NR 503 Discussion Reflection on Achievement of Program Outcomes

MSN Program Outcome #2

When I reflect back over this course, I am able to see how valuable epidemiology is within the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) specialty track. The MSN program outcome #2 revolves around promoting quality and safety of care within the advanced nursing practice. Given this, through the course outcomes in NR503 I was able to uphold this through diving into what epidemiology means and how it applies to community health and population research. Epidemiology goes hand in hand with community health. In improving the wellbeing of those that are in the unhealthiest of today’s world, the overall healthiness of the society can be improved. Focusing on the study of epidemiology to close the gap on these disparities will vastly reduce health imbalances in society as a whole (Marmot, 2017). Epidemiology will continue to seek to increase safety and quality of care as it studies disease worldwide. By being knowledgeable about study designs and epidemiological surveillance, one is able to realize the significance it places on increasing safety and quality of care. All of the course outcomes within NR503 aid in the understanding of how this kind of information promotes the safety and quality of health care practices. Specifically, I was able to meet the MSN Program Outcome #2 through weekly discussions as we discussed aspects of epidemiology that seek to increase safety and quality of patient care practices, such as identifying study designs that seek to improve patient care practices through epidemiological research. Another way this outcome was achieved was through the epidemiological problem paper as this helped us identify an epidemiological problem within our geographical region so that we, as future advanced practice nurses (APNs) can be knowledge about epidemiological research so that we can improve the safety and quality of care to patients in which we treat.

MSN Program Outcome #2

MSN Essential IV promotes incorporating scholarship within practice. Clinical scholarship is foundational to nurses across all venues and will be an essential element to uphold within practice as it serves the populations in which one practices (Wilkes, Mannix, & Jackson, 2013). The outcomes within this course support this mission as they help us understand epidemiological study designs, and the importance they play within practice. As epidemiological issues are researched, they can be integrated into practice and serve as a reminder that other areas may need to be researched in order to continuously improve patient care practices. Take for example, one way this outcome was met was through this course we were able to identify sources of epidemiological data within discussions. By FNPs being knowledgeable about sources of epidemiological data will be resourceful as they use this data to support best patient care practices that aid in decreasing the transmission of disease, thus integrating knowledge into practice. Another way a course outcome from NR503 supported and achieved MSN Essential IV was by researching issues such as infectious disease, chronic disease, and exposures within the discussions, as well as within the three papers completed in this course. I was able to deepen my knowledge regarding diseases such as diabetes, chickenpox, and influenza as I will be a future leader within treatment of these diseases. Knowledge I have gained regarding prevalence and incidence of the disease through the papers within this course will help me be mindful as I am diagnosing infectious and chronic diseases so that scholarship and knowledge can be applied, specifically for at risk populations. By FNPs being knowledgeable about epidemiology it will seek to strengthen the foundation of scholarly knowledge that is used and applied within practice.

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NP Core Competencies (NONPF) #4

Lastly, NONPF #4 revolves around the FNP developing new practice methods that support research, theory, and knowledge within practice. FNPs will be key facilitators within developing the newest and most current evidence-based practices within the epidemiological realm. Specifically, NR503’s course outcomes and assignments have met this competency by allowing us to appraise and research a public health issue that is relevant to our geographical location. This will be where we as FNPs express the knowledge gained from the project and course outcomes to populations and communities that we will treat as they promote new practices in relation to patient care and within their practice setting so that patient care practices are enhanced. Also, this course has met this competency by discussing genetics within epidemiology as it is the future of epidemiological practices. New methods regarding epidemiology will be researched and this research will evolve from genetics as FNPs continue to integrate genetics and research into practice. FNPs will be leaders within promotion of epidemiological research and key facilitators in developing new methods that support genetic involvement within epidemiology. Involvement and development of genetics in research will seek to improve patient outcomes. It will be important that FNPs and APNs be mindful and provide proper education about genetics so that awareness can be raised on the subject (Calzone et al., 2017). APNs will be leaders within further development of genetic epidemiological processes that can be promoted within practice.

NR 503 Discussion Reflection on Achievement of Program Outcomes

Reference:

Calzone, K. A., Kirk, M., Tonkin, E., Badzek, L., Benjamin, C., & Middleton, A. (2018). Increasing nursing capacity in genomics: Overview of existing global genomics resources. Nurse Education Today, 69(1), 53-59. doi:10.1016/j.nedt.2018.06.032

Marmot, M. (2017). Social justice, epidemiology and health inequalities. European Journal of Epidemiology, 32(7), 537-546. doi:10.1007/s10654-017-0286-3

Wilkes, L., Mannix, J., & Jackson, D. (2013). Practicing nurses perspectives of clinical scholarship: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 12(1), 21-27. doi:10.1186/1472-6955-12-21

The course outcome for NR 503 has been very beneficial in meeting the requirements for me to obtain the requirements needed for a Master’s in Nursing and a Nurse Practitioner. The MSN program outcome #2 focused on care. It was met by learning the definition of epidemiology, knowing how to calculate risk factors, and how to measure intervention outcomes in order to create a caring environment for achieving quality health outcomes. We’ve learned that the environment can play a major role on health outcomes; therefore, achieving a caring environment or community can assist in the MSN program outcome #2. Focusing on the population’s health can achieve this outcome.

MSN Essential IV focuses on clinical scholarship within practice. Similar to applying evidence into practice. Obtaining population health information from surveillance and research (PO 2) allowed me to meet this MSN essential. By studying the rates of an infection or disease we can then provide evidence-based interventions to lower those rates. For example, when we have an issue we research, surveillance, identify those at risk, intervene, assess, and modify interventions to better the health outcome. This example was performed in our week 6 paper of infectious disease. I researched syphilis and found ways to implement evidence-based practice to prevent syphilis. Wilkes, Mannix, and Jackson (2013) described four ways to apply clinical scholarship: discovery, integration, application, and teaching. I am building and disseminating knowledge and then I will share this knowledge through interventions and teaching methods.

The course outcome allowed me to meet the Nurse Practitioner Core Competency #4 by preparing me for leadership. I can take action and focus on epidemiological data and surveillance in my community. I can help support research and support the development of new practice methods. Again, going back to syphilis, finding new and better ways to screen for syphilis in our at risk population. I touched on this in my papers and discussion questions.

The discussion questions allowed each of these outcomes to be met by allowing us to research and interact with our peers and their findings. This class has been beneficial in my future studies and practices. Already working in public health, NR 503 has allowed me to better understand the roles of public health and how they determine the rates of STDs. We would have meeting on the high incidences of certain disease and I was unsure on how this was determined. I am now more familiar with epidemiology and its terminology. I will now be able to follow along more in meetings and discussions and maybe even play a role in surveillance.

Wilkes, L., Mannix, J., & Jackson, D. (2013). Practicing nurses’ perspectives of clinical scholarship: A qualitative study. BMC Nursing, 12(1), 21-27. doi:10.1186/1472-6955-12-21

Throughout the past 8 weeks, I’ve learned that epidemiology is part of family nurse practice and shouldn’t overlooked the importance of epidemiology when we study. If epidemiology doesn’t exist, a healthcare provider can’t identify the cause of a disease and the relevant risk factors for a disease in the community (Gordis, 2014). We should know how the disease is transmitted from the person to person or a non-human reservoir so we can reduce mortality and morbidity from the disease. Also, we can develop a basis for prevention programs.

The MSN program outcome #2 focused on care by creating a caring environment and achieving quality health outcomes. By identifying the etiology of a disease through discussions and assignments, I was able to apply the knowledge and concepts when I deliver care to patients at my workplace. I’ve learned that contact to contact transmission is very fast and effective. Thus, When I in and out the patient’s room, I thoroughly washed my hands to elbow with soap and water so I will not be the one who carries the bacteria and germs to other patients. MSN Essential IV is about translating scholarship into practice. Nursing practice is developed on evidence-based. By researching information on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Healthy People 2020, and scholarly articles, I was able to apply evidence, scholarship, and clinical judgment into practice to improve care environment. Lastly, the nurse practitioner core competencies #4 is about leadership. I communicate practice knowledge effectively in writing and provide leadership that uses reflective and critical thinking.

I truly enjoyed taking this class ! Thank you for reading !

Gordis, L. (2014). Epidemiology, 5th Edition. Retrieved from https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781455737338/

Manage Discussion Entry

The past eight weeks have been filled with information and challenged me to think in ways that I never had before. In eight short weeks, we have learned an abundance of information that is preparing us to meet MSN program outcomes and Nurse Practitioner core competencies.

The MSN program outcome number two is to create a caring environment for achieving care-focused, quality health outcomes. Epidemiology is the science of applying the best available research evidence to patient care (Young, Naude, Brodovcky, & Esterhuizen, 2017). In other words, it is the study of disease incidence, prevalence, distribution, control, immunity, and other factors of health. Diseases can be tracked and monitored to hopefully control the spread, leading to better patient outcomes and disease prevention. Learning/reading about epidemiology and the weekly discussion post have taught us about health outcomes in a learning-driven environment.

The MSN essential IV is about translating and integrating scholarship into practice. The goal of an advanced-practice nurse is to apply research outcomes within the practice setting, to resolve problems, to work as a change agent, and to disseminate results. We fulfilled this essential when we wrote our papers and discussion posts about diseases in our practice area, how they spread, how to test for them, surveillance of disease, and how they can be controlled. We can treat with medications or use precautions to prevent transmission of disease. We can use these control methods to become the change in our practices, and we should report all cases so that disease demographics can be disseminated.

Lastly, Nurse Practitioner Competency four is about developing new practice approaches based on the integration of research, theory, and practice knowledge. With the new knowledge gained from this course, we are being prepared to change the way we practice in the clinical setting as advanced-practice nurses. As we move up into our FNP curriculum, we can combine what we learned in nursing theory, nursing research, and epidemiology to keep up to date and give our patients the most evidence-based care they deserve.

Young, T., Naude, C., Brodovcky, T., & Esterhuizen, T. (2017). Building capacity in clinical epidemiology in Africa: Experiences from masters programmes. BMC Medical Education, 17(1), 46. doi:10.1186/s12909-017-0885-4

NR 503 Discussion Reflection on Achievement of Program Outcomes