Beginning Professional Practice

Beginning Professional Practice

Introduction

In complex health care system of these days, nurses require a diverse range of skills and knowledge to match with the rising complexity of the health care system. For students, clinical experience is a time to go into the work world of nursing and caring. Students require a firm grounding in a range of anatomical, physiological, sociological, psychological, pharmacological and nursing interpretations and interventions to function in the clinical setting. Moreover, they must somehow acquire an understanding of the patient and start to develop a professional identity for becoming a competent registered nurse. A nurse practitioner is a person authorized and educated to work independently in an advanced clinical role. The registered nurse practitioner assesses and manages clients using nursing skills and makes referral to other health care professionals if required, orders investigations and prescribes medications. Their role is based in the nursing profession's values, provides quality health care delivery, and collaborates with other health care providers.

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council and the Australian Safety and Quality Framework for Health Care, has provided competency standards and principles for professional competence and the qualities of competent nurse. The following paper describes these characteristics according to the guidelines provided by these two agencies.

Discussion

A competent registered nurse contributes to quality care through learning and development, research assessment, clinical supervision, policy development and nursing practice guidelines. (S)he develops professional nursing practice in accordance with the health care needs of the society and continuously changing patterns of illness. The nurse practitioner participates in research to enhance practice in professional development programs. (S)he seeks support to gain additional knowledge from colleagues to learn more. (S)he supports others in their professional development by sharing knowledge with others and implementing relevant research. (S)he appreciates feedback from colleagues and participates in performance reviews. (S)he supports in mutual sharing of information and knowledge with colleagues. (S)he participates in formal and informal education. (S)he shares professional knowledge and experiences related with colleagues. (S)he implements reflective practice to gain professional competencies. An experienced practitioner provides safe evidence - based care to achieve required health outcomes (ANMC, 2004). (S)he utilizes resources effectively in providing care and performs actions according to relevant nursing principles. (S)he performs procedures safely and confidently and monitors responses for each research intervention and modifies care accordingly. (S)he provides support to help development treatment plan or care plan and acts according to predetermined plan. (S)he participates in implementing research strategies to facilitate achievement of expected goals. (S)he prioritizes for care on the basis of individual's needs, based on the nursing assessment. (S)he determines the individual's preferences and gives response effectively to rapidly changing conditions as well as gives response effectively to emergencies. Nurse practitioner self-controls in stressful conditions in the health care settings and applies crisis interventions as necessary (Bryant-Lukosius & DiCenso, 2004). (S)he has current knowledge of care plans and procedures to enhance quality of care in emergency situations. (S)he applies guidelines of practice in emergency management according to standard ...