Registered nurses must be able to demonstrate thinking and reasoning skills in all clinical context. This ensures optimal health outcomes and patient safety within person centred and evidence based frameworks.

Adherence to Standard

During my bachelor of nursing studies, I have developed and enhanced my thinking and reflective practise skills. Theoretical and practical classes within the studies in classes have allowed me to achieve these skills. I have complied with the laws, policies and guidelines in place, this is evidently highlighted through appraisal reports completed by my facilitators on completion of each placement. I have also demonstrated the ability to maintain patient confidentiality, this is evident in my reflection in assessments, debrief and discussion processes in class and with the university.

While on my clinical placements, the clinical facilitator and registered nurses whom I worked with deemed me competent for the administration of medications. I have completed and achieved medication administration certification via Medsafe.

Standard 2: Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships

All health care professionals must be able to effectively engage in both therapeutic and professional relationships. They must establish boundaries between professional and personal relationships. Doing so allows for therapeutic outcomes, leading to the achievement of nursing care plans and goals in place. I have adhered to this standard, my clinical placement booklets reveal my ability to do so.

Adherence to Standard

My clinical placements have allowed me to meet standard 2. Report appraisal completed by clinical facilitator, nursing managers and registered nurses whom I have worked beside demonstrate my ability to meet this standard. I have demonstrated the skills of effective communication with patients and those whom I work with. I have shown respect, privacy and dignity to patients by shutting the door or curtains when providing care (e.g are aseptic technique on a wound, when giving injections or when showering). Reports and documentations completed by clinical staff and facilitator while on placements, reveal I have met this standard.

Standard 3: Maintains the capability for practise

Health care professionals must have the capability for practise, this involves one enhancing their own professional practises. This enables one to provide patients with a large bank of information therefore allowing them and empowering them to make decisions and take control over their own health. Health care professionals are also expected to respond to concerns regarding other health professionals capability for practise when necessary.

Adherence to Standard

Showing willingness to learn and initiative during theoretical, practical studies, assessments and clinical placements have allowed me maintain my capability for practise. For example, on my clinical mental health placement I attended an in-service session on mental health conditions including; depression, delirium, dementia, preventing and responding to abuse of older people and suicide prevention and recovery guide. This opportunity allowed me to understand the conditions and the patient a little better. The awareness I gained allowed me to confidently engage in the conversation to provide input and express my opinions on shared concerns by the patient when on home visits. Nursing students maintain their capability for practise through assessments. The unit HSNS 368 professional practise: context of acute care demanded we make a poster on any health condition we desired. My chosen area of study was acute coronary syndrome. The amount of research that went behind it provided so much insight and enhanced ones existing knowledge and understanding. When presenting this poster during my time on placement, I was able to provide more insight and open a conversation with staff in regards to ACS. I was given the opportunity to increase my knowledge through simulations on basic life support training. I learnt the appropriate and correct measures to take to assist a deteriorating patient. The scenarios put the theory aspect of it all into practise, allowing me to better attain learnt skills.

Standard 4: Comprehensively conducts assessments

It is crucial that one ensures to accurately conduct comprehensive and systematic assessments to better assist and provide care to patients. Registered nurses must analyse information and data and communication outcomes with those involved in the patient’s care.

Adherence to Standard

I adhered to this standard by conduct collections of health history from the patient, their family and those involved in the multidisciplinary team including the medical officer, staff and the paramedics. The collection of information retrieved assisted in determining a plan of care which holistically benefits the patient. Vital signs and other assessments including urinalysis, blood sugar levels and ECG were performed to detect any abnormalities, thereby assist with determine care plan. Feedback written in my recent clinical booklet by registered nurses whom I practised with reveals my competence to meet this standard for optimal health outcomes for patients.

Standard 5: Develops a plan for nursing practise

Registered nurses are responsible for the planning and communication of all nursing practises. It is therefore essential that a comprehensive assessment including relevant information and evidence that is documented and communicated is developed and reviewed to achieve goals.

Adherence to Standard

On my recent clinical placement in the emergency department, nurses whom I worked with verbally asked me what the plan of care would be for the patient. This was dependant on what they were presenting with. For example, a care plan for a patient presenting with gastro- interitis would be fluids, anti-nauseant medications and a urinalysis. For deteriorating patients, vital signs are performed and a doctor’s review is requested.

Standard 6: Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practise

Registered nurses provide and may delegate, quality and ethical goal-directed actions. All while ensuring a comprehensive and systematic assessment and best available evidence to reach planed goals and priorities.

Adherence to Standard

To ensure safety, appropriate and responsive quality nursing place, one must practice within their scope of practise. Policies and procedures are in place and are expected to be followed by all health care professionals for continuous improvement in practise, quality and safety. While on placement, I was culturally aware and sensitive with those whom I worked with and provided care to. Work health and safety policies and regulations in place, exist to promote the health and safety of staff, patients, families and others in the workplace. I complied with standards such as infection control in the nursing regulation. By using standard precautions always, appropriately following the 5 moments of hygiene, utilising correct PPE and waste management I was able to provide comprehensive safe and quality nursing practises.

Standard 7: Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practise

It is our responsibility as registered nurse to ensure the evaluation of practise based on agreed goals, plans and priorities. We need to ensure that these goals, plans and priorities have therapeutic effects on the patient, otherwise we need to look at other alternatives.

Adherence to Standard

While on my recent placement took the initial and ongoing nursing assessments of multiple patients while working in the emergency department. I continuously monitered patients and performed assessments prior and post medication administration and asked patients how they were feeling to find out if given medications have had therapeutic effects. Results and outcomes were recorded and reported to those involved in the multidisciplinary team. If treatment proved to be infective or patient deteriorated, alternative options were discussed among the multidisciplinary team including the patient and their family.