Description of Experience
I recently completed my new graduate orientation program, and have been on my own for about two weeks when I encountered a patient that was on continuous Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and nothing by mouth (NPO) due to severe dysphasia secondary to advanced Multiple Sclerosis. The patient also had a medical history of type one Diabetes Mellitus. During my 11 AM medication pass, I noticed the patient was still in bed and refusing physical therapy. I went into the patient 's room and after a few key assessment questions identified the patient was demonstrating many of the hallmark clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia. I remembered the classic signs and symptoms from a mnemonic in nursing school, TIRED, tachycardia, …show more content…
This was the first experience I had in the clinical practice setting with such a low blood sugar. I responded to the situation based on the fundamental theoretical knowledge of diabetes management in the patient with hypoglycemia. During the situation I felt nervous because I was relying on the textbook knowledge I learned in nursing school. Although, I was nervous, I trusted my intuition and knowledge to act appropriately. The patient was already not feeling well, so my goal was to remain calm, cool, and collected throughout the …show more content…
I learned that my theoretical knowledge foundation is equally as important as having clinical practice experience. This experience taught me the value of possessing solid assessment skills and the ability to integrate knowledge into clinical practice. If I did not use my nursing judgement to evaluate the situation and formulate the appropriate interventions, the patient could have developed a poor outcome. This experience also demonstrated the impact my actions and decisions as a nurse has on the patient. This experience provided first hand evidence of the change in the patient 's condition as a result of my actions serves as a reminder that the actions or lack of action by a nurse could lead to poor patient outcomes or worse, the loss of
I recently completed my new graduate orientation program, and have been on my own for about two weeks when I encountered a patient that was on continuous Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) and nothing by mouth (NPO) due to severe dysphasia secondary to advanced Multiple Sclerosis. The patient also had a medical history of type one Diabetes Mellitus. During my 11 AM medication pass, I noticed the patient was still in bed and refusing physical therapy. I went into the patient 's room and after a few key assessment questions identified the patient was demonstrating many of the hallmark clinical manifestations of hypoglycemia. I remembered the classic signs and symptoms from a mnemonic in nursing school, TIRED, tachycardia, …show more content…
This was the first experience I had in the clinical practice setting with such a low blood sugar. I responded to the situation based on the fundamental theoretical knowledge of diabetes management in the patient with hypoglycemia. During the situation I felt nervous because I was relying on the textbook knowledge I learned in nursing school. Although, I was nervous, I trusted my intuition and knowledge to act appropriately. The patient was already not feeling well, so my goal was to remain calm, cool, and collected throughout the …show more content…
I learned that my theoretical knowledge foundation is equally as important as having clinical practice experience. This experience taught me the value of possessing solid assessment skills and the ability to integrate knowledge into clinical practice. If I did not use my nursing judgement to evaluate the situation and formulate the appropriate interventions, the patient could have developed a poor outcome. This experience also demonstrated the impact my actions and decisions as a nurse has on the patient. This experience provided first hand evidence of the change in the patient 's condition as a result of my actions serves as a reminder that the actions or lack of action by a nurse could lead to poor patient outcomes or worse, the loss of