Reflection

Selected Program Outcome

Employ effective communication and interprofessional collaboration for the improvement of client outcomes.

Description of an Assignment That Met the Program Outcome

During the NUR-465 course, “NUR465 01A Population Health: National and Global Approaches,” to be particular, I participated in a team-based community health project that had a direct relationship with the selected program outcome. This assignment assigned students to develop an obesity prevention plan for a community of their choice where there is an underserved population. Our team had the task of designing a culturally appropriate intervention to promote better eating and physical activity with a multidisciplinary team, including dietitians, physical activity experts, community leaders, and public health professionals: Reflection.

In working on this project, multiple virtual team meetings were held in order to ensure the integration of diverse perspectives, keeping in view the aim. Individual contributions were welcomed so that each member could contribute based on their areas of expertise, enabling community-specific barriers such as food deserts and general unavailability of recreational spaces. The final deliverable included a detailed proposal, which consisted of educational workshops, partnerships with organizations within the local setting, and a plan to evaluate the impact through pre- and post-intervention surveys.

This assignment meets the program outcome because it recognizes the importance of communication and collaboration of health professionals with community stakeholders. This assignment has shown how effective, respectful, and purposeful communication might result in producing some useful health interventions.

For example, the amalgamation of the perspectives of dietitians and the public health perspectives at one platform develops the proposed evidence-based, culturally appropriate program. Moreover, this collaborative nature of the project came with the demand to contribute to active listening, respect different opinions, and allow strategy adjustment based on team feedback, all important skills necessary for interprofessional collaboration in practice (Yoder-Wise, 2019).

Influence on Personal and Professional Growth

Personal Growth

This post-licensure program has shaped me so much in engaging in active listening and managing interpersonal communication, qualities so important in nursing, as Brown et al. (2020) emphasize. Previously, I used to listen for the purpose of solving problems as quickly as possible instead of really listening to engage someone deeply in order to understand their view. This NUR-465 project has notably helped me enhance dialogue and mutual understanding.

One of the specific behavioral changes I have been able to make includes my patience during discussions within groups, particularly in situations of conflict. For example, during the obesity prevention project, we had to choose between school-based interventions or community-wide approaches. Instead of rushing to resolve the disagreement, I facilitated a discussion that allowed everyone to voice their perspectives. This produced a more balanced intervention that integrated both strategies, reinforcing the program’s effectiveness.

Professional Growth

The BSN program has unequivocally revitalized my professional practice in the way I approach teamwork and the provision of care to my clients. I now understand interprofessional collaboration as an integral element for continuously improving patient care outcomes. Within my clinical practice, I often interact with other members of the multidisciplinary team to create comprehensive plans of care that consider all spheres of influence on one’s health socially and culturally.

One example is a patient who had poorly controlled diabetes because of food insecurity. Using what I learned in the program, I collaborated with a social worker and a dietitian to provide the patient with nutritional support and linked them with local food assistance programs. This interprofessional approach improved the patient’s blood sugar levels and enhanced their overall quality of life. I ensured the care plan was holistic and would be well-sustained through team-based strategies using the principles of effective collaboration (Heagney, 2022).

I have also gained more confidence to advocate for the inclusivity of diversity in healthcare professional decision-making processes. For instance, during one of our recent unit meetings, I mentioned the importance of inviting a pharmacist to our care team discussions concerning patients with complex medication therapy. This recommendation was well taken and has been put into practice, accompanied by reduced medication errors and improved patient results.

Conclusion

The BSN program, through specific assignments such as the NUR-465 community health project, has had a significant impact, greatly helping me improve my communication and collaboration skills in both personal and professional settings. This project allowed me to experience firsthand how interprofessional collaboration works to help overcome difficult health challenges and improve the outcomes for the clients. Personally, I have grown in active listening and the facilitation of meaningful dialogue—a skill that has strengthened my relationships and teamwork. Professionally, I have embraced interprofessional collaboration as a cornerstone of quality care, incorporating diverse perspectives into holistic and sustainable care plans.

These experiences have not only enhanced my effectiveness as a nurse but also reinforced my commitment to patient advocacy and evidence-based practice. Other areas in which I wish to pursue further development involve opportunities to participate in multidisciplinary initiatives and policy advocacy in support of collaborative care. I believe this will help promote improved client outcomes and contribute to the continuous improvement of healthcare delivery systems.

References

Brown, T., Yu, M., & Etherington, J. (2020). Are listening and interpersonal communication skills predictive of professionalism in undergraduate occupational therapy students? Health Professions Education, 6(2), 187–200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hpe.2020.01.001

Heagney, J. (2022). Fundamentals of project management (6th ed.). AMACOM.

Yoder-Wise, P. S. (2019). Leading and managing in nursing (7th ed.). Elsevier.

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Getting Started

In the Workshop Six journal assignment, you reflected upon your work in the post-licensure program by describing an assignment or activity that allowed you to meet the program outcomes.  In this discussion, you will build upon that work by sharing a part of your reflection journal and assessing your personal and professional growth over the course of the program.  Assessing your personal and professional growth allows you to identify strengths you have developed since the start of the program and recognize areas of opportunity for future development.

Upon successful completion of the course material, you will be able to:

• Evaluate personal and professional growth throughout the baccalaureate nursing program.

Resources

• Web File: Student Handbook: Post-Licensure Nursing Division
  

  Reflection

Instructions

1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. If needed, review the Baccalaureate Program Outcomes located in your Student Handbook: Post-Licensure Nursing Division, which can be accessed in the RNBSN Student Resources.
3. Review the reflection journal assignment you completed in Workshop Six.  From this work, reflect upon one of the program outcomes including the assignment, activity, or discussion forum with the description of how the work met the program outcome.
4. Evaluate your personal and professional growth throughout the course of the program, identifying at least one change in personal and professional behavior you have experienced in the last several months.
5. Navigate to the threaded discussion and respond to the following:
   1. Post one of the program outcomes.
   2. Identify by name and description the assignment, activity, or discussion forum that met the program outcome.
   3. Discuss how the assignment, activity, or discussion forum met the program outcome.
   4. Describe how this post licensure program has changed one personal behavior.
   5. Share a specific example of how your professional practice has changed since you began the program.
   6. Cite and reference a minimum of one source for your initial posting.
6. Your initial post is due by the end of the fourth day of the workshop.
7. Read and respond to at least two of your classmates’ postings by the end of the workshop.  You are encouraged to respond to follow-up instructor questions directed to you.
8. Your postings should also:
   1. Be well developed by providing clear answers with evidence of critical thinking.
   2. Your observations should add greater depth to the discussion by introducing new ideas.
   3. Provide clarification to classmates’ questions and provide insight into the discussions.
   4. Be posted on two different days during the workshop.