Theories to Guide Clinical Practice
Nursing goals are vital in clinical practice to guide best practices and policies and ensure that patients receive the best care possible. Imogene King’s theory of goal attainment is a suitable nursing theory to best guide my clinical practice. Its central tenet is that the nurse and patient should communicate, set goals collaboratively, and take the necessary initiatives to achieve the set goals (Smith & Gullett, 2020). Nurses must also realize that many factors affect goal attainment, including space, time, and roles. Accordingly, initiatives applied to achieve the goals must consider possible barriers. I selected this theory since it recommends a collaborative approach to solving patient problems. Collaboration is pivotal in clinical practice as the basis for informed decision-making and quality care (Nibbelink & Brewer, 2018). It will be a critical component in facilitating achieving practicum and individual goals.
On counseling theories, the most suitable theory is behavioral theory. According to Garrett (2019), the behavioral theory is found on the premise that behavior is learned. As a result, the occurrence and outcomes of a behavior can be decreased. The same concept applies to psychiatric care. Mental health professionals should work collaboratively to change patients’ unwanted and destructive behaviors (Chauhan et al., 2017). For instance, which I look forward to learning more about during the practicum experience, positive behavior modification techniques can reinforce desired behaviors. Such an approach underlines the critical role of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and similar behavioral approaches in clinical settings.
Timeline of Practicum Activities
Objective | Main Activities | Timeline |
1 | i. Collaborative patient screening
ii. Patient engagement |
Continuous activity
To develop at least 10 treatment plans by the last week. |
2 | i. Implementing psychotherapeutic modalities | Complete by the end of the practicum experience. |
3 | ii. evaluating psychiatric treatments | 5 treatments weekly |
Conclusion
Nurses need an organized plan to frame their practicum experience in a clinical setting. This practicum experience plan describes my objectives, theories to guide the clinical practice, and the timeline of practicum activities. Under objectives, the primary urge is to gain more experience on treatment plans and psychotherapeutic modalities. Imogene King’s theory of goal attainment and behavioral theory will guide my clinical practice. The timeline is a projection of when specific activities should be completed.
References
Chauhan, B. F., Jeyaraman, M., Mann, A. S., Lys, J., Skidmore, B., Sibley, K. M., … & Zarychanksi, R. (2017). Behavior change interventions and policies influencing primary healthcare professionals’ practice—an overview of reviews. Implementation Science, 12(1), 1-16. doi: 10.1186/s13012-016-0538-8
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