Mid-Semester Self Evaluation

Here's the Scoop:

2 Course Clinical Objectives
A. Interact with Peers via the discussion board to promote classroom knowledge of the BSN prepared nurse with a global perspective.

I have learned so much from my fellow student via the discussion board in each of my online classes. I was biased when I began the online process, thinking that I could read the material, take a few tests and get a grade. I wasn't actually planning on learning anything.

What a wonderful surprise to find myself looking forward to checking the discussion board to see what my peers had to say. I enjoy looking up their references and providing data that I have found to enrich their learning experience.

B. Complete change project, implement it, test it, and evaluate it.

Unfortunately, I have yet to implement my change project. I'm making a Surgical Portfolio to help staff members unfamiliar with their assigned cases. The portfolio contains the preference cards, pictures of room set-up, a brief synopsis of what the case actually is, and specific surgeon pointers. I wanted to do 5 cases from each specialty service line, but it has become enormous. We have several specialties including: General, Vascular, Endovascular, Orthopedics, Plastics, Pediatrics, Cranial-facial, ENT, Gynocology, Transplant, Thoracic, Bariatrics, and Laparoscopic surgery.

I'm going to pair it down and implement a few cases with the option to add more cases if the portfolio is a successful venture.

2 Personal Objectives so far in the course; relate your progress on these objectives to your work in your specific clinical site.

A. Interact with Mentor to promote knowledge from a reality based management perspective.

I have been blessed with the best Mentor! She is a real person, not just a figurehead that has her executive assistant do everything for her. SH is constantly busy and is on more committees than I know about. She has shared many of them with me, but I still don't think I know them all. SH has allowed me to follow her to multiple meetings and educational offerings. We spend time discussing our opinions about the new information we've received and whether it will benefit our department, nursing, the doctors, the hospital, the patients, etc. It's her belief that mentoring and teaching is a way to give back to her chosen profession. I am able to speak with her about difficult situations and she gives me suggestions on the most appropriate ways to manage them.

The funny thing is that I thought by going through online classes, I would miss the human interaction where I would learn from the educator personally. With my chosen mentor, I learn something each time we are together.

B. Create schedule and rigorously adhere to it, so as not to get behind in my last 2 classes.

Being a work-aholic, I find it hard to leave work when they ask me to stay. Once I get home, I'm the mom of a very busy adolescent, so we're probably off on an errand for volleyball, track, student council, or rushing to a game I didn't know about and collecting her friends to go too. Not to mention cooking, cleaning, laundry, and all the other wife stuff that must be done.

My high-acuity class is current. I have a terrific team to work with and we've divided up the duties nicely. I'm behind on this class because I've bitten off more than I can chew and now my photo printer is broken, blah, blah, blah... I'm going to have to turn in a slightly smaller project than I originally envisioned.

This frustrates me, but it's more realistic. I just want to help my peers that struggle with their unfamiliar assignments, but I can't cover all of our cases.
I'm focusing on the most commonly complained about, and the most popular. I figure if I can cover these, whoever gets assigned will have a decent head's up about how to do the case comfortably with the best outcome and the least stress.

Statement and discussion of one way these items have fostered your growth as a professional nurse.

Having these objectives: learning with my peers, learning from my mentor, creating my surgical portfolio, and adherring to a schedule, have helped my time management and organizational skills.

Nurses need to be organized to provide the best care for all of their patients in the short time they are allotted each day. Time management is crucial to survive in this new multitasking way of life that I have embraced.

My peers have opened my thoughts up to those of others. I may not agree, but I can appreciate their point of view and perhaps understand why they feel the way they do.

My mentor has given me invaluable lessons on remaining cool in the face of adversity from different committees filled with less than pleasant members. When I become frustrated by my peers, I consider how she would turn the situation around for a mutually pleasing solution.

Once I get the Portfolio implemented, I will be interested to see if my peers will spend a few minutes to use the suggested practices when they are unfamiliar with their assignement, or if they will disregard the option.

I have learned to say, "No, I can't stay late today," so I can get home and work on my homework! I just need to say it more often. The cases will get done without me. I don't feel expendable, just convenient. I love my job, so it's hard to leave. This class has taught me to appreciate my work with a more global perspective.