Continuing Professional Development and Personal Reflection in Nursing

This article discusses the importance of continuous development in nursing and personal reflection using Gibbs reflection cycle. It also highlights the NMBA standards and how they contribute to better patient outcomes.

Continuing Professional Development
Since the nursing profession needs continuous development and advancements in skills, I have
had to attend different workshops, seminars and conferences and other important short courses.
In December 2016, I managed to complete a three week course in Occupational safety at
workplace that was organized by the Nursing Department at our school in conjunction with St.
Johns Ambulance.
In January 2017, I completed a four days course in Accidents and Emergency Surveillance at the
Ministry of Health. We were taught on how nurses should respond on different emergencies such
as suicide and how to prevent excessive bleeding.
Am planning to attend a short course in Obstetrics and gynecology that will be organized in
November 2018.This is because I have realized that am not that good at obstetrics and it is one of
the fundamentals in the nursing practice. I want to use that opportunity to become perfect.
I have attended an Australian Nursing Association workshop that educated me on importance of
communication in the nursing practice.
Am also planning to be enrolled as a member of the Australia Students Nursing association that
will I gain more knowledge and be better equipped for better future nursing practices.
Personal Reflection
Description
In this section, I will utilize the Gibbs reflection cycle to reflect on my nursing experiences. I
prefer the Gibbs model since it is convenient and easy to use (Williams, Woolliams, & Spiro,
2012). As a nurse, there were different NMBA standards that registered nurses and midwives

were taught at the beginning of the course. Some of the standards taught include thinking
critically and analyzing nursing practice, engaging in therapeutic and professional practice and
developing a nursing practice. This standards are very important during patient assessment and
intervention. When I went for clinical placements, I utilized the standard of effective planning by
preparing the working area prior to nursing assessment. As a student nurse, I felt very motivated
and anxious to practice within the set standards of practice. I also felt very happy during the
clinical placement after I realized that adhering to NMBA standards of practice leads to good
results. Nurses have the role of providing care to patients. However, adhering to the seven
standards of practice as stipulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board is important as it has
contributed to accurate diagnosis which has led to better patient outcomes. I learnt that as a
nurse, I am supposed to engage in therapeutic and professional relationships with patients. This
is important to maintain dignity and correct medication. I have realized that through being
updated of the NMBA nursing standards, I will be very good at patient diagnosis and nursing
interventions. If I had read more of the literature evidence, I would be better positioned to handle
patient assessment using the clinical reasoning cycle. I will also make sure that I consult
anything that I don’t understand. This includes making inquiries from the senior nurses. In the
future nursing practice, I will make sure that I stick to the stipulated nursing standards of
practice.

References
Williams, K., Woolliams, M., & Spiro, J. (2012). Using a framework for reflection: Gibbs’
reflective cycle. Reflective Writing, 90-102. doi:10.1007/978-0-230-37724-0_16