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e-Portfolio – Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice

Meghan O’Neal

Frostburg State University

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e-Portfolio – Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) provides a set of standards

and expectations for the baccalaureate level of a nursing degree. Essential IX describes the

definition of an evidence based practice model, as well as the importance of the integration of

research evidence into the nursing practice. Essential IX describes how knowledge and skills are

critical to practice and that knowledge and practice are on-going throughout one’s career. These

essentials are in place to ensure that each patient is receiving the best care possible from all

professional members of the healthcare team. Essential IX also equips the baccalaureate student

in formation of caring for a variety of demographics with concentrations in chronic diseases and

a differing population (AACN, 2008).

Exemplar

The health assessment project was an excellent way to combine all bodily systems into

one project, while also using critical thinking skills in order to devise a plan for the “patients”

problem during the encounter. For me, the encounter was simply a well checkup visit, therefore I

was able to use the flow sheet for each body system and evaluate her needs and abilities. I was

also able to discover any co-morbidities she may have been facing and in turn compare those to

her environment, location, and occupation.

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Reflection

Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice (AACN, 2008, p 29) describes

healthcare as being a lifelong continuum that occurs primarily through well visit checkups.

Although there can be many other visits to the doctor within a years’ time my health assessment

project gives a nice overview of what a yearly well checkup would look like. The idea of patient

centered care can be viewed through the fine details that are described within the flowsheets.

Each flowsheet provides an inside look at the variety of body systems and how that system

functions specifically for this patient. Although this patient did not have any abnormalities within

her body system, I was able to focus in on her pleather of allergies and the reactions her body

experiences when she comes into contact with the allergens. In addition to her physical health I

was also able to evaluate her mental health as well as her home environment. The questions were

designed to specifically evoke the most truthful of answers.

Finally this project allowed me to deliver a patient centered care in a safe environment.

This is evident by the accuracy of answers. My patient felt comfortable with me and was able to

express her true feelings.

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References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN]. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate

education for professional nursing practice. Washington, D.C: Author.