Community-Based Practicum Reflective Journal Guidelines

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

NUR 4143 - Clinical Immersion
Community-Based Practicum

Professional nursing meeting experience (4 hours)

Guide for Reflection Using Tanner’s (2006) Clinical Judgment Model
Introduction

What professional nursing meeting(s) did you attend and where was it located?
I attended a Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON) meeting. It was held was at the Virginia Department of Health
Professions perimeter center on September 17 th.
Background

Describe the purpose of this professional nursing meeting? Describe the agendas of the group and subgroup. What
type of issues did they address?

The purpose of this professional meeting was to hold formal hearings to decide sentences for medical professionals
that committed misconducts that go against their license. The VBON is a committee made up of LPN’s, RN’s, and
citizens. The types of issues addressed while we were visiting were two cases of LPN’s that had substance abuse
issues.

Noticing

What did you notice about the professional nursing meeting initially? Describe what you saw, heard and did during
the meeting?

I did not know what to expect going into the meeting at first because I didn’t expect it to be a hearing but just a
meeting to discuss different issues in nursing. I saw a room set up like a court room where there were seats for an
audience, seats for the commonwealth representative, witnesses, and the person being sentenced. In a semi-circle
there were seats set up for the committee, a recorder, and other employees of the VBON. During the meeting we
were told to not talk, turn electronics off, and take notes if we wanted.

Interpreting

Describe what you thought about the information being discussed. Have you been involved in similar discussion
during your previous student nurse experiences? Describe the similarities and/or differences to those encounters.

The information being discussed was about two medical professionals that had substance abuse problems. The only
experience I have had with people with substance abuse issues are those that I had seen during our psychiatric
clinical. Each professional had their license previously suspended and then suspended for a longer period of time
when the decisions came back. To me this was different then seeing it in the clinical setting because, although we
did not see the professionals since they did not attend, all of their drug seeking advances were laid out in the hearing.
In clinical we were there for such a short period of time we didn’t get to really hear the full back story of those
patients that had substance abuse disorders.

Responding

Describe stresses (both positive & negative) you experienced as you responded to the new learning or the challenge.

The main stressor I would say that attending this hearing caused for me would be putting into perspective that
substance abuse disorders can really happen to anyone. Yes, I’ve heard that a million times, but to hear the problems
that these two women went through and they had such a direct source being around addictive substances so often

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shocked me. One was in recovery for a short period and to hear she worked with her drugs of choice every day and
then her daughter having pain medications in the house was what caused her to slip up is sad.

Reflection-in-Action

What role would you take being assigned to represent your unit in this group? What subcommittee would you like to
participate with and why?

I would definitely like to be on the side of being on the committee versus being the person that is being “tried.” I
would like to hear the different cases that have happened in different settings by different professionals and use my
experience and knowledge to decide how they should be reprimanded, or if they even should.

Reflection-on-Action and Clinical Learning

What written evidence is available to support professional nursing groups and their impact on the development of
evidence based practice and improved patient outcomes. Cite/reference all journal articles that contributed to the
evidence.
What is the value of professional nursing meetings both as a part of a healthcare system and within a professional
organization?
The value of the VBON professional meeting is that it keeps people accountable for their actions. Although it might
be something so small as not realizing you did recertify your license, it still reminds people the importance of
following standards. It also helps to ensure that the community is receiving the best, safe care.
Describe any changes in your values or feelings as a result of this experience.

My values and feelings did not change due to this experience.

“I pledge…” – Megan Pollock

Nielsen, A., Stragnell, S., & Jester P (2007). Guide for reflection using the Clinical Judgment

Model. Journal of Nursing Education, 46(11), p. 513-516.

Professional Nursing Meetings

St. Mary’s Hospital

NOC: first and third Wednesday of each month. Let me know when you would like to attend.

Shared governance council meetings:

Professional Practice Council-Second Wednesday 8a-12n

Strategic Planning Council-Second Thursday 8a-10a

Applied Research Council-Third Thursday 10a-12n

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Education Council: third Thursday from 12n-4p (the meeting part lasts for 2-2 ½ hours and then
the members work on unit education)

Memorial Regional Medical Center

Third Tuesday of each month (Room 3008, Net Center)

Nursing Practice council 0800-0930

Nursing Quality Council 0930-1100

Nursing Recruitment & Retention Council 1100-1300

Nursing Education/Research 1300-1430

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