Week 8: Reflection on Second Life Experiences, Nursing Informatics Skills and Impact on Specialty

Week 8: Reflection on Second Life Experiences, Nursing Informatics Skills and Impact on Specialty Discuss how Course Outcomes were supported and met by the activities you have completed in this course. What changes did you note in your post-TANIC TIGER assessment from when you started this course in week 1? Professor and classmates, This week we are discussing our improvement regarding informatics and comparing our pre and post TANIC TIGER assessments. My assessment improved in the areas of displaying information on a screen and communicating electronically. I also felt that I improved in describing information and identifying keywords and synonyms as well as describing the information systems that are available. My assessment improved in all of the areas of searching, assessing, and evaluating relevant information as well as incorporating it into the presentations. I learned a lot more about how to operate my particular computer and using Power Point. I had never narrated a presentation before this assignment and it was a good learning experience. Second life was an interesting experience as well. I have never been good at those types of games where you have to control a person walking around. My six-year-old is far superior to me in mine craft, I get lost, it is sad really. However, I enjoyed the experience after I got the hang of it. During this session, I had a chance to reflect on past experience and think about what I want to do with my future practice. I know that we, FNP majors, have two years left until graduation, but I am starting to see the future of my career as a reality and get excited about it. According to Swenty and Titzer (2014), it will be the new Nurse Practitioners who are responsible for igniting change and excitement in others, to forge forward into the world of technology combined with medicine. I, personally, am excited about that day. The possibilities are beginning to become tangible. I have even had several patients say that they want to be patients of mine after I graduate. The first patient that said that made me wonder whether I act differently now than I did before starting school. I feel that I have always treated my patients with dignity and respect while trying to educate them to the best of my abilities. Perhaps I am getting better at it or perhaps I am just becoming more confident. Nichole References: Swenty, C. L., & Titzer, J. L. (2014). A sense of urgency: Integrating technology and informatics in advance practice nursing education. Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 10(10), e57-e67. doi:10.1016/a.2014.07.034   Nichole, What high praise from your patients! It is my personal philosophy that we should always embark on learning to not only be our best for our patients but also to quench our quest for knowledge for our professional growth. Indeed, you will find that graduation day will be here more quickly than you think and you will accept new responsibilities in your role as a FNP. Do you foresee using the resources from this class as you evolve into that new role? Dr. Bev Dr. Bev, Thank you and yes was overwhelmed by them already trusting me to that level and I was also grateful for the opportunity to grow in this way. I agree that we must be our best for both our patients as well as the pursuit of knowledge itself to enhance our professional growth. I believe that every bit of educational growth is beneficial. I will use this class as a foundation, it changed the way I look at informatics and I gained many skills that I am sure will be useful. As a nurse practitioner, I will need informatics skills and a high level of comfort with new systems. I will also need to be the advocate with others like physicians to embrace the changes. Many times, the update to systems or addition of a new system is to comply with guidelines set forth by government mandates or to help providers not miss important signs or symptoms about our patients. I will keep this in mind as I continue to grow and when I start my career.