Week 2 Capstone and Practicum

Please stay within the words count. Professor do not want it to be over.

Professional Capstone & Practicum Reflective Journal

Week 2- Interpersonal Collaboration

During the practicum period, I have interacted with different people, communicating, transferring values, sharing ideas, and elaborating on roles related to patient care. I have developed interpersonal relationships with healthcare providers and patients as well. Interpersonal collaboration has been continuous, playing a significant role in the effectiveness of care provision. Interpersonal communication and collaboration have been significant in settling into the practicum setting, reducing stress levels, and promoting wellness and overall quality of life.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Professional Practice related to Interpersonal Collaboration

The present healthcare ecosystem is more integrated and well-coordinated, prompting high-level interpersonal relationships between healthcare providers and their patients. Interpersonal collaboration is a novel practice strategy that entails healthcare professionals collaborating with patients, families, communities, and caregivers to enhance care delivery (Borges et al., 2018). Because people are constantly exchanging ideas regarding patient care and clinical procedures, I think collaborative practice enhances the delivery of healthcare. Interpersonal and communication skills can help improve interpersonal collaboration.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Personal Strengths and / or Weaknesses related to Interpersonal Collaboration

            Interpersonal collaboration is fundamentally made possible by personal qualities such as communication skills and individual values such as honesty, mutual trust and respect, flexibility, patience, compassion, acceptance, assertiveness, and cooperation (Advent Health University, 2020). I have significantly improved my communication skills. I am compassionate, patient, accepting, flexible, and honest, qualities that have enabled me to develop interpersonal relationships and foster interpersonal collaboration. However, I have struggled with acquiring respect from other colleagues, and I am still to be open and trusting with others in my second week of the practicum. I want to build trusting relationships with others and gain the self-assurance I need to collaborate with other health providers and patients and impact the best results.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Additional Resources related to Interpersonal Collaboration

            All levels of leadership and practice should be supportive of the interpersonal collaboration strategy. Nurse leaders should facilitate an environment for healthy interpersonal relationships’ development through team-building exercises, promoting open communication, and sharing of information, ideas, and resources (Advent Health University, 2020). They should develop programs that help nurses build their communication skills and interpersonal skills like active listening, awareness, critical thinking, and relationship building that will promote interpersonal collaboration.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

References

Advent Health University. (2020). Interpersonal communication in nursing. https://www.ahu.edu/interpersonal-communication-skills-in-nursing

Borges, J., Moreira, T., & Andrade, D. F. (2018). Nursing Care Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaire: elaboration and validation. Revista latino-americana de enfermagem, 25, e2962. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.2128.2962

Capstone Project Topic Selection & Approval

Childhood obesity has increasingly become a public health concern for children and adolescents in the US.  Childhood obesity leads to a wide range of health complications that affect the child’s health into childhood if left untreated. Despite being a preventable condition, the incidence of childhood obesity is significantly increasing within different vulnerable communities mandating extensive educational interventions. According to Sahoo et al. (2018), the world is experiencing a tremendous epidemiological and nutritional transition with the increasing prevalence of nutrition deficiencies or increased calorie intake, which has seen a progressive rise in nutrition-related diseases such as obesity. Attending to overweight and obese children and adolescents have become common in clinical setting.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Topic Problem

Currently, childhood obesity is a significant health problem in the community, severely impacting the physical and psychological health of children and adolescents. After analyzing hospitalization patterns, higher hospital charges and longer hospital stays are identified among overweight and obese children (Sanyaolu et al., 2019). Hospital admission for obesity in children and adolescents has increased four-fold since 2000, from 21.0 per million children to 78.8 per million children. Attending obese children in the practicum setting is also a common site.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Topic Setting or Context

Childhood obesity can be observed in the community, in studies conducted on school children, and when analyzing hospitalization patterns. Generally, children and adolescents are becoming heavier. This pattern was also observed by a study of children and adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic that indicated an increase in childhood obesity rates Woolford et al. (2021). Another study by Sanyaolu et al. (2019) found that 17% of children in the US presented with diabetes.

Description of Topic Problem

Childhood obesity is a significant health issue affecting children and adolescents. A common feature is children and adolescents becoming larger than their body frames. A BMI can be used to measure relative body weight. The extra weight children and adolescents gain often starts a path of serious health problems that were previously considered adult problems, including diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol (Sahoo et al., 2018).(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Impact of Problem

Childhood obesity impacts significantly the psychological and physical health of children and adolescents. The link between childhood obesity and other health conditions makes it a significant health concern. Risk factors increasing the prevalence of childhood obesity as identified by research studies, Sanyaolu et al. (2019), and patient assessments at the practicum site include a combination of unhealthy diets, limited physical activity, and psychological factors such as depression.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Significance of Problem and Nursing Implications

This topic is significant because childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic levels. Overweight and obesity among children and adolescents can cause serious physical and psychological health problems. Childhood obesity is more likely to advance into adulthood and to lead to problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age (Sahoo et al., 2018). Nurses have a role in fulfilling the education need to address childhood obesity. Through nursing interventions such as patient education and coaching, nurses can help prevent and reduce childhood obesity rates and increase the quality of life.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Proposed Solution to Problem

Childhood obesity is associated with environmental factors, lifestyle preferences, and cultural surroundings that encourage high caloric and fat intake. The most effective intervention proposed is lifestyle changes which also fall under community. Adopting healthy lifestyles can prevent and help manage childhood obesity (Sanyaolu et al., 2019). Healthy lifestyles can be instituted through patient education and lifestyle coaching by nurses in collaboration with interested parties such as social workers.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

Conclusion

Childhood obesity significantly affects their psychological and cardiovascular health, acting like a potential gateway to health problems such as diabetes and hypertension, progressing into adulthood. Factors such as unhealthy diets with higher calorie intake, lack of or limited physical activity, and psychological conditions like depression as potential risk factors for childhood diabetes. Lifestyle changes are identified as the primary intervention to prevent and reduce childhood obesity rates.(Interpersonal Collaboration)

References

Sahoo, K., Sahoo, B., Choudhury, A. K., Sofi, N. Y., Kumar, R., & Bhadoria, A. S. (2018). Childhood obesity: causes and consequences. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 4(2), 187–192. https://doi.org/10.4103/2249-4863.154628

Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S. (2019). Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in the United States: A Public Health Concern. Global pediatric health, 6, 2333794X19891305. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X19891305

Woolford, S. J., Sidell, M., Li, X., Else, V., Young, D. R., Resnicow, K., & Koebnick, C. (2021). Changes in Body Mass Index Among Children and Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA, 326(14), 1434–1436. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/