Reflection- Development in Nursing Profession

Reflection- Development in Nursing Profession

Competency: Analyze the increased complexity of care among older adults

Various complexities exist when caring for the elderly. The elderly tend to have multiple comorbidities and are vulnerable to illnesses and accidents. According to Demurtas et al. (2020), while people age, their immunity is impaired and, thence, become vulnerable to diseases. The commonest diseases observed among the elderly include renal diseases, rheumatoid and cardiac diseases. This competency was achieved through searching and going through the common illnesses in the elderly and their management. The most outstanding thing was the idea of polypharmacy, which is commonly observed in the elderly as a result of taking many drugs to manage their commodities. It is, therefore, important to regularly review the medications prescribed to older patients and assess them for possible complications.

Competency: Compare care models for nursing practice specific to the older adult

I identified several models, including the interdisciplinary care model, the care and case management model, the preventive home visit model, the proactive rehabilitation model, and the comprehensive assessment, evaluation, and management of the geriatrics model. These models have all been proven to improve the quality of nursing care and the quality of life of elderly patients. Furthermore, these models, when applied, are capable of increasing the survival rate of the elderly, improving their functionality, and lowering the cost of healthcare services (Morkisch et al., 2020). For instance, the interdisciplinary care model will ensure that elderly patients are taken care of holistically and all health issues addressed, such as nutrition, occupational care, and psychological needs. I achieved this competency by searching through evidence-based models that have proven to work better when caring for older adults. I learned that older adults should be approached differently from the rest of the population and that a multidisciplinary approach is key, as several factors should be addressed while attending to older adults.

Competency: Design plans for care specific to the older adult

A care plan refers to a general management plan designed for a patient. Since older adults tend to suffer from more than one disease, it is important to take into consideration all aspects of elderly patient care while creating care plans, including a management plan for the current illness and continuous management of the pre-existing comorbidity. This competency was specifically achieved during my practicum experience. I was lucky to be part of the nursing team that was directly involved in creating nursing care plans in the geriatric nursing home. I learned that a holistic care approach is important while making care plans for older adults and should include managing the already existing comorbidities. For instance, while managing a patient with hypertension, it’s important to consider the possible complications that may arise when using the medications in combination.

Competency: Identify local, state, and national resources that facilitate safe and effective transitions of care for older adults

Several resources can be used in transitions when caring for the elderly. Some of the resources include the Community-Based Care Transitions Program, whose goals include reducing the frequency of hospitalization, improving the quality of care, and testing the sustainability of the transition services (Morkisch et al., 2020). Another resource that may be used is the AHRQ Healthcare Innovation Exchange, which helps solve problems and reduce cases of disparity. Lastly, the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Innovation is an important resource that sustains insurance programs to ensure affordable healthcare services (Evidence-based Care Transitions program, n.d.). Additionally, some resources can be used with individuals or families, including the discharge planning checklist, personal care guide, and caregiver resources. These resources provide caregivers and families with information on how to care for the elderly while at home. I achieved this by reviewing the ongoing transition programs in both my state and nationally. The aforementioned programs were identified, and it is worth noting that the resources offered by the Community-Based Care Transition program stood out most for me. Given the goals of this program, the general well-being of older adults is likely to improve as the resources aim to reduce frequent hospitalization and improve autonomous functionality and the quality of the health services offered to a community.

Competency: Incorporate professional values, attitudes, and expectations regarding ageism when caring for older adults

All medical professions have guidelines and values that define how a professional should handle patients. For elderly patients, it is important for nurses to exercise respect and confidentiality in providing care (Morkisch et al., 2020). Care for the elderly is much different from care for young adults and pediatric patients. This was achieved by reviewing the nursing professional values and expectations of the vulnerable population, such as the geriatric group. This competency taught me that the elderly deserve respect for their dignity and equity in care, irrespective of gender, race, or age. Through this, the older adults will be safe and have improved well-being.

Competency: Outline the Importance of Advocating for Older Adults in the Management of their Care

I learned that older adults form part of the vulnerable population in society. According to Gilmartin (2020), the majority of the elderly struggle with neglect and accessing healthcare services either due to a lack of finances or a lack of caregivers to take care of them. For this reason, some are prone to abuse and even fall accidents. It is, therefore, important to advocate for care for older adults to improve their quality of life and autonomy. Furthermore, aging is accompanied by the development of certain chronic diseases that require frequent clinical review and assessment for optimum life.

References

Demurtas, J., Ecarnot, F., Cernesi, S., Solari, M., Munoz, M. A., & Cella, A. (2020). Comprehensive geriatric assessment in cardiovascular disease. Frailty and Cardiovascular Diseases: Research into an Elderly Population, 87-97. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-33330-0_10

Evidence-based care transitions program. (n.d.). Acl.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2023, from https://acl.gov/programs/care-transitions/evidence-based-care-transitions-program

Gilmartin, M. J. (2020). Thinking like a geriatric nurse: Integrating the 4Ms and the SPICES model to support age-friendly nursing care for older adults. Geriatric Nursing, 41(5), 662-664. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2020.08.014

Morkisch, N., Upegui-Arango, L. D., Cardona, M. I., van den Heuvel, D., Rimmele, M., Sieber, C. C., & Freiberger, E. (2020). Components of the transitional care model (TCM) to reduce readmission in geriatric patients: a systematic review. BMC geriatrics, 20(1), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01747-w.

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Purpose of Assignment:
It is important for nurses to reflect on experiences and new knowledge gained in order to promote professional growth.

Course Competencies:
Analyze the increased complexity of care among older adults.
Compare care models for nursing practice specific to the older adult.

Reflection- Development in the Nursing Profession

Design plans for care specific to the older adult.
Identify local, state, and national resources that facilitate safe and effective transitions of care for older adults.
Incorporate professional values, attitudes, and expectations regarding ageism when caring for older adults.
Outline the importance of advocating for older adults in the management of their care.

Transferable Skill:
Information Literacy: Discovering information reflectively, understanding how information is produced and valued, and using information to create new knowledge and participate ethically in communities of learning.

Instructions:
Reflect on your development as a nursing professional and address the following in a 1-2 page paper:

Describe how you achieved each of the course competencies and the transferable skills.
Provide at least one example of new knowledge gained related to each competency and explain how this new knowledge will impact your nursing practice.

Resources: