Discussion Replies 6
Hello Mary, you discussion forum compares past practices and the present practices, especially with regard to mentoring programs and their role in producing competent nurses. Your discussion forum also identifies a theoretical causal relationship between the absence of mentoring programs and patient outcomes. I agree with you that these mentoring programs afforded graduate nurses an opportunity to learn from experienced nurses, thereby contributing to developing nursing competencies. Your reflections on some of the experiences with graduate nurses in the intensive care unit exemplify the need for structured mentoring programs. This is because they will contribute to nursing competencies, an important influence to patient outcomes by creating a structure learning environment for graduate nurses (Grossman, 2013).
Reference
Grossman, S. (2013). Mentoring in nursing: A dynamic and collaborative process. New York, NY: Springer Pub. Co.
Reply to Beverly
Hello Beverly, your discussion forum underscores the importance of orienting new nurses into the profession. I agree with your observation that this is important in readying them to provide patient centered care. I also agree with your arguments that nurses should approach patient assessment from a holistic perspective rather than just focusing on the principal diagnosis. This helps the nurse maintain an open mind, an element that is vital to critical thinking (Rubenfeld & Scheffer, 2010). Your scenario vindicates this observation as it is through maintaining an open mind that the nurse was able to establish other problems that were different from the principal diagnosis, thereby helping the patient.
Reference
Rubenfeld, M. G., & Scheffer, B. K. (2010). Critical thinking TACTICS for nurses: Achieving the IMO competencies (2nd ed.). Sudsbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Reply to Vida
Hello Vida, your discussion forum highlights that through mentoring programs, nurses are not only provided with knowledge, but also are introduced to the nursing environment. I agree that the working environment can be intimidating for new nurses, thereby affecting their confidence, an element that is important in critical thinking (Finn, 2011). I agree with your observations that the lack of consensus on the assessment tools in critical thinking skills is an impediment to the mentoring process (Finn, 2011). Nonetheless, the importance of mentoring program to patient outcomes and nursing competencies outweigh any impediments that might be in place.
Reference
Finn, P. (2011). Critical thinking: Knowledge and skills for evidence-based practice, Language, speech, and hearing services in schools, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (42), 69–72.
