Clinical School Reflection Paper

My time at the clinical school has been marked with tremendous achievement as I discovered my potential in this field. This was a great learning experience for me as I particularly learnt that I am great with children. This clinical facility, prepares Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (PNP) with the aim of converting them effectively into Advanced Practice Nurses (APN). The health center offers its services to patients who are between the ages of 10 to 21 years. In this paper, I will discuss my learning experiences as a student at the clinical pediatric school and the significance of this training in my career as a pediatric nurse practitioner.

If this sample essay on"Clinical School Reflection Paper" doesn’t help,
our writers will!

Trust an expert

Immediately when learning commenced, we spent the first few days doing hospital tours to get a feel for the patients we would be serving. During this period I was not sure whether I would be able to handle such people and for a moment I was at cross-roads to my decision of becoming a nurse. Later in the next few weeks I got acquainted with some of my fellow nurses with whom we exchanged experiences and this made me start viewing my job at a better perspective. This interaction with my comrades enabled me to open-up more to my patients and I now started making close relationships with my patients particularly children.

As time went by, I was able to establish some friendships with many of my patients and I was now enjoying my work. My days in the hospital were now exhilarating and at the end of each day I was fully contented with my work and was eager for the next working day to offer my services. I was very happy and it felt fulfilling to see children wearing bright smiles on their faces after they were treated and some even cheered for me as I visited them. There was one particular experience which was very touching and it really shaped my attitude as a nurse practitioner.

I was assigned to a 13 year old boy who was diagnosed with a neurological disorder and was now in a persistent vegetative state. This boy had suffered a traumatic brain injury which led to his current state. It was hard for me to connect with this boy as compared to how I did with other patients since he could not communicate well. The boy had difficulty in coordinating his speech and it was therefore hard for him to express himself or even converse what he needed. This was challenging to me as I had to figure out what he meant and respond to his necessities efficiently. As such, I was forced to find a way to communicate with the boy and use of facial expressions, sign language coupled with humor was a way that became effective. I was able to have a special connection with the boy as we had created a language which only the two of us could understand. This experience was an eye-opener to me and it made me realize that my career as a nurse was more than a job but a calling.

The hands-on experience at the clinical has really enriched in the field of nursing and particularly was crucial in my evolution to becoming an advanced practice nurse. After this training I was able to learn that indeed nursing is a noble career and have fully set my mind to become the best nurse that I can be.

References:

Karyn Buxman, 2013. Pediatric Nurses Can Use Humor to Help Patients. Retrieved on Wed, Jan 9, from http://www.nursetogether.com/pediatric-nurses-can-use-humor-help-patientsMelissa Suzuno, 2013. Making Kids Cry: A Day in the Life of Pediatric Nurse Madelaine Than - from: http://blog.aftercollege.com/making-kids-cry-a-day-in-the-life-of-pediatric-nurse-madelaine-than/#sthash.uoczuTMt.dpuf