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Cari Watts Student e-Portfolio for Experiential Learning Scholars Program (EXL)



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EXL Reflection

 

EXL Program Reflection Essay

      

Being a part of EXL courses has prepared me for the job I wish to receive when I graduate from school. I have had the opportunity to work as a nurse prior to graduating and working independently.  I am now confident I can competently care for patients with the skills I have acquired in these clinical experiences. It is imperative that I received the education and knowledge-based experiences from EXL courses in order to provide safe patient care.
A crucial piece of nursing school is the course Fundamentals of Nursing. It lays the foundation for all clinical experiences that come after. It sets up the basics such as correct techniques for bed bathes, injections, wound care, naso-gastric and gastrostomy tube feedings, and safe medication administration. I will carry this knowledge with me throughout my career. It sets up the basis of proper and safe nursing care.
Another class I consider one of the most vital components of my knowledge base was Medical Surgical clinical, an EXL course. It is the class I received a significant amount of hands on activity. In nursing classes, learning techniques and skills from a book is not always the best way to learn. In the clinical setting we were actually able to perform these skills, under the supervision of an instructor. By having this opportunity, it allowed me to fully understand, from beginning to end, how to properly complete these tasks. By repeating and practicing these skills during clinical days I was able to become competent in performing these skills.
A wonderful thing, for me, that came out of EXL courses is these classes helped direct me toward the area of nursing I want to work in.  We have many opportunities of student nursing in several clinical areas such as labor and delivery, postpartum, surgery, critical care, medical-surgical, and pediatrics.  I knew after having time in critical care, more specifically cardiovascular intensive care unit, that is where I would like to work when I graduate from school.  I enjoy being challenged and could tell this is where I would find this.
Time management is an important skill for nurses which I have been able to learn through EXL courses. In the medical surgical rotation we begin with one patient assignment and increase to three patients by the end of the term. By gradually adding to my patient load I learned to manage my time effectively to include all aspects of patient care.

It is valuable to have clinical experience, especially for nursing, because we make decisions that affect individual’s lives. In the clinical setting, it provides the opportunity to take classroom based knowledge and apply it to real-life situations. I was able to gather different theories and concepts to provide patients with adequate care. In these courses, I have learned specific leadership techniques, organizational skills, and most importantly problem solving skills.

I have attached journal entries from all my semester in nursing school.  The summarize activities and experiences in each semester. 

users/CNWatts/upload/File/Journal_Semester_1.doc

users/CNWatts/upload/File/Journal_Semester_2.doc

users/CNWatts/upload/File/Journal_Semester_3.doc

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