Pediatric care is believably, a challenging, though exiting field of nursing care. One of the exiting aspects of pediatric care is that it exposes one to a unique learning environment that in the long run helps in honing skills. Unlike the general population of patients, pediatric patients are pretty unique and require one to use advanced and skillful approaches towards meeting the care needs of a patient. This subsequently, helps a nurse in internalizing skills, hence offering a fertile ground for professional and interpersonal growth. Nonetheless, from my practicum experience, one of the concerns I have is that without sound clinical judgment skills, care provision may be sub-optimal. Subjective assessment is vital in reaching a diagnosis and hence developing a care plan. Nevertheless, majority of pediatric patients lack sound expression and communication skills-something that may compromise the whole care provision process in the event that a nurse does not possess sound clinical judgment and critical thinking skills (Hockenberry, 29). In this regard, there is an accentuation for a pediatric nurse to garner adequate experience in order to hone these skills (Christian, 195).
One of the strengths that I posses is that I am intrinsically motivated to learn and believably, I subdue most of the challenges that I encounter and convert them into learning opportunities. However, I believe that I may need to hone my communication and interpersonal skills as a way of improving emotional intelligence and hence gaining an upper hand in terms of understanding my patients and colleagues better. This would go a long way in fostering one’s ability to conduct subjective assessment and work in a team.
The Watson’s theory of nursing care is pretty relevant and applicable to this particular field. The pediatric population present unique and numerous health care needs and through this theory, all these needs can be met. The theory places the nurse at the pivot of care in terms of modifying the patient’s environment and bringing on board different resources to ensure that all the “carative” factors are met. The beauty of this theory is that is that it is patient-centered and seeks to uphold the uniqueness of each patient’s circumstances, thereby, forming a sound foundation towards achieving the patient care needs in a holistic manner (Alligood , 37).
Guided by the above-mentioned, strengths, weakness and theoretical framework as well as the NAPNAP position statement of pediatric care, I hope to achieve the following practicum goals.
Demonstrate effective patient assessment through pursuing patient-specific communication and interpersonal skills
Improve and exhibit ability to work in a team through collaboration
Improve clinical judgment, analytic and critical thinking skills
Utilize advanced and evidence-based approaches to help meet patient needs in a better way
Demonstrate patient advocacy through patient education and promoting safety and quality
Works cited
Alligood, Martha Raile. Nursing theorists and their work. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014.
Christian, Becky J. "The essence of pediatric nursing--translating evidence to improve pediatric nursing care for children, their parents and families."Journal of pediatric nursing 28.2 (2013): 193-195.
Hockenberry, Marilyn J., and David Wilson. Wong's nursing care of infants and children. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014.
