Growing up I was told it is always important to tell the truth. Noting the truth will follow me everywhere I go; it may be buried but it will not be forgotten. But …show more content…
Therefore, nurses have put into place concepts to help guide their practice. As Zander (2007) noted “two types of knowledge are inherit in nurses’ way of knowing, explicit and tacit.” Explicit knowledge relies on facts and rules, while tacit knowledge relies on repeated experience and reflection (Zander, 2007). This is a great summation of my nursing practice. When I encounter a situation for the first time, I follow the guidelines of the policy and procedures, as well as the knowledge I obtained in school. After repeatedly encountering the same scenario, I am able to establish a way of addressing the task that stays within the guidelines but may make it easier for the patient. A simple example would be starting an IV. I was taught to tie the tourniquet, ask the patient to make a fist, and wait for the veins to dilate. With experience, I have learned to use a warm towel to dilate the veins, different positions to help increase blood flow, and where to find the best veins for certain population groups. This not only made it easier on the patient, but it has also made it easier for