Learning from Practicum Experience, Challenges, Communication, and Feedback

Learning From Experiences
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Learning From Experiences
Throughout the practicum, I had four major goals. My first goal was to collaborate with my preceptor to diagnose and evaluate all psychiatric and mental health patients by utilizing the DSM-5 criteria. I was confidently able to recognize the clinical symptoms and signs of the different psychiatric conditions without supervision. However, I needed preceptor supervision to evaluate and diagnose the illnesses. My second goal was to closely collaborate with my preceptor in differentiating pathophysiological and psychopathological assessments. I was successfully able to do so, though I needed supervision from the preceptor and instructor. My third goal was to collaborate with my preceptor to perform and interpret the patient history and physical examinations. I achieved this goal at a ‘beginning’ level, where I needed preceptor supervision to improve my confidence. My final goal entailed performing mental status examinations, and documenting them, in collaboration with my preceptor. Here I needed close supervision from the preceptor, to achieve the goal.
One most challenging patient was a fifty-year-old woman, who was hypertensive and pregnant at 30weeks, demonstrating severe bipolar signs and symptoms. The life of her unborn baby was at risk, and there was a dilemma on whether to save the mother's or the baby's life. The second most challenging patient was a seventeen-year-old teenager, who suffered from anxiety and suicidal thoughts, and was not responding to the medication on the plan. The third most challenging patient was a seven-year-old child, who had severe-acute -malnutrition, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, end-stage renal disease, and newly diagnosed type one diabetes. It was impossible to place the child on dialysis, yet he was severely malnourished. Team collaboration, that involved dietitians/nutriti...