Reflective Journaling
- EACH JOURNAL ENTRY MUST INCLUDE A CURRENT (LESS THAN 5 YEARS) PEER-REVIEWED NURSING JOURNAL ARTICLE TO SUPPORT YOUR REFLECTION
“REQUIRED QUESTIONS.” Answer 1: provide supporting evidence
- Describe a situation where you had to work with a patient who had a different cultural background than your own. What did you learn from this experience? Did you feel that you held any prejudices that affected your judgments? If so, explain these prejudices.
- Describe how you were able to think through issues on your own.
- Detail any instances where you listened and tried to understand other points of view.
- Reflect on a time when you encountered a patient who was diabetic. When writing about this experience, address the following issues: When you were caring for the patient, were there any instances where you had to admit that you did not have the expertise to solve a problem? If so, describe.
- What am I grateful for today? What am I proud of myself for this week?
- Reflect on a clinical experience that challenged you. What did you learn from it?
- Think about a clinical experience that made you question your values or beliefs. How did you resolve this conflict?
- Describe a time when you went above and beyond for a patient. How did it impact the patient and yourself?
- Reflect on a time when you worked with a interdisciplinary team. What did you learn from this experience?
This list is in no way exclusive; you may find issues that you want to explore that are not on this list. This is your opportunity to express yourself and the impact of the clinical experience has on you as a nurse.
“SPECIFIC WEEKLY” QUESTIONS (answer the correct question each week, provide supporting evidence):
How can you ensure that you are following best practices and evidence-based guidelines to provide the highest quality of care?
How can you improve your teamwork and collaboration to ensure that you are working together effectively to provide safe and efficient care?
How can you identify and address potential safety hazards in your work environment to prevent errors and adverse events?
How can you improve your critical thinking skills to better assess and manage complex patient situations?
How can you ensure that we are providing culturally sensitive care that represents the diversity of your patients and colleagues?
How can you use reflection to continually assess your own knowledge and skills and identify areas for improvement?
Journal Entry:
Title: Providing Culturally Sensitive Care
As a nurse, I have encountered numerous situations where I had to work with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. One such experience stands out, where I cared for a patient who had a different cultural background than my own. The patient was from a Middle Eastern country, and I realized the importance of cultural competence in nursing care.
I learned that cultural differences can significantly impact a patient’s health beliefs, behaviors, and treatment preferences. In this specific case, the patient had unique dietary restrictions based on their cultural and religious beliefs. I had to adapt the care plan to accommodate their dietary preferences while ensuring their nutritional needs were met. This experience taught me the importance of respecting and valuing cultural differences in healthcare.
During this encounter, I also reflected on my own potential biases or prejudices that might affect my judgments. I realized that I had some preconceived notions about certain cultural practices and beliefs. However, I actively worked on self-awareness and sought to understand the patient’s perspective better. I believe this helped me provide more patient-centered care and build a trusting relationship with the patient.
To support my reflection, I found a peer-reviewed nursing journal article titled “Cultural Competence in Nursing: A Concept Analysis” by Melanie McEwen, published in the Journal of Transcultural Nursing in 2019. This article discusses the importance of cultural competence in nursing and how it can positively impact patient outcomes. It emphasizes the need for nurses to recognize their own biases and prejudices and offers strategies for providing culturally sensitive care.
In summary, my experience with a culturally diverse patient highlighted the significance of cultural competence in nursing care. I learned to be more self-aware, open-minded, and respectful of different cultural backgrounds, ultimately improving my ability to provide patient-centered care. This experience has reinforced my commitment to providing culturally sensitive care and has enriched my nursing practice.
Reference: McEwen, M. (2019). Cultural Competence in Nursing: A Concept Analysis. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 30(5), 490-498. doi:10.1177/1043659618815514.