2024 Nursing Conference Grant Winning Essays

The questions for this year’s application cycle were as follows: 

1. Please describe how you will share what you learn at this conference with colleagues. 

2. How will you incorporate what you learn from this educational offering into your practice? 

3. How will this conference advance your long-term career goals (beyond the attainment of continuing education hour requirements)? 

 

Essays were lightly edited for grammar, flow, and readability.  

 

Nicole Carson

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Essay 1:  I plan on coordinating with my leadership team to share the knowledge gained at this conference. We have monthly staff meetings in which I can prepare a powerpoint presentation to highlight the main topics of the conference that would be relevant to share with staff. In addition, I plan to compile specialized information in a checklist and/or flowchart format on the various topics presented at the conference for specialized members of our clinic team. I am also in the process of designing, arranging and preparing a more specialty focused meeting with providers and support staff that specifically work in women?s health from the knowledge I will gain from attending this conference. Focusing on the direct group that works with this population could be more suitable for effectiveness of the material currently being shared. This would allow the team to brainstorm strategies and subsequent improvements to the obstetrics department and utilize information to enhance our department?s care in the local community. Presenting information to not only the specialty care team but also the entire staff will create a continuity of care across the entire clinic. It may also allow all team members to help share ideas on how we can use this new information and apply it to our clinic.

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Essay 2: I live in a rural community and work at a clinic with a family practice provider who provides obstetrics care. Within our clinic we have one full time OBGYN and family practice with OB providers. I will be able to incorporate what I learn into our daily practice as we see multiple OB patients in a day. Being in a rural clinic the more education that can be obtained the better care patients can receive without having to travel long distances to see specialty providers. This opportunity will allow me to further my knowledge in obstetrics in multiple areas of the discipline and to be able to help care for each patient as an individual. My education that I received in nursing school on obstetrics was an overview of the specialty. Being able to attend a conference that will break down different problems and challenges in obstetrics will help me gain a better knowledge to provide not just excellent but exceptional care to our community. Gaining proficiency related to smaller details and challenges I will be better prepared to assist my physician to provide optimal care for patients. When patients do not have to travel long distances to receive care they need the chances of them receiving appropriate care increases. Routine obstetrics care is extremely important for the health of both mom and baby.

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Essay 3: Attending this conference will help advance my current career by expanding and enhancing my knowledge in the specialized care for various levels of normal to high-risk pregnancies. In a rural setting we are serving a population in a widespread region with multiple small communities. Resources for high-risk pregnancies and aftercare are often limited in these settings. My provider works with both family practice and obstetrics. In a rural area, we need to provide continuity of care not just for the pregnant mother but her whole family. Engaging all family members with care of the mother and baby after birth whether it is a normal or high-risk delivery is important. This means that all family members should be presented with and consultation and knowledge of medical symptoms which may impact the health of the mother and newborn. It also means that family members need to be aware of preventive care, eg., what vaccinations should be done; what milestones should be expected and awareness of the mother?s physical and mental condition. I would like to assist in developing a program which would meet these needs. It will offer a better understanding of obstetrics that can help myself and our team provide better care for the entire population as we see all ages and genders in our rural community.

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