Clinical this semester has been a very valuable experience for me in so many ways. I have been exposed to so many situations already that are gonna prepare me to be a nurse. Something I have noticed is how valuable it is to possess good communication skills. Whether it is communicating with the patient, their family, or coworkers it is a necessary skill to possess. However, I have begun to notice how much I still have to improve upon in my communication. I am very excited to continue to build upon my communication skills and learn more through education and practice.
I have already started to face challenges in my communication during my clinical experience this semester. One challenge I have encountered is my listening skills, which I have struggled with in the past. One task I have to perform at clinical is completing multiple head-to-toe assessments on my patient during my time on the unit. I complete these assessments while in my patients room and it takes me awhile because I am slow and there is a lot of charting to do. It is very hard for me to focus on charting and completing my assessment but also engaging in conversation with my patient. It has been very difficult to carry a conversation with my patient while simultaneously charting and observing for my assessment. Another challenge that I have faced is controlling my facial expressions and non-verbal skills whilst on my unit. I have clinical very early in the morning and I am usually very tired, so it is hard for me to control how I look to my patient. I have not been very good at controlling my non-verbal communication skills and it is something I need to work on.
This semester I have also learned a lot about myself and barriers I face in achieving effective communication. Something about myself is that I get really anxious about engaging in conversation with people I do not know very well. It is very clear that I get uncomfortable and nervous talking to patients. I have struggled with this for a very long time, but I have improved a ton over the past few years. I have gotten multiple retail jobs, which have forced me to interact with a bunch of different people throughout my day. Though I still get uncomfortable and nervous I know that this clinical experience will help me to improve. What also stems from my anxiousness is my poor listening skills. I am so concerned about what I am going to say and not fumbling over my words that I truly do not listen to what other people have to say. I am excited to implement a few things to help me improve in areas that I struggle. First, I have been reading a lot of cool articles in and outside of class about tips to engage in effective communication. These articles have provided me with cool practical tips I look to use in my next clinical. I also have been learning a lot about stress management and breathing techniques to help me calm my anxiety. Finally, I hope to get more rest the night before clinical so I can appear energized and my patient will be confident in the care they are receiving.