· What are some of your personal goals for personal, professional, and leadership development that you will achieve in the practicum experience?
· Reflect on your feelings about DEI principles and implicit bias. How do these principles shape your actions and decisions in your designated discipline? How does implicit bias impact our development as a professional and leader?
· What steps can you take to further incorporate DEI principles into your practicum experience?
· Consider a recent interaction with a client. How did you incorporate DEI principles into this interaction? What could you have done differently to better promote DEI?
· How can you leverage your specialization courses to help you prepare for your MSN capstone project?
Reflection on DEI Principles and Implicit Bias
Feelings and Foundational Beliefs
I feel that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles are not just buzzwords but are fundamental to ethical nursing practice and patient safety. Nursing is a social justice profession; therefore, recognizing and addressing systemic barriers to equitable care is a core professional responsibility. I feel a constant, necessary tension between my desire to treat everyone equally and the reality that people start from unequal places, necessitating an equity-focused approach.
DEI Principles Shaping Actions and Decisions (Designated Discipline: Advanced Practice Nursing)
In advanced practice nursing, DEI principles profoundly shape my actions:
Diagnosis and Assessment: I deliberately ask about Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) (e.g., food security, transportation, literacy) during every intake. I recognize that a patient's uncontrolled hypertension may not stem from non-adherence, but from lacking the funds for low-sodium food or the transportation to the pharmacy. This prevents me from labeling patients as "non-compliant."
Resource Allocation: When coordinating care, I prioritize equitable resource allocation, ensuring that referrals are made to culturally competent providers and that materials are available in the patient’s preferred language and literacy level.
Sample Answer
That's a great framework for approaching your practicum experience. Here are some comprehensive answers covering your goals, reflections on DEI/implicit bias, and strategies for your capstone.
Personal Goals for Practicum Development
My goals for the practicum experience are structured to ensure growth across personal, professional, and leadership dimensions, preparing me for advanced practice in nursing.