A Reflection of Five Weeks of the Co-Operative Nursing Experience
A Reflection of Five Weeks of the Co-operative Nursing Experience
Rebecca Tutt, RN
University of Texas at Arlington
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
N3300 Specialized Topics in Nursing (Co-Op)
Beth Mancini, RN, Ph.D.
March 7, 2013
Online RN to BSN
Introduction
The co-operative nursing assignment has given me the opportunity to use my critical thinking, decision-making, leadership, and clinical nursing expertise learned throughout the RN-BSN program. “The fostering of critical thinking as one of the terminal learning goals of nursing education based on the idea that critical thinking is important not only in the nursing workplace, but also in nursing education” (Shin, Jung, Shin & Kim, 2006, p. 233). My critical thinking skills have been enhanced throughout the program due to class assignments and the use of professional nursing journals. Critical thinking was used to set the three goals that will be reviewed in this paper, from data-gathering skills to decision-making skills. Leadership and communication skills are essential for my role as nursing supervisor in an ambulatory primary care clinic. The RN-BSN program leadership and management class has been valuable in my growth as a leader. Nurses in management roles “must be skilled communicators and relationship builders, have knowledge of the health care environment, exhibit leadership skills, display professionalism, and demonstrate core leadership competencies (Sullivan, 2012). I used these leadership skills while completing my team dynamics goal that will be reviewed in this paper. Throughout the last five weeks of the co-operative nursing experience, I have seen my skills, behaviors, and attitude change. Prior to starting the three projects for this class, I was still lacking confidence at times when coaching members of my nursing team. I became timid and listless, which became obvious since it was not my normal behavior. All three of these characteristics have improved while
Rebecca Tutt, RN
University of Texas at Arlington
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
N3300 Specialized Topics in Nursing (Co-Op)
Beth Mancini, RN, Ph.D.
March 7, 2013
Online RN to BSN
Introduction
The co-operative nursing assignment has given me the opportunity to use my critical thinking, decision-making, leadership, and clinical nursing expertise learned throughout the RN-BSN program. “The fostering of critical thinking as one of the terminal learning goals of nursing education based on the idea that critical thinking is important not only in the nursing workplace, but also in nursing education” (Shin, Jung, Shin & Kim, 2006, p. 233). My critical thinking skills have been enhanced throughout the program due to class assignments and the use of professional nursing journals. Critical thinking was used to set the three goals that will be reviewed in this paper, from data-gathering skills to decision-making skills. Leadership and communication skills are essential for my role as nursing supervisor in an ambulatory primary care clinic. The RN-BSN program leadership and management class has been valuable in my growth as a leader. Nurses in management roles “must be skilled communicators and relationship builders, have knowledge of the health care environment, exhibit leadership skills, display professionalism, and demonstrate core leadership competencies (Sullivan, 2012). I used these leadership skills while completing my team dynamics goal that will be reviewed in this paper. Throughout the last five weeks of the co-operative nursing experience, I have seen my skills, behaviors, and attitude change. Prior to starting the three projects for this class, I was still lacking confidence at times when coaching members of my nursing team. I became timid and listless, which became obvious since it was not my normal behavior. All three of these characteristics have improved while
References: Shin, K., Jung, D., Shin, S., & Kim, M. (2006). Critical thinking dispositions and skills of senior nursing students in associate, baccalaureate, and RN-to-BSN programs. Journal of Nursing Education, 45(6), 233-237. Sullivan, E. J. (2012). Effective leadership and management in nursing. (8th ed.). New Jersey: Pearson.