Conversation with the Selected Nurse

QUESTION

Purpose:

The purpose of this course project is for learners to explore how living nurses are making nursing history, apply lessons from nursing history, and analyze the impact of this project on nursing history today.

Course Outcomes:

This course project enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:

• CO2: Apply lessons from nursing history to today’s professional nursing practice. (PO4)
• CO4: Analyze the impact of nursing history on professional nursing roles today and in the future. (PO7)

This part enables the student to meet the following course outcome:

• CO2: Apply lessons from nursing history to today’s professional nursing practice. (PO4)

Overview of NR393 Course Project:

1. There are three parts to the NR393 Course Project
   1. Phase 1: Selected Nurse Information due end of Week 1
   2. Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse due end of Week 3
   3. Phase 3: Reflection Paper due end of Week 6
2. Carefully review the instructions, templates, and rubrics for each of the three parts of this Course Project
3. Contact your instructor with questions

Due Date for Phase 2:

Submit by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 3.

Late Assignment Policy:

If the assignment is not submitted by due date, a late deduction will be applied. See rubric below.

Points Possible:

The entire project is worth 600 points. NR393 Course Project Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse is worth 225 points of this total.

Directions:

1. Download the NR393 Course Project Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse Template (under Template below). This contains all areas to be addressed and the required questions you are to ask your Selected Nurse.
2. View the Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse Tutorial (Links to an external site.)
3. Conduct the Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse after receiving approval from your instructor in the Gradebook for your Phase 1: Selected Nurse Information. The conversation will occur between Saturday of Week 2 or during Week 3 after instructor approval is documented.
   • The Conversation may take place face to face or via phone or video chat. You may NOT provide the questions to the nurse and ask the nurse to provide written or typed answers.
   • You may use audio, audio/video, or typed format (on the template) to record and submit the Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse. Use the format you agreed to in Phase 1. There is no advantage to using any one format. Grading will be the same (see rubric below) regardless of the format selected.
     • NOTE: Recordings must be 20 minutes or shorter.
     • Only one file may be submitted and must include all rubric areas.
   • Obtain permission from the Selected Nurse to participate in the Conversation by reading the statement provided on the Template for this purpose (Selected Nurse must agree).
   • Clearly explain to the Selected Nurse that statements made in the Conversation will be recorded (audio, video, and/or written as transcript on template) and submitted to the instructor. The Conversation is not intended for public access.
   • Questions and topics for the Phase 2: Conversation with the Selected Nurse are provided for you on the required Template; these are the questions that must be included in the Conversation. Please notice that you will state the question/topic, the Selected Nurse will answer, and then you will add your own answer to that question/topic. This is not a traditional interview, but instead is a Conversation with sharing of memories and ideas related to the questions and topics. You may ask up to three additional questions if you like, but these are not scored.
   • At the close of the conversation, make a clear and detailed statement of gratitude for the Selected Nurse’s time and sharing in this Conversation (Note: A simple “thank you” is not sufficient.)
   • Write a summary of the content of the Conversation.  Be clear and thorough. 
4. Submit Phase 2 assignment via Canvas by due date.

ANSWER

Directions: Prior to completing this conversation, carefully review directions, tutorial, and rubric for this assignment. Replace “Name of Student” with your first and last name. Replace “Kara Turner” with Selected Nurse’s first and last name. Use exact words spoken by each person if using as a transcript. Highlighted italicized questions need to be stated exactly.

For Example:

Selected Nurse States Verbal Permission for Conversation and Submission (25 points)

Karen (Student): Do you agree to this recorded conversation and submission to my instructor for grading purposes?

Margaret (Selected Nurse): Yes. I agree

 

Student Name: _____________________

 

Introduction:

Student Introduction and Statement of Purpose (20 points)

Hello Ms Kara,

My name is ——————, and I really appreciate you taking the time to meet me and speak about your nursing experiences. As I stated in my previous email, this interview is part of my school assignment. The primary goal of the interview is to understand how nurses today are making nursing history. I have always admired your work, and I still recall your impact on our community during the health promotion programs we worked on together. Again, I would like to connect your career with some nursing history. If it is okay with you, we will start with a brief introduction of yourself.

Selected Nurse Introduction (20 points)

My name is Kara Turner. I am a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with in-depth knowledge of diagnostic procedures and treatment of mental health, emotional, and substance abuse disorders. My responsibilities include providing psychotherapy to diverse patient populations, prescribing medications, providing preventive care, developing program and system policies and procedures, ordering, performing, and interpreting tests, care coordination, and patient and family education. I also provide consultative psychiatric services to organizations and primary care settings. I have been working in the industry for more than 15 years now.

Selected Nurse States Verbal Permission for Conversation and Submission (25 points)

Name of Student: Do you agree to this recorded conversation and submission to my instructor for grading purposes?

Kara Turner: Of course, you can record and share this conversation with the instructor or anyone else. After all, it is for educational purposes, right?

 

Questions and Answers 

Question 1    

Name of Student: What are your favorite memories of nursing school from your Student days?

Kara Turner: My favorite part of nursing school was definitely the clinical rotations. I recall being excited about using the stethoscope for the first time. Those clinical rotations motivated me a lot. I was also voted as the SNA president, a greatly valued role. I met and formed friendships with great people during my student days. We studied together, cried, and laughed together as we learned how to properly care for our patients. Though few, some of these friendships lasted a lifetime, and it’s one of the many things I still cherish in my student days.

Name of Student: Clinical rotations still make me anxious, so I cannot mention them as my favorite memories. My favorite ones are the study groups and interactive classes we have. I love them because I learn a lot from my peers, and it’s also an opportunity for me to make new friends.

 

Question 2    

Name of Student: How did your first year of RN practice compare to your nursing practice today?

Kara Turner: My biggest fear as a novice nurse was harming a patient. I always thought I would miss something during assessments and the patient would die as a result. Assessments can be hard sometimes, you know. Especially with people you don’t know- Is this their usual way of talking? Are they always this pale? Or is this a symptom of an underlying condition? I wasn’t confident in my knowledge and skills, so I thought I might accidentally cause significant harm to a patient. Sometimes I feared I could do something that would lead to a liability case. These fears stayed with me from my student days until my first years of practicing.

However, the more you practice, the more experienced and confident you become. You learn that strictly adhering to protocols and best practices helps prevent harm and optimize patient outcomes. Compared to my first years, I am more experienced and confident in my work.

Name of Student: I am not yet a practicing nurse, so I cannot make comparisons. However, I cannot agree more on the emotional roller-coaster that comes with handling a patient for the first time. I remember being scared of administering drugs. I also thought I could harm a patient by administering the wrong medication. As you have pointed out, you gradually get accustomed to it. I guess experience does indeed help.

 

Question 3    

Name of Student: What were some nursing practices that you used in your earlier years that are no longer used today? Why are they no longer used?

Kara Turner: Manual record keeping has become outdated. Back in the day, nurses would record patient information on paper, films, or discs and store them in physical storage facilities. Patient files were kept in filing cabinets, and most hospitals had entire rooms dedicated to warehousing medical records. Most of these practices ended with legislation such as HIPAA and the American Recovery and Reinvestment ACT of 2014. The Recovery and Investment Act required all health providers, whether private or public, to adopt EHRs as a prerequisite for maintaining their existing Medicare reimbursements.

On the other hand, HIPAA laws require hospitals to maintain data privacy and security. Hospitals opted for technology to avoid liabilities because most came with pre-installed security features, such as passwords, firewalls, and auto-log-out features that better-protected patients’ data. It is hard to find hospitals that store medical records in physical storage rooms or filing cabinets. This information is now kept electronically. Providers can also automatically enter data into the EHRs through voice recognition, order sets, and scanning barcodes. None of these were possible back in the day.

Name of Student: I agree with you that technology has indeed revolutionized nursing practice. For example, telehealth allows providers to deliver care at a distance, which made it popular during the pandemic. Before COVID-19, I saw nurses traveling to patients’ homes for in-person visits. Telehealth reduced the need for these travels because it enabled effective delivery of care through the internet.

Question 4    

Name of Student: How have specific persons or events significantly impacted your practice over the years?

Kara Turner: I credit Bernadette Wood for my professional success. She was my mentor during my first practicing years. She taught me the importance of being a patient advocate. Even though I was still a novice, Bernadette made me believe I could influence other nurses to advocate for themselves and their patients. When a leadership opportunity arose at the organization, Bernadette encouraged me to apply for it. She was always supportive and encouraged me when I doubted myself. She was also the reason I chose to pursue career advancement. I am thankful for her guidance and friendship.

 Name of Student: It is fascinating that the people we meet early in our careers are usually the most important in our professions. So far, you have been my greatest mentor. You have exposed me to some of your health education programs, taught me the importance of patient advocacy, and introduced me to some of your friends who are nurse leaders. I’m really grateful for this guidance.

 

Question 5

Name of Student: How have you impacted the nursing practice of others?

Kara Turner: I have been lucky to train brilliant nurses who have become great mentors. A supportive work environment is also essential. I always tell my staff that it is okay to make mistakes. Most people are usually taken aback by this, but I believe it encourages incident reporting and disclosure of medical errors and mistakes. After that, we can take measures to prevent those medical incidents from re-happening. When you are supportive, junior nurses find you approachable. You can then leverage that trust to mentor and motivate them to become better performers. I have also used tactful communication, motivation, training, educational programs, etc., to influence my staff’s nursing practice.

Name of Student: I am surprised you are this supportive, especially with the medical error issue. I have not impacted anyone’s practice, but I plan to do so by sharing what I learn.

 

Question 6

Name of Student: What contributions have you made to nursing in the areas of leadership, provision of care, and/or evidence-based practice?

Kara Turner: I have supported evidence-based practice through mentorship and training. As a nurse manager, it is your job to create a culture of inquiry in your organization and ensure all management decisions are based on evidence. I know you are familiar with EBP, but I think books oversimplify the concept. EBP is not as easy as following a six-step model. The process is complex and requires technical skills, like strategic planning and action. Over the years, I have helped organizations set up structures supporting knowledge development and transfer. I have also developed templates or tools to assist leaders in evidence-based management and decision-making.

Name of Student: I wonder whether nursing students need additional EBP training to supplement their classroom knowledge. I think I have contributed to nursing leadership by participating in clinical committees. I always contribute to these committees by communicating my peers’ concerns with the board and sharing insights on improving various nursing practices. Acting as a middle-man helps to improve organizational relationships, which, in turn, impacts organizational and health outcomes.

Question 7    

Name of Student: What challenges in today’s nursing can be improved using lessons from the past?

Kara Turner: Some contemporary problems, such as workplace hazards, nurse burnout, health disparities, etc., can be solved by lessons from the past. We all know how Nightingale changed nursing practices during her days through advocacy. Her commitment to improving dying soldiers’ conditions and response to hospital infections demonstrates the value of social justice. Likewise, nurses can use advocacy to solve health inequities, burnout, or workplace hazards. Taking on political roles is essential for advancing the interests of others and the profession’s values. Therefore, they must model Nightingale and speak out for their patients, families, communities, and their own health and safety.

Name of Student: I couldn’t agree more. I think practitioners can use lessons from Nightingale’s practice to contain hospital-acquired infections, which are still significant health problems in the healthcare system.

 

Question 8    

Name of Student: Who is your favorite famous Nurse from nursing history?

Kara Turner: I am going to go with Florence Nightingale again. I admire her primarily because she excelled in the industry despite the resistance she faced from physicians.

 

Name of Student: Nightingale was truly revolutionary. However, I think her work overshadows the work of other important nurses. My favorite is Betty Smith Williams because she played a significant role in advocating for the inclusion of minority groups in the profession, specifically African Americans.

 

Question 9    

Name of Student: How do you use that famous Nurse’s examples in your own practice?

Kara Turner: One thing I admire about Nightingale is that she did not delegate her duties. History refers to her as the lady of the lamp because of her nightly excursions. She personally made the night rounds to monitor patients’ progress and nursing care, demonstrating her commitment and passion for the profession. I apply this principle in my own practice. I rarely delegate any of my tasks unless they are administrative. I personally follow up with my patients after discharge to check on their progress. If a junior nurse has problems, I address them myself instead of referring her to HR.

Another thing I admired about Nightingale was her leadership. Following the Crimean war, Nightingale started various nursing training programs to highlight the importance of environmental conditions in promoting health and well-being. Likewise, I have conducted many training and health education programs to improve the public’s health literacy. Health education is central to health promotion; hence, it is an essential aspect of my nursing practice and leadership.

Name of Student: I can attest to your leadership because I have seen and experienced it firsthand. For me, I think minority groups are still disproportionately affected by various health conditions. I would use lessons from Smith’s work to help improve their health outcomes.

 

 

Question 10  

Name of Student: Based on your nursing past, what advice would you give to the new Nurse today?

Kara Turner: I would tell them to give their best to patients and take good care of their health. Maintain a healthy work-life balance and rest when you feel overwhelmed. Also, learn to speak up if you want to make an actual impact in the profession. I know it’s hard for some nurses to speak out even when their well-being is jeopardized. Once, a nurse told me that complaining was not in their nature! There is a huge difference between complaining and demanding better conditions. Therefore, learn to speak out when you feel things are not right. It might also help you nurture your advocacy and leadership skills.

Name of Student: I like that you also emphasize a lot on nurses’ well-being. I agree that nurses’ safety and well-being matter as much as patients’. I would also advise other nurses to speak out instead of being quiet about issues.

Optional Question

Name of Student: [Question asked]

Kara Turner: [Words spoken by Nurse to answer question]

Name of Student: [Words spoken by Student to answer question]

 

Optional Question    

Name of Student: [Question asked]

Kara Turner: [Words spoken by Nurse to answer question]

Name of Student: [Words spoken by Student to answer question]

 

Optional Question    

Name of Student: [Question asked]

Kara Turner: [Words spoken by Nurse to answer question]

Name of Student: [Words spoken by Student to answer question]

 

Conclusion:

Gratitude (20 points)

Name of Student: I think this will be all for today. I appreciate you taking the time to have this interview and allowing me to record and share your responses with my peers and instructors. I enjoyed talking with you and appreciated your insights about the industry and its history. Again, I’m really thankful for your time.

Kara Turner: It was a pleasure. I am glad I am contributing something meaningful to your education.

Summary (20 points)

Name of Student: Evidently, the nursing profession has evolved since the 19th century, but this interview has taught me that evolution is still occurring. Significant events changing nursing practice today are technological advancements. Technology, which has become commonplace in the industry, is altering what nurses do and where they work. Nursing leadership no longer involves managing staff but transforming the healthcare system. At the organizational level, nurses impact the practice of others through supportive leadership, guidance, mentorship, and EBP.

Optional – Kara Turner: [Words Selected Nurse says]

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Related Questions

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