Nursing Practice Under the Nursing Midwifery Council of the United Kingdom - Essay Example

The NMC Requirements for Registration. Introduction to Nursing Practice under the NMC of the United Kingdom "When registration of the medical profession had begun in 1858, many observers pointed out the need for a similar system for nursing the Nursing Record called for " the registration of trained nurses to be set forth in a succinct form before the profession and the public Its core functions were to maintain a register of UK nurses, midwives and health visitors, provide guidance to registrants, and handle professional misconduct complaint." (NMC Today, February 16, 2006) The Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) of the United Kingdom (UK) requires specific criteria for all nurses, midwives and public health care personnel to register in order to serve as practitioners in the country's community health care system. In order to achieve this registered status applicants must fulfil detailed and thoroughly supervised practical training programme in several specific areas of nursing care while building their skill sets, applying theory and policies and procedures in medical care. This must be done at participating facilities approved for practical training listed by the NMC -- NHS facility, nursing home, etc. -- which provide applicants with the supervision, guidance, skills, experience and training required to become professional public health care practitioners. At the end of the supervised practical training programme applicants should be able to demonstrate knowledge of concepts, theories and practice in nursing as well as perform their duties in a professional manner. The United Kingdom's stringent requirements for registrants allows qualified applicants to train and develop their skills in various areas and levels of nursing care and become quality professional health care managers and practitioners demonstrating ethical principles in community public health service. This is in part preparation for supervised training which is provided through the National Health Services (NHS) Trust partnership. It is a crowning achievement for six (6) months of diligence, hands-on professional training and education in public health practice and administration. Development in Medical Ward-Care and Elderly Nursing Care I began my nursing career at the Medical College at Medical University in Sofia, Bulgaria where I received a diploma of General Nursing at commencement on 26th September 1998. After I received my diploma I worked at the District Hospital of Vidin, Bulgaria developing my general medical nursing skills and applying ethical theories and policies based on Bulgaria's health care laws. During that time I also studied and acquired two (2) diplomas in general nursing care courses which enabled me to further develop my skills as a professional staff nurse in general medicine at District Hospital of Vidin, Bulgaria. In August 2001 I received another diploma for a course in general nursing which updated my status to the European Union Standards. I continued to work at the District Hospital as a Senior Staff Nurse in the Medical Ward-Care from August 2001 to September 2003 where I built on and developed my knowledge, experience and skill set in practical nursing care for the elderly. As a nurse practitioner in Bulgaria, I worked in an effort to provide the best professional health care that my training, studies and preparation has given me. The drive to assess, assist and administer health care in the General Medical Ward and Medical Ward-Care for the elderly has allowed me further understanding of the commitment and opportunity to uplift and enhance quality health care through professional means. Seeking to broaden my knowledge, skills, experience and scope in General Medicine with specialization in elderly health care I sought out ways to further develop my knowledge in, understand the policies and procedures of, acquire the basic-how beyond my scope and local community as an effort to learn the clinical and theoretical principles of nursing. This preparation has allowed me to take this unique step in an effort to become certified by the NMC, as it is one way to achieve my goal of working with the elderly and providing quality professional nursing care. The supervised practice placement in the Medical Ward has provided me with the training I needed to demonstrate my knowledge and skills as well as showcase my experience in nursing care for the elderly. This portion of the programme began on 3rd, October 2005 at the NHS Trust's, the Barnet Hospital-CDU/MAU (Clinical Decision Unit/Medical Assessment Unit) and will be completed on 3rd, April 2006. Upon completion of the NMC requirements and the submission of all requirements I would have acquired the hands-on experience, applied the theories, standards and policies, and have utilized the guidance and supervision given me on various nursing skills and practice to be proficient in working as one of UK's public health care nurse practitioner in elder care. Approval and acceptance into the NMC organization is a platform on which I can demonstrate and promote quality based professional public health care skills in service and administration. As a registrant of the NMC I will be allowed to enhance and develop my skills as well as broaden my scope and experience so that I can exhibit general nursing knowledge and able to promote the United Kingdom's public health standards and community well-being. Practice and Principles in Nursing Care Admittance to the United Kingdom's NMC registry is based on specific responsibilities, levels of accountability and contractual obligations to uphold ethical and professional codes of conduct which each practitioner must adhere to and practice in every case. The practicing nurse is a partner in health care and the delivery of that care in a professional and healthy environment and manner will enhance and command receptivity and respect between all professional(s) and patient(s). According to the Royal College of General Practitioners (August 2004) "Further developments such as extended prescribing, the provision of out of hours care and the Agenda for Change initiative, amount to a unique opportunity for practice nurses to increase their status in the healthcare professions. Nurses will be able to become partners in a practice" These interactive and administrative opportunities provide exposure to the general populace and allow trainees and supervisor/counsellor/advisor to determine areas of strengths and weaknesses as well as develop and detail a comprehensive assessment plan for the Nursing Midwifery Council applicant. Textbook principles, policies and procedures are only one aspect of nursing care and are only properly administered in an on-going, real life and open environment where appropriate measurements and applications will be utilized based on the case at hand and relevance to the need and care of the patient. Again proper guidance and advice from supervisors and advisors will promote mandates and illicit proper conduct and confidence in the administration, management and reporting of general medicine practices as well as in the specialized areas of nursing care. General nursing skills and assessment capabilities in hospital, nursing home or other public health care settings are further refined to provide the best care and promotion of public health care policies and procedures of the UK's NMC standards. The administration of health care to patients young and old, newborn or elderly, male or female depends largely on the training, exposure and experience of the practitioner to the all levels and types of patients and cases. It is imperative to be able to make accurate and on point assessments based on experience and familiarity to patient care and pre-post and peri-operative, clinical analyses and prognoses. As a member of the health care team, nurse practitioners must be involved and cognizant of all aspects of the patient's history, current report and assessment as well as outlook for care, treatment and recovery. A cumulative and comprehensive approach to health care provides the most desired outcome for the patient, health care providers and practitioners as well as the patient and community. Knowledge of public health care laws and other public policies as well as interactive patient care including the social relationship between the care giver, the patient and the patient's family and other clinical and allied health care practitioners exemplifies the standards and appropriateness of professional conduct. The nurse practitioner's receptivity to social and legal requirements in the administration and management of health care to the public is necessary to promote the level of clinical services outlined in the NMC code of ethical conduct. Respect for the patient and their privacy, as well as on-going social interaction to properly assess and develop the proper clinical approach to nursing care must always be the motivating factor as a NMC registrant and nurse practitioner. Adult Nursing Care Adult Nursing Care is a specific area of interest in General Medical nursing care is that of the level and calibre of care prescribed by physicians and administered by the nurse practitioner. This care or treatment required for this segment of the population is trans-cultural, dependent and commands respectful openness to social interaction and trust. The Royal College of Nursing (February 16, 2006) indicated that "In managing diversity it is important that nurses are enabled to become culturally competent and are provided with the means to acquire cultural competency within the nursing curriculum Transcultural nursing is theory and practice, focused specifically on comparing the care needs of people with differences and similarities in beliefs, values, and cultures in order to provide culturally congruent, meaningful, and beneficial health care." Working with, managing and administering health care to a diverse population facilitates strong information and educational opportunities for both the practitioner and the patient in their symbiotic relationship in the United Kingdom's public health system. As nurses and other public health practitioners in the Nursing Midwifery Council registry interacts with diverse members of the community specifically the adult care patients, they develop and become aware of the need for comprehensive assessment, inter-relationship and an understanding of the unique cultural differences, beliefs and attitudes towards public health care. It is this information which is our most reliable source in providing adequate and appropriate health care services and judgments for our patients and the community at large. Adequate and detail notes and charting, timely visits and complete study and recording of the patient's history and current data is a must in properly administering and managing elder nursing care. Professional Practice Professional practice in any discipline or industry requires diligence and knowledge and thorough understanding of your audience, which in the case of nursing care your patients and others who rely on administration and management of public health care. Regardless of the environment in which you provide nursing care to your patient -- Nursing Home, Acute Care Hospital, Clinic, in the patient's home, etc. -- preparedness and access to the best information and resources is important in conveying and providing optimal care. Comfort and care as well as confidence in the care, the care giver and the facility provides acceptance and trust which fosters reliability and interdependence in the services as well as the personnel who administers and manages it. Thompson, McCaughan, Cullum, Sheldon, Thompson & Mulhall (n.d.) reported "Nurses made clinical decisions in six key areas: - intervention/effectiveness: choosing between intervention X and intervention Y. - communication: these decisions focused on choices relating to ways of delivering and receiving information to and from patients, families or colleagues. Sometimes these decisions were specifically related to the communication of risks and benefits of different interventions or prognostic categories. - service organisation, delivery and management: decisions concerning the configuration or processes of service delivery. - experiential, understanding or hermeneutic: these relate to the interpretation of cues in the process of care" References NMC Today. (2006, February 16). The History of Self-Regulation. Retrieved February 16, 2006 from NMC-UK Web site: http://www.nmc-uk.org/aArticle.aspxArticleID=1634 Royal College of General Practitioners. (2004, August). Practice Nurses. RCGP Information Sheet No19. Retrieved February 16, 2006 from Royal College of General Practitioners Web site: http://www.rcgp.org.uk/information/publications/information/PDFInfo/19%20-%20AUG%2004.pdf Royal College of Nursing. (2006, February 16). Transcultural Nursing Care of Adults: Understanding the Theoretical Basis of Transcultural Nursing Care. RCN Online, Chapter Three, Section One. Retrieved February 16, 2006 from Royal College of Nursing Web site: http://www.rcn.org.uk/resources/transcultural/adulthealth/sectionone.php Thompson, Carl, McCaughan, Dorothy, Cullum, Nicky, Sheldon, Trevor, Thompson, David & Mulhall, Anne. (n.d.). Nurses' Use of Research Information in Clinical Decision Making: A Descriptive and Analytical Study, Final Report. Report Presented to the NHS R&D Programme in Evaluating Methods to Promote the Implementation of R&D. Retrieved February 16, 2006 from York University Web site: http://www.york.ac.uk/healthsciences/centres/evidence/decrpt.pdf Read More