Final reflection

Ilse Hinojosa DFC PN165-01 11/06/2026

DFC Clinical Reflection

What Went Well

Today was my last day at Columbine Health Care in Windsor, and I would say this was one of the best clinical experiences I have had throughout my nursing program. Not only were we able to get more hands-on experience, but the nurses and staff were also very welcoming and willing to help us learn. Throughout our clinical days, we had the opportunity to perform head-to-toe assessments, take vital signs, assist with medication administration, observe wound assessments, and participate in activities with the residents. I really enjoyed being able to interact with the residents and learn more about their medical conditions and personal experiences. Our clinical instructor was also very helpful and always made sure we were learning something new through different activities, discussions, and education. Overall, I feel like this experience helped me gain more confidence in my nursing skills and made me feel more prepared for my future role as an LPN.

Opportunities for Improvement

One thing I would like to continue improving is my head-to-toe assessments. Even though I feel more comfortable performing them, I still want to develop a better routine to make sure I don't miss anything important. I also want to continue working on explaining each step to my patients so they feel comfortable and understand what I am doing. Another area I would like to improve is my knowledge of medications, especially understanding why certain medications are prescribed, their side effects, and what we should monitor after administering them. I would also love to gain more hands-on experience with inserting urinary catheters and starting IVs, since these are skills I haven't had many opportunities to practice. I know that becoming a nurse takes time, practice, and patience, and I want to continue taking advantage of every learning opportunity.

Takeaway and Future Goals

My biggest takeaway from this clinical experience was realizing how much I have learned and improved throughout my nursing program. Being able to perform head-to-toe assessments, participate in the admission process, administer medications, and learn about different diseases helped me connect what we have learned in class to real-life patient care. I also learned how important teamwork, communication, and compassion are when caring for residents. Something that really stood out to me was how much we can learn by simply taking the time to listen to our patients and understand their needs.

Since today was my last clinical day at Columbine Health Care, my goal moving forward is to retain all the knowledge and skills I have gained and continue building my confidence as I get closer to becoming an LPN. I am very thankful for this experience, my instructor, and all the nurses who took the time to teach us. I know there is still so much more for me to learn, but I am excited to apply everything I have learned when it is my turn to care for my own patients. This experience reminded me why I chose nursing and how important it is to provide safe, compassionate, and individualized care to every patient.