Clinical Exemplar Essays Examples

During an afternoon shift in a post-surgical ward, I came across several patients who had undergone surgery in the noon. John had just returned to the ward when I took charge and the nature of his surgery demanded that he be monitored very closely. From the patient information chart made available to me I understood that he had undergone a surgical procedure for an optic nerve injury. I also observed that all the observations concerning his post-operative examination were normal and suggested absolutely no cause for any anxiety. I started my usual round of the post-surgical ward by going to each and every patient and monitoring their vital signs and registering other details. When I reached the bed of John, I found him breathing profusely lying horizontally in the supine position. He was also wheezing and non responsive to my verbal stimuli; however, he responded to my physical stimuli as I awakened him through a gentle touch before he started answering my questions. It was then I noticed his respiratory rate and began to feel uncomfortable. I counted exactly 27 breaths per minute when he tried to speak to me.
I swung into action immediately by switching on all the lights. I noticed a color change in his face; his lips appeared pale even as his face was little flushed. He was overweight and I immediately suspected that he was asthmatic. I collected his case history to go further with my observation and came to know that my suspicion was after all not wrong. John had a chronic asthma since his school days. Fearing that altering his position on the bed would affect the surgical area by increasing the pressure in the optical nerve, I did not change the position of his bed. I also confirmed his case history by checking with him. Further questioning and exploration revealed that the patient had been suffering from emphysema. In consultation with other team members, I finally initiated different post operative care taking into consideration John’s illness. Later, John and his family thanked me for my timely intervention that helped him to recover faster. My experience of nursing John left a lasting and strong impression on me about patient-centered care while growing as a responsible clinician.
I often think about patients like John who felt pleased at my timely intervention in revisiting their care plans. In fact, such differences I make in the lives of my patients and the ensuing recognitions on the part of patients and their family members continue to motivate me to sharpen my clinical skills. Also, I believe in making my patients know that the care I provide does not stem from a compulsion to do justice to my profession. On the other hand, my philosophy of nursing is: seeing the unfolding of love and god in each and every person I come across in my daily life. In other words, I see every patient of mine as god and wait on him or her with a servant attitude.
I always closely observe the patients to make their days in the hospital most comfortable and painless. Towards revealing my genuine interest in them I find time to spend more time with them by listening with an empathizing heart. I never forget to encourage desperate patients by offering a fresh flower or a get well card with inspiring quotes. In short, I strive to make the healthcare setting a home away from home for my patients so that they feel like healthy individuals recharging their souls rather than tending their sick bodies.
My experience with my patients and their family members always reminds me of the critical role of a nurse in making their stay comfortable in the hospital. More importantly, I feel humbled at this great opportunity that gives me the great responsibility of validating and interpreting illnesses of various nature patients endure. Furthermore, I also continue to learn from my patients who openly share with me their problems which help me to understand their needs from their own perspectives. As a result, my commitment and determination to provide them impeccable healing experience by making their stay comfortable reaches great heights.