NCAS & NMBA COMPETENCY LINKS
The following section aims to clearly and accurately demonstrate my understanding of the standards for practice of Registered Nurses working within Australia. The nursing and midwifery standards are the foundations for my professional practice and govern the manner in which I act, interact and function within a healthcare team. Within this section, I will discuss my understanding of all seven standards and further discuss how I apply the standards within my nursing profession. I have attached NCAS documents from all seven clinical placements to support my discussion. Please scroll down to view my understanding of the standards of practice as a nurse and the supporting NCAS documents.
STANDARD ONE
Thinks Critically and Analyses Nursing Practice
As a student Registered Nurse I have ensured I understand and interpret the elements of Standard 1so I am able to implement it into my future nursing practice. When delivering safe and quality practice I guarantee I utilise and access the best available evidence and research findings as this allows me to think critically about my nursing practice and provide competent care.
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Whilst I have been a student attending clinical placement, the way in which I further develop my practice is through reflecting upon experiences I undergo and the feelings and beliefs that come with it. I utilise the GIBBS reflective cycle to recognise my own strengths and weaknesses and use them as a guide for ongoing learning.
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I ensure I provide culturally competent nursing care by obtaining cultural competence, engaging in cross-cultural interactions with patients and improving my communication and language barriers. The Aboriginal and Torres strait Islanders have a large family involvement, and this is important to consider when undertaking their care. This standard can be achieved by involving all members of the family healthcare.
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Whilst practicing as a student RN I understand the critical importance of practicing within my scope. I always follow policy guidelines and protocols as it is important to be familiar with them to avoid chaos, confusion and legal problems within the healthcare environment. My knowledge of ethical principles and frameworks allows me to play a critical role in the decision-making process regarding patient care.
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In order to be the best RN possible, I make sure I maintain accurate, comprehensive and timely documentation for assessments. I maintain accuracy by always counting a pulse rate for a full minute. By performing a comprehensive assessment, it allows me to have an insight into my patients physical status which I can then investigate any clinical interventions and prevent further deterioration.
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I ensure I contribute to quality improvement and relevant research within my nursing practice. This assists providers with reliable, cost-effective and sustained healthcare processes and enable them to achieve their goal of improving care delivery and enhancing patient outcomes. I make sure I continually develop my leaning by educating myself through journal articles.
STANDARD TWO
Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships
Within my practice as a student RN I ensure I establish my relationships and connections with my patients and colleague’s in a way that differentiates between personal and professional. Establishing these boundaries is important as it allows me to make a safe connection to meet the person’s needs. Professional relationships should only exist for the purpose of meeting my patients needs.
When communicating in the healthcare setting I ensure I am showing signs of respect to cultures and beliefs as well as portraying what I am saying effectively. I do this by listening to my patients concerns, including them in the conversation and involving them in as many decisions as possible regarding their care. I demonstrate respect by speaking in a calm, confident and respectful tone as well as displaying an attitude of helpfulness with and appropriate expression on my face.
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In order to practice as the best RN, I can be it is important that I provide support and point people in the right direction to resources. This will allow them to optimise their health-related decisions. I am to provide my patients with the information they require to manage and ultimately improve their health. I understand the importance of equipping my patients with accurate information whilst also advocating for their healthy lifestyle. I am also able to identify that people are experts in the experience of their life.
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When practicing as an RN I am aware for the importance of advocating for my patients. This involves helping my patients to make informed decisions regarding their health, including assisting them in navigating a complex medical system, translating medical terms and aiding them in making ethical decisions.
As a student I feel I have only somewhat met the ability to delegate and coordinate a team as well as act as a supervisor. I aim in my practice as an RN to become effective in my delegation skills that will result in improved health outcomes for all patients.
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When practicing as an RN I aim to foster a culture of safety and learning as it is essential for us to correct the issue of infrequent error or harm. I am to do this by ensuring I communicate well, perform basic care and follow checklists and learn and reflect upon my mistakes. Ways in which I can practice as an RN and demonstrate person-centred care includes, treating people with dignity, respect and compassion, providing coordinated care and treatment as well as personalised support.
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Collaboration in healthcare aims to provide outcomes through inter-professional cooperation. I am to demonstrate this in my practice by including and working effectively alongside a primary or tertiary care team of allied health professionals. In order to practice as a valuable RN, I aim to demonstrate my adaptability, empathy and communication skills as it will allow me to become a leader in collaborative practice.
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Lastly, I aim to report notifiable conduct of health professionals and workers. This includes reporting child abuse and neglect, medical neglect of children and the elderly, elder abuse in the community or in nursing homes, and domestic violence.
STANDARD THREE
Maintains the capability for practice
As a Registered Nurse, I am aware that I am responsible and accountable for ensuring I am capable of provide safe practice. Within the healthcare setting, there is potential for clinicians to practice in a harmful way towards myself or patients, so it is crucial that I am responsible for the decisions I make within my nursing practice and work within my scope.
I am able to apply this standard by participating in ongoign self-management and responding appropriately when there is concern regarding the way in which other health professionals demonstrate hate capability fo practice. Health professionals are responsibel for their professional development and contribution to the development of others as well as providing information and education which will enable people to make decisions and take action in relation to their health (NMBA, 2017).
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To improve on my own practice, I ensure I utilise evidence-based practice and good intersectional communication throughout my care. I am committed and always willing to engage in lifelong learning to further benefit my education and skills as well as always being open for both positive and negative feedback.
I am efficient and always work within a timely manner to accomplish the best possible care to all patients. Whilst being a student nurse with UNE, I have gained skills to maintain my capability for practice and I strive to always maintain accountability for my decisions, actions and behaviours. I always strive to constantly learn and enhance my skills as a registered nurse.
STANDARD FOUR
Comprehensively conducts assessments
It is crucial that Registered Nurses accurately conduct comprehensive and systematic assessments. They analyse information and data as well as communicate outcomes for the basis for practice. It is vital that comprehensive assessments are conducted when they are required, this includes upon admission conducting vital signs, GCS, mental state examination, respiratory assessment, neurovascular assessment, cardiac assessment etc.
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It is essential that a correct range of assessments are conducted with a holistic outlook, while working within a partnership to determine factors that affect health and wellbeing. When conducting any assessment, I ensure I educate my patient on what I am doing and why I am doing it so they have a thorough understanding of what to expect. Throughout the duration of my assessments I am also gaining a history of the patient to determine any pre-existing conditions or new onset symptoms, from this data I am then able to then create a care plan based on the results obtained.
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Whilst on clinical placements and working as an AIN, I always ensure I perform physical or verbal assessment to the best of my knowledge and ability. This involves referring to the clinical nursing standards and nursing code, policy procedures, seeking advice from experienced healthcare professionals and working from within my scope of practice.
STANDARD FIVE
Develops a plan for nursing practice
It is within gate Registered Nurse responsibility to plan and communicate their nursing practice and recognise that agreed plans are develop in partnership. As mentioned by the NBMA (2017), these plans are based on the nurses appraisal of comprehensive, relevant information, and evidence that is documented and communicated.
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Throughout clinical placements I ensure I utilise a shift planner, as I like to organise my actions for my shifts. I then develop a care planner for each patient and write down what has been flagged by the multidisciplinary team for my patients to achieve throughout the day. this can include fluid balance charts, x-ray's, surgery's, nil by mouth etc. I then ensure I prioritise equal amount of time to each patient and give preference to urgency of task needing to be done. Once the nursing care plan has been established, I communicate to all patients their plan of care so they understand proceedings that are going to take place within my shift. I guarantee to allow them time to ask me questions regarding their care and express any concerns they may have.
Throughout my shift I document in an efficient and timely manner to guarantee I have achieved each patients’ relevant assessments, tasks and documentation for next nurse on shift. Utilising this tool assists me in staying on track and allows me to set achievable and timely goals. I plan my shift in accordance to the regular routine and patient needs as they arise.
STANDARD SIX
Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.
Registered nurses provide actions that are quality and ethical goal-directed. These actions are based on comprehensive and systematic assessment, and the best available evidence to achieve planned and agreed outcomes (NBMA, 2017).
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I am aware of the policies and procedures set in place within NSW health facilities. These ensure I provide safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing within my practice. I establish a work ethic within my scope of practice and delegate tasks proficiently within a healthcare setting. I achieve this by actively listening to patients and responding to the needs accordingly, following local policy and procedures and collaboratively working as part of a team.
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Within working as an AIN and throughout all clinical placements, I maintain appropriate, safe and responsive care to all my patients/residents. I ensure all tasks that have been set are achieved to a safe and quality standard. Throughout my nursing practice I am sure to report any unsafe practices I witness as it is crucial the correct and relevant pathways for care are adhered to properly.
STANDARD SEVEN
Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice
Registered Nurses take responsibility for the evaluation of practice based on agreed priorities, goals, plans and outcomes and revises practice accordingly (NMBA, 2017).
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As a student nurse and AIN I have been able to progress towards outcomes and create action plans based on evidence based knowledge and gathered information to optimise my culture of care with additional supervision of my clinical facilitators. I value both positive and negative feedback from any medical clinician, patients and their families, as I constantly seek to improve my nursing practice holistically.
As the nursing profession is ever-changing and lifelong, there are always opportunities to improve my practice. I ensure I evaluate my outcomes as this is highly effective in reflective practice to make improvements. Through progressing in my nursing profession and a soon to be new graduate Registered Nurse, I believe creating goals to strive for will help inform and monitor my nursing practice.