NRSG139 Reflection Assignment

This reflection assignment discusses the skill set learned during the process of blood pressure assessment, challenges faced, and compliance with ANSAT criterion 4.

Running head: NRSG139 REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT
NRSG139 REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

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Description
While undergoing the course NSRG139 in university, we were provided with the
opportunity to reflect upon one of our skill development sessions related to the Australian
Nursing Standards Assessment Tools (ANSAT) criteria 4. This criterion helps the nursing
professionals to conduct the healthcare assessment procedure effectively and comply with the
nursing professional’s code of conducts (Australian Nursing Standard Tools, 2019). While going
through my skills assessment for conduction of successful health assessment in healthcare
facilities, I had the opportunity to learn about blood pressure assessment. Therefore, in this
paper, by using the Gibb’s reflective cycle, I would be reflecting upon the skill set I learned
while going through the process, and would be describing the challenges and issues I faced while
going through the procedure. Besides this, the process of complying with the ANSAT criterion 4
would be discussed in this reflective paper.
Thoughts and feelings
As per Schmidt et al. (2018), as per human psychology, any action that is performed for
the first time, seems difficult and complicated because people are not aware of the processes,
skills and techniques which is required for its successful completion. I was also nervous for the
similar reason as the explanation and observation I had about blood pressure assessment made
me curious and nervous that I would be able to deal with the multistep procedure of it. I was so
much nervous that I started reading the entire steps loud and clear so that while attempting the
process in the skills lab, I could perform it without any serious or major lack. However, in the
entire pre assessment phase, I made myself so much nervous that in the practice session, I felt
blank and was unable to remember any of the steps. Despite this, when I entered the chamber, I

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followed all the steps starting from patient introduction, to patient education and consent,
however, the stress of conducting the each step diligently made me confused and I was unable to
record the actual systolic pressure and had to reassess the pressure, as I lacked the complete
concentration.
Evaluation
I was quite satisfied after my first skill assessment as I was able to complete the process
without any severe mistake and followed all the steps without any miss. Further, I was able to
follow all the steps which were difficult and complicated to me prior to the process. I was able to
comply with patient education, collecting patient consent prior to the process that indicated that
my process and procedure to healthcare assessment was patient centered care with effective
communication (Australian Nursing Standard Tools, 2019). Further, in the ward, I complied with
hygiene standards but I missed the step of checking the patients position and support their hands
with a pillow, as Crocker et al. (2017) mentioned that these are few of the crucial steps that need
to be followed while assessing blood pressure.
Moreover, I was stressed and completely nervous about my skill assessment due to which
I was unable to concentrate on the blood pressure assessment process and in the confusing
condition, missed the systolic blood pressure drop. As per Leung et al. (2017), inaccurate
assessment of blood pressure, especially systolic blood pressure affects patient situation
adversely, if not corrected in accurate time. Therefore, in that situation, I was unable to focus on
the process and hence required multiple practice sessions so that I could overcome my confusion
and inabilities and while my clinical placement situation in the next semester I could comply

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with all the ANSAT principles and guidelines properly. Besides this, I was able to conduct
patient education and effective communication process properly.
Analysis
After detailed analysis of the process and the situation related to my skills assessment of
blood pressure measurement, I was able to understand that I lacked the critical thinking ability
which is one of the crucial aspect mentioned in the ANSAT criteria 4. As per Ossenberg, Dalton
and Henderson (2016), it ensures effective and critical nursing process and its presence helps the
nursing professional to focus on the clinical situation effectively. I allowed my stress and tension
to affect my professional process due to which I was unable to conduct the accurate process at
the first trial and had to measure the blood pressure twice so that all the steps of blood pressure
assessment could be complied with (Australian Nursing Standard Tools, 2019). Further, due to
lack of concentration I was unable to identify the korotkoff sound hence; I was unable to comply
with the complete assessment method. Therefore, from the next practice or clinical practice
situation, I would not be making myself stressed so that such stress could affect my mental peace
and stability and affect my professional practice.
Conclusion
This reflection assignment helped me to identify my lacks mistakes and inabilities due to
which I affected my mental peace and stability and attempted the process without confidence and
determination. However, I was able to understand that despite the inabilities I was able to
conduct the complete process without any severe mistake and hence, this provided me with
satisfaction and hope that I would be able to complete the process in my clinical placement
which will commence in the next semester. Further, with the experience of this situation, I would

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be able to complete the process in my future nursing practices without any error (Australian
Nursing Standard Tools, 2019).
Action plan
In my future clinical placement or skill assessment situations, I would be applying an
action plan of not thinking about the compliances and processes steps and would be following
the logical and ethical principles and the ANSAT guideline diligently so that I could comply
with each and every step of the clinical process without any stress and confusion. Further, while
conducting the blood pressure I would be asking the patient to sit in a comfortable position and
keep his hands elevated so that while assessment of blood pressure accurate and actual values
could be obtained. Therefore, these processes would make me more competent of the process
during my clinical placement.

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References
Australian Nursing Standard Tools (2019). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Registered nurse standards for practice. [online] Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.
Available at: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/
professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx [Accessed 17 Apr.
2019].
Crocker, J. C., Boylan, A. M., Bostock, J., & Locock, L. (2017). Is it worth it? Patient and public
views on the impact of their involvement in health research and its assessment: a UK‐
based qualitative interview study. Health Expectations, 20(3), 519-528.
Leung, A. A., Daskalopoulou, S. S., Dasgupta, K., McBrien, K., Butalia, S., Zarnke, K. B., ... &
Gelfer, M. (2017). Hypertension Canada's 2017 guidelines for diagnosis, risk assessment,
prevention, and treatment of hypertension in adults. Canadian Journal of
Cardiology, 33(5), 557-576.
Ossenberg, C., Dalton, M., & Henderson, A. (2016). Validation of the Australian nursing
standards assessment tool (ANSAT): a pilot study. Nurse education today, 36, 23-30.
Schmidt, R. A., Lee, T. D., Winstein, C., Wulf, G., & Zelaznik, H. N. (2018). Motor control and
learning: A behavioral emphasis. Human kinetics.