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Running head: ESSENTIAL IX: BACCALAUREATE GENERALIST NURSING PRACTICE

E-Portfolio – Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice Hai-Duong Nguyen Frostburg State University

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ESSENTIAL IX: BACCALAUREATE GENERALIST NURSING PRACTICE

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E-Portfolio – Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice The Essentials for Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice (2008) created by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing provides nine essentials as outcomes expected of graduates of baccalaureate nursing programs (AACN, 2008, p. 3). The Essentials includes necessary requirements and recommendations for the core knowledge required of all healthcare professionals (AACN, 2008, p. 3). For this age, we will focus on Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice. Upon meeting Essential IX, the baccalaureate graduate nurse will: 1) practice with patients, including individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations across the lifespan and across the continuum of healthcare environments; and 2) understands and respects the variations of care, the increased complexity, and the increased use of healthcare resources inherent in caring for patients (AACN, 2008, p. 5). For this paper, I will discuss how my Comprehensive Health Assessment meets the Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice. Exemplar The completion of my Comprehensive Health Assessment (Nguyen, 2016) required me to work with individuals and family within my community. I chose to present my Comprehensive Health Assessment because it represents the work and knowledge I acquired throughout this course. My Comprehensive Health Assessment (Nguyen, 2016) shows my application of knowledge and communication acquisition, skill development and direct care as provided to the individual presented in this case. I believe this piece of work is a thorough portrayal of my growth as a baccalaureate graduate nurse and completes the requirements of Essentials IX. Reflection My Comprehensive Health Assessment demonstrated I am prepared to care for patients across the lifespan who come from various demographics and practice in a multicultural environment- the individual presented was a 73 year old African American who is chronically ill with diabetes mellitus,

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hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and neuropathy with a chief complaint of a wound of the right foot. Within my Comprehensive Health Assessment (Nguyen, 2016), I implemented holistic patient-centered care and provided culturally competent care by acquiring and completing the patient's spiritual and cultural assessment. I gained a complete understanding of his major/health beliefs and practices before engaging in direct care. I was able to meet the Essentials IX by communicating effectively with all of the healthcare team, including the patient and the patient’s network as evidenced through my incorporation of the patient, his wife and daughter throughout his assessment and plan of care. I provided a complete and thorough head to toe assessment, and my work meets the Essentials IX as I was able to implement evidenced-based nursing interventions appropriate for management of his condition. Within my Comprehensive Health Assessment, I was able to formulate a nursing diagnosis of “Impaired skin integrity related to neuropathy causing decrease in sensation, high glucose levels decreasing wound healing, and alterations in circulation as evidenced by right foot ulcer.” My understanding of pathophysiology and medical/nursing management allowed to me to implement these nursing interventions: 1) teach and promote good hand hygiene by cleaning hands with soap and warm water, scrubbing between fingers and under nails for 20 seconds, rinsing well under clean water, and dry with a towel/air dry; 2) maintain aseptic technique during wound care dressing- provide hand hygiene, wear gloves if possible, use saline to rinse area and pat dry with gauze, apply clean dressing over site, change daily or as needed when drainage is present, and consult and maintain appointments with wound care; and 3) take off shoes and socks and inspect feet daily noting any changes, check at tip of toes and under foot and heels, wear shoes when walking to prevent additional trauma, maintain glucose WNL as high glucose levels prevent healing process, and see doctor as appropriate for needs for maintenance and management of diabetes. These are a few examples that show how the completion

ESSENTIAL IX: BACCALAUREATE GENERALIST NURSING PRACTICE

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of my Comprehensive Health Assessments meets the Essentials IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice. My Comprehensive Health Assessment (Nguyen, 2016) demonstrated my ability to complete a head to toe assessment and integration of pathophysiology, appropriate patient teaching, effective communication to healthcare team, patient, and family , and holistic, patient-centered care that reflects safe, quality patient outcomes. My completion of the Comprehensive Health Assessment is confirmation I am able to provide care to patients and families across the lifespan and continuum of healthcare environments, and I show an understanding of change and respect for the variation and complex care of all patients. This is how my Comprehensive Health Assessment meets the Essentials IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice.

ESSENTIAL IX: BACCALAUREATE GENERALIST NURSING PRACTICE

References Essential VIII: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice. (2008). In The Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Nguyen, H. (2016). Comprehensive Health Assessment. Unpublished manuscript. Frostburg State University, Frostburg, MD

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