Practice Assessment

It is important to remember we are not preparing the students to be at a level of proficiency that we would expect from our own independent practitioners in Trust. Our aim is to prepare them to enter the nursing profession with the knowledge and skills they can then build upon to become independent practitioners of the future.

“These proficiencies will provide new graduates into the profession with the knowledge and skills they need at the point of registration which they will build upon as they gain experience in practice and fulfil their professional responsibility to continuously update their knowledge and skills.”

NMC 2018 Future Nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses

Here is an example of a final interview for George, a third year, first placement student who has advised his PA that he would like to be signed off for cannulation

The Practice Assessor in this situation is not competent in the skill of cannulation.

He has presented the following evidence:

• Testimony from practice and University showing cannulation practice in simulation, and support of a patient during the procedure

• CCAST assessments for the skill of cannulation undertaken on patients in two different practice areas

• Student reflection on his knowledge, skills and confidence in the skill of cannulation

• Question and answer, utilising the Clinical Skills Checklists, as this skill is not one completed in this area and the PA is not competent in the skill of cannulation

George's PA has also taken into account:

• Exploration of University curriculum, to ensure the theory of the skill has been completed

• SSSA reminder and glossary of terms, which will answer any questions around Practice Assessment

Confirmation of assessment:

Although as a Practice Assessor I am not competent in the skill of cannulation and this skill is not available within my practice area, I am satisfied that the student has shown and provided adequate evidence to be assessed in the Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes and Values for Annexe B proficiency 2.2. cannulation.

Example of Question and answer for the skill cannulation in an area where cannulation is not routinely undertaken

Taking into account the following from the SSSA (2018)

“Those procedures outlined in Annexe B, Part I: Procedures for assessing needs for person-centred care, sections 1 and 2 also apply to all registered nurses, but the level of expertise and knowledge required will vary depending on the chosen field(s) of practice. Registered nurses must therefore be able to demonstrate the ability to undertake these procedures at an appropriate level for their intended field(s) of practice.”

Question and answer to prove knowledge and skill of this particular proficiency, utilising the Clinical Skills Checklists within this Toolkit if required would be an important aspect of assessment.

Knowledge around how to support a patient during the skill in the student's field of study is also an important part of the sign off process.

E.g. ;

Child field, how would you support a child and parent through the process of cannulation; how can you explain this procedure in a way the child would understand and the parent feel comfortable with? Would this require any ward management e.g. sending staff support. How would you manage that?

Mental Health, how do you support a patient who will be going for a procedure that will require cannulation e.g. MRI with contrast, but at this time is struggling with paranoid thoughts around medical care. If this patient is detained under a section of the MHA what would you need to think about? What ward management would this require, e.g. section 17 leave and the implications of this; how will you mange that?

Adult field, how would you support a patient that is needle phobic, you have a therapeutic relationship with this patient, but due to the day to day nature of this area, no one is competent in the skill of cannulation and therefore it will be a person that the patient does not know who will be performing the procedure, e.g. patient going for a CT scan that requires contrast via cannula. What ward management would this require? e.g. staff support; how would you manage that?