Professional Development Plan: Australian Nursing - Assignment Example

Professional Development Plan Nursing practices are undergoing advancements with reference to the new innovations in the science of nursing. There has to be frequent amendments to be made in accordance to newly introduced technologies and policies in medical practices. Thus it is important for a nursing practitioner to have professional development in accordance to the developments in the industry. It has been reported that Professional development of nurses will largely influence the way Australian health care system (Wats et al, 2004) It is important to have a professional development plan to stay abreast with the advancements in the industry. This would help a nurse to have a focused approach on working towards professional advancements. There has been several competencies identified which are to be mandatorily achieved by a nursing professional. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council has classified the several competencies required for a registered nurse under four domains including; professional practice, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of care, and collaborative and therapeutic practice (ANMC,2006) . The objective of this paper is to develop a professional development portfolio focusing on the action plan to acquire the competencies as suggested by Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council. Domain: Professional Practice Standard: Practices in accordance with legislation affecting nursing practice and health care Element: Identifies legal implications of nursing interventions Commendable knowledge over the professional, ethical and legal responsibilities with reference to nursing and heath care is mandatory, so that the rights of patients, health care practitioners and heath care organizations are ensured. These legalities along with practice standards and other competencies have been developed as tool aimed at self regulation. (Senate Community Affairs Reference Committee, 2002:100). As these frameworks undergo frequent deletions, amendments and additions, one has to have a focused approach to stay up to date with these developments. Thus this finds an important role in my professional development plan. The legal requirements as published in journals and government and other concerned heath care agencies’ policy documents will be thoroughly researched and evaluated. This would help me to understand the legal requirements in terms of medication, health care practices and medical administration. This is important, as this would avoid the breach of patient’s, organization’s and health care practitioner’s rights and responsibilities (ANMC,2006). The legal implications of every nursing intervention will be thoroughly understood by reviewing latest literature available. This would help me to indulge only within the legal and administrative constitutions prescribed by the existing legal frameworks. On the other side this would empower me to contribute towards the organization, by ensuring that the nursing practices are undertaken considering the legal implications of the same. However, so as to analyze the legislations and its possible implications on the local nursing environments, I will refer to a number of case studies on legal implications on nursing practices. Standards with reference to drug administration, patient monitoring, educating the patient etc are to be followed with due reference to the latest developments in the legalities connected to the respective areas. I will make sure that the knowledge I acquire on professional, ethical and legal responsibilities will be shared with other nursing practitioners so that the organizational goal of a professional medical setting can be achieved. This is important because, nursing practice involves working in teams of varied natures and the total outcome would depend on the performance of each team member. Kernick (1999) has described a spectrum of areas where partnership serves as the key to success. Also There is little shared Willis, Condon and Litt (2000) has commented on the importance of approaching nursing care as a shared and joint responsibility. Apart from the legislations in connection with nursing practices, an understanding on the ethical aspects of nursing is also important. Here it must be noted that legislations are based on the best practices with reference to the evidences available during the period of its introduction and at times are less important the professional and ethical judgments of nurses in specific cases (New Zealand Guidelines Group, 2003). However, to have a larger perception on the ethical aspects of nursing, I will have to have a wider reading. I will make sure to have interdisciplinary reading towards the ethical aspects of nursing. I understand that this is very important because nursing is a profession which has to involve a lot of compassion and care. I will ensure that these ethical grounds of nursing are strongly pursued by me. These readings will empower me to identify and respond accordingly to unethical and unprofessional nursing practices. This is very important because, nursing practices if not followed as per the professional standards prescribed, it may lead to unsafe medical consequences. Further, on issues where, any sort of information is unclear to me, I will make sure to clarify this with the authorities concerned. Domain : Critical Thinking and Analysis Standard : Practices within an evidence-based framework Element: Identifies the relevance of research to improving individual/group health outcomes Critical Thinking is very important for a nursing professional so that one’s skill is self appraised against the competencies suggested by the concerned authorities. The skills of a nursing professional must be self assessed. Access to research and self appraisal against the research findings will empower the nurse with competencies which are scientifically up to date. I will attain access to databases containing research articles on nursing practices. I will try to analyze these research findings by observing its applications in the local nursing scenario. The areas in nursing and specific issues pertaining to nursing practices will be analyzed against these research findings. This will in turn help me to identify new research questions. I will discuss these research subjects at peer level and will initiate measures so that these questions are tested through scientifically designed methodologies. This will ultimately lead to improvements in nursing practices. I will utilize all opportunities to cooperate with research teams, so that I will be able to apply the knowledge acquired into local nursing scenarios. I will ensure my participation in conferences, workshops, seminars and discussions on nursing practices. This will provide me a larger platform to share by various observations during nursing practice. This will further provide opportunity to actively involve in policy decisions on nursing. I believe that this is very important because, experiences as a nurse when used to frame policies, will formulate effective policies. Wilson and Holt (2001) has confirmed the importance and scope of nurses indulging in complex areas like policy formulations., that the scope of I will also make sure that the knowledge acquired through these conferences, workshops, seminars and discussions will be shared and discussed at a peer level. I will also participate in quality improvement programmes and the leanings from the same will be allied at the local level. I will undertake courses and programs so as to achieve the status of an advanced practice nurse. Advanced practice nurses are nurses either with a postgraduate degree in nursing or with skills, wisdom and experience which could be accredited to be equivalent to that of a post graduate. (RCNA, 2001) Along with professional development measures, I will also make sure to attend personal development programmes to improve my communication skills, interpersonal skills and leadership skills. These skills would in turn help me to perform better as a nursing practitioner. It must be noted that these skills are very important for the effective coordination of nursing practices. (Cheek, et al, 2002). Further, Cambell et al, (2001) has confirmed the importance of teamwork in nursing. Continuous assessment of systems, individuals is groups involved in nursing practice are thoroughly essential in risk free operation of a nursing environment (Gardner, Carryer, Dunn & Gardner, 2004). Proper planning and coordination has to be ensured to have a positive cumulative effect. I will get trained in systematic assessment methodologies. A nursing system involves a large number of people and systems. Their performance will have to be assessed to effective as a nursing team. I will explore possibilities of systematic assessment of team members. I will attend training on medical documentation and assessment. Chang (2003) has reported the increasing stress among nursing graduates in Australia. It has been reported that stressed nurses suffer psychologically and shows signs of depression, sleep disorders, self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy (Foxall et al.,1990). It has also been reported that these pressures largely affect quality of nursing care ( Janssen et al., 1999; Garrett & McDaniel,2001) Taking this into account, it has to be ensured that the socio-economic, cultural and psychological aspects of the team have to be assessed. The well being of the team in all these aspects is very important. I will initiate activities for the team members which will ease the work pressure on them. Moreover these activities will focus on maintaining a positive work environment within the health care system. As the nursing team is turning to be largely culturally diverse, I will expose myself to various cultural scenarios across the globe and will make myself sensitive to culturally sensitive issues. Wide reading will help me in this to a large extend. I will also deliberately engage with team members belonging to different cultural strata so that I am acquainted to the culturally specific aspects. This will help me to be more culturally sensitive. Personal Development Workshops will be attended to improve interpersonal skills. This will help me evolve as good team player with respectful and empathetic approach towards colleagues and members of nursing system. However, it will be ensured that therapeutic boundaries are maintained within the nursing environments. Effective communication skill is very important in successful implementation of medical processes (Pascoe et al 2005). I will subscribe to or will attain access to a number of nursing journals, so to have expertise on clinical and nursing terms. Moreover, a proper understanding of latest developments will help me to communicate better. So as to ensure an ethical and effective platform for communication, it will be ensured that within the nursing system, communication will be based only in one common language. Other regional languages, will not be encourages, as it may create confusions in communication. I will ensure that the ethnicity of every individual is respected so that it will help to boost the self respect and dignity of every individual. I will explore the cultural aspects associated with different individuals within the team so that I am sensitive to issues which are culturally relevant. It will be ensured that discrimination against race, class, gender, nationality and religion is not promoted. I will make sure that equal opportunity is available for every individual within the team. An interdisciplinary approach in coordination will be ensured so that the work flow is maintained. Hastings (1997) has suggested an interdisciplinary model wherein he scope of coordination of nursing and medical professionals has been outlined. I will also develop my decision making skills through experience so that effective, ethical decisions are taken. DOMAIN: Professional practice. Standard: Practices in accordance with legislation affecting nursing practice and health care Element: Identifies legal implications of nursing interventions Specific learning needs/goals Action Plans Evaluation of learning goals & activities Knowledge over the professional, ethical and legal responsibilities Review of journals, articles and policy documents on legalities in nursing practices. Acquire knowledge about negative drug interactions Sharing the knowledge acquired on professional, ethical and legal responsibilities Ability to identify, analyze, monitor, advocate and implement rules in relation with nursing practices Ability to administrate appropriate medication and avoid conditions of negative drug interactions Ability to share knowledge acquired on professional, ethical and legal responsibilities within the nursing system DOMAIN: Critical Thinking and Analysis Standard : Practices within an evidence-based framework Element: Identifies the relevance of research to improving individual/group health outcomes Specific learning needs/goals Action Plans Evaluation of learning goals & activities Critical analysis and of practices and improvement of quality of practice Conducts self appraisal Participation in peer level case studies and researches Participation in nursing policy development Training in systematic assessment methodologies Peer level leisure activities Workshop on personal development Ability to critically analyze ones own professional performance Capacity to critically analyze observations from the work environments, develop research questions and test them Ability to observe practices at work environments and engage these observations at policy level meetings Ability to systematically assess the performance of systems, individuals and groups To understand socio-economic, cultural and psychological aspects of colleagues and have cultural understanding Develop communication skills, interpersonal skills and leadership skills References ANMC (2006) National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse, Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council, Ed: 4, Dickson: ANMC Campbell, S.M., Hann, M., Hacker, J., Burns, C., Oliver, D., Thapar, A., Mead, N., Safran, D.G. & Roland, M.O. (2001) ‘Identifying predictors of high quality car in English general practice: observational study’, British Medical Journal, 323(7316):784-787 Chang E and Hancock K (2003) Role of stress in Australian nursing graduates Role stress and role ambiguity in new nursing graduates in Australia Nursing and Health Sciences 5, 155–163 Cheek, J., Price, K., Dawson, A., Mott, K., Beilby, J. & Wilkinson, D. (2002) Consumer Perceptions of Nursing and Nurses in General Practice, Report to Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Adelaide: Centre for Research into Nursing and Health Care Foxall M, Zimmerman L, Standley R, Bene B. (1990) A comparison of frequency and sources of nursing job stress perceived by intensive care, Hospice And Medical-Surgical Nurses. 15: 577–584 Gardner, G., Carryer, J., Dunn, S., & Gardner,A. (2004). Report to the Australian Nursing Council, Nurse Practitioner Standards project. Canberra: Australian Nursing Council Garrett D, McDaniel A. A new look at nurse burnout: The effects of environmental uncertainty and social climate. J. Nurs. Admin. 2001; 31: 91–9 Hastings, C. (1997) ‘The changing multidisciplinary team’, Nursing Economics, 15(2): 106-108, 105 Janssen P, de Longe J, Bakker A (1999) Specific determinants of intrinsic work motivation, burnout and turnover intentions: a study among nurses. ; 29: 1360–1369 Kernick, D. (1999) ‘Nurses and doctors in primary care: decisions should be based on maximizing the cost effectiveness of a system of primary care and not the dictates of historical precedent’, British Journal of General Practice, 49(8): 647-649 New Zealand Nurses Organisation (2003a) Education Policy, Standards and Career Development for Practice Nurses, Wellington: NZNO Pascoe, T., Foley, E., Hutchinson, R., Watts, I., Whitecross, L. and Snowdon, T (2005). The changing face of nurses in Australian general practice. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 23(1):44-50. Royal College of Nursing, Australia (2001) The Feasibility of a National Approach for the Credentialling of Advanced Practice Nurses and the Accreditation of Related Educational Programs, Report to the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, July, Canberra: RCNA Senate Community Affairs References Committee (2002) The Patient Profession: Time for Action: Report on the Inquiry into Nursing, Canberra: Senate Community Affairs References Committee Secretariat Watts I et al (2004) General Practice Nursing in Australia,: Melbourne: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners & Royal College of Nursing Willis, E,. Condon, J. & Litt, J. (2000) ‘Factors impacting on shared care working relationships between practice nurses and general practitioners: a literature review’, Contemporary Nurse, 9 (2): 120-131 Wilson, T. & Holt, T. (2001) ‘Complexity and clinical care’, British Medical Journal, 323(7314): 685-688 Read More