Running Head: PROGRAM GRADUATE COMPETENCY 1

Program Graduate Competency Reflection

NUR 460 – Nursing Capstone

Amy Angell

Delaware Technical Community College

April 16, 2019

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I look at the BSN Program Graduate Competencies (PGCs) and I can see how each class

I took in some way address those competencies to give me the background and support I needed

to become a Bachelor prepared nurse. As I review what I have accomplished, I see how I have

been able to apply that learning to my career. In my informatics class, I was able to look at a

process, and using a flow process map creates a better method to complete the task. I was able to

present this idea to my manager and she is reviewing the workflow process to improve the

process for staff. I was able to see different leadership styles and learn about how I can become

a better leader. I learned leaders were not just those with formal titles. Even as a field nurse I was

a leader for my patients in the education I provided and advocating for the patient's needs. In

my research class, I was able to get a better understanding of best practice research and how my

hospital does have a shared leadership council that reviews processes and makes changes. Even

my general education classes gave me insight into different ways of learning and global

understanding. I think in general my classes in the BSN program gave me more confidence as a

nurse to speak up and seek out more lifelong learning opportunities. In this paper I will review

how I met each of my nine graduate competencies.

PCG#1 Integrate general education knowledge, skills, and aptitudes to advance nursing

education and growth in professional practice.

As a nurse, I have grown in my skills not just to complete a task but to see the larger

picture of why we are doing what we do. In my nursing research class, I learned about evidence-

based practice, it is about looking at the best practice for caring for the patients, using research,

and applying those principles to nursing practice. Even as I completed my general education

classes, it helped me to gain more confidence that I can succeed and grow in my professional

practice. I remember as I completed my statistics class I was especially nervous about this class.
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I have never been great in math, and I was anxious I wouldn’t be able to complete the class. I not

only completed it but got an A in the class it was just those little moments through this

experience that has helped me to grow personally and in my professional practice to give me the

confidence to succeed.

PCG#2 Demonstrate leadership skills to promote patient safety and the delivery of high-

quality healthcare.

I have learned so much about leadership skills. In my leadership class, I learned about

informal and formal leaders. As, a nurse I never saw myself as a leader. A nurse leader can be

anyone who seeks to advocate for their patients, empowers patients to take part in their

healthcare, which seeks to inspire other nurses and educate their patients to promote healthy

changes. These are informal leaders. I see myself as an informal leader but a leader all the same

one who can make a difference. Leaders are skilled in empowering others, creating meaning and

facilitating learning, developing knowledge, thinking reflectively, communicating, solving

problems, making decisions, and working with others(Finkelman,2016). Leaders generate

excitement; they clearly define their purpose and mission (Finkelman, 2016). I have incorporated

into my daily practice advocating for my patients, inspiring them to take control of their health

care, and encouraging new nurses in the field. As a nurse leader, I have encouraged those

patients I cared for to improve their health status and educated them on making informed

decisions. I have been an advocate for my patient's care and the treatments needed.

Communication is critical when being a leader (Finkelman, 2016). I have gained the skills to

communicate which is a two-way process that is used to convey a message or ideas. It is

essential to have clear communication between staff, leadership, and physicians. This includes

listening to others concerns and getting the whole picture to be able to make recommendations
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and be an effective leader. In, practicum I had the chance to spend time with a nursing supervisor

and saw her leadership skills and ways to incorporate them into my practice. Also, I had an

opportunity to spend my practicum with an instructor where I was able to see how you can bring

your leadership skills into the classroom to educate future nurse. To promote high-quality

healthcare first with the education in the classroom and then in the clinical setting at the hospital.

PCG #3 Apply skills of inquiry, analysis, and information literacy to support evidence-

based professional nursing practice.

I learned new skills of inquiry, analysis, and information literacy to complete assignment

in all my nursing classes. In one of my first assignments my health impact paper on hypertension

I learned more about a topic and researched it and help my understanding of the problem and

how to better educate my patient. In my nursing research class, I wrote a paper on COPD. I

enjoyed the research and analysis of the information to not only better by an understanding of a

topic but to have that knowledge to share with the patient I care for improving my nursing

practice. In my nursing classes, I learned a different aspect of being a professional nurse each

class added new skills whether it was learning about informatics in nursing where I learned about

the workflow process and how to better incorporate technology into my practice or nursing

policy class where I learned more about how bills are created this program competency was

included.

PCG #4 Integrate information management technology to improve patient outcomes.

I think during my classes this competency was met it a variety of ways. In each class I

learned different ways not only to research topics but also how to present them. I was asked to

complete timelines, PowerPoint presentations, video presentations, and group projects. These

were all things that were new to me and helped me become more confident in the use of
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technology and how to share data. If you want to change something, it first starts with

recognizing the problem. You must then complete research, have evidence to support your data

and presenting the data in a variety of different ways. I think this competency was also

addressed in my research class where it focused on using scientific data to improve patient

outcomes, how the use of technology has improved patient outcomes and allowed patient

information to be shared. In my informatics class, I learned a lot about the improved patient

outcome and how to complete a workflow process map to improve a process in my workplace.

PCG #5 Advocate for patients and the nursing profession with regard to healthcare policy

at the local, state, national, and global levels.

In my classes, I learned about being an advocate for my patients and the nursing

profession. In my health care policy class I learned a lot about how a bill becomes a law and

some of the issues in health care that as nursing we face daily. Whether it was about safe staffing

levels or the issue I researched about home health allowing nurse practitioners to sign home care

orders. I learned about global issues in health care and how they affect our practice as nurses that

in for us to make a difference we have to speak up whether that is by being part of a share

leadership counsel in your place of work or contacting your local officials regarding a concern

you have because if you do not speak up nothing will change in healthcare.

PGC #6 Direct patient-centered care through advocacy, interprofessional communication,

collaboration, and delegation.

As I went through my practicum experiences, I had the chance to follow a Community health

nurse educator. I learned about collaboration with all members of the health care team. I had a

day I spent with a nursing supervisor and learned more about what was involved in being that

formal leader, for example the way she communicated to her staff and was able to delegate tasks
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as needed. I also saw how that communication took place in a college setting with an instructor

both in the classroom and clinical setting at the hospital. I learned that no matter what role you

are in that it is important to have good communication skills and collaboration between staff and

patients.

PCG #7 Integrate health promotion and disease prevention practices to positively impact

the delivery of healthcare to diverse populations.

In my global health class, I learned a lot about diverse populations and the challenges faced

when care for them. I looked at problems that face other countries and learned about the

challenges of getting quality health care. I learned about how there are global initiatives to

eradicate common diseases that we have a vaccine for in the United States, but other countries

these are very real concerns, and they lack common vaccinations needed. I took an elective

sustainability and society class that taught me about preserving natural resources and local

problems that affect our local community. I learned that it not just in other countries that we need

health promotion and disease prevention for example, that in the United States that hypertension

is the leading preventable risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide (Mills et al.,

2016). It is through spreading awareness to our patients we care for that we can make a

difference in their lives and hopefully prevent these diseases from occurring.

PCG #8 Practice professional nursing within an ethical framework.

I took an ethical issues in health care class that brought further understanding of what an

ethical framework in nursing is and how it is used. I use the ANA code of ethics for nurses to

further explore the ethical framework in nursing. I had the chance to further look at each of the

nine provisions in my ethical issues in health care. I wrote a paper on how each of these areas

applies to my practice and also have done several case studies applying these ethics to real
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situations I may encounter. I saw this first hand in my practicum experience with a student nurse

who was really struggling with supporting a patient and family with regards to her medical

treatment with a very poor prognosis. The instructor was able review the code of ethics and how

as a professional nurse we work in that framework and educate the student. That we can support

the patient and give them all the information to make an informed decision, but regardless of that

decision we still advocate for the patient and treat them with respect and dignity as with any

other patient we are caring for.

PCG #9 Demonstrate lifelong learning that empowers personal and professional

growth.

I am excited about the learning and professional growth I have experienced in my classes.

My associate degree prepared me to be a compete nurse and the skills to care for my patients.

But my bachelor degree classes taught me so much more about being a leader in my fields. It

taught me to use my knowledge I have gained in my classes to further advocate for change and

make a greater difference in my patient’s lives. I have grown as a professional in the classes I

have taken. I have realized that I have such potential to do even more in my profession that the

possibilities are endless. I have learned that it is not always about that formal education. I had a

chance to participate in a Cardiology Conference that I enjoyed and was able to bring that back

to share with my patients and coworkers. I think that is a really good way to stay current on new

developments and trends in health care, so you continue to grow as a professional.

Conclusion

As I review all that I completed and learned in my journey to become a Bachelor prepared

nurse, I am excited for the new roles and possibilities that it will open up for me. I have learned
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how to be a better leader in my field. I am also ready to further my formal education to learn and

grow as a professional nurse. So, I will continue to grow as a professional and leader in my field.

References

Finkelman, A. (2016). Leadership and Management for Nurses: Core competencies for
quality care (3rd Ed.). Pearson.

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements.
Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.org/coe-view-only