theory integration

Provide a brief introduction. Be creative and be sure to capture your audience by making the introduction compelling.

Describe a case from your personal experience. The case may be clinical, leadership, teaching, or another applicable real-life scenario. Do not include names or identifying information.

Briefly describe a theory/model that fits your case. Do not create a paper describing a theory or model! Your paper is intended to tell us about how the model works through a case example.

Discuss the concepts from the model and how they integrate into the case as it unfolds. Describe the relationships among the model concepts. This is where the bulk of your paper should be focused. Be sure to be clear and logical in the sequencing of your message.

Briefly summarize the paper. Give special attention to the applicability of the model to practice.

These are some crude notes I thought may help. Feel free to add or leave out anything that will help the paper flow better. Or start from scratch if you’d rather.

Before becoming an RN, I was a paramedic/ firefighter for quite some time. Once I obtained my RN license I began work on a cardiac/ stroke unit. I was reminded of the feeling I felt as a new paramedic/ firefighter. Which was frightened and nervous. Unlike many other new nurses I worked with, I was able to find solace in that, I had experience being new and frightened of the unknown. It would be easy to say that being a new paramedic and firefighter was more frightening because you truly are thrust into the job with textbook examples and taught how to treat manikins in life threatening emergencies. Many times with no help other than your partner who at some point had to leave you to begin driving, otherwise you’ll never leave the scene of the emergency.

As a new RN I recognized that look of fear on many new nurses, and shared it, but felt more comfortable with it. I also realized quickly that many situations I had grown comfortable in, even seasoned nurses would be flustered and unsure what to do. Specifically CPR, falls, and sudden changes in patient conditions.

I thought I was going to show up on the cardiac/stroke floor and get right to work. I couldn’t understand as a new nurse how these nurses could care for so many patients at a time. There were so many items to juggle at once. Labs, new orders, imaging, doctor’s notes and having to trust my teammates like the nurse’s aides and PT OT.

I quickly learned that I was going to have to just ask when I wasn’t sure. So that’s what I did and it helped me so much. I also realized by jumping in to help especially in these emergencies I was experienced in, I was also appreciated on the floor, and other nurses seemed almost eager to help when I needed it.

After my first year my manager approached me about an opening for a position as charge nurse. I quickly said no thank you and explained that I wouldn’t feel qualified. My manager looked surprised and explained that the reason he was asking was because most of the nurses he asked suggested me for the role. I of course felt very flattered. I ended up accepting the position and have learned a lot in the process.

I realize now being a leader isn’t about always knowing what to do, but to be willing to figure it out. In the medical field at least a leader should be able to work well under pressure. Some of the best advice I ever got was when I was a rookie firefighter. My lieutenant said to me if you don’t know what to do just stay calm, more times than not a calm hand is the best thing you can offer in an emergency. I think that is very true and I bet I’ve heard that man’s voice in my head saying that every day since then.

To cite a specific case from my personal experience it would be this lieutenant. He was able to lead by example and teach myself and others to one day lead ourselves.