REFLECTIVE PERFORMANCE
Introduction
This reflexive essay is an account of the growth and progress I have achieved during this course. The areas I intend to discuss include, the skills and knowledge I have acquired during the course and how it can be applied in order to find a meaningful career. Also, I will summarize the experiences that that improved my understanding of professionalism as well as my strengths and weaknesses. In order to progress, a reflective practice provides good grounds for health workers to learn and understand their professional experiences in order to take action towards improving their effectiveness of what is termed as desirable practice in healthcare.
New skills and knowledge developed during the course.
As an experiences student in healthcare I feel I have developed self-discipline which is key for effective learning. I have developed confidence and built strength in the transferable skills like information and technology, teamwork, effective communication and learning. The coursework and placement in the course contributed greatly in developing my professional skills. I feel more confident about my ability to work together and collaborate with other members. Learning teamwork helped me better comprehend clinical problem solving and the patient needs.
The course has further enabled me to understand the different aspects of non-verbal and verbal communication. Nonverbal aspects like facial expressions, body language, gestures and eye contact are important in decoding the messages channeled by the patient or other workers (Benner, 2001). The course has shown how key nonverbal aspects are in expressing meaning. I put into practice the nonverbal and verbal communication skills during my placement at the hospital .While there I noted that one patient was in pain by his facial expressions. When I went over and ask what the problem was, the patient said that she had severe pains in her stomach. From this experience, I learnt that therapeutic communication is important in providing healthcare services and it can be used to relieve anxiety and pain in patients.
During the course I have also acquired time management skills through submission of assignments and meeting deadlines. The information and Technology workshop offered during the course has made electronic searching easier. Since the beginning of the module, my information and technology skills have improved. Before the course, I only had knowledge of how to use Microsoft word and email. The IT sessions have greatly contributed to my progress because now I can use PowerPoint, database and I can use internet regularly for research. Class presentations have also made learning more effective because they provided opportunities to conduct research and then educate others. Presentations also enabled me to overcome my fear of big audiences and improved my involvement in group discussions.
Experiences
I encountered various experiences that influenced my understanding of this profession. Such learning opportunity presented itself during my placement at the hospital. During this time, I had little understanding of the patient’s condition and the working environment in which care was provided. Since my culture does not allow me to address an older individual by their name, I was nervous and anxious. This scenario affected my ability to communicate well with the patient and other workers. To overcome this difficulty however, I relied on my mentor who gave me advice, guidelines and feedback on my performance. The scenario pushed me to create strategies that would guide me in overcoming communication difficulties in my career.
The placement presented me with the biggest learning opportunities which influenced my learning. I performed tasks I had not done before like administering medicine, giving injections and checking the patient’s blood pressure. Education on disability had an effect on me as well. This is because I put into practice my communication skills. Lessons on disability were interesting yet challenging. During the course I had an encounter with a patient with aggressive behavior. This encounter led me to acquire patience which is needed when handling all patients. Patience enabled me to understand the patient in terms of what made him angry, and what calmed him down.
Lives are literally at stake in healthcare. This means that the job comes with a lot of pressure to handle. Health care employees are at a higher risk of depressions and other stress related problems if they lack stress management skills (Benner, 2001). Throughout my profession I have developed good time management skills to avoid pressures of deadline. Since I’m driven by passion, I can handle the pressure that comes with the profession by thriving in it. Contrary, my biggest weakness is Dyslexia. Often my work has typological errors. The problem contributes to low grades in my coursework. To overcome this challenge, my dyslexia tutor proofreads my essays before submission. Also, I use computers to check spelling and grammatical errors.
Competences strengthened during the course.
Core competences dictate what undergraduate students in healthcare are expected to demonstrate before graduation. The competences reflect the acquired disposition and skills that students will need for responsible leadership in the society (Benner, 2001). Through the course I was revisited and developed my interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism and sharpened the patient skills I had learnt earlier. The placement led me to practice patient care that is considered appropriate, compassionate and effective for promotion of health.
Through this class, I sharpened my communication skills and respectful behavior when interacting with my patients and their loved ones. Also, I made progress in developing treatment and management plans for the patients. The placement provided an opportunity to perform competent and accurate medical procedures essential for learning. The patient care competence sharpens the student’s ability to collaborate with other professionals to offer care that is patient centered (Benner, 2001).
Throughout the course, professionalism was emphasized. This competence requires the students to show adherence to the professional ethics and commitment to conducting professional responsibility. During the course I was reminded of the importance of showing sensitivity to patients’ sexual orientation, disability, culture, gender, and age. In addition, I ensured confidentiality of patient’s information.
Effective interpersonal communication skills require the health care giver to have an effective exchange of information with the patient, the staff and the patient’s family members (Benner, 2001). The course sharpened my listening and communication skills in an effort to provide information in writing. Also, I developed an ethically appropriate interaction with the patients.
The course has enabled me to understand clinical practice, acquire new ideas and it offered an opportunity for me to improve my practice. Learning is a lifelong process of learning and future development (Benner, 2001). Health workers are required to be up to date with the new discoveries and developments in order to provide care based on best practice and current evidence. Through self-directed learning and practice I will continue to build my competency.
Conclusion
In this reflective essay I have demonstrated how my skills, knowledge and experiences have developed. I plan to maintain my professional and personal development through regular learning activities. More knowledge will prepare me professional challenges like decision making. I am confident in my chosen career. This reflective process will enhance my professional development as well as the care that I give.
References
Benner, P. (2001). From Novice to Expert. Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. (commemorative edition). New Jersey: Prentice Hall.