My Nursing Care Plan: One Year Later

It’s hard to imagine it has been a 12 months since we began working on My Nursing Care Plan! It was a really interesting project for me, but additionally an academic experience. Thinking and organizing content was a challenge, although as a nurse myself I do know what my requirements are, what I would like to do to not sleep to this point with nursing and what I do to balance work and life! The difficulty was putting it into words and determining learn how to reconcile all of it. Creating a companion video and infographics were also something latest for me – but I really like learning latest things, especially with regards to technology – so participating in these projects was a terrific pleasure for me. Finally, the conversation with Michelle Berreth RN, CRNI®, CPP, nurse educator on the Infusion Nurses Society (INS), was eye-opening and provoking, but more on that later…

So what’s happened since my mid-year update? Not much… here’s a fast recap and a stay up for 2017:

• Since I renewed my licenses in 2016, my renewal date isn’t until 2018. I’m proud to say that I actually have already logged 12 contact hours toward the 30-hour RN license renewal requirement. However, I would like to extend my women’s health contact hours to satisfy my 45-hour NP licensing requirement! My goal is to finish 35 women’s health related contact hours by 12/31/17.
• I made a decision I wanted to return to bed before going back to highschool. What I actually need to take into consideration is “what does this mean?” Do I would like to work as a nurse or nurse? In intensive care or in women’s health care? My heart leans towards acute care, but I’m also considering inpatient hospice.
• Regardless of what clinical path I select, I would like to change into certified. A brand new thing I discovered last 12 months was “-K” or “knowledge” certifications, especially for nurses or primary care physicians who don’t provide direct care but have an effect on patient care. I will certainly take a better take a look at this possibility.
• Work-life balance continues to be a challenge, as I’m sure it’s for lots of you. My cough is now under control and I’m now specializing in eating and sleeping well and being more physically lively. I’m due for my annual gynecological exam and mammogram, so I’ll schedule them as soon as possible.

Now let’s get back to my conversation with Michelle from INS. During our discussion, we got here up with a number of observations to contemplate when using My Nursing Care Plan that I feel are value sharing.

• Consider asking others – co-workers, family, friends – to take part in your personal care plan.
• Waiting for the precise moment to do something isn’t realistic. When is the precise time? If you wait for it, it might never come.
• Evaluate whether multitasking is actually in your best interest. Remember that it doesn’t work for everybody and you may only do one thing at a time.
• Be present. Whether you are at work or in your personal life, deal with the duty at hand – whether it’s an actual task or a private or skilled interaction.
• Evaluate your care plan monthly, preferably about per week before the top of the month. See what’s left to do and try your plans for the following month. You may even set a reminder for this activity in your phone or email.

What are your updates from the last 12 months? Any goals for 2017 you need to share?