D225 – Task 1: Emerging Trends in Professional Nursing Practice

D225 – Task 1: Emerging Trends in Professional Nursing Practice

Student Name

Western Governors University 

E225 Emerging Professional Practice

Prof. Name

Date

D225 – Task 1: Emerging Trends in Professional Nursing Practice

Current Employment and Career Goals

I am presently employed as a registered nurse within a county jail, where I provide both medical and mental health services to the inmate population. My primary responsibilities center around the booking area, conducting initial health assessments when inmates arrive and initiating their healthcare plans. The facility also includes a medical education department focused on staff training and professional development. In the short term, my goal is to join this education team to improve and standardize training protocols for new hires and existing personnel.

In the medium term, I aspire to transition into a management role as the assistant director of nursing (ADON). This role would allow me to supervise nursing staff and proactively address healthcare shortcomings within the facility. Ultimately, my long-term ambition is to become the health services administrator, overseeing the entire healthcare operation and ensuring high-quality medical care is delivered to this underserved population.

Certifications and Licensure

Certification	Maintenance Requirements
Multi-State RN License	Complete required continuing education every two years as per Florida state regulations
Basic Life Support (BLS)	Renew every two years through an American Heart Association-approved course demonstrating BLS skills

Currently, I hold a multi-state registered nurse license alongside Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Both credentials demand ongoing maintenance: the RN license requires biennial continuing education aligned with Florida law, and the BLS certification must be renewed every two years by completing a skills demonstration course approved by the American Heart Association.

Educational and Professional Development

Within my facility, many members of management do not possess a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). For example, the current health services administrator is a licensed practical nurse (LPN). Although a BSN is not mandatory for management roles here, I believe that earning this degree will equip me with essential skills and knowledge to enhance healthcare delivery standards.

I am actively pursuing my BSN at Western Governors University (WGU) and have only a few courses remaining. The primary challenge is completing the required field experience hours. Fortunately, I have arranged to fulfill these clinical hours at my current facility under the guidance of my preceptor—the assistant director of nursing and a former member of the education department. This hands-on experience bridges academic knowledge with my professional aspirations.

Gaining Diverse Work Experience

To evolve into an effective educator and leader, I understand the importance of gaining experience across multiple departments. Although I have been primarily stationed in booking for over five years, my exposure to the jail infirmaries is limited, and I have no experience in the acute care clinic. While this cross-departmental experience is not mandatory for advancement, I view it as critical for a comprehensive understanding of the facility’s healthcare system.

I plan to request additional training opportunities and volunteer for shifts in other departments to broaden my clinical skills and operational insights.

Current Training Practices and Proposed Improvements

How is staff training currently conducted, and what improvements do you propose?

Currently, new staff training consists of shadowing various randomly assigned employees over three shifts without a designated trainer or standardized materials. This inconsistent approach often leads to trainees receiving fragmented information and missing critical policy reviews.

If I join the education department, I intend to develop a structured training program with clearly defined learning objectives and comprehensive materials. I would also advocate for creating dedicated trainer roles within departments to guarantee consistent, accurate onboarding that aligns with facility policies and procedures.

Impact of Additional Certifications and Courses

How have your additional certifications and courses influenced your professional practice?

The Advanced Molecular and Nursing Health (AMNH) certification deepened my understanding of genetic influences on drug interactions. This knowledge stresses the importance of detailed medical and family histories to tailor medication regimens. Given the high prevalence of substance abuse disorders in the inmate population, recognizing genetic predispositions helps avoid prescribing controlled substances to at-risk patients.

The End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) certification reinforced a holistic nursing approach that integrates emotional, spiritual, and mental health aspects alongside physical care. This is crucial in a diverse inmate population where cultural and religious beliefs heavily impact health choices. For example, respecting a hypertensive inmate’s preference for meditation over medication fosters patient autonomy and trust.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) course, Introduction to Healthcare Improvement, introduced me to the Six Aims for Improvement framework: safe, timely, effective, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care (Provost, Lloyd, & Murray, 2020). Applying these principles in correctional health means prioritizing inmates’ rights and informed consent, ensuring they understand treatment benefits and risks despite the constraints of incarceration.

Application of Learning to Facility Improvement

How do you plan to apply knowledge gained from your courses to improve your current workplace?

I aim to collaborate with the education department to create materials emphasizing the role of genetics in pharmacokinetics and the importance of integrating family history into routine inmate assessments. Institutionalizing this practice via policy could greatly improve medication safety and individualized care.

Additionally, adopting holistic nursing principles can enhance communication and interpersonal skills among staff. Promoting patient-centered care will cultivate a culture of teamwork and respect, essential in the correctional healthcare environment.

Ultimately, I plan to leverage this knowledge to advocate for policy changes and improve healthcare quality as I advance into leadership positions.

Reflection on Healthcare Improvement Challenges

What insights have you gained regarding challenges in healthcare systems?

The IHI course highlighted systemic challenges common to healthcare worldwide, including resource limitations, inconsistent staff training, and patient engagement difficulties—issues highly relevant to correctional health. Learning effective strategies to overcome these challenges inspires me to implement tailored solutions, such as standardized training and enhanced patient education initiatives at my facility.

Proactively addressing these barriers is critical to improving healthcare outcomes for incarcerated individuals.

References

Provost, L., Lloyd, R., & Murray, S. (2020). Introduction to Health Care Improvement. Institute for Healthcare Improvement. https://education.ihi.org/topclass/topclass.do?CnTxT597826735-contentSetup-tc_student_id=597826735-item=1348&view=1