Career Development and Staffing

1. What did you actually learned from the unit.

Staffing a unit can be very difficult. There are multiple ways to staff and schedule employees each having their pros and cons. I think I realized that the best way to staff a unit is one that a obviously meets the needs of the unit but also keep the employees mostly happy and satisfied with their schedule otherwise you might have high turnover and staffing calling in sick more often. I also was reminded about the importance of career development and that it pays of to sit down and ponder what it is I want to do in my nursing career and what that is going to take not only on my part but what education/training I need, how I am going to pay for it, where I need to live, etc.

2. Discuss your feelings/experiences from the team activities? Did it change your opinion on the subject? If so, how? If not, why?

I enjoyed learning about my fellow classmates and how their current nursing positions are scheduled and how their schedules rotate as well as how they word the holidays. Because this is my first nursing position, the schedule we use is really the only one I knew. I realize that I love how my schedule is put together and the expectations we have. I feel that I can plan vacations and events well in advance and know pretty much exactly when I will work. I loved reading about the career plan of my fellow peers as well. It makes me realize how broad the nursing field is and also be comfortable with where I am at and how I feel about continuing on. I feel that we really validated and motivated each others' desires and I think it is great that I can work with these people.

3. How you will utilize the information learned in your nursing practice.

I can definitely take this experience I had with trying to staff a unit and understand more of how to do it so I can eventually do this for my own unit wherever I might be. I think it takes a special skill set to be able to organize in that way and that is something I can work on and use to my advantage. I also realize that while I may not be working in the area I want to specialize in, I am gaining valuable experience and am in no rush to hurry and figure it out. I have my entire career ahead of me and want to take full advantage of any learning I can receive wherever I am at.

4. You personal feelings about the material covered.

I thought this week was interesting and challenging to try and staff a unit. I felt it was important for me to take the time to focus on my career development as well as discuss with other nurses their future career plans as well as understand how their units are scheduled and staffed.