Format for Journal

Dates Worked:        Shift:               Student’s Name:                 

Journal Entry          I           II          III        IV        V         VI        (Circle one)

For each course objective, answer all of the questions related to the objective. Journal entries must address all course objectives. 

Course Objective 1:  Demonstrate competence in psychomotor skills.

  1. What psychomotor (technical) skills did you perform during the last 24 hours of work.  (After the first journal entry, include only new skills performed.)

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Identify the skills in which you improved your technical competence.  How do you know you improved your technical competency?  Give objective data.

 

 

 

 

 

C.     What references (sources) did you use to ensure that you were performing your psychomotor (technical) skills competently?  Include texts and the agency’s policy manual.  (After the first journal entry, include references for new skills only.)  

 

 

Course Objective 2:  Using the nursing process, manage care for a group of patients.

  1. How many patients did you care for each time you worked during the last 24 hours worked?   Describe their level of care.

 

 

 

 

 

  1. What did you do to ensure that you provided excellent patient care?  How do you know you provided excellent nursing care?  Give objective data.

 

 

 

 

  1. Describe what you did during the last 24 hours to improve your organizational skills.

 

 

  1. What changes will you make in your organization to achieve increased efficiency in your work while maintaining excellence in patient care.

 

 

 

 

 

Course Objective 3:  Establish caring communications and relationships (relationship centered skills) with patients (individuals), families, significant support person(s) and other health care workers.

  1. Describe a caring moment that you created for a patient, family member, significant support person or other health care worker during the last 24 hours worked.  Throughout your Journal, be sure to focus on each of these relationships at least one (1) time.  Be creative.  Go the second mile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

B.     Describe the feelings your experienced as you were creating this caring moment.  How did you experience and perceive the feelings of the individual receiving the caring moment?

 

 

 

 

 

C.     How have you changed as a result of this caring moment?

 

 

 

 

 

Course Objective 4:  Practice within the ethical, legal and regulatory frameworks of nursing standards and nursing practice.

  1. Choose one situation that you experienced during the last 24 hours of work and explain how your values and beliefs influenced your actions.  In what way was the ANA Code of Ethics helpful to you?

 

 

 

 

  1. Describe one situation with legal implications that you experienced during the last 24 hours of work.  Include specific references to the Nurse Practice Act.

 

 

 

 Course Objective 5:  Use critical thinking skills to conceptualize and apply information in the clinical setting. 

  1. In what way did the theories you learned in psychology, anatomy and physiology and English composition influence the nursing care you provided during the last 24 hours you worked?

 

 

 

 

  1.  How did your knowledge about a patient’s pathophysiology, medications and treatment of a medical condition influence your decisions about nursing care during the last 24 hours of work?

 

 

Course Objective 6:  Experience current nursing practice on a clinical unit in an acute care setting.

  1. Choose an experience that you had during the last 24 hours of work.  Given a similar situation in the future, what would you do differently?  Why?

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Describe an observation of teamwork during the last 24 hours of work on the nursing unit where you are assigned.  What worked well?  What worked poorly?  What would you have changed to improve the teamwork?

 

 

 

 

Course Objective 7:  Participate in activities that promote lifelong learning.

  1. Which of your personal objectives did you meet during the last 24 hours of work?  Explain how you accomplished these objectives.

 

 

 

  B.  Describe an event that occurred during your last 24 hours of work that raised a question, posed a problem and/or caused you to think about it after it occurred.  What was it about the event that made it stand out in your mind?  What was your resolution?