Introduction
The practicum was designed to teach the staff of the 4West General Medicine unit about the importance of preventing falls among patients. Research indicates that most nurses and medical staff are not aware of the facts regarding falls and their consequences on the affected patients (Haas et al., 2012). The sessions commenced by the administration of a test to the departmental employees to test their understanding of the topic on falls. Initially, my teaching activities were met with mixed reactions with some nurses arguing that I was wasting their time while others claimed I was introducing new processes that would increase the workload. However, towards the end of the training, I developed a strong bond with the entire workforce, thus illustrating the effectiveness of the training. This paper shall analyze the achievements made during the practicum project and explain how the lessons learned will be applied in the future.
Summarize, analyze, and evaluate the practicum experience and the achievement of personal learning objectives from your Practicum Learning Agreement
The objective of the practicum were twofold, firstly, I intended to train the nurses and other staff in the department about falls and the best ways to prevent them. Secondly, I wanted to advance my knowledge about falls and utilize the theoretical knowledge I had in a more practical setting. Both objectives were to be achieved contemporaneously and within the timeframe given. Though there were various setbacks to the achievement of the duo targets, I managed to deal with them and prioritized on the agendas.
My engagement with the departmental staff, during the practicum, heavily influenced my interpersonal skills. I conducted literature reviews to gain insight on the importance of the topic and the impacts of the prevention strategies adopted. During the reviews, I acquired the following skills:
- Writing skills
- Reading skills
- Thinking skills
Moreover, I learned the importance of engaging every staff in major decision-making processes to avert resistance that would result in failure of a strategic endeavor (Nyman, Ballinger, Phillips, & Newton, 2013). The involvement of the nurses in the department helped avert the resistance that was cropping up leading to a consensus about how the implementation process would be accomplished.
Lastly, the practicum furthered my understanding of both the qualitative and quantitative methods of conducting medical research. I reviewed both qualitative and quantitative articles in my attempts to gain knowledge regarding falls prevention. Besides, I conducted qualitative research independently to assess the staff’s understanding of the topic. The method involved the use of interviews with the charge nurses and questionnaires for the other staff in the department.
Evaluate the effectiveness of the practicum project
Most nurses from the unit did not know much about the severity of the condition hence the need to train them on the topic. Falls are attributed to other health issues such as fractures and trauma, which increases the cost of health (Hunderfund, Sweeney, Mandrekar, Johnson, & Britton, 2011). Additionally, it leads to the increase in the workloads due to the negative consequences resulting from such falls. Through explanation of the effects of falls in both the patients and the nurses, the departmental staff unanimously embraced the project. Nurses expressed their commitment to utilize the knowledge acquired to mitigate incidences of falls in their respective departments.
The effectiveness of the training could also be depicted from the improved knowledge about falls demonstrated by the nurses at the end of the training. The posttest administered to the nurses revealed a further acquisition of skills on fall prevention. Initially, none of the nurses wanted to participate in sharing information on the topic apparently because they had little knowledge about it. The training elevated their self-confidence, and they could now comfortably share their feelings on the subject.
Another demonstrative factor of the effectiveness of the session is the relationship established between the various staff in the department and me. A rapport was established amongst the nurses, my mentor, and I illustrating the commitment of all the staff to the call to prevent falls among patients in the department. Initially, nurses thought I was introducing new procedures that could heighten their workload. However, towards the end of the session, they had realized the relevancy of the topic in the nursing practice.
Evaluate how your practicum experience will assist you in functioning as an MSN prepared nurse
The pretest conducted on the departmental staff revealed that nurses had little knowledge about falls and their impact on both the patients’ health and the cost of health. The findings apply not only to the departmental nurses in question but also to a majority of nurses in the globe. My future engagement with employees responsible for prevention of falls shall be based on the assumption that such staff members need to be trained on the topic first before being entrusted with the practical prevention of the same. From the face value, nurses are perceived to have enough knowledge of all the health issues.
During the practicum, I was able to manage a group of staff who had varying perceptions about my motive. I encountered resistance from the nurses and being the group leader, I had to intervene and solve the various disputes that arose in the course of the training. I had to convince the nurses that the topic was a relevant one in the nursing practice. My involvement in dispute resolutions elevated my self-confidence as it dawned on me that I had the necessary skills to deal with conflicts. I learned that the motive behind most staff opposing changes was due to the lack of knowledge regarding the consequences of such changes.
From the review of the literature, I learned that falls are attributed to the rising cost of health not to mention that they lead to health complications among the affected patients. Falls among the elderly groups is more serious than in the young generation with about 40% of elderly falls resulting in deaths or serious injuries (Hanson & Salmoni, 2011). In light of the mentioned fact, fall prevention is an important endeavor since it improves patient’s trust, enhances the quality of service delivery, and decreases hospital cost. Falls are not only common in health facilities but also at home. Falls prevention should thus focus on strategies aimed at mitigating falls at home and in healthcare facilities.
Lastly, during the practicum, I had to do extensive research on falls to acquire knowledge, which I would then pass to my learners. I had to review numerous literature materials and align the knowledge acquired with the organization’s policies. Through literature review, I furthered my knowledge about the topic on falls not to mention that I got an opportunity to test my theoretical fall prevention skills. The practical experience in fall prevention is important in the advancement of my career since it will help me develop a policy that suits the need of the specific health facility that I will be working for in the future.
Include documentation from your research that supports or enhances your learning experience
The findings from my engagement with the nurses were that a majority of nurses do not have enough knowledge regarding the topic of fall prevention. A review of the literature indicates similar findings. Hunderfund et al. (2011) state that there is an inadequacy of knowledge regarding the causes and prevention of falls among nurses. He also exemplifies the need for involvement of nurses in major decisions regarding falls prevention. Nurses need to be educated on the impacts of falls prevention endeavors regarding workloads and the overall cost of healthcare.
Nyman et al. (2013) posit that the prevention of falls among the elderly groups would go a long way in improving the health of the identified group. He identifies the various strategies that may help reduce instances of falls for older adults. Among the strategies cited in the by the authors include:
- Clearing bushes
- Avoiding slippery floors
- Improving their diets
- Walking support
Nyman et al. (2013) add that falls are among the leading causes of deaths among the elderly groups. He attributes the rising cost of health to falls stating that patient fall increases nurses’ workload and affects the treatment outcomes.
Conclusion
The practicum project centered on educating nurses from the 4West General Medicine unit about the importance of preventing falls based on the evidence available in the literature. Although there was resistance from nurses at first, I managed to convince them about the importance of the topic in improving patient’s safety. I simplified the questions to attract direct answers from my class. The learning sessions were designed in such a way that they allowed the nurses to understand the importance of the topic to the nursing practice. Towards the end of the session, a posttest was conducted which revealed that the nurses had acquired sufficient knowledge on the topic.
References
Haas, R., Maloney, S., Pausenberger, E., Keating, L., Sims, J., Molloy, E.,… & Haines, T. (2012). Clinical decision making in exercise prescription for fall prevention. Physical therapy, 92(5), 666-679.
Hanson, M., & Salmoni, A. (2011). Stakeholders’ perceptions of programme sustainability: findings from a community-based fall prevention programme. Public health, 125(8), 525-532.
Hunderfund, L., Sweeney, M., Mandrekar, J., Johnson, L., & Britton, J. (2011). Effect of a multidisciplinary fall risk assessment on falls among neurology inpatients. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 86(1), 19-24.
Nyman, R., Ballinger, C., Phillips, E., & Newton, R. (2013). Characteristics of outdoor falls among older people: a qualitative study. BMC Geriatrics, 13(1), 125-139.