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Post Clinical Reflection Paper
Post Clinical Reflection Paper
Erika M. Payne
After completing several courses in the Family Nurse Practitioner program, it was
exciting to start applying knowledge and skills in the clinical setting with the start of practicum.
Prior to the start of clinical, I identified some personal weaknesses associated with caring for the
pediatric population. My knowledge of growth and development was minimal. I was ignorant
about red flags associated with the growth and development milestones and appropriate
anticipatory guidance for each age group. This created a lack of confidence when caring for the
pediatric population. I was fearful that I may not know the answer when parents ask me
questions regarding the development of their child or ask, "Is that normal?"
compared to an adult. Children are often unfamiliar with the clinical setting and are uneasy with
a stranger in their personal space and trying to touch them. Depending on the age, pediatric
patients may not be able to tell you what is wrong, therefore, you have to ask lots of questions to
the caregiver and complete a thorough assessment. I learned techniques from my preceptor, such
as multitasking body system exams and distracting the child, to make my physical examination
more efficient. Overall, the pediatric clinical exposed me to numerous conditions and treatment
Transitioning from being a staff nurse to the role of a nurse practitioner can be
challenging. It can be difficult to delegate tasks to a medical office assistant or nurse because
they are tasks that I am fully capable of completing such as vital signs, giving medications, or
obtaining lab work. Learning to delegate tasks to others while working as a team is critical to
provide patients with the best quality care. During my first clinical rotation, I began to adjust to a
new level of autonomy in which I am the heath care provider that is making decisions about what
lab work to order or medications to prescribe. This is exciting, but I recognized that I have much
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more to learn and further clinical rotations will improve my confidence in assessments, treatment
I developed three goals for my pediatric clinical rotation that aligned with the pediatric
course learning outcomes and The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
(NONPF) Core Competencies. My first goal was to increase my knowledge of the caregiver role
in providing health care for children. It was very evident that all caregivers, whether it was the
mother, father, grandparents, aunt, or foster parent, play a critical role in the health of the child.
The child is dependent on caregivers to learn, establish healthy routines, have access to
It was clear that children observe and learn habits from their caregivers. Some children
reported drinking soda regularly because they saw their mother doing this. Others reported that
they did not eat fruit or vegetables because they were not available in the home. During well
child examinations, we asked children if they were brushing their teeth twice a day. They often
reported “no”, despite having a toothbrush and toothpaste at home. We provided education to
both the child and the caregiver on the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day. As health
The most frustrating issue I encountered regarding caregivers was that some would not
understand the importance of attending specialty office visits. For example, we had a child that
health office for further evaluation. This visit would facilitate diagnosis and treatment plans.
Unfortunately, the mother missed this appointment and did not notify the provider for over 9
months. This lead to the child not receiving appropriate care and can result in negative health
outcomes. Furthermore, I achieved my goal during the clinical rotation as I was incredibly
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enlightened about the critical role the caregiver plays in providing health care for children. As a
health care provider, this semester really taught me to recognize the family as a whole and
This goal aligned with The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF) Core
conditions such as otitis media and streptococcal pharyngitis. We treated these conditions
frequently throughout this semester, so I have become more comfortable with the diagnostics and
treatment plans. However, we encountered some conditions that we were unfamiliar with and
had to utilized reputable databases, such as UpToDate, to learn about guidelines. I spent some of
my own time looking up the most current research and evidence-based guidelines for conditions.
The last goal for the semester was to focus on health promotion and prevention during
each patient visit. This goal was definitely accomplished during this semester. During all well
child examinations, we discussed several aspects of anticipatory guidance for each age group.
Education included safety, healthy behavioral choices, and aspects of daily life such as brushing
teeth was reviewed. During sick visits, we provided education on treatment plans and disease
prevention. Education on health promotion and disease prevention is crucial, especially in the
pediatric population. We must encourage healthy behaviors early, so they can be continued
goals for the semester. I have a better understanding of how important it is to instill healthy
behaviors in children. I am looking forward to more clinicals and appreciate the opportunity!
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References
The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). (2017). Nurse Practitioner
https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.nonpf.org/resource/resmgr/competencies/2017_NPCoreCo
mps_with_Curric.pdf