Date of Learning:18/10/2024

Time: 09:30-16:30

Title of learning activity: Evidence based health promotion

Diary of Learning activity

In this session, we focused on understanding the impact of health promotion related to evidence-based on various population groups, identifying remedies for managing different conditions, and exploring strategies for health promotion. The discussion emphasised the importance of approaching different scenarios through an evidence-based lens to ensure effective interventions. We were separated in four groups to complete an activity, and my group discussion topic was depression. We discussed the population groups most affected by depression, highlighting how the condition affects a wide demographic, including adolescents, adults, the elderly, and individuals living with chronic illnesses. Vulnerable populations, such as those experiencing socioeconomic challenges, those in high-stress environments, and individuals with a family history of mental illness, were identified as particularly at risk.

In terms of remedies and interventions, we explored the use of pharmacological treatments, such as antidepressants, for managing moderate to severe depression. Psychotherapy, particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), was also noted as an effective form of treatment. Additionally, lifestyle changes like regular physical activity, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep play a critical role in maintaining mental health. Support from family, friends, or mental health services is vital for recovery and managing the condition over time.

When it came to health promotion strategies, we emphasised the importance of awareness campaigns aimed at reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging individuals to seek help. Early intervention was another key strategy, focusing on the need for regular screenings in schools, workplaces, and healthcare settings to identify those at risk of depression. Community engagement, through the involvement of local organisations and support networks, was seen as essential for providing accessible mental health resources. Lastly, we discussed the role of policy advocacy in improving mental health services and ensuring that individuals have better access to care. I thought this activity was particularly helpful to support us in preparing for the assignment.

KSBs addressed:

Date of Learning: 11/10/2024

Time:09:30-16:30

Title of learning activity: Supervising students and safe medicate exam

Diary of Learning activity :

In the morning session the lecturer was Scott for the module leadership and management. The topic focused on supervising and assessing students in the role of Nursing Associate. The session highlighted the importance of compassionate leadership when working with students, ensuring that they feel supported and encouraged as they develop their clinical skills. A key takeaway was understanding how supervision plays a role in fostering a positive learning environment while maintaining the balance between student growth and patient safety.

As part of the session, we participated in a group activity that simulated the dynamics between a supervisor and a student. This simulation stressed the importance of giving constructive feedback, as it plays a pivotal role in the student’s learning process. The feedback process was explored in depth, showing how it can promote reflective practice and improve student performance when delivered in a supportive and non-judgmental manner. We also discussed the need for feedback to be specific, timely, and framed positively, which aligns with the principles of compassionate leadership.

In the afternoon session we met Jenny, for the care delivery module. We completed the medication calculation exam, which I successfully passed. This exam was a practical assessment of essential skills required for safe medication administration, reinforcing the importance of accuracy in nursing practice. Completing this exam was a significant achievement, as it validated my competency in a crucial area of patient care. Overall, the day was a blend of enhancing my supervisory skills and confirming my technical abilities in medication management.

KSBs addressed:

Date of Learning:04/10 2024/

Time: 09:30-16:30

Title of learning activity: Evidence based practice and care delivery

Diary of Learning activity

Today’s session covered two modules, the morning one was evidence-based practice and the afternoon was care delivery. In the morning, Lianne led a session focused on critical thinking and evidence-based decision making. We explored the importance of analysing information, assessing the validity of sources, and applying evidence to make informed choices in clinical practice. Engaging in group discussions helped me recognise the various ways critical thinking can enhance patient outcomes. I appreciated the practical examples provided, which illustrated how theoretical concepts apply in real-life scenarios. This session stressed the importance of a systematic approach to problem-solving in healthcare settings. We also had the opportunity to explore some ideas for the assignment and Lianne explained how this will take place. In the afternoon, Jenny facilitated a session on care delivery, specifically concentrating on enteral feeding. We delved into the indications for enteral feeding, the different methods of administration, and the importance of nutritional assessment. Jenny emphasized the role of interdisciplinary collaboration in managing patients requiring enteral nutrition. The hands-on activities allowed us to practice insertion of NG tubes and understanding potential complications. This session reinforced the significance of delivering patient-centred care while ensuring safety and efficacy in nutrition delivery. Overall, today’s learning was both informative and applicable, equipping me with valuable skills for my practice.

KSB addressed:

Date of Learning:27/09/2024

Time: 09:30-16:30

Title of learning activity: Leadeship and MAnagement

Diary of Learning activity

During today’s session at university, we spent all day with Scott, our lecturer for the leadership module. The morning session focused on leadership and the nursing associate role. We explored various leadership theories and styles. It was enlightening to understand how these theories apply to practice in nursing. Theories such as transformational and transactional leadership were discussed, providing a framework for understanding how different approaches can influence team dynamics and patient outcomes. I found the concept of situational leadership particularly relevant to the role of a nursing associate, where adapting leadership style based on the situation can lead to more effective team management and decision-making. The session also focused on how leadership styles, such as autocratic, democratic, and laissez-faire, can shape the way we communicate and collaborate in healthcare settings. The emphasis on compassionate leadership was another key takeaway from the morning. Compassionate leadership fosters a supportive and empathetic environment, which is crucial in healthcare where emotional resilience and patient-centered care are essential. I learned that leading with compassion not only improves team morale but also enhances patient care by creating a culture of trust and openness. This leadership approach aligns with my own values as a nursing associate, where building rapport with patients and colleagues is fundamental.

In the afternoon session, the focus shifted to interpersonal skills for leadership, specifically understanding how human and environmental factors influence leadership effectiveness. We discussed how factors such as team diversity, work environment, and communication styles impact leadership. I gained a deeper appreciation of the complexities involved in leading a team, especially in high-pressure healthcare environments. The ability to manage interpersonal relationships, resolve conflicts, and maintain a positive work environment were identified as critical skills for effective leadership. Another significant topic was prioritisation, workload management, and delegation. As a nursing associate, balancing multiple responsibilities is part of daily practice. The session helped me reflect on my own experiences and how I can improve my ability to prioritise tasks and delegate responsibilities more effectively. We discussed tools and strategies for managing workload, which I plan to implement in my practice to enhance my efficiency and reduce stress. This day has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of leadership in nursing, as well as practical strategies to develop and refine my leadership abilities in my role as a nursing associate.

KSBs addressed:

Date of Learning: 20/09/2024

Time: 09:30 – 16:30

Title of learning activity: Delivering quality care through Evidence Based Practice

Diary of Learning activity :

In this week’s class we spent all day with Lianne, she’s the lecturer for the module “Delivering quality care through Evidence Based Practice”. The lecture focused on three main topics: methods and methodology, search strategies, and hierarchies of evidence. When exploring methods and methodology, we learned about the distinction between the two. Methods refer to the specific tools and techniques used to collect and analyse data, such as surveys, interviews, and randomized controlled trials. On the other hand, methodology is the broader strategy that guides how research is conducted, ensuring that the selected methods align with the research objectives and questions. Recognising this difference is important for conducting valid and reliable research, particularly in healthcare, where the choice of method significantly impacts patient care quality. The session also highlighted the importance of developing effective search strategies when looking for evidence. This involves using databases like PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library and applying techniques such as keywords, and truncation to achieve comprehensive search results. It is also vital to filter results based on criteria like date range, peer-reviewed status, and study type, ensuring the retrieved evidence is both relevant and of high quality. Understanding and applying a well-constructed search strategy helps manage the vast amount of available information, making it easier to find the best evidence to support practice. Additionally, we learned about the hierarchies of evidence, which prioritize types of research based on their reliability and validity. The hierarchy ranges from systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which offer the strongest evidence, down to expert opinions, which are considered the least reliable. Evidence from higher up in the hierarchy, such as randomised controlled trials and systematic reviews, provides the most robust guidance for clinical decisions. However, lower levels of evidence, like case reports or expert opinions, can still be valuable in certain situations, though they require more scrutiny for biases and limitations. These topics have a direct application to the role of Nursing Associate. To deliver high-quality care, we need to critically assess the research methods and methodologies used in literature, ensuring We apply the best available evidence in practice. The ability to conduct effective searches is also essential in efficiently finding evidence-based guidelines and recommendations. Finally, understanding the hierarchies of evidence helps guide my clinical decision-making, as it enables me to prioritize stronger forms of evidence.

KSB addressed:

Date of Learning: 13/09/2024

Time: 09:00 – 16:30

Title of learning activity: Leadership and Evidence based practice

Diary of Learning activity

During today’s class we spent time with Scott in the morning and with Lianne in the afternoon. We covered the final two modules of the nursing associate course, Leadership and Management and Delivery of Quality care. The morning session focused on resilience and emotional intelligence.  Key learnings included the concept of resilience, defined as the ability to recover from adversity, and the importance of emotional intelligence (EI), which encompasses self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation. The relationship between emotional intelligence and resilience was emphasised. During the session, we completed a group activity practicing on self-assessment evaluating our emotional intelligence. Reflecting on the session, a key insight was the recognition that emotional intelligence is crucial in managing stress and overcoming setbacks. A personal takeaway was the need to regularly practice mindfulness and empathy to better control emotions. The afternoon session, centred on the concept of evidence-based practice (EBP). The session aimed to highlight the importance of integrating the best available evidence with clinical expertise to improve decision-making. EBP was defined as the careful and informed use of the best current evidence in making decisions about patient care or professional practices. Lianne stressed the importance of the EBP process, which includes formulating a clear, focused question, gathering and critically appraising the best available evidence, applying the evidence in practice, and assessing the outcomes. We also discussed about barriers to EBP, such as time constraints, resource limitations, and resistance to change. Overall was a very interesting session, and clarified the doubts I personally had on the final assessments.

KSBs addressed:

Date of Learning:06/09/2024

Time: 09:30-16:30

Title of learning activity: Providing and monitoring care/ Bowel prep ans stoma care

Diary of Learning activity

During the morning session we spent time with Joicy, she was covering for Scott’s Leadership module. The topic of the day was about providing and monitoring care in clinical settings. The session begins with an introduction to the fundamental principles of patient care, including ensuring patient comfort, safety, and dignity. The session covered the importance of communication between healthcare providers and patients to ensure clarity and understanding of care plans. The session emphasised the role of continuous monitoring to track patient progress and respond to any changes in their condition. We were divided into groups, and we had to create a presentation about a case study. I thought it was a great exercise because helped us preparing for a forthcoming exam, which will be a presentation. In the afternoon session we moved to the ward, and we met our lecturer Jenny for the care delivery module. The focus of this lecture was on bowel preparation and stoma care. We explored the process and importance of bowel preparation, particularly in surgical contexts. This includes understanding the rationale behind bowel cleansing, the different types of preparations available, and how to educate patients on the procedure. Following the bowel prep section, the session stressed the importance of stoma care, covering both the physiological and psychological aspects. We learnt how to manage stomas post-operatively, including cleaning, bag changes, and monitoring for complications such as infections or skin irritations. The session also covered how to provide emotional support to patients adjusting to life with a stoma.

KSB addressed