended, which included Alcoholics Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous. Details regarding setting, participant roles, and therapeutic factors were disclosed. My role in the meetings and relevant evidence-based findings may be found at the end of the assignment as well.
I was able to meet the learning objective, "systems-based practice," by immersing myself in local, accessible resources that are aimed towards healing diverse populations. Alcoholics Anonymous and Emotions Anonymous are both resources that are cost effective and safe, which is helpful in providing quality and equitable care to diverse populations. In these meetings, I learned about how all participants can arrive, show up as they are, and be accepted, regardless of what "step" they are in. In this process, I learned about how support groups can help individuals find communities while they are facing adversity. This contributes to my development as a nurse because participating in these programs allows me to provide insight about these resources to my patients.
Sentinel Event Paper
The purpose of this paper served to bring attention to the sentinel event that involved the case of Treveon Isaiah Taylor, Jr. A sentinel event was defined, in addition to how system failures and information/communication technologies played a role in this event. A literature review, root cause analysis, Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat analysis, and quality improvement plan were included in order to encourage action towards mitigating future sentinel events, especially in the Black community.
By completing ample research and applying these findings, I learned how to navigate the improvement of this sentinel event through measurable, objective goals. I created interventions based off Lewin's Three-Step Model and encouraged evaluation off staff members with a specific timeframe. This contributed to my development as a nurse, as it provided me an opportunity to assume the position of a leader/manager, who coordinates resources between staff and stakeholders to promote cost-effective, safe, quality, and equitable care to diverse populations within complex systems of health care.
PathoPharm Paper.pdfCare Plan #6 L&D.docxInformatics and Healthcare Technologies: Utilize patient care technologies, information systems, and communication devices to manage and improve the delivery of safe, high‐ quality, and efficient healthcare services (AACN Essential 8).
This domain allowed me to utilize informatics and healthcare technologies to promote safe, high-quality, and efficient care by streamlining vital patient information onto accessible platforms, thus contributing to seamless interprofessional collaboration.
Paper on Escitalopram's Pathopharmacology
This assignment focuses on two hypothetical case studies, including details on the patients' diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder. The paper is formatted in a framework that serves to provide the patient with more information on their new prescription medication, escitalopram (Lexapro). Information on pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, drug properties, and drug administration are included, in addition to an analysis and nursing implications.
Through research via information systems, such as evidence-based articles and findings from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, I was able to disseminate relevant information about the intake of escitalopram (Lexapro). Patient care technologies and information system were used to access the electronic health records and medication administration records. Communication devices were used to disclose prescription orders between the patients and their healthcare team members, such as providers, nurses, and pharmacists. The utilization of informatics and healthcare technologies demonstrates how devices can improve the delivery of safe, high-quality, and efficient healthcare. It contributed to my development as a nurse, as it allowed me to practice research using informatics while using technology efficiently.
Labor and Delivery Care Plan
This care plan goes into depth regarding the labor and delivery process of a 31-year-old female. In order to understand the patient's delivery via primary cesaran section and the procedure of a tubal ligation, details about the following are disclosed while maintaining confidentiality: patient data, pathophysiology, lab values and their implications, physical assessment findings, medications, uterine and fetal assessment, pain assessment, nursing diagnoses, evaluation of interventions, and recommendations.
The assignment demonstrates the use of patient care technologies and information systems accessed via Cerner. Through Cerner, I was able to obtain information, such as patient data, procedure requests, lab values, previous physical assessment findings, medications, nursing diagnoses, and current plan of care. I was able to assess the patient's uterine diligently via tocometer transducers, which also allowed me to assess fetal baseline heart rate and variability. Communication devices, such as Cyracom platforms, were used to translate for the patient, as she was Spanish-speaking. With use of these technologies, systems, and devices, I was able to achieve safe, high-quality, and efficient patient-centered care. It allowed me to obtain all the necessary information to implement efficient healthcare services, which contributed to my development as a nurse by allowing me to practice the navigation of these informatics and technologies.
Professionalism: Cultivate and sustain a professional identity through the acquisition of expertise and assertion of leadership that reflects professional characteristics and values (AACN Essential 9).
This domain allowed me to achieve personal and professional development by providing me opportunities to assume leadership roles to promote health equity and improve social determinants of health in diverse populations.
Marginalized Populations Presentation
This presentation introduces the concept of marginalized populations, focusing on the experiences of women of color. It provides an overview of historical events and healthcare disparities. A background of discrimination, marginalization, and social determinants of health were covered, in addition to contributing factors. Research findings are included, detailing maternal mortality rates by race and ethnicity. Encouragement towards implementing solutions, advocating for this marginalized population, and promoting health equity in nursing was also included.
This presentation allowed me to assume a professional identity by providing me the opportunity to assume a leadership role while disseminating knowledge to promote health equity for marginalized populations. I learned about how black maternal mortality rates are three times as likely as white women in the United States, in addition to leading causes of maternal death in other minorities as well. By promoting change in nursing care to my fellow nursing students, it contributed to my professional development by allowing me to advocate for these populations in aims of increasing positive outcomes for our diverse communities.
Maternal Interview Paper
This assignment provides a comparison about birthing experiences in the 20th century and current practices at Doctor's Medical Center Modesto. Details regarding birth setting, pain management, support systems, role of the registered nurse, maternal care routine, newborn care routine, use of technology, culture, events surrounding childbirth and personal meaning of the birth experience were included while maintaining patient confidentiality. The interviewee was my stepmother. She shared information on her birth experience in 1989.
I was able to achieve this learning outcome by practicing my leadership skills in interviewing the participant, informing her of changes in current practices which illustrated my commitment to nursing values/characteristics. I shared my research findings with her and informed her about how evidence-based practice has transformed the birthing experience. This contributed to my development as a nurse as it allowed me to practice interpersonal communication while providing patient education in laymen's terms.
Personal, Professional, and Leadership Development: Foster personal health, resilience, well‐being, self-awareness, and a capacity to adapt to ambiguity and change (AACN Essential 10).
This domain enabled me to achieve personal, professional, and leadership development by encouraging self reflection and cultural humilty/competence. In doing so, I have grown to be more adaptable in treating patients with considerations to change, ambiguity, and unpredictability.
Paper on Vietnamese Wedding
During my Diversity and Equity in healthcare course, I wrote a paper, reflecting on my experience at a traditional Vietnamese wedding ceremony. This assignment covers details about the wedding’s setting, organization, and attendees, in addition to my own analysis and implications for nursing care.
This paper allowed me to cultivate my self-awareness and capacity to adapt to ambiguity and change by providing me an opportunity to immerse myself in another culture. Learning more about this topic was sentimental to me, as I value the Vietnamese culture dearly since I have many friends and family of Vietnamese descent. This experience taught me how ambiguity can be clarified through curiosity and respect, in order to foster personal health, resilience, and well-being in the healthcare setting. For instance, initially, I did not understand the traditions taking place, but practicing cultural humility by taking the time to inquire about cultural traditions enabled me to gain better insight regarding expressions of love, which directly translates to how Vietnamese families may foster others' health, resilience, and well-being.
Comprehensive Case Study Presentation
This presentation was presented to my classmates and clinical instructor during my Mental Health Nursing clinical. I selected a patient to complete a comprehensive case study on and presented patient data, familial history, physical assessment findings, mental status exam results, medications, abnormal lab values, nursing interventions, and my personal response to the patient.
I had the experience of adapting to ambiguity and change through interactions with this patient. I personally have not interacted with patients diagnosed with Schizophrenia prior to this clinical rotation, so I made sure to incorporate therapeutic communication techniques in order to foster his health and well-being. In doing so, I was able to obtain assessment findings to create nursing interventions that would supplement his resilience. This contributed to my development as a nurse, as it allowed me to improve my interpersonal communication skills, while practicing leadership and foundational nursing skills.
Demonstrate characteristics of a mindful and present leader proficient in asserting influence, and power in professional and personal contexts (AACN Essential 11).
This domain allowed me to practice leadership and power through promoting influence towards changes in local communities and prioritizing patient-centered care.
Advocacy for Policy Change Project
This comprehensive project highlights increased housing costs and limited availability for low-income families in order to promote advocacy for policy change in stricter rent control. To promote change, I contacted Representative Josh Harder via letter and Mayor Christina Fugazi via a petition. I also contacted her and the Economic Development via email. A petition was created and shared through my personal social media, and I was able to obtain over 40 signatures from local community members.
This contributed to my development as a nurse, as it allowed me to exercise influence and power in my local community. By recognizing how rent prices are affecting at-risk, low-income families, I was empowered to advocate for policy change at the legislative level, in hopes of achieving affordable housing. I achieved this learning outcome in professional contexts, through communications via letter, emails, and petition, and in personal contexts via social media.
Presentation on Traumatic Brain Injury and Cerebral Edema
This assignment provides a comprehensive overview of traumatic brain injuries and cerebral edema. Details regarding definitions, etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic critera, and treatment were disclosed. Priority nursing interventions, recommended patient education, and possible complications were also listed.
I was able to achieve this learning outcome through assuming the role of a mindful, present leader, who encouraged patient-centered care for future patients experiencing traumatic brain injuries and cerebral edema. I succeeded in asserting influence and power by sharing findings supported by evidence to promote positive patient outcomes.
