During a clinical rotation at Ballard Rehabilitation Hospital, the author was able to perform various medication administrations and assist other healthcare professionals. Part of the nursing role included assessing patients, giving them medications, and collaborating with therapists on care schedules. The author also helped with patient transfers, hygiene, and toileting. When one patient was in severe pain during physical therapy, the author soothed the patient and quickly checked their blood sugar to alleviate suffering. To improve their skills, the author resolved to assess and medicate patients more efficiently within 20 minutes each.

1. Appelhof, Steven
Professor Wilson
Ballard Rehabilitation Hospital
Inpatient Rehabilitation
Clinical Journal #1
During my first three rotations at Ballard Rehabilitation Hospital I was able to perform
routine assessments, oral medication administration, subcutaneous medication administration as
well as intramuscular medication administration. As I progressed through my days, I was able to
get the routine down of how a typical day on the floor goes. The nursing aspect includes
assessing and medicating the patients to prepare them for the therapists to come and work with
each person on a specific schedule that us as medical staff have to collaborate and work around.
Assisting other healthcare professionals with transfers and hygiene as well as toileting is also in
our scope to make it easier and increase safety for the patient and staff members during
procedures. Humanbecoming theory was utilized during my plan of care when one of the
patients with polyneuropathy and uncontrolled diabetes was being ambulated by physical therapy
and she was in pain severe enough to make her cry. It was time to recheck her blood sugar and
the patient was sitting in her chair crying behind the cover of her hair. I reassured her that I
would be quick in getting the blood sugar reading that way she would not be in pain because of
it. Once I was done acquiring the blood sugar results I put my hand on her shoulder and told the
patient that she was doing great and that she needed to keep going so that she can get better and
healthier. To further improve my skills and strategies I would make it a smart goal I would
reduce the amount of time that it takes to assess and medicate my patients to a total of 20
minutes per patient and being efficiently completed with the task by 8:20am when assigned 5

2. patients. I would do this by becoming more efficient with time management as well as familiar
with the medications to efficiently care for the patient in 20 minutes or less to maintain an
efficient and routine schedule. Nursing presence is unique because we are the front line medical
staff that is continuously engaged in the patient’s condition and when the patient is in need of
assistance they call on us and confide in us to be the people they can count on to help them back
a state where they can be healthy and independent on their own. Reflective question number 4
was utilized.