Mid Semester Self Evaluation

Mid Semester Self Evaluation

Course Objectives:
1. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals, groups and health care providers.
I feel I have used effective communication skills with my preceptor in progressing with my change project and also with the faculty in presenting the idea, allowing discussion and ideas from within.

2. Discuss current trends and issues in the nursing profession.
I feel I have not only addressed this issue my change paper, but to the faculty as well. After much review with Dr. Pape, information was gathered to present to the faculty regarding the college's requirements for passing the math exam. Our facility has not accepted the "norm" for their requirements, which is 3 attempts and must pass with 100%. This dilemma is being incorporated into my change project.

Personal Objectives:
1. Function as a student advocate through collaboration with instructors.
I feel that I am acting as a student advocate in facilitating this online program. I am also encouraging the students to participate in the evaluation process to help facilitate the program to their learning requests.

2. Develop familiarity with and demonstrate understanding of Lewin's Theory of Change.
I have incorporated the levels of Lewin's Theory of change into my change paper.

Overall review of Personal Objectives:
At this point in the semester, I feel I have partially met my personal objectives. By initiating the process of change I feel I am acting as a student advocate but I will not feel satisified until the change is fully implemented and is place. By incorporating the Lewin's Change Theory into my paper, I feel I have developed a better understanding of the process.

One way these have fostered your growth as a professional nurse:
By meeting the objectives listed above and working on the "change project" with in my facility, I feel I have grown professionally as a nurse to become a better student advocate and mentor. Now when students ask the difference in an ADN and BSN, I truley understand the difference. I have also found many of the ADN students becoming more inquisitive about furthering their education even to the masters level. To me this is very exciting.

Week #9 Spring Break!

Spring Break!!!

Well it's almost over now and I had full intentions of getting ahead in all of my classes. I now realize I needed this break to pull myself together and get organized for the next six weeks. When I signed up for this Spring semester, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew it was going to MAKE or BREAK me. I had never imagined taking 17 hours (7 hours of grad and 10 hours of undergrad) of nursing courses.

I am pushing to finish up my bachelors this May. This will allow me to take the entire summer session off to be with my 3 year old and new born who is expected the first of July. I can not wait! Then I will return in the Fall, diving into the FNP program.

Week # 8 Middle Man

This past week at work was a very interesting! Now that we are in the middle of Spring Semester, I am finding the students I work with becoming very frustrated with their lecture classes. I saw a glimpse of this last semester, but did not have time to pay much attention because I so busy with my new responsibilities as the lab coordinator. This semester I am finding myself stuck in the middle!

I have always tried to be a strong student advocate but because I am not an actual instructor my hands are tied to my specific areas (lab and clinical math). The students come to me for help with math and then begin "venting" about a test they were given in lecture. Of course there is not much that I can say, because I would never disrespect an instructor to a student. I am torn because I feel that the majority of the older faculty is acting more as the "nurses who feed on their young" and less as student advocates. I honestly do not feel that the students are learning because they are so focused on the fact that the instructors are out to fail them. I find it very insteresting that an instructor would not question his/her teaching methods or test questions when only 2 out of 45 students pass a unit exam. When the instructor shared this information with me, my response was, "WOW, that really suprizes me because they are a smart group and made great grades in their previous class." The instructor quickly responded, "Well I think the first semester instructor really babies them through their tests." What does this even mean? If the majority of students are making good grades than the instructor is being too easy?


Of course not all instructors are using this same approach and as the students come to me and "vent", I find myself becoming more passionate about teaching in the future.

Week #7 BSN

I am very excited to say....I will graduate this May with my BSN!! I do not feel that this will just be a piece of paper for me but a great accomplishment. I am looking forward to my nursing future as a BSN, as this will not only provide as a stepping stone to my MSN but also allow me a new position at work. As you know I currently work as the Lab Coordinator in an Associate Degree Nursing program, after graduating in May I will be able to work as a Clinical Instructor. This is very exciting as I truly enjoy working with the students.

I think if you would have asked me this question before I started my BSN, my view would have been different. I had always thought it was really "not that big of a deal" or not a big difference in Associate Degree Nureses and Bachelor's prepared Nurses. After completing the past year of requirements, I can see I was WRONG! I is definately a "Big Deal" and I now see how much this past year has allowed me to grow as nurse leader.