This has been a great semester for learning. I have been
made aware of the many different social aspects that are integrated in the
health constructs of patient care. Public health and the many risks and
preventative measures that can manifest, ensure that we as nurses will always
have the opportunity to further educate the people we care for. As healthcare
professionals, it is our role as a nurse to be an advocate for the people. For
those in poverty, who are underserved, who are children, adults, and
elderly. In order to be the voice they
need, we need to learn to assess and plan interventions that will effectively
improve their quality of life. I have learned that while caring for children,
it is important to get on their level and be aware of the age group you are
working with. Initiating a trusting relationship with the parent entices the child
to be willing to work with you. As nurses work with families, it is important
to understand where they come from and be aware of the different challenges
each family faces. Assessing these aspects of social experiences engrains a
bond of trust between healthcare provider and client. Having that trust not
only allows the ability to gain further knowledge on health problems, it also
allows for the opportunity of health promotion. Establishing that base spreads
beyond individual care and supports community involvement. I have learned a plethora
of community agencies that are set in place for the benefit of the public. A
big unit of this knowledge came from our discussion of emergency disaster
plans. Staying updated and current with community programs that are available
is important in allowing nurses to share that information with their patients.
I biggest thing I am able to take away from this class is the importance of
communication. Healthcare is a system of interrelated programs/agencies that
operates at its best based on communication. Keeping communication among
healthcare professionals is essential to success.
One particular health issue I learned more about was
concussions. The differences between individuals who experience concussions and
their recovery rate were rather surprising to think about. I was aware that
after each concussion a person has, the next one is typically worse and that
concussions are typically followed by some confusion and sensory problems. However,
I did not realize how prevalent concussions really were. I did not know that
adults 75 years and older were the highest rated for hospitalization and death
because of a traumatic brain injury. As I found out many suffer from
concussions, I was not surprised then to find out that Wisconsin had their own
Concussion Law that requires parental signatures of youth under 19 years old to
consent that they have received information on concussions and what signs to
look for before signing their child up in a sporting event. Having this law is
great way to help prevent concussions from going unnoticed.