Reflective Journal Week 9

In this unit, I learned a lot about staffing and career exploration.  I've been thinking about the future of my career for years now because I don't honestly want to be a bedside nurse forever.  Learning that there are so many options and ways to determine that is super important.  Also, figuring out the process in which I can do that. I've learned a lot how staffing works on the units too.  I think we've all had moments when we get frustrated with a staffing assignment.  I realize more and more that it's a difficult job.  It depends lots on patients and anticipated patients, as well as the acuity of the patients in the hospital.  There are so many factors that depend on good staffing. 
I felt like the team activities were super interesting.  I agreed overall with what we all came up with, but I did realize that staffing is kind of tedious. It was an interesting learning opportunity.
I will utilize this information when determining the future of my nursing career.  I've gone back and forth between what I want to study in graduate school programs.  I've thought about pursuing an MSN and eventually a PhD down the road or DNP.  I've also thought about CRNA school at some point.  I think the DNP schools would be cool as well.  It all just depends in the end on what I want to do.  Lately, I've been very passionate about research, however, I still want to work in a clinical setting and practice skills.  I think keeping up with bedside nursing skills is always important, but I have started to invest in pursuing a DNP/PhD dual program in order to pursue both of those dreams.  I've attended multiple research conferences and have enjoyed them so much.  I will also utilize the staffing information for in case if I am ever a charge nurse or clin/house supervisor.  I think even noticing how they work staffing when I am work is a good thing to do.
I felt like this information was very useful for me.  I've tried for a long time to figure out what I want to do long term and this helped answer some of the questions I've had.  It also helped me think through more clearly on what I would eventually like to do.

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