Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council - Essay Example

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council has set regulations which normally have to be adhered to by registered nurses. The ANMC works in hand in hand with other nursing midwifery regulating authorities to fabricate standards at a national echelon. These standards play an incredibly fundamental constituent of framework that facilitates midwives and nurses to deliver competent and safe care. (Lyon, 2002) These standards are principle and broad based with high dynamism such that nurses in practice can use them as a benchmark in assessing their performance in diverse settings. This paper identifies one section of the ANMC competency standards and further carries out evaluation and critique of personal practice in the nursing profession. (Meister, 2002) One of the competencies is about establishment and sustenance of relationships that are professional based with either groups or individuals. This also includes concluding these relationships that therapeutic based. Analysis of my nursing practice shows that I have been proficient to demonstrate respect, trust and empathy with patients and also groups of people within the community. This has been through use of appropriate communication skills. In this case I have been able to acknowledge the significance of partnerships and relationships in my professional practice. I have had to work out positive relationships with my colleagues and also individual patients and groups. (Lyon, 2002) I have realized that through these relationships one can essentially deliver better services. I have ensured that in these relationships, I adhere to the professional boundaries as required in the ANMC standards. For instance, I never have intimate relationships with patients as this could adversely affect my career. I make sure that I establish a rapport with patient(s) and this makes them easily express their feelings without any fear whatsoever. I do this basically by identifying with their needs. I ensure that as a professional nurse, I am supportive to the patients by encouraging them and providing holistic care. Through this, patients are able to recuperate their health very fast. In my professional practice I have realized that it is not very easy to instigate, sustain and even effectively terminate relationships. This is because in the nursing profession, one meets people with diverse personalities. Sometimes the preoccupation with activities makes it hard to have adequate communication that can sustain relationships. I however try my best to ensure when we part with individual or groups, the relationship is effectively concluded. (Sharp, 2002) In order to initiate, maintain and terminate relationships, one has to have excellent communication skills. In my communication with groups and individuals I ensure that I use communication skills that are appropriate to the client or patient(s). When patient is within reach, then I choose to use spoken communication. In this case I communicate on a face to face basis. On the other hand, written communication is highly used when the recipient is far. In most cases I tend to communicate through emails. In my professional work I have learnt over time to use a wide range of communication techniques. These include sign language like nodding, smiling and also both written and spoken communication. There are some cases where we as professionals come across patients from all over the world. In this case it becomes hard to communicate due to language barrier. This is whereby I ensure that there is an interpreter to translate whatever I am saying to the patient or client. This has not been hard as I work with professionals who have studied other foreign languages like Japanese and French etc. When addressing groups, one of them acts as an interpreter in case there are some people who don’t understand English. There are times when I use open questions in my communication. This is especially when I want to find out more from patients or recipient. Other times I use close ended questions. I always plan for my daily activities and create time for talking to patients. During this time I give individuals or group the time to air out their views as I listen ardently and put down their sentiments. There are times in my line of duty when I come across groups or individuals who are unable to verbalize their views. In this case I always ensure that I provide alternative methods of communication. Fore instance I give them pen and paper to write or draw their ideas. This has greatly enhanced communication with such special individuals and groups. (Sharp, 2002) In this nursing profession, one is always bound to meet people with very low self esteem. One has to implement proper strategies to enhance a group’s or individual’s comfort, integrity, dignity and self esteem. When many people are sick, they tend to have a very low esteem of themselves. This is more so when they are suffering from terminally ill diseases like AIDS and cancer among others. I have had to identify and use various strategies that enhance independence. For instance, I have had to identify strategies for physically disabled people to live independently. This is through introducing to them technologically advanced facilities that enable them to do most of their in door tasks by themselves. For instance there are remote controlled gadgets that help people with amputated arms to easily open and close doors etc. A patient’s family members are essential people who can play a big role in his or her recovery. I have learnt to involve family members or other significant people to the patient in providing care. For instance, I encourage family members to give the patient emotional support during such trying times. This highly helps patients having emotional distress. (Sharp, 2002) I also normally encourage patients to join other supportive groups within their locality. For those who are not aware of any support network around them I help in identifying. I do this mostly for HIV/AIDS patients, those affected by cancer, physically and mentally handicapped etc. Through such support networks, patients are able to share their challenges with other people facing same problems. (Sharp, 2002) This works so well and one finds that after patients join these networks they become emotionally stronger in handling their ailment. They stop viewing themselves as the only ones that are affected within the society. Through these networks they find information on what they can do comfortably with their condition. This has resulted in some of them getting new jobs and even changing their careers altogether. (Sharp, 2002) In this relation, I also ensure that patients get enough information so that they can take of themselves as required by healthcare standards. This includes information on advantages and disadvantages of various healthcare options. This is through providence of reading materials, electronic sites and even showing videos that relate to their specific ailment. As I meet groups and individual, I ensure that their responses are documented. One of important values within nursing healthcare sector is to ensure that patients make decisions after getting all the necessary information. This is also part and parcel of the ANMC competency standards. In relation to this, I constantly make arrangements for consultation in order to help patients to make informed decisions concerning their healthcare. This has been more so in family planning decisions that seem so difficult for patients to make. Through this patients end up making decisions that they are fully aware of their implications in their present and also their future life. When handling groups and also individuals, I encourage them to make their healthcare decisions by themselves after adequate consultations. In my professional practice, I support and maintain respect for patient’s decision concerning their healthcare. This is through communicating with other healthcare givers concerning the patient’s decision and encouraging them to respect it. (Sharp, 2002) Another integral part of ANMC competency standard is in relation to enhancing an environment that upholds patient’s security and safety. Research shows that the immediate environment of a patient can make him or her to heal quickly or worsen his or her state. That is why as one gives healthcare to an individual or a group of people, the environment has to be dealt with too. This includes both the spiritual, cultural, psychosocial and physical atmosphere. This is through respecting patient’s cultural identity and also being sensitive to the same. This is because without such sensitivity one can adversely affect the patient’s health by failing to provide a favorable environment for their recovery. (Sharp, 2002) I also ensure I respect an individual’s spiritual needs. For instance there are some patients that normally want privacy during prayer. If this is the need them I have to ensure that they get a special place where they can conduct their prayers. In this case I also involve patient’s parents or lose relatives in issues concerning his or her spirituality and cultural needs. (Sharp, 2002) This is especially when their upheld culture does not contradict the healthcare that is being administered. As a registered nurse, I always have to ensure that the healthcare given to patients adheres to the standards for control of infection. This is carried out so that patients don’t easily contract other diseases while receiving treatment. There are times when it is obligatory to carry out changes in the environment in order to augment the patient’s recovery. All these actions that are carried out always have to adhere to safety legislation and occupational health. In every change that I carry out to the individual’s or group’s environment, I ensure that it enhances their comfort. This is through ensuring that the environmental hazards are eliminated. (Sharp, 2002) In conclusion, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council’s regulations play a big role as benchmark for assessing one’s performance in the nursing practice. Critical analysis of my work shows that I have adhered to these competence standards. One of these competencies is about establishment and sustenance of relationships that are professional based with either groups or individuals. Through proper communication skills, I have learnt to initiate, maintain and also effectively terminate relationships with individuals and also groups. Through this I am able to provide better services. I am also able to provide an environment that enhances the patient’s overall recovery. This includes putting into consideration the individual’s and group’s spirituality and comfort. This also includes introducing individuals and groups to support networks related to their condition. In this case, I also make time with patients discuss with them issues that affect their health. This is especially creating an environment where they can easily speak out their views. Through the use of proper skills and adherence to healthcare values, I have been able to give excellent healthcare to groups and individuals. Read More