Improving Nursing Skills: Learning Objectives and Action Plan

Introduction
Plans and goals
Conclusion
The profession of nursing demands great decision making skill, technical competency
and strong ethical and moral as the lives of the patients largely depend on these
abilities of the nurses. Effective communication style, humility, trustworthiness and
care are the most favoured qualities which need to be mingled with knowledge as well
as technical competence. These aspects of personal developments in the nurses can
enhance effective interpersonal relationships, skills and knowledge. There are
numerous medical settings which include clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres
which influence the nurses to set their own personal goals.
Improvi
ng
assessm
ent
skills
Improving the ability to choose
the assessment material
according to the importance and
efficiency ( Strachan et., 2018).
Increasing the amount pf
understanding the connection
between the findings and
medication of the patients.
Developing proper
understanding of disease
process for appropriate
communication with the
physicians and the colleagues.
Consulting with the peers and
assess their viewpoint on the
same situation.
Enrolling in the
physical assessment
course.
Reading journals of
nursing.
Reviewing and
combining the
physical assessment
with the nursing text
books.
Asking for guidance
from the mentors.
Consulting with the
colleagues for
betterment of
assessment process.
Improvement in
the assessment
skills which will
help in gaining
the best
knowledge for
the making best
care decisions
for the patients.
Eight to
twelve
months.
Devel
opme
nt
Need
Learning objectives Action plan Evaluativ
e criteria
Ti
me
Development Need Learning objectives Action plan Evaluative criteria Time frame
Increasing
comfort with
Venepuncture
and other
medical
procedures
Learning proper methods of
handling various medical
procedures especially
venepuncture.
Learning methods to keep
calmness and relaxation so
that the actions can be
done swiftly.
Reviewing materials and text
books received in the
venepuncture
Classes.
Asking for help to the mentors
and know various types of
medical procedures most
practiced in reality.
Meeting with the manger to set
up schedule for working in the
outpatient labs.
Improvement of medical
procedure skills will help to
perform the skill
independently as well as
efficiently. It will increase
comfortability and
confidence in handing
emergency situation
Within three
to five
months
Evidence based
practice or EBP
Evidence based practice is the
diligent use of available data in
patient care. It is a proper
integration of clinical expertise
or expert opinion, external
scientific evidences and
combination of caregiver’s
patient’s or client’s viewpoint
to enhance the quality of
patient care.
Learning to access the information
resources along with the clinical
guidelines to find more data.
Learning proper integration of the
three essential factors of evidence
based practice.
Finding vital signs from the past
medical history of the patients.
Proper application of the findings in
practising a high quality patient
care.
Assist the physician with the
findings based on the evidences.
Ability to provide best support to
the patient’s health by assessing
past and present condition of the
patient (Gresh et al., 2016). Taking
best decision at the most
appropriate moment for the best
care to the patient.
1 to 1.5 years
Behavioural
development
Knowledge and awareness on
specialised area. Practicing
empathy for each and every
patient irrespectively in their
individual circumstances.
Encourage the
patients suffering for
long time.
Adopting coping
mechanism to
increase their mental
stability and
behavioural comfort.
Learning to realise
and sympathise with
the psychological
need of the client
(Boyle & Anderson,
2015).
Ability to comfort extreme
psychological pressure of the
patients with chronic ailments.
Motivate and advise the clients to
cope up with anxiety.
Providing best psychological
support to increase mental
strength which will help the
patients recover fast.
2 to 3 years
of
continuous
practice.
Revalid
ation
Assurance to the
patients and the clients
about the reliability of
the medical practice.
Keep the records up to
date and effective for
the fast recovery of the
client. Assurance of
proper engagement in
the professional
experts.
Submission of updated
credentials. Incensing
acquaintance with the
guidelines and codes of
council to provide best
support.
Increasing use of
technological
advancement in
revalidation of data.
Having proper
information about
the codes and
guidelines of the
council and
constant updating
of personal data.
Gathering new and
updated information
regarding diseases
and practice
effective use of
technology for
attending them.
1
year
maxi
mum
.
Promoti
ng safe
environ
ment in
the
care
centres
Keeping the medical
settings safe for both
the patients as well as
the other clients ( Milic
et al., 2015).
Identification and
eradication of potential
hazards immediately.
Learning to sterilise all
the medical equipment
as well as following
proper safety guidelines
to minimise the spread
of contagious diseases.
Looking out the
physical hazards for
example spills,
blocked spaces and
even the
emotionally weak
patients or visitors.
3 to
4
years
.
A nurse keeps on learning as medical knowledge, technology and types of
ailments are constantly evolving. Therefore, a nurse needs to be always up to
date with these factors to provide the best care to the clients. All the nurses
therefore strive to improve their skills and knowledge throughout the careers
and continue educations. This is the reason why they must attain educational
courses through seminars and professional workshops. As their chief aim is
providing high quality care, the education processes include training and other
professional opportunities.
References:
Boyle, D. A., & Anderson, W. G. (2015). Enhancing the communication skills of
critical care nurses: focus on prognosis and goals of care discussions. J Clin
Outcomes Manage, 22(12), 543-549.
Gresh, A. K., Sharps, P., Dallman, E., Pfaff, T. A., & Brooks, K. (2016).
Building the Capacity of Nurses to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs) Through Knowledge Gateways.
Milic, M. M., Puntillo, K., Turner, K., Joseph, D., Peters, N., Ryan, R., ... &
Anderson, W. G. (2015). Communicating with patients’ families and physicians
about prognosis and goals of care. American Journal of Critical Care, 24(4),
e56-e64.