Question: Describe why you enjoyed the below story and indicate what you learned that would affect your future nursing practice. See Below STORY.
The memorable nursing experience I have encountered before was when I worked overseas. It happened on my first few months in Saudi Arabia and I am still adapting with the Arabian Culture, I still have limited communication skills, thus my care management to patients sometimes is delay because I need help understanding them and their individual care demands. When I started to work that day, two of my colleagues were not feeling well. There are five nurses in total for every shift to care for 25 patients. The two nurses eventually were sent home and replacement was close to impossible at that hour for its nighttime. It was only 3 of us that are left, and worst, I am new and has limited knowledge speaking in their language. Despite of my dilemmas, I talked to my 2 colleagues who can understand English, about the plan of care and strategy we can come up to on that situation. Eventually, we were able to understand each other; worked, planned and executed residents care needs despite of our staff shortage crisis that day. At the end of our shift, my workmates appreciated my help for standing out and the strategy we made to manage the unit even though I'm not fluent in Arabic, they understand my intention and follow my lead. We are united as a team from that day on, they involve me more with leadership and management for the care and staffing. I felt worthy and happy at the same time, I was able to gain confidence when it comes to decision makings and proper approach needed to avoid any conflicts in our unit.
Based on my memorable experience, I would not change anything on that same situation and my action. It made me realized that I could express myself and still help with unexpected situations despite of the language barrier I had.
Furthermore, I learned that with proper approach, positive attitude and respect to one another, I think everything is possible and has solutions in every situation. And lastly, anyone can be a leader, but it takes a lot of courage, experience and learning to become a good one, to be worthy as a leader for me is when people around you support, cherish and respect what you do.