Community-Based Practicum Reflective Journal Guidelines

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

NUR 4143 - Clinical Immersion
Community-Based Practicum

Professional nursing meeting experience (4 hours)

Guide for Reflection Using Tanner’s (2006) Clinical Judgment Model
Introduction

What professional nursing meeting(s) did you attend and where was it located?
I attended the Unit Based Council meeting for the ICU at St. Mary’s. This meeting included unit employees, unit
manager, and the committee chair, who is a nurse in the ICU.
Background

Describe the purpose of this professional nursing meeting? Describe the agendas of the group and subgroup. What
type of issues did they address?

The purpose of this meeting was to provide updates on the Hospital Wide Shared Governance projects and the unit-
based action plan. The meeting reviewed recent safety reports, a report from the chair, Sunshine Fund information,
and information from hospital shared governance such as hospital protocol, mentorship, and orientee information.
Additionally, this meeting discussed the NDNQI Satisfaction Survey, regarding job satisfaction. This survey
facilitates many things, including thank you boards that hang in unit breakrooms, where staff members can write a
quick “thank you” to another staff member for their assistance, guidance, etc.

Noticing

What did you notice about the professional nursing meeting initially? Describe what you saw, heard and did during
the meeting?

I initially noticed the number of staff attending the meeting. Before the meeting began, there was chatter amongst
coworkers; some social chatter, some related to work. This proved a level of familiarity between attendees. Once
the meeting was called to begin, all chatter ended, and attention was given to the committee chair. It was evident
that there was mutual respect between staff members as stories were shared, information was presented, and
opportunities for input were provided.

Interpreting

Describe what you thought about the information being discussed. Have you been involved in similar discussion
during your previous student nurse experiences? Describe the similarities and/or differences to those encounters.

The majority of the information discussed covered hospital protocol and unit specific safety information.
Additionally, mentorship and orientee programs were discussed. As a student nurse, I have not been a part of many
of these discussions until this semester. The immersion process really introduces students to what life on the unit is
like, what daily conversations between coworkers sound like, and what unit specific protocol looks like. As a
student prior to the senior two semester, you are in more of a protected bubble. I have found my clinical experience
and interactions were based more around the faculty member than primary nurses on the clinical floor. The
experiences are slightly more sheltered, as primary nurses keep their interactions with students to more of a
minimum. Working on the unit now, nurses speak freely in front of me, as we have built rapport, and sometimes my
opinion is even considered when they speak on certain topics.

Responding

Describe stresses (both positive & negative) you experienced as you responded to the new learning or the challenge.

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It was somewhat stressful to enter this setting, as it was my first professional nursing meeting. All other settings I
have been in have been much more informal when discussing some similar topics. However, it was also somewhat
exciting. Attending this meeting as a soon-to-be new graduate nurse helped actualize the reality of graduation and
my new career. I walked into the meeting with some anxiety, both good and bad, and was calmed when witnessing
the rapport that these nurses had with each other. It made me hopeful and excited to build similar relationships and
begin taking steps as a new graduate nurse.

Reflection-in-Action

What role would you take being assigned to represent your unit in this group? What subcommittee would you like to
participate with and why?

I would want to be a part of the mentorship program. While I am aware that I will not be in any place to mentor a
new nurse for quite some time, I think mentorship in many arenas is invaluable. I have recently discussed a
mentorship program with a recent new graduate, in which new nurses could mentor senior nursing students.
Mentorship provides opportunities to ask questions in informal settings, build meaningful relationships, and
establishes a sense of belonging. I have no issues speaking in front of people and could envision myself being an
active speaker in a meeting like this in the future. I enjoy sharing ideas, receiving feedback, and improving
processes in place.

Reflection-on-Action and Clinical Learning

What written evidence is available to support professional nursing groups and their impact on the development of
evidence based practice and improved patient outcomes. Cite/reference all journal articles that contributed to the
evidence.
There is mounting evidence for the importance of professional nursing organization and their impact on health care
and the nursing profession. Nursing organizations provide opportunities for nurses to have a platform to express
their opinions on policy, effect change, and advocate for themselves and their professional rights. These
organizations conduct conventions, national meetings, and in some instances research projects, where nurses can
come together to share information and ideas. These forums for innovation are what drive evidence based practice.
It is no secret that nurses are those who have the most contact with patients admitted to the hospital. Therefore, it is
nurses who are required to critically think, use their resources, and in turn, develop new protocol or even new
medical devices. When nurses educate themselves, which professional organizations help facilitate through
resources, journals, and previously described meetings, they are able to practice in a safe, evidence based manner,
and promote positive patient outcomes. These positive outcomes are not only clinically based, but experience based
as well. Patients appreciate nurses who are able to discuss patient conditions, prognosis, and care options. Nurses
who participate in professional organizations are preparing themselves and arming themselves with necessary tools
to provide the best possible care.

Matthews, J., (January 31, 2012) "Role of professional organizations in advocating for the nursing
profession" OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 17, No. 1, Manuscript 3.
Catallo, C., Spalding, K., & Haghiri-Vijeh, R. (2014). “Nursing professional organizations: What are they doing to
engage nurses in health policy?” SAGE Open, 4. doi:10.1177/2158244014560534

What is the value of professional nursing meetings both as a part of a healthcare system and within a professional
organization?
Professional nursing meetings promote autonomy within the nursing profession. These meetings provide
opportunities for nurses to share ideas, protocol, air grievances, and promote change. For the healthcare system,
professional nursing meetings promote unity and belonging, both to the unit setting and to the hospital itself.
Meetings within the hospital can improve practices, and provide vision to nursing staff. Meetings within a
professional organization can mold the shape of the nursing profession, and effect change on a broad-based scale.
National organizations have the attention of political leaders, and can influence policy

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Describe any changes in your values or feelings as a result of this experience.

This experience has not changed my values within my nursing practice, per say, but it has brought the importance of
professional organizations and meetings to the forefront of my mind. Throughout nursing school, I have made the
decision to not involve myself in organizations such as the student membership of the American Nurses Association.
As a beginning nursing student, I didn’t see applicable value to my situation. At this point, I believe that
organizations such as these are in fact, invaluable to the nursing profession, and myself as a new graduate nurse.

Nielsen, A., Stragnell, S., & Jester P (2007). Guide for reflection using the Clinical Judgment

Model. Journal of Nursing Education, 46(11), p. 513-516.

Professional Nursing Meetings

St. Mary’s Hospital

NOC: first and third Wednesday of each month. Let me know when you would like to attend.

Shared governance council meetings:

Professional Practice Council-Second Wednesday 8a-12n

Strategic Planning Council-Second Thursday 8a-10a

Applied Research Council-Third Thursday 10a-12n

Education Council: third Thursday from 12n-4p (the meeting part lasts for 2-2 ½ hours and then
the members work on unit education)

Memorial Regional Medical Center

Third Tuesday of each month (Room 3008, Net Center)

Nursing Practice council 0800-0930

Nursing Quality Council 0930-1100

Nursing Recruitment & Retention Council 1100-1300

Nursing Education/Research 1300-1430

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