Final project concepts and applications

Lessons Learned

Benjamin Franklin once said that, "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Nowhere is this statement truer than in the field of nursing where I feel that the lessons learned from this course will help sustain and enrich me in whatever field I am employed going forward. From learning about health promotion to trans-cultural nursing to nursing-focused medical ethics, these issues will influence how I practice clinically whatever type of nurse I become from a Certified Nurse Anesthetist to a Home Health Nurse to everything in-between.

As a nurse, family and friends as well as patients will inevitably look to me with their questions about health promotion. This concept focuses on maximizing wellness for one's entire life through specific strategies to promote health through nutrition, physical fitness, weight control and avoiding substance abuse. Furthermore, health promotion must also take into account cultural and environmental factors related to health, such as sexual norms, work-related toxin exposures and travel history. Lastly, health promotion must also holistically consider the well-being of the patient in order to ensure optimal health outcomes.

Another area where I learned a great deal from this course was in studying the challenges of trans-cultural nursing. This concept embraces a humanistic and scientific approach to the practice of nursing which is focused upon differences and similarities among cultures with respect to human care, health, and illness based upon the people's cultural values, beliefs, and practices. It is only through understanding our patient's mindset, that we as nurses can best address patients' concerns and worries. In order to do this effectively, a nurse must learn and be able to navigate the practices of the particular cultural group with which she is dealing as well as how this individual views the health care system and the world at large. This knowledge can lead to an optimal mode of health care delivery. A trans-cultural approach can help nurses develop a heightened awareness of the culturally diverse needs of individuals as well as to help foster a strong healthcare relationship that exists between patient and nurse.

Lastly, this class was the first time that I was exposed to a nurse-centered approach to medical ethics. In nursing there is a greater focus on developing a caring relationship than concerns about broader principles, such as beneficence and justice. Nursing seeks a collaborative relationship with the person in care. Themes that emphasize respect for the autonomy and dignity of the patient by promoting choice and control over their environment are commonly seen. This is in contrast to paternalistic practice where the health professional chooses what is in the best interests of the person from a perspective of wishing to cure them. Two fundamental principles of nursing are defending the dignity of patients and respecting confidentially. There is a balance between people having the information required to make an autonomous decision and, on the other hand, not being unnecessarily distressed by the truth. Generally the balance is in favor of truth telling due to respect for autonomy but sometimes people will ask not to be told, or may lack the capacity to understand the implications. In every aspect of nursing that I may eventually pursue these core ethical principals will serve me well in the years ahead.