Practicum experiences provide nurses with an opportunity to explore their existing knowledge and the perfect skills needed for future work. It is vital for future advanced practice nurses (APRNs) to follow the seven domains of practice while establishing their goals for completing the practicum activities. These include “direct clinic practice, guidance and coaching, consultation, evidence-based practice (EBP), leadership, collaboration, [and] ethical decision-making” (Reimanis, 2015, p. 287).
Moreover, nurses should choose a nursing theory that will guide their practice-related decisions. One of such ideologies is the Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality, proposed by Dr. Madeleine Leininger (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2017). The outcome of implementing both the domains of practice and a nursing theory is a set of objectives that help a nurse to improve professional skills.
Practicum Goals
The first domain that should be considered is direct clinic practice – it corresponds with the specific area of care in which a nurse should become proficient. For my practice experience, I will be working at a primary care office that sees many elderly patients with comorbidities. My first goal would be to obtain and utilize particular clinical knowledge that is appropriate for a primary care setting. The next domain is guidance and coaching that are used to create a meaningful relationship between an APRN and a patient (Reimanis, 2015).
Here, I aim to use clinical knowledge and self-reflection to assist patients in their management of diseases. Third, consultation is a domain that deals with the interprofessional exchange of knowledge. My objective is to work with my peers and superiors and built intradisciplinary as well as interdisciplinary relations to enhance my understanding and improve patient care.
The domain of EBP is the fourth necessary aspect of practicum experiences. I will aim to use EBP data during my activities and integrate the latest and most reliable findings in my clinical decision-making process. Fifth, I will work on my leadership skills by collaborating with other professionals, exercising my skills in direct practice, systems of the organization, and health policy creation.
The sixth domain is a collaboration which deals with finding the best solutions to arising problems by interacting with other individuals. My goal is to foster a holistic environment and strive towards offering constructive solutions that were developed in collaboration with others. Finally, I will follow the approach of ethical decision-making and recognize that care provision is full of ethical dilemmas. My objective is to develop and implement just solutions into my health care system.
Nursing Theory
The Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality can be used in the described setting. Its main focus is the cultural aspects of all patients. Each person has the right to possess a different view of the world, including one’s religion, philosophy, and social structure (McFarland & Wehbe-Alamah, 2017). By following this theory, I will aim to preserve such cultural diversity, listening to patients’ concerns and keeping in mind that their mental well-being is as important as their physical health. In primary care, nurses may encounter a variety of individuals with varying levels of knowledge (Buttaro, Trybulski, Polgar Bailey, & Sandberg-Cook, 2017).
As the majority of the patients will likely have many comorbidities such as COPD, dementia, and CHF, their economic position may be challenging for them. The Culture Care Theory acknowledges that all patients have a unique set of economics-related beliefs, and one cannot ignore these concerns in practice.
Conclusion
My goals, revolving around the seven domains of nursing practice, will focus on the implementation of EBP knowledge and collaboration with patients and professionals. I will employ the Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. This belief system focuses on the uniqueness of patients and their needs to which nurses have to pay increased attention. I will integrate the domains and the theory to provide patients with holistic and individualized care.
References
Buttaro, T. M., Trybulski, J., Polgar Bailey, P., & Sandberg-Cook, J. (2017). Primary care: A collaborative practice (5th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
McFarland, M. R., & Wehbe-Alamah, H. B. (2017). Theory of Culture Care Diversity and Universality. In M. R. Alligood (Ed.), Nursing theorists and their work, (pp. 339-358). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Reimanis, C. L. (2015). The advance practice exam: Understanding the 7 domains of advanced practice nursing. Journal of Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nursing, 42(3), 287-289.