1) Share your initial thoughts (prior to taking this course and prior to starting your clinical hours) on the role of Population and Community Health Nursing (PCHN)?
My initial thoughts of Population and Community Health Nursing (PCHN) is that this nurse deals with more than just a patient medical diagnosis. From my readings I came to learn that this is very true. The PCHN not only deals with the patient but families in the community and in their own home environment. I learned a great deal from the YouTube video from our class reading this week. I am a visual learner and the video showed the depths of involvement a PCHN have in the household. Giving support, available to answer questions, getting clothing for a baby, formula and helping arrange daycare. Harkness and DeMarco (2016) states that the ANA defines public health nursing as accountabilities that are characteristic of practice at all levels and settings. The American Public Health Association (2013) defines public health nursing as the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences. 2) Do you have any experiences working with or in Population and Community Health Nursing? Please share. If not, what do you think that job entails? My only experience with PCHN is my practicum experience from NURS 400 Leadership and Management in Nursing. All my experience since I became an RN have been in the Emergency Room and Post Anesthesia Care Unit. I did my NURS 400 practicum at a pediatric community clinic and this was a wonderful opportunity for me to experience patient care on another level. Prior to my practicum I did not realize how much support the PCHN gives to the entire family, not just the patient. Aside from assessing the pediatric patient during their visit, many times I witnessed the nurses teaching the parents about necessary vaccinations. As well as, filling out school forms, teaching parents about healthy food options, WIC forms and providing metro cards to the students. 3) How do you anticipate this practicum impacting your role as a nurse both specific to your current practice (your job now) and in general? At my current job I worked in the Emergency room for four years and most of my interaction with patients was never on a deep level. …show more content…
Now that I work in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, I do chat with my patients as they’re coming out of anesthesia; but again, it’s basic conversation. The patients are fresh post op and for the most part, very sleepy. I am looking forward to this practicum, as I get the opportunity to interact with patients not on an emergency level or fresh out of surgery. This practicum provides me with the chance to collaborate with patients as equal partners (Harkness and DeMarco, 2016). Having the opportunity at practicum, to speak with patients in a collaborative matter; will improve my post-operative teaching skills. These collaborative conversations may present information, that I may need to address with the physician, social worker and case management prior to discharge.
4) Explain your understanding of how PCHN differs from the role of the bedside nurse based on the week 1 reading, the video provided and the APHA article (all located on the week 1 module). From the readings and video this week it really put into perspective the
My initial thoughts of Population and Community Health Nursing (PCHN) is that this nurse deals with more than just a patient medical diagnosis. From my readings I came to learn that this is very true. The PCHN not only deals with the patient but families in the community and in their own home environment. I learned a great deal from the YouTube video from our class reading this week. I am a visual learner and the video showed the depths of involvement a PCHN have in the household. Giving support, available to answer questions, getting clothing for a baby, formula and helping arrange daycare. Harkness and DeMarco (2016) states that the ANA defines public health nursing as accountabilities that are characteristic of practice at all levels and settings. The American Public Health Association (2013) defines public health nursing as the practice of promoting and protecting the health of populations using knowledge from nursing, social, and public health sciences. 2) Do you have any experiences working with or in Population and Community Health Nursing? Please share. If not, what do you think that job entails? My only experience with PCHN is my practicum experience from NURS 400 Leadership and Management in Nursing. All my experience since I became an RN have been in the Emergency Room and Post Anesthesia Care Unit. I did my NURS 400 practicum at a pediatric community clinic and this was a wonderful opportunity for me to experience patient care on another level. Prior to my practicum I did not realize how much support the PCHN gives to the entire family, not just the patient. Aside from assessing the pediatric patient during their visit, many times I witnessed the nurses teaching the parents about necessary vaccinations. As well as, filling out school forms, teaching parents about healthy food options, WIC forms and providing metro cards to the students. 3) How do you anticipate this practicum impacting your role as a nurse both specific to your current practice (your job now) and in general? At my current job I worked in the Emergency room for four years and most of my interaction with patients was never on a deep level. …show more content…
Now that I work in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, I do chat with my patients as they’re coming out of anesthesia; but again, it’s basic conversation. The patients are fresh post op and for the most part, very sleepy. I am looking forward to this practicum, as I get the opportunity to interact with patients not on an emergency level or fresh out of surgery. This practicum provides me with the chance to collaborate with patients as equal partners (Harkness and DeMarco, 2016). Having the opportunity at practicum, to speak with patients in a collaborative matter; will improve my post-operative teaching skills. These collaborative conversations may present information, that I may need to address with the physician, social worker and case management prior to discharge.
4) Explain your understanding of how PCHN differs from the role of the bedside nurse based on the week 1 reading, the video provided and the APHA article (all located on the week 1 module). From the readings and video this week it really put into perspective the