Professional Practices in the Nursing Field - Essay Example

3.1 In undertaking my clinical placement I had a main goal of practicing in a way which acknowledges peoples culture, rights, believes, values beliefs and dignity; the goal which I effectively attained (Kesby, 2002). To begin with I attained the goal through reviewed different articles regarding transcultural nursing practices. This provided me with the necessary information within nursing practice scope for individuals as well as for the groups (Popenhagen, 2006). This enhanced my ability in providing care to patients with different cultural backgrounds. For example during the practice I attended to patients from diverse cultural background as the articles provided me with the knowledge and skills necessary when dealing with transcultural patients (Kesby, 2002). In addition to that I also developed trustful and good relationship with patients with different cultural values and beliefs. It helped me in maintaining effective and efficient care process when dealing with patients from diverse cultural beliefs and values (Kesby, 2002). It also enhanced the way I attended to the patients as the relationship enhanced how I could handle patients regardless of their culture. Therefore I understood that personal beliefs and attitudes should never be imposed to another individual but as a nurse one requires being cultural competent. I discussed the nursing standards with my buddy nurse getting the feedback. This helped in getting clarification on areas which I found inappropriate with the nursing team members. It also assisted in getting clarification for the decisions and orders which were unclear to me. In addition to that it assisted in getting clarification on the reason behind individuals’ refusal to get care from relevant staffs (Wright, 2005).lastly it assisted me in understanding the need to consult the relevant staff members when necessary. On the other hand I kept my learning activities journal relating to the standards and scope of nursing practice. It assisted in demonstrating respect for groups and individual rights relating to health care practices. It assisted in identifying and adhering to the strategies necessary in promoting groups/individual rights (Popenhagen, 2006). This also enabled me in understanding and accepting the individual rights as well as advocating for their rights when infringed. Lastly I participated in scheduling the nursing practices in assessing care provided to patients with diverse culture, which enhanced mu understanding in providing care to patients with different cultural values and beliefs. 3.2. Professional practices have remained to be the most crucial tasks in the nursing field (Kesby, 2002). They enhance the way nursing students show their professional knowledge, how to be accountable and on how they can adhere to the legal requirements of their area of specialization. Therefore professional practice in clinical placement has remained to be a priority in my education (Popenhagen, 2006). The practice assists me in enhancing the way I tackle my tasks in a way which enhances and acknowledges different groups and individual beliefs, dignity, rights, and culture. Professional practice helped me a lot as I transition to a graduate nurse. During the practice I realized that patients are always protected by law and by any chance the practitioners are not supposed to perform any action which could lead to infringing of the patients rights (Wright, 2005). I understood that as a practitioner I need to respect individuals’ rights. I also developed strategies which helped in protecting people’s rights. As a nurse I was supposed to ensure that I protect the patient fully by attending to them as soon as possible especially patients in critical conditions (Popenhagen, 2006). On top of that understood that nursing standards should always be adhered to as it is very crucial for one to be keen enough to avoid any legal actions which might arise due to negligence. Therefore as a nurse am required to advocate for the groups and individual needs whose rights have been compromised with. I also learned that I need to provide heath care to patients regardless of their race, tribe, culture, gender differences and mental or physical state (Wright, 2005). This helped me when undertaking duties by ensuring that personal believes and attitudes requires not to be imposed on other people and as a nurse I need to focus on providing health care services to the patients adequately. On the other hand, I developed cultural diversity skills during the practice. I learned how to relate and respect other people’s values, beliefs and cultural practices. These also assisted me when interacting with other people in the clinic. Cross cultural skills enhanced the way I offered services to the patients as most of them were from diverse cultures (Wright, 2005). In addition to that I learned that I need to respect other people’s cultural beliefs and should consider group or individual preferences when offering health care services. The clinic placement enhanced my communication skills especially on how to interact with people from different backgrounds and understanding their needs (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2006). Communicating to patients requires extensive skills as some patients are very aggressive depending on the type of diseases they are diagnosed with (Wright, 2005). I also learned on how to consider other peoples’ needs especially for those who had physical disability as I fostered for their individual rights. For example I encountered a patient in ICU who could not speak and could only use verbal signs. Other patients could only speak their own language but I really endured by understanding them. The clinical placement enhanced my relationship skills. It enhanced the way I related to people from all walks of life as well as relating to friends, teams, groups and patients. I came to understand that relationship is very important in the nursing field as one has to understand fully on how to relate with different people to relate with them adequately and professionally (Wright, 2005). I applied the skills when attending people from the community and more so during field assessment. Professional practice enhanced the way I could handle challenging situations. Earlier I had less knowledge on the fact that there are challenges involved in nursing which requires being handled professionally (Kesby, 2002). I learned that there are so many challenges involved in the nursing field therefore I should always be ready to handle them. On the other hand professional practice enhanced the way I understood nursing practices as well as legal requirement when practicing. Adherence to nursing standards is very crucial in practices (Midgley, 2006). Nurses are required to adhere to the national nurse council rules and regulations as well as standards provided. Individual rights should be practiced and nurses should not force individuals in achieving medical attention which they have refused as this could amount to infringing their rights. The activities in practice will help me understand on how to handle patients from different cultural backgrounds as during the practice I attended to patients with diverse cultural background which enhanced the way I relate to people as I transition from trainee to nurse graduate (Midgley, 2006). It will also enable me to understand extensively national council standards as registered nurses are required to adhere to the standards for professionalism (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2006). The skills I gained for solving different patients’ problem will assist me when handling patients’ matters as well as complaints. Learning to consider other people needs before graduating will be of great use to me as I will have skills to relate and communicate to the people adequately (Midgley, 2006). By respecting respect their values, beliefs, rights and dignity; hence adhering to the code of ethics fostered by nursing councils (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2006). The practice has transformed me by understanding how to respect other people’s rights. As I graduate I understand that I need to respect other people’s rights as it is against the law to infringe people’s rights. Through clarifications from the buddy nurse I understood the nursing standards and understood that clarifications are necessary to avoid making simple mistakes which could force threat to patients’ life. The practice has also shaped me in understanding on how I solve different people’s needs. I understood that each individual needs requires being addressed differently hence enhancing the way I relate to other people in the society (Midgley, 2006). The practice framed me to understand that I have the responsibility of protecting other people’s needs as well as fighting for their rights (Midgley, 2006). Hence as I transform to graduate nurse am aware of my obligations to the society. Nurses’ works in diverse communities they are obliged to serve any individual in need of their help therefore being cultural competent I will be able to attend to different patients effectively. People from diverse culture require different treatment depending on want they believe in and the value they attach to culture (Midgley, 2006). Hence the practice transformed me to be culturally competent which is very necessary in my field. In addition to that the idea of respecting other people’s beliefs, culture, and dignity will assist me in my profession as it improved the way I relate and communicate to different people in the society. Consequently, the professional practice improved the way I perceive sick people in the society. It gave me adequate skills and knowledge required in handling patients with different diseases in either mild or severe situations (Midgley, 2006). It prepared me fully as after transition to graduate nurse; I will have gained knowledge that is very crucial in enhancing the way I attend to my patients. Therefore the practice made me to be competent and be able to work at diverse culture hence I expect to face challenges adequately as far as my profession is concerned after transition. References. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2006).Code of Ethics for Nurses. Retrieved on May 7, 2012 from http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Codes-Guidelines.aspx#codeofethics. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (2006).National Competency Standards for the Nurse Practitioner. Retrieved on May 7, 2012, from www.anmc.org.au. Kesby, S. G. (2002). Nursing care and collaborative practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 11(3), 357-366. Midgley, K. (2006). Pre-registration students nurses, perception of the hospital –learning environment during clininical placements. Nurse education today, 26(4):38-345. Popenhagen, M. P. (2006). Collaborative practice. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing, 11(1), 61-67. Wright, K. (2006). The Role of Health care assistant in supporting student nurses. Nursing and residential care, 8(1):35-36. Read More