Nursing Reflection on Performing Post-Void Bladder Scan

Running Head: NURSING
0
Nursing
Reflection
(Student Details: )
9/10/2019

Nursing
1
Reflective Journal
Description
During the first few days of my stage-3 clinical placement, I observed my preceptor
while he was performing post-void bladder scan for one of the patients on continence chart.
Afterward, I started following the directive of my preceptor to do the bladder scan for the
same patient under the supervision of him. When it showed up 0ml, I assumed that I got the
correct results. However, later then I was told to do it again as the scan head is incorrectly
positioned. Throughout the process, based on Heyrup & Bente (2009), I was following my
preceptor’s instructions while prompting to move the probe around slightly between each
scan until I can get some reading. It took me a few movements to find the volume of retained
urine to be right in the center of the scale and then the result I got, was 230ml.
Feelings
I would like to narrate my experience as I felt anxious and devastated while I could
not ensure that I got an accurate result. I was thinking that what could happen if I just
assumed I got 0ml and later on the patient deteriorated because of the overload fluid in the
bladder. It made me realize that it could lead to UTI or even worse. Besides, I felt like I got
failed in performing the skills. Moreover, this task made me feel embarrassed as my
preceptor asked me to do it again. At the same time, I felt grateful for the mistakes I have
made as those mistakes allowed me to redeem myself with a second attempt. In the end, I was
happy as I could successfully perform the task correctly and accurately as well.
Evaluation
I found it good that I got an opportunity to learn by getting accurate location and
results. Based on Heyrup & Bente (2009), I learned that I should ensure moving the scan
head around until I got some reading. However, the bad thing is, I did not get the opportunity
to observe before performing the task in reality. The challenging part was I could not
implement it in my first attempt. Learning is that I should have taken time and not just
stopped scanning when I got 0ml.
Analysis
As per the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2017), registered nurse (RN)
standards for practice require the nurse to perform a comprehensive and accurate assessment