N3375_REFLECTIVE JOURNAL TEMPLATE-V_GARCIA MODULE 4.2.

N3375_REFLECTIVE JOURNAL TEMPLATE-V_GARCIA MODULE 4.2. N3375 Health Policy & Legal Aspects Reflective Journal Name: Victoria Garcia Date: 2/02/2018 Overview: Reflective Journal Each week you will make an entry into your Journal. You are asked to reflect on 3 key points for each module (Modules 2-5). Key points: What did you take away from the module knowledge wise or interesting? Each entry should reflect on your understanding of the topic, your experiences and observations in your work environment or general nursing environment regarding the module topic. This is a cumulative document. You will save it to your own computer desktop or memory device and update it each week. You will upload and submit the latest version of your Health Policy & Legal Aspects Reflective Journal to Blackboard by 2359 the Saturday following each class of this course. Your entries will be graded using the journal rubric; please be sure to follow all instructions. Rubrics: Use this rubric to guide your Journal entries. There will be total of 4 Journal entries (Modules 2, 3, 4 & 5). With each journal, you are ex- pected to address 3 key points from the class lecture, discussion, and content. Discuss how each point applies to your practice as a nurse, and, finally, how will your practice change in the future because of this information. Each response to every question must be at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking. No partial credit. Follow the example. Do not be shocked when you receive minimal credit on this assignment because you did not read and follow this statement!!! Journal Rubric for each Module Criteria Target Unacceptable 1st Key Point (30 Points) Discuss 1st key point and why it Does not sufficiently record con- is important or memorable. nections or reflections. Fails to Connect RN-BSN experiences to connect RN-BSN experiences to key point (career goals, prior goals, prior nursing practice, nursing practice, a previous RN coursework, theories or research BSN course, nursing theories or to key areas addressed. Fails to research). Describes how per- describe how personal practice sonal practice will be different in will be different in the future the future based on RN-BSN based on RN-BSN program. program as a result of the key point addressed. Must be at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking (for (0 Points) each question). No partial credit. (30 Points) 2nd Key Point (30 Points) Discuss 2nd key point and why it is important or memorable. Connect RN-BSN experiences to key point (career goals, prior nursing practice, a previous RN BSN course, nursing theories or research). Describes how per- sonal practice will be different in the future based on RN-BSN program as a result of the key point addressed. Must be at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking (for each question). No partial credit. (30 Points) Does not sufficiently record con- nections or reflections. Fails to connect RN-BSN experiences to goals, prior nursing practice, coursework, theories or research to key areas addressed. Fails to describe how personal practice will be different in the future based on RN-BSN program. (0 points) 3rd Key Point (30 Points) Discuss 3rd key point and why it is important or memorable. Connect RN-BSN experiences to key point (career goals, prior nursing practice, a previous RN BSN course, nursing theories or Does not sufficiently record con- nections or reflections. Fails to connect RN-BSN experiences to goals, prior nursing practice, coursework, theories or research to key areas addressed. Fails to research). Describes how per- sonal practice will be different in the future based on RN-BSN program as a result of the key point addressed. Must be at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking (for each question). No partial credit. (30 Points) describe how personal practice will be different in the future based on RN-BSN program. (0 points) Spelling & Grammar (10 points) 3 or less spelling & grammar er- rors in the reflective journal. Greater than 3 spelling & gram- mar errors in the reflective jour- nal. (10 Points) (0 Points) Instructions: Each week, record your experiences, connections to your course goals, and reflections as they relate to the given prompts and/or your course project. You will come up with 3 key points from each Module and then follow the instructions listed below. For privacy, refer to patients, online colleagues, and/or co-workers with initials instead of names. Save this document to your own computer desktop or storage device after each entry to create a cumulative journal. Journal Entries A separate Journal entry is required for each class by 2359 Saturday of each indicated class. Provide details of your thinking, including insights, challenges, paradigm shifts, and goals. Identify previous course topics, readings, or research that relate to the prompt. Journal Entry Reflective Journal Example: Identify 3 key points from this module. Reflect on why each point is important, how it impacts on your work experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your practice in the future based on each key area. Place Key Point in this column: Reflect on the Key Point (following Journal Rubric) in this column: YOU MUST ANSWER ALL 3 QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR KEY POINT IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT (NO PARTIAL CREDIT). PLEASE COME UP WITH YOUR OWN KEY POINTS FOR EACH MODULE. DELEGATION, SAFE HARBOR & PEER REVIEW ARE JUST EXAMPLES- PLEASE COME UP WITH YOUR OWN KEY POINTS FOR EACH MODULE. Do not write in this example box. Please place each Module in its designated box. Scroll down and type your Module 2 journal in the Module 2 box and do the same for subsequent journals. Key Point 1: 1. Why it is important? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 3. How will I change my practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking Example: Delegation Key Point 2: 1. Why it is important? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 3. How will I change my practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking Example: Safe Harbor Key Point 3: Example: Peer Review 1. Why it is important? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 3. How will I change my practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking Reflective Journal Module 2: Legal Overview and Peer Review Process: Identify 3 key points from this module. Reflect on why each point is important, how it impacts on your work experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your practice in the future based on each key area. Place Key Point in this column: Answer each question below with at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking. Key Point 1: 1. Why it is important? Due to the nature of the career path I have chosen in nursing, I have not had to take Safe Harbor into consideration and though I have heard of Safe Harbor, I was not familiar with the protections it offers for nurses. As a pediatric vaccine trial research nurse, we do not have to deal with patient census, patient to nurse ratios, acuity of patients. Learning more about Safe Harbor and becoming intimately familiar with the protections it offers for nurses has been very eye opening for me. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? If I decide to change my career path to a hospital setting, I feel that this knowledge will give me the ability to stand up for my rights as a nurse as well as the safety of my patients. All to often we hear of stories where a nurse was afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation or fear of getting fired. Safe Harbor gives nurses a voice to stand up for the rights of patients while being able to make sound decisions regarding unsafe working conditions that nurses are often pushed into performing 3. How will I change my practice? I don’t think that this will change my current practice however it may change my practice in the future and in different job settings. Having had reviewed the Safe Harbor law for Texas as well as the state of New Mexico, I am comforted to understand the safeguards that have been put into place for nurses. If I am ever placed in a situation where I need to claim Safe Harbor I will have a better understanding if what this means thanks to this course. Safe Harbor Key Point 2: 1. Why it is important? Peer review is important to the process of claiming Safe Harbor because it allows the nurse a fair and equitable due process when wrongdoing or errors are made. Peer review also allows hospitals or facilities to fully investigate the claims made on behalf of the nurse. Peer review serves to protect both the rights of the nurse and the rights of the facility by forming an unbiased Peer Review opinion regarding the issue based on facts presented. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? Again, I do not feel that this affects my work or nursing practice currently. I have never participated in a peer review board nor have I ever had to be reviewed for wrongdoing or errors by my peers. My company does not have a peer review board therefore I was unfamiliar with the process until taking this course and reading about the process. I am thankful I now have a better understanding of the importance of a Peer Review Board. If I am in a situation where I am asked to participate on a Peer Review board I would gladly accept as this would be something that I would be highly interested in. 3. How will I change my practice? I don’t feel that this will change my practice in the current position that I hold. If I were in a situation where a peer review board was present, I think I would have more leverage to speak up about my rights as a nurse and be more of an advocate for my patients and patient safety. Knowing that there is due process and protections in place for nurses, helps nurses to have a voice and speak up when safety of patients or situations is at risk. In the past, nurses were afraid to speak up for fear of retaliation from upper management. This course has opened my eyes to something that I had never taken an interest in learning more about. Now that I have more knowledge on what Peer Review I will have a better understanding of the process and feel more comfortable about what the purpose of peer review is. Key Point 3: Nurse Practice Act 1. Why it is important? The nurse Practice Act is important because it is the foundation of the rules and laws that we as nurses are required to practice under. There are strict guidelines nurses are required to adhere to which are safeguards that protect both nurses and patients. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? The Nurse Practice Act impacts every nurse who holds a nursing license regardless of the field they are practicing nursing in. Though I was familiar with the Nurse Practice Act, I am embarrassed to say that I had not read up on it in depth or detail until now. I understood the professional standards of a nurse but am now looking at them from the perspective a BSN trained nurse. 3. How will I change my practice? I will change my practice by referring to the Nurse Practice Act more often especially when questions arise about the laws and practices of nurses with my own nursing practice and the conduct of the nurses I supervise. The Nurse practice act is a tool that I have failed to refer to as often as I should, especially in a management role. I am thankful that this course has given me a better understanding of the importance of the Nurse Practice Act. Place Key Point in this column: Answer each question below with at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking. Key Point 1 Due Process Protections 1. Why it is important? I have never reviewed the due process for nurses who are under investigation with the BON until taking this course. I have not had a personal need to research the due process because my license has never been under investigation nor have I ever been reported to the board. I have a better understanding of the process and the protections for nurses. This course has enlightened me to aspects of nursing that I have not considered before now. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? Understanding the due process will help me in my future career path. I want to pursue my Masters in Nursing Administration. This knowledge will help me if I must report a nurse to the board or have to explain the due process to others who do not have and understanding of the process. I also believe that having a better understanding of the due process will also give me a deeper level of respect for the license that I hold and reminds me that holding a license is a privilege not a right. 3. How will I change my practice? I am not sure the due process alone will make me change my nursing practices. I do think that having a better understanding of what is reportable and the entire process from reporting to reprimand, will change my practices in terms of becoming a more professional nurse. Understanding the legal process of reprimand and reporting has given me a deeper respect for the responsibilities that nurses are upheld to. The professional code of conduct is of utmost importance and I also have a deeper respect and understanding for the laws that are put in place to protect patients. I almost have a level of fear to ensure that I always do right by my patients. Key Point 2 License investigation process 1. Why it is important? Until now, I did not think that it would be important for me to understand the license investigation process because I felt it did not apply to me. Now that I have a better understanding of the direction that I want to go with my nursing career, I believe that this knowledge will help me in understanding the legal aspects of nursing. Until taking this course I did not fully understand the license investigation process because I had never reviewed or researched the process. Now that I have opened the door to having a better understanding to the process, I have also discovered that there is much more I need to know and learn about to be the best administrator that I can be. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? As I go through the BSN courses, it is fascinating to discover how I am taking a different approach to the way that I have always thought as a nurse. I have been a nurse for almost 20 years and for a very long time I did not think that there was a difference between an ADN and a BSN trained nurse. I am gaining valuable knowledge of information that I did not consider as an ADN trained nurse. I feel that understanding the License investigation process from reporting to reprimand will help me when looking at the big picture of my practice and managing the practice of other nurses. 3. How will I change my practice? In terms of big picture thinking, I think that gaining this knowledge will change my practice in terms of the type of manager that I will grow into with more education. I have been in management for 12 of the 20 years that I have been a nurse, and though I have always prided myself on my management abilities and skills I feel that I am gaining valuable knowledge that will help me to become an even better manager in the future. Researching and understanding the license investigation process makes me more aware of the importance of upholding the nursing code of ethics and will help me to be a better example for the nurses that I manage. Key Point 3 Professional Accountabilit y and delegation 1. Why it is important? Professional accountability is important in nursing because regardless of the level of education, nurses are held to a higher professional standard because they are held in high regard by society. As a nurse, I have always held myself to a high level of professional standards not only in patient care but in the relationships with my colleagues. I have not intentionally taken into consideration both the ethical and legal aspects of nursing when delegating. I am aware of the legal aspects of nursing and have probably delegated assignments in accordance with ethical principals but have not really mad a conscious decision to take into consideration the legal aspects of nursing because I have never intentionally researched the legal aspects of nursing. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? Professional accountability impacts every aspect of nursing from patient care to legal aspects of nursing. As an RN, I feel that I have always held myself to a higher professional standard, but I am learning that my views as an ADN trained nurse were narrow minded. I have only taken three classes thus far and I am already changing my perspective of what I have always thought to be right in terms of professional accountability. I feel like I have been very jaded into thinking that there was not a difference between an ADN and a BSN educated nurse. I feel that my nursing practice will be impacted by being more aware of my professional responsibility to my patients and colleagues. 3. How will I change my practice? I have not intentionally taken into consideration both the ethical and legal aspects of nursing when delegating. I am aware of the legal aspects of nursing and have probably delegated assignments in accordance with ethical principals but have not really made a conscious decision to take into consideration the legal aspects of nursing. I have never intentionally researched the legal aspects of nursing or combed through the Nurse Practice Act. I am more aware of the legal responsibility that I am held to and feel that I am fortunate to not have ever been reported to the BON. I have a level of fear and have a better understanding of my professional license and the legal obligation that I have to maintain my licensure. I will be more aware and cautious in the future when delegating tasks and duties. Reflective Journal Module 4: Professional Boundaries and Challenges: Identify 3 key points from this module. Reflect on why each point is important, how it impacts on your work experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your practice in the future based on each key area. Place Key Point in this column: Answer each question below with at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking. Professional Boundaries Nurse patient relationship 1. Why it is important? Professional boundaries are important because we as nurses are held to a high standard in our profession. We are generally respected by our patients and have a good rapport with the population that we serve. This dynamic requires that we uphold a professional conduct and relationship with our patients. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? The relationship that I have with my patients impacts my practice because there is sometimes a fine line that is drawn when communicating with my patients. Living in a small community, many of my patients are people that I know personally which sometimes creates a difficult situation. The readings and videos made me reflect on my past communication with my patients and made me ponder some of the conversations that I have had with patients in the past. I know that I have given personal experiences and examples to patients to try to communicate and show them empathy and that I can relate to their situations. I am now more aware of what is acceptable and what is not when communicating with my patients. 3. How will I change my practice? I think that I will definitely be more aware of how I communicate and the things that I share about my own personal experiences. I feel like I have shared more than I should have in the past and now realize that I may have been putting a vulnerable person in an uncomfortable situation. Though this was not my intention, this week has given me a different perspective and I will be more aware of my interactions with my patients moving forward. Safe Harbor 1. Why it is important? Safe Harbor is important because it offers protections for nurses when placed in unsafe working conditions. Safe Harbor protects nurses by allowing a person to refuse or accept an unsafe assignment. When invoked, Safe Harbor will not allow employers to retaliate against the nurse for speaking up about an unsafe assignment. Safe Harbor allows the nurse due process to and Peer Review to evaluate the situation. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? As I stated before, I am embarrassed to say that I did not know much about Safe Harbor and am amazed that in just 3 short weeks I have learned so much about this protection. I find it interesting that this is not something that is talked about at the facility that I work in and I do not know any nurses that have invoked safe harbor. I believe that this is something that nurses should be educated on by the facilities they work for and educated on the process. I do not feel like safe Harbor has impacted my practice up to this point because I was not aware of just how important it is however, I am so grateful that I have the knowledge now to have this be part of my future practice. 3. How will I change my practice? In the future, I will be less likely to fall into the “that’s just how we do it” mentality and more likely to go with my gut feeling when a situation feels unsafe or I feel that my patients could be at risk. It is comforting to know that there are protections in place for nurses and I am fortunate to not have experiences situations similar to the scenarios given in the readings and videos this week. The readings and from this week have really made me think about my past practices and how I will change my practices in the future. Social Media boundaries 1. Why it is important? Social media is a part of our everyday lives now. I am fortunate enough to be at an age where, at one point in time, social media did not exist therefore, I don’t feel as drawn to post to social media as the kids of today do. As I reviewed the readings and videos, I was surprised to see some of the things people had posted. I then began to think of how a young, new nurse may view social media. I find that the youngsters of today have almost no filter and post their entire lives on line not realizing the possible consequences of what they are doing. 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? It is interesting to think back to 20 years ago when I began my career and how social media was not really a concern. Fast forward to today, and it is amazing how far we have come and how there is really no privacy. As a manager, I have had to constantly educate and remind my employees about being extremely cautious about what they post to their social media sites. I even had to fire an employee for posting a picture of himself driving a company vehicle (in motion) without a seat belt, smoking a cigar and having his headphones on. Though this did not violate a patients privacy, this is just another situation where we need to remind employees that nothing is private that is posted on the internet. 3. How will I change my practice? I think that because I came from a time when social media wasn’t so main stream and have institutional memory of what it was like without social media, I don’t find myself being absorbed with it. Social media is not something that I find myself posting through and scrolling through like the kids today do. I have never been tempted to post something about a patient or discuss even personal problems on social media. I do find myself having more and more conversations with staff as HIPAA laws continue to change and become more strictly enforced. This section on social media from our readings and lectures was a great reminder of our responsibility as professionals and the standards to which we are held. Reflective Journal Module 5: Malpractice: Identify 3 key points from this module. Reflect on why each point is important, how it impacts on your work experience or nursing practice, and how will you change your practice in the future based on each key area. Place Key Point in this column: Answer each question below with at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking. Key Point 1 1. Why it is important? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 3. How will I change my practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking Key Point 2 1. Why it is important? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 2. How does it impact my work/nursing practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking 3. How will I change my practice? at least 3-4 well written sentences using critical thinking