Journal Entry

Journal Entry Student’s Name Institution Course Name Instructor Date Journal Entry Self-Reflection This journal entry describes my initial practicum experiences. It links it back to my professional background as well as the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) 2021 Essentials competencies, current evidence-based literature, and practicum objectives. By linking my clinical observations to the evidence in literature, I am now realizing how advanced practice nursing knowledge and roles merge with healthcare leadership's focus to change organizational and patient outcomes. During my first week of practicum, I had an opportunity with my preceptor to look at unit performance measures related to patient safety and quality of care, including handoff reports. Fernández-Castro et al. (2023) emphasize that training in specific evidence-based practice is important because it helps one evaluate the evidence and adjust it to a relevant clinical circumstance. Also, I participated in interdisciplinary meetings with the nurse manager and physicians where safety indicators were discussed in detail. This experience of attending interdisciplinary meetings allowed me to see firsthand what nurse leaders do when working with data, supporting team collaboration, and developing accountability among staff. I am learning by continuing to connect with nurse managers and attending these interdisciplinary meetings about what variables influence health care delivery and how that translates into nursing practice. This connects back to the AACN Domain 7: Systems-Based Practice (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021), because nurses' responsibilities are to coordinate the resources and implement care that is safe, equitable, and of high quality. Further, I enhanced my teaching skills and evidence-based decisi...