Reflection and Learning Goals in Long Term Care

Practical Nursing
Midterm Reflection
Briefly describe how you feel about the first half of the semester.

So far, I am pleased with how things are proceeding. The staff here is extremely courteous and accommodating. They have made me feel at ease in this setting. I enjoy learning more about the residents daily, bonding with them, and forming new relationships.

Describe one event that made you feel that you were well prepared.
Describe one event that made you feel you were not prepared.

The event that made me feel prepared was when I took a patient's vital signs on my own. I had prepared so diligently over the previous two semesters, and it was so satisfying to be able to perform the task on my own finally. However, taking vital signs ironically made me feel unprepared. I could not take vital signs before the first break because I was pressed for time, and a colleague was using the equipment. As a result, it was already after lunch by the time I could take the vitals, and I could not chart the results in time for the second break. I had neglected to chart the results earlier, which left me unprepared. Therefore, I believe I should be better prepared to return to the floor for the reported shift change the next time.    


Based on your reflection, what will you do differently in the second half of the semester? Identify a learning need and complete the learning plan.

Identify learning need(s) from Reflection.
Pick 2 or 3 learning needs related to nursing students in long-term care.
In long-term care, practical communication skills are needed to communicate with residents and co-workers. Generally, communication is complex and can be further complicated by age. Older people are more heterogeneous than younger people as they have had extensive experiences that can influence how they perceive illness, treatment, and medication. Working here, I've observed that most factors that hinder communication include; slower processing power, declining memory, and loss of hearing. Poor contact may delay the treatment process, and nurses must pay particular ...