Clinical Experience Essay

Introduction In the broad field of health care, doctors and nurses often encounter various types of people who enter a care setting in a vulnerable state and in need of support. Over time, with experience and working with numerous patients, the individuality of patients is often neglected and this can negatively affect the quality of patient care. To evolve and grow professionally, one must be able to reflect on the experiences in order to re-assess the values and circumstances that are essential for providing exceptional care. The following paper will explore a clinical experience from the fall semester at Mount Sinai Hospital that solidified my understanding of the importance of human dignity and taking the time to prioritize care properly.

As an aspiring nurse, I regret hesitating on advocating for Mr. J, in fear of retaliation by the nurse who had more superiority and experience than me. However, a great nurse has a responsibility to the patient first and foremost and I should have spoken up about my concerns over what was going on. In order to ensure that I provide effective care for future practice, I would plan my care in a way that would allocate adequate time for more complex patients at the end and provide care for patents who are more stable first. To make sure the patient is able to communicate efficiently, I would implement strategies such as using non-verbal indicators and cues (e.g. blink twice for yes), asking simple questions one at a time, explaining the steps of a procedure, be open for questions, and inform the patient whenever of any actions I take that involve them. Through an analysis of the literature in conjunction with the incident, the importance of reducing anxiety and helping patients understand the positive connotations of a care activity can drastically aid in their perception of what is going on around them, thereby allowing for a sense of control. Furthermore, seeking the patient’s perspective on aggression and speaking to them is a good method to understand both sides of the story - and to properly address why something