Nursing Reflective Report

I believe that implementing strategies to promote, maintain, and restore health is key to the nursing career; the main goal of nursing is to improve an individual’s health. In my clinical experience, it’s to maintain the individual’s health issues or diseases. An example of using teaching/learning principles is when taking a resident’s blood glucose a family member asked me what the normal range for blood glucose is. I explained that a blood glucose level between 70-100mg/dL is desired. Then I went on to explain that based of the resident’s blood glucose levels a certain amount of insulin will be administered. I also taught the family member that insulin is a hormone that helps the cells take in glucose; which results in the cell using glucose as energy and a decrease in blood sugar
levels. I loved this opportunity of being able to explain what is going on in the body as teaching is one of my passions. An example of promoting function in ADL’s was when I was assisting my resident with eating his meals, I hand him a fork or spoon, and let him decide what food he wanted to eat. By giving him his fork, he is able to maintain the skill of feeding himself rather than me doing it for him.
It’s important to encourage my resident to do as much as he can on his own to promote independence. I am aware he needs assistance with most activities, therefore, allowing him to feed himself is beneficial to self-confidence and independence. An interesting aspect of this course is being able to compare a well elder with a resident. I am able to see the clear difference between health/wellness and disease/illness. My well elder is 77 and my resident is 96, therefore, there are bound to be different. However, when comparing functional needs my well elder is completely independent while my resident is completely dependent. It’s also interesting to note the conversations I have with both my well elder and resident. Conversations with my well elder are more verbal and deep. We have discussed; things about his life, such as a love for history and past cities he has lived in, for example, Alaska. Discussion with my resident are shorter. And when I ask my resident questions, I tend to get one word responses. Lastly, I am able to identify health and safety risks for my elderly
resident. Even though, my resident is a one person assist, he is extremely difficult to transfer. I always have someone with me to assist me. My resident’s safety as well as mine is my number one concern; until I am extremely comfortable I will continue to have someone with me when assisted my primary resident. It’s my responsibility to identify safety and health risks for my resident, then use appropriate strategies to make sure nothing happens to my resident. Even though, I have only had my resident for 5 weeks, I am attached to working with him. He’s under my care, hence, I am extremely conscientious in ensuring my resident receives safe and adequate care.