Nurses have high work and skill demands, and they must master a wide range of skills to stay professional. The evolving professional environment for community/public health nursing has necessitated the creation of competencies that will shape practice, education, research, and policy recommendations. Nursing competence is typically viewed as a complex combination of knowledge, skills, and attitudes. The practice aids in the application and development of the numerous skills required of a public health nurse.
I gained clinical experience and increased my skills by participating in an initiative to promote medical practices among the homeless. Defining health literacy, using multiple means of sharing information, engaging in stakeholder meetings, and other abilities were among the competencies used, which are also mentioned in the Quad Council Competencies for Community/Public Health Nursing. I was also working with a family consisting of a grandmother raising three grandchildren, all 9-year-old, with whom I was conducting an interview. In addition to these activities, I was promoting the April fare, which helped to strengthen my organizational skills in terms of building communication with vendors. I was also part of the community project connected to diabetes, where I was responsible for a number of organizational and practical tasks.
The work environment of the project was quite challenging since the project I was part of targeted the low-income groups of society. The working atmosphere was extremely demanding, which aided in the development of professional abilities. I met with not just community leaders but also the homeless, who was the project’s emphasis. The work was conducted in low-income neighborhoods where the atmosphere is evocative of the role nurses play in strengthening communities and encourages them to participate.
An essential part of the project was the analysis of the situation with regard to giving medical aid to the homeless, as well as the potential for doing so. The project participants visited with community leaders in the region under consideration, among other things. These activities have helped us to understand more about the homeless’ past, present, and future needs, as well as the resources available to help them. The assessment of their needs, communicating, and applying critical thinking were among the most important skills developed during this project. In addition to it, I was involved in the diabetes follow-up, which was enhanced by nursing practice skills. As a member of staff, I was responsible for checking blood pressure, weight, and blood sugar, doing the HgbA1c tests.
As a public health nurse, this work has given me considerable experience and expertise. Assessing health literacy, connecting with stakeholders, developing acceptable ways to communicate information, and other actions were all part of this effort. The project’s setting and objective helped to a greater understanding of public health nurse practice. Moreover, conducting an interview and participating in the organizational bureaucracy, as well as communicating with vendors and stakeholders, helped to develop skills such as system thinking and communication.
Accessing the successes and experiences gained from these activities, I would say that they contributed greatly to the development of my communicational organizational skills. Measuring success is a more difficult and multifaceted issue; however, some initiatives were promoted, while the community project related to diabetes was beneficial in terms of raising awareness of the dangers of diabetes. It also provided the opportunity for many individuals to get information and perform tests.