Introduction
Healthcare is, perhaps the most rapidly changing field among others in terms of care delivery, quality of services and finance issues. At present, the changes are even more explicit due to the appearance of new trends in healthcare like health promotion orientation, health management improvement. In this respect, I have chosen this professional route, as I have been always keen on facing challenges and overcoming difficulties. More importantly, my future career involves constant communication with patients, which demands making decisions and controlling patients’ health.
Portfolio Evidence
For promoting my writing and researching skills I have attended a number of lectures where the professor proposed we address the writing skills portfolio consisted of reading the book by Blaxter et al. (2006) providing all necessary information concerning how to become a successful researcher. Apart from this, I had the possibility to practice my skills and view several solid types of research in order to pursue the main stages of researches on healthcare (Harper and Pitt, 2004).
The analysis of different texts and documents of healthcare were also included in the course, we learned to withdraw the most and the least important information. These assignments were based on the samples of patients’ medical cards and medical reports and their samples (Medical Examination Report).
During the course, I read the book on Public Health Management by Fallon and Zgodinski (2005) where I learned about implementation plan stages, organizational ethics, theories of successful communication.
Certainly, theoretical courses cannot fully provide you with the necessary knowledge and experience in coping with patients. Therefore, we had some practical assignments and exercises and passed different assignments in order to acquire experience and practice skills. Still, Palmer’s book (2000) can prepare you for practical classes and learn to treat the patients carefully.
During the study of healthcare programs, we leaned different types of infections and their preventive measure. We also conducted of risk assessment according to the type of infections in order to work out the strategies for coping with them (Timby, 2008).
The classes also involved the theoretical material on patient psychology promoting our understanding of patients’ treatment (Barlow and Durand, 2008). Patients’ cases were also included in the course to be more aware of how to behave in different, intrinsic situations (Redman, 2007).
The independent researches were included in the study, as the main purpose of this academic course is to train some professional skills and competencies. Therefore, I should be aware of the most rewarding occupations in the sphere of public health (Swanson, 2005).
Self-scoring on Achievement of Skills Development
After the course that involved the analysis of theoretical material and peer-reviewed articles, I have managed to pursue the structure of the research and to conduct it independently. In addition to this, my writing skills have considerably improved as I have always tried not to miss an opportunity to make notes on my observations. The portfolio of the documents and presentations has also contributed to my writing skills development, as I have learned to structure my essays and reports.
The administration portfolio has fostered my ability to compile schedules and manage my time, which is especially pivotal for working in the public health field. I have also trained my ability to allocate the duties and perform all the assignments in time.
Studying the portfolio of patients’ cases has provided me with valuable knowledge on treating difficult cases and making important decisions. I have also realized that patients’ treatment is closely connected with conflict resolution and ethical biases.
Apart from ethical and practical theories, my ability to cope with infections have leveled up due to numerous classes devoted to the analysis of different kinds of infections and medications that are applicable to a particular case. Apart from this, due to the theoretical courses, I have studied how to avoid infection proliferation and what hygiene rules should be observed. The risk assessments have also helped me to differentiate the level of danger of infection emergence.
My knowledge of psychology has been greatly advanced due to theoretical and practical classes since before I was ignorant of this aspect that caused numerous problems to me when communicating with patients. Medical portfolio on psychology has deposited to the development of communication to patients skills as I have started to sense the patients’ needs and problems.
While analyzing the patients’ cases, my ability to critically evaluate different situation have also advanced. However, I still experience difficulties when dealing with legally binding cases but the presence of law as an inherent component of health care management should be tackled.
Conclusion
All the above skills can be integrated into achieving my professional and career goals. The portfolio products in general carry a decent bulk of knowledge and experience for my future career. In particular, the awareness of the job market peculiarities should be also thoroughly explored. Therefore, my ability to predict the most and the least rewarding occupations have also bettered. In addition to this, I have realized that my theoretical concerns are of minor importance in case they are not committed to practice.
Reference List
Barlow, D. H., and Durand, V. M. 2008. Abnormal Psychology: An Integrative Approach. US: Cengage Learning.
Baxter, L., Hughes, C., and Tight, M. 2006. How to research. US: McGraw-Hill International.
Fallon, L. F., and Zgodzinski, E. J. 2005. Essentials of public health management. US: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Harper, P. R., and Pitt, M. A. 2004. On the challenges of healthcare modeling and a proposed project life cycle for successful implementation. The Journal of the Operational Research Society. 55(6), pp. 657-61.
Medical Examination Report. n. d. 2010. Web.
Palmer, Michael. 2000. The patient. US: Michigan University.
Redman, B. K. 2007. The Practice of patient education: a case study approach. US: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Swanson, B. M. 2005. Careers in health care. US: McGraw-Hill Professional.
Timby, B. K. 2008. Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts. US: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.