Professional Nursing Career Path and Development

This assignment delves into the world of professional nursing, discussing the growth and development of this career path over nearly 28 years. It highlights the significance of continuing education, as evident in various references such as books, journals, and online resources. The assignment also touches upon the importance of portfolio development, with a focus on building a professional nursing portfolio.

Developing a professional
practice portfolio (Nursing)

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Professional practice portfolio use...............................................................................................1
1.1 Description.............................................................................................................................1
1.2 Argument...............................................................................................................................2
1.3 Management and leadership..................................................................................................3
2. Professional standards.................................................................................................................3
2.1 Description of situation..........................................................................................................3
2.2 Critical discussion..................................................................................................................4
3. Professional membership.............................................................................................................6
3.1 Report on peak professional nursing organisation.................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

1. Professional practice portfolio use
1.1 Description
A professional practice portfolio is referred to be a vital process of documenting one’s own
set of skills along with the professional achievements and any sort of experiences in the similar
field of work. The present section is in context of developing a professional practice portfolio of
nursing which is stated to be an important tool for continually progressing in the field of nursing
(Beardwood & Kainer, 2015). It is a significant tool for preserving a precise and updated record
of one’s professional journey. People often misinterprets the portfolio with that to a resume or
curriculum vitae (CV) that merely consists of basic data of an individual to demonstrate the
educational institutes that are being attended till now. Also, past and current positions that are
being held in a chosen professional field, such as, in nursing, etc., are being revealed through a
simple documentation.
It rather reveals one’s demographic as well as background information by together
verifying the capability and proficiencies developed by an individual over the time. Although,
such professional practice portfolio is generally composed of certain number of criterions to be
followed for its successful representation. It should therefore contain a brief of an individual’s
educational background along with its licensure and relevant history of employment with its
supportive documents as a validation to prove the same (Blair & Jansen, 2015). Along with
which, attaching letters of appraisal, promotion and recommendation by current or past
employers or co-workers, etc. There together exist many such subjective documents that involve
examples and case histories to prove one’s level of competency as an added certificate. This is
for instance to attach any patient’s case histories with affirmative clinical outcomes that may
assist in showing professional growth of an individual.
Beside this, there together exists some vital components to be included in a professional
nursing practice portfolio. This involves Name and other demographic details with relevant
health records that may include vaccinations and current physical status, Educational
background, Licenses or any certificate in specialism, if any (Schneider, 2018). Also, special
nursing cards like CPR/ACLS/PALS/BLS/ATLS and NALS with their respective dates of
renewal, CEU certificates, specially meant for registered nurses (RNs) are preferred. List of any
professional projects, Yearly performance assessment or certificate of any professional awards
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and recognition, Scholarly presentations/ publications, Letters of appreciation or
recommendation and Future career goals, etc.
1.2 Argument
This section is to discourse upon the uses of a professional practice portfolio (PPP) with a
critical analysis of its benefits as well as challenges associated with it. It is apparent to assist in
the identification of any such issues that are faced by the individuals to make an efficient use of
PPP with a focus on demonstrating the ability for the professional nursing practice, like for
RN’s. Herein, a PPP is believed to be of utmost importance for those who are seriously willing to
achieve a never ending success in their profession. It is assumed to be a visual depiction of one’s
professional growth that do not tend to replace the resume or CV of an individual but rather acts
as a supporting documentation. It is on referring to the opinions presented by Ellis (2016), a PPP
is known to provide a detailed specification of one’s accomplishments that duly replaces the age
old tradition of carrying merely a resume or CV.
A resume or CV just tends to provide an overview of education and employment in the
past and present along with other professional skills and activities. Although, nowadays, there
exists 2 distinct type of PPP’s namely traditional and electronic PPP, also known as e-PPP. In
both of these formats, the individuals are required to involve the above specified components of
a PPP to effectively showcase themselves, as stated by Manley, McCormack & Wilson, (2013).
Apart from this, a well-developed PPP is evident to help the individuals in getting potential set of
employers with a profound understanding of their education, professional experiences,
assessments and awards, etc. It is with a special concern of those who have earnestly invested
their valued time as well as energy in structuring their careers and they must consider
highlighting their accomplishments in a clear and arranged way.
However, there together exists several number of challenges that are being faced by the
individuals in developing a pertinent PPP with a special consideration of being assessed on its
basis. Lack of a standardised procedure leads to the state of partiality where many intellectually
competent individuals are potentially biased. This is due to a customized preference of
developing PPP that may differ from the choice of one individual to other and may lead to
distinct set of judgments, as specified by Katsikitis & Priaulx, (2013). This is for instance to
specify about one such choice where one individual may want to include pictures, etc., to make it
more presentable and other may not. This is despite of considering the fact where the one judged
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on the basis of his or her presentable PPP and got selected may not have much professed
qualification that other. A PPP is also not fissionable enough for large scale learning valuation.
1.3 Management and leadership
This is to demonstrate the need of effective managerial and leadership skills to operate in
today’s challenging health care environments. Effective administrative skills in nurses are
apparent to resolve several concerning issues of retaining personnel’s, maintaining patient’s
safety, complying with the regulatory norms and meeting the allotted budget, etc., (Keyko &
Wong, 2016). For this purpose, there exists a model of nursing leadership competencies that
involves several managerial skills that are required in efficient nursing leaders. This includes
personal mastery where one should understand themselves in the most competent manner. This
together demonstrates an abundant presence of self-confidence with a power of trusting and
empowering others.
Another is effective interpersonal skills which is referred to be the 2nd key for achieving
success. It is where a capable nursing leader should not be able to facilitate 2-way
communication to effectively listen to others and resolve any state of conflict and dispute at the
workplace (Moran, Burson & Conrad, 2016). Financial management is referred to be yet another
competent skill that is expected from a proficient nurse with a constant pressure of justifying the
staffing budget as a critical part of the operating budget in a hospital. Likewise, there are many
other competencies that are expected from a nursing leader to become successful in their
respective profession. Considering this, human resource management (HRM), caring for
workforce, patients and oneself with systems thinking, etc., are some other such skills defined by
the above specified model.
Although, it is together expected from a nursing leader to gradually develop these skills
in their professional career with a great assistance of a PPP. Into which, all these skills and
competencies can be evidenced in the form of certifications of appreciation from the staff and
patients, etc.
2. Professional standards
2.1 Description of situation
This is to describe a factual situation from my student nurse clinical placement where I was
appointed as a nurse in the rehabilitation ward of Logan hospital under a registered nurse (RN). I
firstly recalled some primary goals of rehabilitation nursing which is to help patients with
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disability who are expected to go through a process of recovery with those who are suffering
from any chronic illness. Being the part of rehabilitation nursing staff in Logan, I was hereby
instructed to take care of the patients by checking any vital signs, assisting them in toileting, and
medication, etc., (Black, 2016). Keeping in mind the exact responsibilities of an accountable
nurse, I tried my best to provide a therapeutic environment to the patient by together developing
their families about the same. Although, I hereby followed 3 significant standards for
provisioning an effective care to the patient that involved a foremost step of assessment. In
which, I assessed the past history of the patient by comparing it with the current situation. This
further assisted me in undertaking another standard of developing a plan to incorporate the
practices in it that are required to be performed for provisioning effective care to the patient, as
another standard, followed by me.
This was followed by 5 key elements that are specified as Context of practice which is to
state the location, which is the rehabilitation ward of Logan hospital, where this particular
situation took place. Another is about the people involved in it that included my supervisor as the
head RN to oversee my work, the patient and patient’s family members. It is followed by the
tasks delegated to me where I was mainly assigned the task of addressing any vital signs in the
patient, assisting in toileting and giving the prescribed medicines on time (Trede, Macklin &
Bridges, 2012). Next is the enactment of the deputized tasks where I performed the allotted task
on the basis of 3 nursing standards namely assessment, developing plans and providing care to
the patient. It is lastly followed by the outcomes of the presented situation where I found to have
a gratified patient who was enough satisfied from the care provided by me. Also, I got positive
feedback from my superior who was constantly checking my work to avoid any sort of error in
provisioning an effective care to the patient.
2.2 Critical discussion
Professional nursing practices are the standards for the nursing or midwifery student which
focus on safeguarding health and safety service users as stated by Cate & van der Schaaf (2015).
During practice of student nurse the registered nurse of Logan hospital is completely focused on
monitoring work practices ensuring safety and ethics of medication. It is important for student
nurse to care people with respect and dignity. It is also important for student nurse to analyze the
needs of patients because every service user have unique needs of medication according to their
diagnosed health problems. Further scope of student nurse is to keep informed which is the
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foremost nursing practice in which the individuals are responsible for informing about patient’s
health, medication and diagnosis to family or immediate guardians.
Chang & Daly (2015) has hereby argued that a student nurse is responsible for ensuring that
information about service users is very confidential and can be shared only with Doctors and
family of patient. In addition, during medication student health practitioner are responsible for
practicing high standards and appropriate care according to satisfaction of patient like nurse
needs to punctual and attentive. Apart from this, it is necessary of student nurse to be aware
about all the medication guidance which is to be given to service users. Thus, student scope of
nursing practice is focused on upholding reputation in profession, be honest and open. It is
important for the nurse to act with integrity and to ensure if patients are satisfied with the
medication facility.
Accountability for decision making, actions, behaviors and responsibility for student nurse
at time of practicing medication plays significant role. As in this the individual is liable for
monitoring and reviewing patient and therefore it is important for the nurses to ensure patient
safety, in accordance to the views presented by Green, Wyllie & Jackson (2014). This is for
instance; in case of emergency the practitioners need to be attentive for making quick decision in
order to control situation. Moreover, during medication nurse is accountable for all health and
recovery of patient therefore it is the responsibility of nurses to provide medicines on time. The
responsibility of Student nurse in Logan Hospital at the time of practicing medication revolves
around 5 rights which are, the right patient, the right drug, the right dose, the right route, and the
right time.
Kearney-Nunnery (2015) have referred a prime responsibility of the nurses to implement
these practices and ensure that to whom medication is give right patients. Further, medicines and
dose is right as per prescription and service user. The route of giving medication is right which
can be oral, intravenous, nasal etc. and is given at the right time. Following these practices helps
student nurse to reduce the chance of medication errors and harm to health of patient. Hence,
these are the practices which assist the practitioners in maintaining accountability to their work
practices which are focused on safeguarding health and well-being of people in hospital.
However, the student nurse in Logan hospital has been focused on practicing rights of
medication for being accountable for taking any decision and action.
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3. Professional membership
3.1 Report on peak professional nursing organisation
This is to demonstrate the existence of Logan hospital in terms of their agreed membership
requirement where one should be enough competent to apply for the positions offered by them
where an individual’s qualification should exactly meet the specifications of the applied job
(Masters, 2015). Also, being a teaching hospital, they are known to provide training to the future
health professionals by together participating in researches through a strong collaboration with
Queensland’s prominent tertiary institutes. On whose basis, one gets a chance to become the
member of the organisation. Beside this, Logan hospital is also known to provide specialised
care to their patients with advanced practices adopted by their proficient workforce.
They are together known to follow the clinical practice guidelines with a professional
outlook of serving the users in the best possible manner. By which, they tend to support
professional nursing practices and is currently leading with more than 2000 staff (About us,
2018). This involves 955 nurses, 244 health professionals and 331 doctors that includes the
medical officers as well. Moreover, with a foundation period of nearly 28 years, it has rapidly
grown in terms of their offered medicinal services. As a result, to which, I believe it to be a
suitable place to work and gain a rich experience in my intended career path of nursing where I
aspire to become a successful RN, very soon.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journal
Beardwood, B. A., & Kainer, J. M. (2015). Exploring risk in professional nursing practice: an
analysis of work refusal and professional risk. Nursing inquiry. 22(1). 50-63.
Black, B. (2016). Professional Nursing-E-Book: Concepts & Challenges. Elsevier Health
Sciences.
Blair, K. A., & Jansen, M. P. (Eds.). (2015). Advanced practice nursing: Core concepts for
professional role development. Springer Publishing Company.
Cate, O., & van der Schaaf, M. (2015). Curriculum development for the workplace using
entrustable professional activities (EPAs): AMEE guide no. 99. Medical teacher. 37(11).
983-1002.
Chang, E., & Daly, J. (2015). Transitions in Nursing-E-Book: Preparing for Professional
Practice. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Ellis, P. (2016). Evidence-based practice in nursing. Learning Matters.
Green, J., Wyllie, A., & Jackson, D. (2014). Electronic portfolios in nursing education: A review
of the literature. Nurse education in practice. 14(1). 4-8.
Katsikitis, M. & Priaulx, R. (2013). Continuing professional development in nursing in
Australia: Current awareness, practice and future directions. Contemporary nurse. 45(1). 33-
45.
Kearney-Nunnery, R. (2015). Advancing Your Career Concepts in Professional Nursing. FA
Davis.
Keyko, K. & Wong, C. A. (2016). Work engagement in professional nursing practice: A
systematic review. International journal of nursing studies. 61. 142-164.
Manley, K., McCormack, B., & Wilson, V. (Eds.). (2013). International practice development in
nursing and healthcare. John Wiley & Sons.
Masters, K. (2015). Role development in professional nursing practice. Jones & Bartlett
Publishers.
Moran, K. J., Burson, R., & Conrad, D. (2016). The doctor of nursing practice scholarly project.
Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Trede, F., Macklin, R., & Bridges, D. (2012). Professional identity development: a review of the
higher education literature. Studies in Higher Education. 37(3). 365-384.
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Online
About us. 2018. [Online]. Available through: <https://metrosouth.health.qld.gov.au/logan-
hospital/about-us>.
Schneider, A., 2018. Building a professional nursing portfolio. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.rn.com/nursing-news-building-professional-nursing-portfolio/>.
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