Editorial
Johnston
Hello NSNA Members ! Thank you for attending the NSNA Virtual 39th Mid- Year Conference . It was nice meeting some of you and I hope that you learned a lot from the sessions . Final exams are over , and the fall semester has ended successfully ; we can all enjoy a well-deserved holiday break . I graduated this semester and am excited and scared to begin my process of studying for the NCLEX before starting my first job as a clinical nurse . Wish me luck !
For this issue , I wanted to focus on patient education . Throughout nursing school , I often hear the phrase “ patient education ” and professors and clinical instructors inform me that this is vital to a nurse ’ s role . I am sure many of you have shared my experience of having a clinical instructor ask you to explain which medications you are giving your patient when administering medications . They usually prompt me while I ’ m already scanning the medications into the Electronic Health Record and handing them to the patient . With no time to look it up I had to quickly think on my feet — often with no knowledge of the medication I was administering . Moments like this made me realize how important a nurse ’ s role is in patient education . Before we become nurses , like many of our patients , we do not know what specific medications are for . Without the nurse ’ s knowledgeable instruction , many patients are unaware of what is going on during their hospital stay . This often creates feelings of mistrust , confusion , and isolation . That is why this issue of Imprint focuses on patient education ; it truly is a nurse ’ s most important role . Learn more about this topic on page 32 with Paulina Duker ’ s , “ Patient Education : A Nurse ’ s Most Important Role .”
Many nursing students hang back and let the preceptor teach the patient , but you should be participating in this education as well ! Nursing students doubt themselves , but they can be incredible leaders in patient care . Read page 19 to learn how nursing students can be innovators for their patients and make a difference in one of the most common newborn issues of jaundice . Also , nurse educators should be preparing their students to be the best possible nurses for all patient populations . Go to page 22 to see how unique care , like Transgender Health , is readily ignored in nursing education and should be implemented to provide better care to these patients .
Documenting patient care and education in the Electronic Health Record ( EHR ) is a nursing skill that is rarely talked about . While we explore many of the different EHR programs as we go to clinical courses , we are expected to figure this out mostly on our own . This leaves us in danger of improper documentation in the future . Read page 28 to learn about documenting your nursing assessments properly and building a partnership with EHRs .
Also , please take a moment to read the Up Close and Happenings Columns ! The Up Close Reporter , Victoria Bock , highlighted student Caitlin Gomes , a senior nursing student at the M . Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing at Villanova University . It is an incredible read on page 42 and am so happy for Ms . Gomes and all her accomplishments . Also , Happenings Reporter Emily Williams did an incredible job highlighting different student nurses ’ associations and their activities on page 40 .
Lastly , I want to thank Suzanne Dort for her amazing reflection shared on page 43 . I would highly recommend reading this as she shares her story on the importance of compassionate care , and why nurses like us should always show kindness to all patients regardless of what others may say .
I truly hope you enjoy this issue . Please feel free to send in your feedback and stay tuned for the rest of the upcoming issues this academic year . Remember that Imprint has officially transitioned to fully digital , so all issues are available online , making Imprint accessible to all members . Don ’ t forget to read until the end of the issue for a special $ 500 scholarship opportunity .
Stay tuned for the January Imprint Career Guide and remember to enjoy this well-deserved holiday break ! •
Megan Johnston Imprint Editor
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