After viewing the film, NURSES – If Florence Could See Us Now for my Transition to Practice course, I realized the impact that nurses have, and how far we have come in this profession. There were many skills I discovered that I have not yet learned, and certainly have yet to master. These include supporting a patient as they die, and working with families to reduce anxiety and help them understand how we can help them. The most pertinent skill that I have not mastered is taking care of individuals that are part of a diverse patient population. I have had many clinical rotations and CNA experience, however I have only cared for adults. The population that stood out to me most in the film was pediatrics. This field of nursing seemed like an entirely different world to me. There are barriers to care in pediatrics that I have never experienced in the adult world, such as fears associated with younger developmental stages, separation anxiety, and the grief of families when their child becomes sick and can not heal.
Cultural humility also applies to this patient population. Though not in the sense of skin color or ethnicity, but in the sense that pediatric nurses put what they know (medical terms, suppression of pain, etc.) aside to care for a small human being that understands and reacts much differently than an adult. That being said, there are cultural differences among children and their families as well, and cultural humility is used in this sense also. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn more about practicing cultural humility, and to begin working with the pediatric population next week in clinicals.
Another video I watched for my Transition to Practice course was a presentation by the Career Services department at UNE. As an upcoming nursing school graduate, this was very resourceful; I am currently working on my resume and will soon be applying for jobs. The most important part of applying to jobs is interviewing. During an interview, I will need to set myself apart from other applicants. This is no easy task, but I know that I can achieve this by being prepared, understanding everything I can about the position I am applying for, and relaying why I am a good fit by using past experiences to portray my dedication to caring for others. I have little experience in the nursing world as a new graduate, and this may pose as a challenge. While interviewing, I will go about this by relaying my intention and eagerness to learn all that I can while providing the absolute best care for my patients as possible.
