Reflective Practice for Nursing Professionals

The assignment outlines the reflective practice of a nursing professional, focusing on their learning needs and actions taken to improve their knowledge and skills. It includes a range of activities such as reading books, articles, and policies, participating in online learning, and reflecting on experiences. The professional aims to enhance their understanding of laws and regulations related to medical professions, understand different principles and practices in accordance with relevant standards, guidelines, policies, legislations, and regulations, and apply this knowledge in future practice.

Continuing Professional
Development Portfolio

INTRODUCTION
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) refers to the process of improving
competence and getting other pertinent competencies in respect to personal aspirations and job
demands by learning to create opportunities for career development, advancement and success
(Gordon and Campbell, 2013). CPD is the way through which profession members maintain,
enhance and broaden their expertise, competence and knowledge and develop qualities required
throughout the professional lives. The covers the ways to develop new knowledge and practice
that is integral to the role of registered nurse. Apart from this, a learning plan is developed and
reflection of each learning need is given and further actions are defined to extend the learning.
PART A
Identify learning needs
Learning needs is defined as the gap between current and required level of skills and
knowledge of learners to perform a set of task. Assessment of own learning need helps in
determining priorities and making improvements (Katsikitis and et. al., 2013). It helps in
determining the ways of developing new knowledge and practice that is integral for my role as a
registered nurse. For this, the two learning areas or standards that I have considered are essential
to my current learning needs includes: to engage in therapeutic and professional relationship and
to provide safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practices (Registered nurse standards
for practice, 2016).
The main reason behind choosing these two learning areas or standards is that registered
nurse practice is based on deliberately engaging in professional and therapeutic relationships. It
involves collegial generosity in respect to mutual trust and respect in professional relationship. A
registered nurse should communicates effectively and is honorific of culture, values, dignity,
rights and beliefs of a person. Good professional and therapeutic relationship helps me in
transforming and enriching the experiences of patient. It assists me in understanding the issue of
sufferer and providing them appropriate care.
There are some key components like empathy, trust, power, respect and professional
intimacy etc. on which the relationship is based. As a registered nurse, it is imperative for me to
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engage therapeutically with patients as it helps me in improving health related outcomes. On the
other hand, providing safe, responsive and appropriate quality nursing practice helps in giving
quality care to patients. It will also assists me in performing my duties ethically in accordance
with guidelines, policies, regulations, standards and legislations. It will also creates a sense of
satisfaction among patients of getting quality care services (Tofade, Khandoobhai and Leadon,
2012).
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2
Identified learning need
Communicates effectively, and is respectful of a person's dignity, culture, values, beliefs and right. (NMBA
Standards for Practice 2.2)
Action plan Date Type of
activity
Description of topic (s) covered during activity and
outcome
No./Title/ Description of
evidence provided
CPD
hours
I would like to have a better
understanding of:
 effectively communicate with
them and ensure patient privacy.
 understand the privacy, dignity,
values, belief and rights of
patients.
 Improve skills of listening and
eye contact with the patient and
understand their concerns by
restating what they verbalize.
 Better understanding of respect
cultural differences and maintain
professional boundaries.
26/9/2018 A book Effective communication skills help in achieve
treatment goals.
See appendix 1 1hour
28/9/2018 Journal
article
This article outlines the contributing factors to
patient rights and how these factors affect patient
outcomes.
See appendix 2 2hour
11/10/2018 Policy The policy explains the patients’ rights and
responsibilities, which is respect, communication,
and privacy. It enhances my understanding of the
right to be informed about treatment and options in
a clear and open way and treated with respect,
dignity and consideration.
See appendix 3 1hour
16/8/2018 Reflection The reflection shows that educating patient and
these enhance my learning of communicate
effectively with patient.
See appendix 4 1hour
5/10/2018 Online
learning
Understanding patient’s needs and who nurse offer
him best care.
See appendix 5 45minut
es
5/10/2018 You tube
video
Learn how to understand culture, values, dignity,
rights and beliefs of a person. It assists me in
Understanding the behaviours of patients by
interacting with them.
See appendix 6 10minut
es

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4
Identified learning need Practices in accordance with relevant policies, guidelines, standards, regulations and legislation. (NMBA Standards
for Practice 6.5)
Action plan Date Type of
activity
Description of topic (s) covered during activity and
outcome
No./Title/ Description of
evidence provided
CPD
hours
I would like to have a better
understanding of:
 enhance knowledge regarding
laws and regulation related to
medical professions.
 Understand different laws and
codes of conduct related to
nursing practice.
2/10/2018 A book Understanding the policies, regulations, guidelines
and standards set by health care organization as
this help in offer best care to the individuals.
See appendix 7 1hour
5/10/2018 Journal
article
Understand different principles and practices in
accordance with relevant standards, guidelines,
policies, legislations and regulations. This
enhances my learning of applying in my future
practice.
See appendix 8 1.5hour
9/10/2018 Policy The policy explains the infection prevention and
control policy, and stander precaution. It enhances
my understanding of the control infection in health
organisation.
See appendix 9 1hour
2/8/2018 Reflection The reflection shows that medicine administration
and these enhance my learning of using five
rights.
See appendix 10 1hour
25/9/2018 Online
learning
Understanding of best and safe care, which
essential for nurses to comply with the legislation,
policies and regulations and this helps nurse to
See appendix 11 2hour

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Process evaluation
Engage in therapeutic and professional relationship:
To address my learning needs related to engaging in therapeutic and professional
relationship, online learning proves to be very effective for me. It helps me in increasing my
provides me noble opportunities for traditional learning. In acquiring knowledge regarding how
to communicate effectively with patients and understanding, their concerns, online learning
proves to be very beneficial for me. Culture, values and beliefs of each individual are different
(Moon, 2013). Online learning helps me in understanding rights of patients in better manner.
Some of their rights includes: The patient or sufferer has right to respectful and considerate care.
They have the right to get relevant information's from healthcare professionals and registered
nurses related to diagnosis, prognosis and treatment. Patients has the right to know professionals,
nurses as well as the other individual's identity who are involved in care. They also have the right
to know an immediate as well as long term financial implications of choices of treatment
(Patients’ Rights, 2018).
Service user has then right to take decisions related to prior plan of care and at the time of
course of treatment. They also have the right to refuse the recommended plan of treatment or
care to the extent that is permitted by hospital policy and law. Patient has the right to get an
advance directive like health care proxy, living will and power of attorney for healthcare related
to treatment. For each consideration of privacy, patient has the right. Consultations, examination,
case discussions and treatment must be conducted by hospitals in order to protect the privacy of
patient. They has the right to expect from hospital that all records and communications
pertaining to their health or treatment will be treated confidential. They have right to review all
their medical care records (Neimeyer, Taylor and Cox, 2012).
Above mentioned are all the rights of patients. In gaining proper understanding and
knowledge of these rights, online learning proves to be beneficial for me. In nursing, four
defining attributes are included in concept of patient's dignity i.e. autonomy, respect,
communication and empowerment. From online learning, I have learnt that as per the
international code of ethics, observing the dignity of individual and respect of life is not only an
indivisible part of nursing, but is also not limit by culture, age, colour, sex, nationality, gender,
creed, health or their social status. So, observing rights and dignity of patients is very essential
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for developing an effective and strong relationship between patient and healthcare professionals.
At the time of dealing with patient's right issue, it is necessary for clinicians and nurses to pay
attention on cultural issues (Haywood and et. al., 2012). Furthermore, I have learnt to
communicate with them effectively and ensure them privacy during providing them care. It is
also needed by staff to listen clients concerns actively and maintain eye contact with them while
interacting and ensure to maintain professional boundaries and respect cultural differences so
that patients can be treated with equal respect and dignity. However, this learning leads me to
take more realistic decisions related to care of patient. Thus, I can say that online learning
completely addresses my needs related to therapeutic and professional care and help me in
communicating with patients in more better manner with respect and dignity.
Communication is necessary to ensure that proper care and quality treatment is been given to the
patients. Effective communication with patients would enable them to feel secure and confident
about their treatment and be optimistic about the outcomes of the therapies they are receiving.
For a nurse, such communication in immensely important as it would help her to give ideal care
to the patients.
Effective Communication in office with co-workers, patients, their families and
professionals sets up a base for effective healthcare. A purposeful and effective communication
can help the patients as well as their families to consider the needs of the patient's health. It helps
them considering to take all the pros and the cons of the treatment into account and act
accordingly. Nurses can achieve their set treatment goals through communicating effectively as
it would build a sense of trust in the patient's mind. They would be more transparent with the
nurse regarding their treatment. This will help her take corrective action during the treatment and
accomplish workplace objectives.
There are certain policies that explain the rights and responsibilities of the patients. These
policies includes various patient rights such as right to respect. It states that no matter what the
circumstances are, the person has a right to receive respectful treatment at all times. Patient's
worth and personal dignity should be well recognized. It also includes right to communicate. A
patient has all the right to communicate people outside the hospital such as visitors, in any
manner, verbal or written. Then comes the right to privacy. The patient has a right to receive
personal and confidential information about their treatment. Also a right to privacy from
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outsiders not connected to the patient. Such rights are important for nurses to know so that they
work within these rights and the treat the patient with respect, consideration and dignity.
Such knowledge of information about patients has helped me in communicating with
them effectively about their problems, and has helped to gain certain knowledge about different
behaviours of patients about their treatment. Communicating effectively with them allowed me
to properly understand their grievances and empathise with them. It enabled me to take a
construct a comfortable and effective plan of action regarding the care of my patients. Educating
a patient about their problem and the treatment with complete transparency helps me to gain a
patient's trust and confidence which psychology heals the patient as they are relieved that their
life is in right hands.
Providing quality healthcare is a complicated task. Whether its an old patient confined to
his wheelchair or a young mother, only those nurses can give them a proper care who have full
knowledge about their needs. Different patients suffer from different health issues with varying
intensities, and receive different medical treatments. A nurse should consider even the smallest
needs of these patients and provide care to them accordingly. A nurse should have proper
knowledge through communicating with the patients about their medical treatments, the
medication they are receiving, the kind of food the patient needs to have and so forth. Such
knowledge would help the nurse to adapt to her situation and give flexible treatment to her
patients.
Different patients possess different set of values, they belong to different culture and have
different beliefs. Navigation of these unique religious and cultural needs can be very hectic for
nurses as there are chances that they might get offended due to one slightly wrong action. There
are certain behaviour patterns for dealing with different patient according to their behaviours
towards certain elements. Communication with the patients can help me to be aware of their
religious and cultural practices. Along with this, it helps me to accept and modify their behaviour
while interacting with these patients. This allows the patients to be satisfied as their beliefs and
values will not be violated. By learning about their culture and religious practices, i can enhance
healthcare practices and provide supreme care to patients.
Provide safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practices:
In addressing my learning needs related to providing safe, appropriate and responsive
quality nursing practices, self-directed research and learning different by using books, journals
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proves and NSW health policy to be advantageous for me. It helps me in getting knowledge
related to relevant policies, guidelines, regulations, legislations and standards related to medical
and nursing profession. Acquisition of knowledge related to such areas helps me in performing
my duties or providing services to patients in accordance with appropriate policies and standards.
It also assists me in doing my duties in more proper and ethical manner. Knowledge related to
various standards of nursing practices helps me in protecting the health and safety of patient. It
ensures to offer high quality services to patients for treating diseases (Mattheos and et. al., 2014).
By studying different books and journals, I get an understanding about Nursing Practice Act.
For providing safe and quality care services, midwives and nurses should be cognisant of
regulations, policies and legislations that guides their practices. The relation between nursing
practice and policies is entwined with regulations like Medicines and Poisons Act, 2014 and
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act, 2010 as well as the associated regulations.
Through journaling and learning through online modules, I have gained numerous
knowledge associated with different concepts of medical and nursing. This consist of vast
knowledge, information and data along with facts and different logical aspects related to distinct
domain in this segment. Understanding the practices and nursing policy are entwined with
regulation and legislation such as Medicines and Poisons Act associated with different
regulations. These laws determines the professional nursing standards and deliver proper
guidance on the affairs of both professions by a range of guidelines, codes and policies (Pool,
Poell and ten Cate, 2015).
The journals, podcast and online learning sites has taught me and my colleagues that
Departments of Health Policy framework and Health Services Providers have localised
numerous policies ensuring the received care of patients, minimum consistency and standards as
well as structure of clinical governance in order to assist its functioning appropriately. I got
informed about several duties and responsibilities i.e. followed by me in regard of performing
basics functions of nursing following basic standards, legislation, regulations and policies to help
and cure patients with care (Hardman and et. al., 2013). Henceforth, in order to gather
information and learning, I have optimised numerous sources along with activities including
Podcast policies, online learning modules, Journaling, Journals articles and other professional
study material as these are reflection of ocean of knowledge and information delivering great
knowledge to individual so as me.
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There are different legal policies which has to be considered by nursing department. T is
important because nursing department deals with patient and deal with their operations. It is
essential to make changes which are important and significant for providing best services. There
are many circumstances which affects operations to deal with customers. With the help of legal
policies and procedure, promotion of activities which are important and relevant has to be
considered. According to By Anne V. Irving, MA, FACHE, DFASHRM, with the help of
compliances, regulations status accreditation activities are considered. Appropriate services can
be provided with appropriate plans and policies. It is important to make alterations which are
essential and significant working style of nurses. In health care sector, there are many employees
which are working with the help of policies, rules and regulations, it is easy to convey actions in
order to provide satisfaction.
In order to run in industry, there is requirement of performing nursing operations in
effective and efficient manner. This helps to give best quality services to patients. There are
different policies which must be considered by managers in order to make nurses learn about
new trends in terms of law and regulations.
There are seven principles of learning which has to be considered in order to retain
knowledge gained. These principles are conceptual knowledge, prior knowledge, metacognition,
difference among learners, motivation, situated learning, learning communities. These learning
helps to perform operations in effective way and hence future growth prospect gets improved.
This helps to provide knowledge according to market trends. Nurses treat people according to
their problem. It is important to follow some basic ethics and norms through which legal rules
can be followed.
In health care sector,. There are some changes which has to be taken into consideration
by nurse to prevent infection,. It is important to make alterations through which services of
organisation gets enhanced. There are possibilities that due to alteration in working style
managers of organisation has to deal with changes in appropriate way. It is essential that
managers must have proper precaution techniques such as gloves, scissors, medicines, etc. This
reduce possibilities of infection among medical staff. In health care, ethical education is
mandatory hence, it provides best services and possibilities of infection is low. There is use of
siring, medicines, tablets, etc. which may create issue to health of nurses. Hence in order to deal
with this situation, it is essential to create awareness among staff.
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There are five rights in field of medication which enhance knowledge of organisation to
deal with changes which are significant and relevant for performing operations. Right of
medication includes the right dose, the right time, the right route, the right patient, the right drug
are considered in five right. I am able to perform my duties and responsibilities in effective way.
This helps to treat patient according to issue. I am able to identify medicines, timing of
diagnosis, way to treat with patient. This herlps to enhance my knowledge related to nursing staff
and my career can grow. This is significant for achieving targets. In case of any emergency I
know how to deal with situation and this improves my knowledge related to medical term
increases.
At work place, there is difference in working style of very employees, so with the help of
legislation, it is clear to make changes which are effective and signifiant for getting simulation in
actions. There are possibilities that due to alteration in laws, nurses are not able to get what is
right and wrong. Hence manager must give knowledge how to deal with situation. In case nurse
do nop perform work in ethical way, then this affects image of association and has negative
impact on health of patient also. There must be proper equipments which provides best services
to patient. There are legal laws such as safety and security act, etc. Which has to be considered
organisation. Training programmes must be organised by organisation to enhance and share
knowledge of nurses. This helps to improve working style of organisation as well as patient can
be treated through more secure way.
Further actions
Within the confines of session, the aspects that I feel that I have not pursued sufficiently
is to get more knowledge about policies, guidelines, regulations and standards in accordance to
nursing practices. In order to improve my learning in therapeutic and professional relationship
there are different ways which are determined as under:
In case of therapeutic and professional relationship:
I will introduce yourself to patient and follow her name while speaking with her. An
acknowledgement at their initial meeting is frequently a good form to established respect and
trust quickly (Bignold and Barbera, 2012). It help me to enhance my nursing learning for future
action.
Make sure my patient has privacy when we provide accurate care. Be sure that basic
requirements of patients are met, considering relieving pain and many other ways of discomfort.
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It will also help and support me to take future action and improve my knowledge and skill in
case therapeutic and professional relationship.
I will use different communication channel to actively and easily listen to may patients. In
this I make sure to know her worry by reiterating what his or her has verbalized. Thus, it will
also beneficial and essential for me to enhance my skill and learning in nursing field.
Maintain eye contact with my patients and listen what are major problem that they face.
Along with this I will maintain professional boundaries in which some patients require maximum
therapeutic touch, including a hugging, hand-holding and many other. Therefore it will also
support me to enhance my knowledge and learning and achieve better results within
predetermined time duration (Moorley and Chinn, 2015).
As nurses are subject to various legal and ethical duties in their role, it is very important for
me to maintain confidentiality and privacy of patient's personal information. As a nurse, I have
some legal and moral obligations of not to share information of patients with others which I
ensure to follow so that I enable to develop trust among patient.
In case of, Provide safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practices:
It is another important and significant for me to enhance my skill and learning for future
action in nursing field.
I will use different standards, guidelines, policies, legislations and regulations that help me in
order to treat patients safely and appropriately. Therefore it is essential and beneficial for me to
enhance my knowledge and learning.
I will provide responsive, accurate and safe service to the patients. For this, I will asking
different questions to the patients about their deceases that effected for me while giving health
related services to the service user.
I will use different equipments Scrubs, Nursing Shoes, Stethoscope, Medical Bag/Tote,
Medical Handbook/Guide, Smart Phone, PDA Or Tablet and many other equipments. All these
are help me in my future growth and development in nursing field (Moorley and Chinn, 2015).
I ensure to work as per the policies, practices, regulations and legislations related to nursing
so that a safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practices can be provided to patient.
CONCLUSION
As per the above mentioned report, it has been concluded that continuing professional
development process is identified as a systematic constant cyclical procedure of self directed
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learning which is driven and initiated by practitioner enabling them to determine their needs,
setting learning goals and reverberate on their practice. For engaging in therapeutic and
professional relationship, it is very essential to maintain trust and respect. This assists in
understanding the concerns of patients and offering the treatment accordingly. It is also required
to provide appropriate, safe and responsive quality of nursing practices in accordance to nursing
practice standards, policies, legislations, guidelines and regulations. Online learning and books
and journals are the sources that assists me in improving my knowledge and addressing my
learning needs related to the selected standards.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Gordon, J. A. and Campbell, C. M., 2013. The role of ePortfolios in supporting continuing
professional development in practice. Medical teacher. 35(4). pp.287-294.
Katsikitis, M. and et. al., 2013. Continuing professional development in nursing in Australia:
Current awareness, practice and future directions. Contemporary nurse. 45(1). pp.33-45.
Tofade, T., Khandoobhai, A. and Leadon, K., 2012. Use of SMART learning objectives to
introduce continuing professional development into the pharmacy curriculum. American
journal of pharmaceutical education. 76(4). p.68.
Zepeda, S. J., 2013. Professional development: What works. Routledge.
Moon, J. A., 2013. Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice.
Routledge.
Neimeyer, G. J., Taylor, J. M. and Cox, D. R., 2012. On hope and possibility: Does continuing
professional development contribute to ongoing professional competence?. Professional
psychology: research and practice. 43(5). p.476.
Haywood, H., Pain, H., Ryan, S. and Adams, J., 2012. Engagement with Continuing Professional
Development Development of a Service Model. Journal of allied health. 41(2). pp.83-
89.
Mattheos, N. and et. al., 2014. Developing implant dentistry education in Europe: the continuum
from undergraduate to postgraduate education and continuing professional development.
European Journal of Dental Education. 18. pp.3-10.
Pool, I. A., Poell, R. F., Berings, M. G. and ten Cate, O., 2015. Strategies for continuing
professional development among younger, middle-aged, and older nurses: A
biographical approach. International journal of nursing studies. 52(5). pp.939-950.
Hardman, M. and et. al., 2013. LifeTrain: towards a European framework for continuing
professional development in biomedical sciences. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery.
12(6). p.407.
Bignold, W. and Barbera, J., 2012. Teaching assistants and teacher education in England:
meeting their continuing professional development needs. Professional Development in
Education. 38(3). pp.365-375.
Moorley, C. and Chinn, T., 2015. Using social media for continuous professional
development. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 71(4). pp.713-717.
Online
Patients’ Rights, 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.rncentral.com/blog/2012/nurses-must-be-aware-of-patients-rights/>
GIBBS – REFLECTIVE CYCLE MODEL, 2018. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.brookes.ac.uk/students/upgrade/study-skills/reflective-writing-gibbs/>
Registered nurse standards for practice, 2016. [Online]. Available through:<http /Nursing-and-
Midwifery-Board---Standard---Registered-nurse-standards-for-practice---1-June-
2016%20(1).PDF>
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Policies and Procedures for Healthcare Organizations: A Risk Management Perspective. 2017.
[Online]. Available through:<https://www.psqh.com/analysis/policies-and-procedures-
for-healthcare-organizations-a-risk-management-perspective/#>.
SEVEN PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN LEARNING. 2017. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.nap.edu/read/10129/chapter/8#118>.
The 5 Rights of Medications. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://nursingassistantguides.com/2012/the-5-rights-of-medications/>.
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APPENDIX
Online learning is used for engaging in therapeutic and professional relationship.
Books and Journals are used as well as participate in workshops and seminars to get
understanding and knowledge for providing safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing
practices. (refer to item number 6)
(Source: Gibbs' Reflective Model, 2018)
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Illustration 1: Gibbs' Reflective Model