Assessment of a Nurse

This article discusses the responsibilities, abilities, and skills a nurse must possess. It highlights the issues of evidence-based practice, delegation of nursing care, communication skills, and professional standards, that a nurse must follow.

Running head: NURSING
Assessment of a nurse
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author’s Note

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According to Johannessen (2018), a nurse must follow the professional jurisdiction
and workplace ethics for better comprehensive care of patients. Rodríguez‐Martín et al.
(2015) suggested that to provide individualistic care to patients, the nurse must provide
effective care, show empathy, follow dignity and efficacy. Here, I will discuss the
responsibilities, abilities, and skills a nurse must possess. I will be demonstrating each
guidelines with the evidence of case of Peter Thomas, a 58-year-old patient diagnosed with
stage 4-lung carcinoma, in post-operative care in emergency ward. The issues of evidence-
based practice, delegation of nursing care, communication skills, and professional standards,
that a nurse must follow is highlighted here.
It is the responsibility of a nurse to follow evidence-based practice for the best
outcome of the patient. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2019) suggests that a
nurse must assess a situation effectively, think critically, and provide quality healthcare to the
patient, recognizing the needs and rights of the patient. During my placement in the Intensive
Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital, I was given the responsibility of Peter, who was diagnosed
with stage 4 lung cancer. I was on duty of the post-operative care of the patient. André,
Aunea and Brænda (2016) suggested that evidence based practice improves nursing practices
by focusing on assessing the patient, collecting information, evaluation, critical thinking and
proper action plan. Peter, in my observation in post-operative care was having respiratory
troubles. Therefore, I cleansed my hands and checked the respiratory rate, and SpO2 (which
was about 75%). I immediately performed chest auscultation, and informed the on-duty ICU
doctor. He prescribed immediate medications. Then, I started oxygen therapy by putting a
face musk on the patient. After, two hours the SpO2 improved and the patient was relieved.
Therefore, according to the standards of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
(2019), I was able to take comprehensive care of the patient, collaboratively with the
interdisciplinary team after evaluating the patient outcome and taking proper actions.

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The NMBA standards (2019) publishes some basic guidelines regarding the role and
the obligations of a nurse when delegating aspects of nursing care. In brief, it suggests that a
nurse must act collaboratively with other professionals, develop a nursing care plan within
the limits of practice abiding laws, maintain professional standards, respect the patient’s
rights and beliefs, and must take responsibility of own action. It clearly states that a registered
nurse must not direct other nurses or assistant nurses about their duty and roles. I was on
duty of Peter’s care. I checked him daily, assessed his situation and intervened whenever
required. When I knew that it was out of my professional scope to prescribe him medications,
I consulted the doctor to work in an interdisciplinary manner for better patient outcome. Birks
et al. (2016) also reviewed the fact that to meet the needs of the health consumers, a
registered nurse must delegate the aspects of nursing care effectively. I followed all the rules
of legislation, assessed the patient and respected my colleagues. I did not instruct any other
colleague regarding the way of nursing practice. In my absence, other nurses took care of
Peter effectively and I did not interfere in their care plans, or that of other professionals.
However, in emergent conditions, or when asked, I helped them and co-operated with them
for comprehensive patient care.
The National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHS) (2011), clearly
clarifies the fact that a nurse should formulate strategic decisions, act in accordance with
other interdisciplinary teams and communicate effectively with the patients and with that of
other members of the team. The Code of Ethics published by NMBA also confirms that a
nurse must make informed decision, and inter-communicate for patient-based care. During
the duration of hospital stay of Peter, he developed depression due to his aggravating terminal
illness and associated pain from the disease. So, during my duty I distracted the patient by
sharing encouraging stories, helped him to reminisce his happy memories and let him meet
other cancer survivors to encourage him and ease his situation. I also informed the

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psychologist, to provide him counselling and helping him to deal with his illness. Sheehan et
al. (2019) detailed the fact that psychologically, lung cancer patients are benefitted, when
they received clinical counselling and assistance of other patients and shared their difficulties
together. Therefore, I am efficient in communicating with others, and can work effectively in
interdisciplinary manner with other health experts, for better patient outcome. Hence, I
followed all the guidelines of National Standards of Nurses published by NMBA, which
clarifies the fact that effective communication and management skills are required to meet the
needs of the individual nurse.
The Code of Ethics of the nurses and the National Standards as guided by NMBA
(2019), suggests that a nurse must demonstrate professional values of himself and that of a
colleague while providing patient-care. It is a responsibility to follow all the ethical guidance
and practice nursing within one’s capability and professional expertise. A nurse must also
respect the personal values of the patient, help colleagues, and report any anomaly of the
colleagues effectively. This is important, for showing respect to the Ethical Code and the
patient-need. During the duration of taking care of Peter, I always acted within my
professional boundaries and consulted doctor or other experts whenever necessary. I also
reminded one of my colleague to wash his hands before assessing the patient, for better
patient outcome and professional development of my associate. Orr et al. (2018) revealed the
fact that due to non-compliance with the directions of hand-hygiene in emergency department
of various hospitals of Australia, there were widespread evidences of infection in 2017. To
eliminate such possibilities, my action was helpful in better health outcome of the patient and
professional flourishment of my colleague.
In conclusion, it can be stated that a nurse must comply with all the ethical norms and
standards of NMBA and NSQHS to provide comprehensive care to patients. I followed all
the guidelines of clinical evidence-based practice, delegation of effective nursing care,

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efficient communication skills, and professional standards to provide quality care to Peter. I
successfully followed all the guidance published by the Nursing Council for patient-based
outcome.

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References-
André, B., Aune, A.G. and Brænd, J.A., 2016. Embedding evidence-based practice among
nursing undergraduates: results from a pilot study. Nurse education in practice, 18, pp.30-35.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare. National Safety and Quality
Health Service Standards. (2019).. Access date: 2nd August, 2019. [Online]. Retrieved from:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/sites/default/files/migrated/NSQHS-Standards-
Sept2011.pdf
Birks, M., Davis, J., Smithson, J. and Cant, R., 2016. Registered nurse scope of practice in
Australia: an integrative review of the literature. Contemporary Nurse, 52(5), pp.522-543.
Johannessen, L.E., 2018. Workplace assimilation and professional jurisdiction: How nurses
learn to blur the nursing-medical boundary. Social Science & Medicine, 201, pp.51-58.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2019). Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia.
Access date: 2nd August, 2019. [Online]. Retrieved from: file:///D:/PPT%20Materials/code
%20of%20nurse%20australia.pdf
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. (2019).National Competency Standards for the
registered Nurse. Access date: 2nd August, 2019. [Online]. Retrieved from: file:///D:/PPT
%20Materials/australia%20nurse.pdf
Orr, E., Havers, S., Brill, M., Price, J. and Grayson, L., 2018. Identifying issues with poor
hand hygiene compliance in the emergency department using a self-assessment
framework. Infection, Disease & Health, 23, p.S18.

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Rodríguez‐Martín, B., Stolt, M., Katajisto, J. and Suhonen, R., 2016. Nurses' characteristics
and organisational factors associated with their assessments of individualised care in care
institutions for older people. Scandinavian journal of caring sciences, 30(2), pp.250-259.
Sheehan, E., Wright, A.E., Stalter, L.N., Qeadan, F., Wiggins, C. and Saeed, A.I., 2019.
Differences in Utilization of Resources for Grief Management in Lung Cancer Patients with
and Without Previous Psychiatric Illness Seeking Care at a National Cancer Institute
Designated Cancer Center in New Mexico. In D110. LUNG CANCER: OPTIMIZING
SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS, AND TREATMENT (pp. A7279-A7279). American Thoracic
Society.