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Running head: Reflection - HSNS 206

Name: Pavithra Asangani Samaranayake

Student No: 220194999
University of New England

Due Date: 28/01/2019

Unit Coordinator: Sally Bristow
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REFLECTION

The theory and practical knowledge we received in first trimester in Master of Nursing
Practice - University of New England provides a solid foundation on our carrier life as
professional nurses. The unit of ‘Carrier Transition to Australian Nursing Practice’ facilitate
to build up our professional, legal and ethical responsibilities and accountabilities,
communication skills, capability to work in an interdisciplinary team, ability to identify and
respect with cultural diversity and values and the critical thinking skills.

Description

The first week teaching lessons guided us through the legal and ethical context of Australian
Nursing practice and provided an introduction about the Australian health system. To work as
a registered nurse in Australia, an individual should be registered with the Nursing and
Midwifery board of Australia. Thus, it is essential to adhere with Australian nursing
standards, codes and guidelines which have been developed for the nursing profession.
According to the Registered nurses standards for practice by Nursing and Midwifery Board
of Australia (2016), there are seven standards of practice that have been introduced for
Australian Registered nurses. These Standards guide to provide a safe, quality and a
compassionate care to the patient. The Australian health care system provides an ample range
of services to the people with the support of general taxation. The public health facilities are
free for all Australians. However the public health sector also having a growing demand.
Same as the other developed countries Australian health system also facing with dramatic
increase of issues such as non communicable diseases, chronic illnesses and aging
population.

In the second week we learnt about patient centered care approaches and involving family
support in patient care. Here we learnt nurses having a liability to follow the code of ethics
and to protect patients’ rights. Nurses should build up their attitudes, behaviour and
communication skills in a compassionate manner towards their practice. Nurses having
responsibility and accountability to ensure patients’ privacy, respect the involvement of
family members in patient’s treatment plan, providing clear and accurate information, treat
with dignity and consider about the feedback.
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In third week, it explicit that nurses need to apply critical thinking in care planning and in
problem solving. Moreover, we realized the differences of verbal, written and non verbal
communication, the importance of nursing documentation and bedside clinical handover of a
patient. Particularly, maintaining effective communication is a key component in nursing
practice. I learnt that nurse is a part of an interdisciplinary team and it is crucial to interact
with other health team members in a respectful manner to provide a comprehensive care to
the patient. Build up a good rapport with patient having a large impact on their treatment
follow up and to exploit with good health habits to prevent co-morbidities.

In further, in next weeks, we learnt taking vital signs, infection control principles, wound
management, medication management, lifespan development in the health context, primary health
care and health promotion, and at the end yet importantly the cultural competence and indigenous
Australian health in respectively. In addition, we followed some trainings and online modules
namely CPR training, manual handling, medication calculation and hand hygiene as mandatory
activities of Nursing Unit. These components helped us to more strengthen our clinical skills.

Feelings

With the clinical placements, I could able to practice the theory and practical knowledge I
gained in last few months and I believe this will provide plenty of opportunities to shape the
future of my nursing profession. I should always stick to all nursing ethics and regulations. I
understood that patient care is a combination of health professionals and it is important to
realize that all the members are having a distinct role in the treatment plan. In further, I
understood different people have different cultural and habitual values and I need to identify
those differences and respect with their values.

Basically in my first placement, I would able to engage with procedures namely personal
hygiene, wound dressing, patient handling and positioning, oral drug administration and
taking vital signs. These will be the opportunities for me to use critical thinking, effective
communication skills, respect values and cultural differences and documentation abilities.
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Evaluation

I am so motivated to apply those opportunities to build up my skills and knowledge. I think

this will be challenging to some extent to work in a new environment with new people.
Although that I think the first clinical placement will be a great preface for me to the
Australian nursing practice.

Analysis

Registered nurse need to have a good knowledge, skills and attitudes to provide a quality,
safe and a compassionate care to the patient. Apart from them, a professional nurse should be
competent in working according to legal, professional and ethical basis of nursing practice.
Nurse is the heart of the health team who is providing an evidence based practice and who is
with an accountability and responsibility to their work. Thus, it is really vital to be capable
with clinical skills, knowledge and maintaining integrity of legal and ethical standards and
guidelines in their scope of practice.

Conclusion

I understood that nursing standards and ethics navigate the nurses to practice efficiently and
to maintain their legal boundaries. Effective communication with all other health
professionals is as important as the developing of a therapeutic communication between nurse
and patient. Further practice of patient based procedures and documentation skills help to
build up excellent techniques and to get the experience of critical thinking.

Therefore, the clinical placement will bring me a blend of experiences to me with what I
learnt at class room and demonstration room.

Action Plan

With my clinical placements, I should adhere to Nursing standards, codes, ethics and
guidelines I learnt. To practice effective interaction skills among the health team, I believe I
should study the role of registered nurse, listen with the treatment plan and practice effective
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communication. I should engage actively and effectively with providing personal hygiene
care, taking vital signs, wound care, oral medication administration and documentation with
the supervision of registered nurse. I should try to develop my critical thinking and need to
provide an evidence based practice.

Moreover I think it is essential to participate with more continuous professional development

programs to improve my nursing skills and knowledge and to be up to date with nursing
legislations, standards and guidelines.
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References

1. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2016, June 01). Registered nurses
STANDARDS FOR PRACTICE. Retrieved December 01, 2018, from
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/professional-
standards.aspx

2. HSNS206 Career Transition to Australian Nursing Practicese. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://moodle.une.edu.au/course/view.php?id=17284

3. Jasper, M. (2013). Beginning reflective practice (2nd ed.). Andover: Cengage Learning.