Korero Hauora Health Talk - Taranaki District Health Board

Clinical practice developmentflourishes in EmergencyDepartment“My Journey Through Postgraduate Study” By JackieFlynn (ED Base) final paper for PGDip HSc - enough tomake you smile!In 2006 I was encouragedto undertake postgraduatestudy. I thought about itfor about three years andin 2009 I started my firsttwo papers. These werethe Biological Science forPractice paper, (which was 15points at the time), and theAdvanced Assessment andClinical Reasoning Paper. Itwas a good time for me tostart studying, as my childrenwere growing up and leavinghome. I felt I would have thetime I needed to put intostudy. Luckily one was stillat home and could teachme how to do things on thecomputer! Now in 2011 I amalmost finished my last paperto complete a PostgraduateDiploma in Health Sciences.I have found postgraduatestudy a bit of a bumpy ride attimes, and a lot of work, butthe sense of achievementand the rewards far outweighthe ups and downs. Postgraduate study has taughtme the art of criticalthinking, and to analyse mynursing practice. I now trynot to jump to preliminaryconclusions, but to apply mycritical thinking to considerpossible diagnoses. Postgraduate study has givenme much more confidencein patient assessmentand an understanding ofclinical analysis, diagnosticreasoning and researchbased practice. This hasimproved my ability todiscuss the presentationof my patients with thewider health team includingdoctors. I have also greatlyimproved my computer skills.This semester I have beendoing the Nursing Practicum/ Advancing ClinicalExpertise in Nursing paperwhich I have enjoyed. Thelearning in this paper hassupported me to take ona role in a project for theEmergency Department (ED).We are currently developingthe Fractured Neck ofFemur Pathway, and I willbe involved in introducingthis pathway in ED. Talkingto the staff, auditing (oncethe pathway is in place), andaccepting discussion andongoing feedback from thestaff to establish whetherthere is improvement in thepatient process through ED.I have an interest inOrthopaedics and Trauma,nurtured by previousorthopaedic trainingoverseas, my role as plasternurse and emergencynursing clinical experience. Iwanted to do something that2011 Korero Hauora - Health TalkAbove: Jackie Flynn assesses ‘patientDebbie Campbell’ for shortening insuspected ‘fractured neck of femur’.would benefit ED and ourpatients.I feel I was able to extendmy practice developmentto take on new learningexperiences in my clinicalsetting.Thank-you to all of thosewho helped me and gave mesupport along the way. ChrisGruys our post graduatecoordinator, University ofAuckland lecturers, andvarious 0800 helpline staff,University of Auckland librarystaff, TDHB library staff,various study buddies, thissemester my clinical mentorCam Grant-Fargie and a verylong suffering daughter. It ismuch appreciated! Oh, andlast but not least the HealthWorkforce New Zealand(HWNZ) Fund.16