Professional Development Portfolio for Nursing Practices

This report discusses the learning needs and development plan for registered nurses as per Australian NMBA code of ethics. It highlights the importance of effective communication and interaction skills for providing quality nursing interventions. The report suggests learning strategies such as tutorial and cooperative learning to improve nursing practices.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PORTFOLIO

Executive summary
Personal development plan allows an individual to analyze their loopholes and develop ways to
mitigate those problems. Australian NMBA code of ethics provides information and guidelines
regarding nursing practices that need to be abided by these registered nurses. Being a nurse, I
have succumbed to communication issues while interacting with my patients. Apart from this, I
also need to improve my knowledge and education regarding nursing practices that will allow me
to provide effective nursing interventions. I need to interact with other healthcare professionals
to improve my communication skills. Furthermore, I also require taking help from journals and
podcasts to gain information regarding nursing interventions.
2

Table of Contents
Part A: Identification of learning needs...........................................................................................4
Part B: Development of a learning plan..........................................................................................5
Part C: Process evaluation...............................................................................................................8
Part D: Further action......................................................................................................................9
Conclusion.....................................................................................................................................10
Reference List................................................................................................................................11
Appendices....................................................................................................................................13
3

Introduction
Personal development involves proper maintenance and improvement of employees in order to
attain goals within their business environment. This personal development also incurs
broadening knowledge as well as expertise required to deal with specific situation within a
working environment. This current report will highlight learning needs that are required by
registered nurses within the healthcare sector. Australian NMBA code of conduct will also be
provided in this current report. Finally, a detailed evaluation of the learning plan along with
actions will be mentioned in this current report.
Part A: Identification of learning needs
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) provides several standards and guidelines
that need to be followed by nurses and midwives within their healthcare facilities. Ellis
(2016:23) commented that midwifery is one of the professions that has been grounded in
evidence-based healthcare facilities. Being a midwife, it is my responsibility to take proper and
effective care of my patients (influenced by Millar, Chambers & Giles, 2016:209-221). This code
of conduct details several standards that need to be abided by midwives to pursue their nursing
career. Iwasiw & Goldenberg (2014:36) stated that nurses were often seen violating terms and
conditions while delivering care facilities to their patients. Therefore, they need to follow the
NMBA code of conduct and their guidelines within healthcare facilities. The following are some
of the standards that are mentioned in this NMBA code-
Standard 1: Midwives are responsible for promoting effective health and wellbeing of their
patients.
Standard 2: Midwives engage in developing professional relationships with their patients to
understand health issues faced by their patients
Standard 3: A proper demonstration of accounting and capability within midwifery practices
Standard 4: A proper analyzing and undertaking of comprehensive health care practices
Standard 5: Midwifery development plans
Standard 6: Providing patients with safety and quality based nursing interventions
Standard 7: A proper evaluation of healthcare outcomes to improve the quality of lives of the
patients (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2018).
4

It is essential to understand my loopholes and essentials that need to be improved to continue
nursing practices. Keating (2014:36) stated that an effective evaluation of learning needs and
proper development of objectives would overall help the involved personnel to deal with their
issues. In this case, my selected learning objectives will help me to address my issues and ensure
the proper wellbeing of my patients. I have selected standard 5.2 and 6.1 of NMBA nursing code
of ethics as my learning objectives. The following are some of my learning objectives that I,
being a registered nurse, have found out to help me with my nursing practices-
● To improve planning and communication skills of nursing practice
● To provide appropriate, safe and responsive quality nursing practices to the patients
I have selected standard 5.2 and 6.1 as my learning objectives due to my prevalent loopholes. I
have attended both wound care clinic and diabetes education to learn the several guidelines and
nursing practices. While delivering services and receiving nursing practices, I have learned about
my loopholes in communication and providing quality services. Therefore, I have selected these
two standards as my learning objectives.
Part B: Development of a learning plan
A template for learning plan detailed about the several objectives and needs that are
required to provide effective nursing practices. I have difficulty interacting with my
patients and other healthcare professionals. Apart from this, I have issues in providing
proper care to my patients. I could not analyze which first-aid is beneficial for my patient
and this aggravated their condition (Influenced by Snelling, 2016:229-249). Therefore, a
proper evaluation of my learning objectives and their learning outcomes need to be
analyzed. In the following summary table, a detailed analysis of my learning plan has been
summarised.
Training
&
develop
ment
Priority Mitigato
ry action
Target
date
Estimate
d cost
Funding Learning
outcome
Evaluati
on
5

needs
Improvin
g
communi
cation
and
planning
skills
relative
to
nursing
practice
This skill
is
essential
to
understan
d the
patient's
health
issues
and
interact
with
them.
i)
Interactio
n with
healthcar
e
professio
nals
ii)
Reading
healthcar
e related
journals
2.12.201
8
$200 Academy
of
Medical
and
Health
Sciences
in
Australia
I have
gained
knowledg
e
regarding
various
communi
cation
skills. To
understan
d patients
health-
related
issues, it
is
essential
to
establish
an
effective
relationsh
ip with
them.
Therefore
I am
being
able to
interact
with my
patients
and
learning
about
their
health
issues.
6

,
communi
cation
skills are
essential
and
necessary
within
the
healthcar
e sector.
Providing
safe and
appropria
te nursing
practices
to the
patients
Effective
physical
and
mental
well
being of
patients
i) HETI
modules
ii)
Reading
online
learning
modules
and
health-
related
journals
21.01.20
19
$400 Healthcar
e
institutes
Effective
nursing
practices
need to
be
followed
by the
midwives
in order
to ensure
the
proper
well
being of
I could
provide
first-aid
to my
patients
and detail
them
regarding
their
medical
dosage
timings.
7

the
affected
patients.
Table 1: Learning plan template
(Source: Created by the researcher)
I need to understand my patient's health and provide them with effective interventions to ensure
proper health outcome. Nelson & Staggers (2016:97) commented that communication skills are
essential within the healthcare sector as this enables any midwives to interact with their patients.
This form of interaction is essential to understand the patient's issues. Oermann (2017:33) added
that this form of communication and interaction between nurses and patients are essential in
order to develop an interrelationship. The nurse-patient professional relationship further helps
these patients to receive effective care provisions from their midwives. Therefore, I need to
improve my communication and interaction skills that could allow me to provide effective care
to my patients. Reading health-related journals and podcasts would help me to gain information
regarding quality services provided to patients. Foster et al. (2015:510-517) commented that
health-related journals would provide ample information and data regarding quality care.
Therefore, I need to read these journals and communicate with healthcare professionals in order
to improve my loopholes. [Refer to Appendix 1]
Part C: Process evaluation
Standard 5.2
Midwives are provided with duties to take proper care of their patients along with taking
effective nursing judgments. Fowler (2016:7-21) commented that midwives need to take
therapeutic decisions of their patients and therefore, proper information and knowledge need to
be provided to them. Effective communication and interaction with patients will provide
information to these midwives regarding their issues. Being a midwife, I need to take care of my
patients and analyze their health-related issues. In addition to this, I need to prioritize my
8

patient's needs and provide actions in order to ensure proper health outcomes of these patients.
Furthermore, according to this standard, I need to anticipate the health outcomes of my patients
and accordingly provide them with therapeutic interventions. I will be able to provide and
evaluate condition of patients on receiving effective knowledge regarding their syndromes.
I had attended renal hemodialysis for one week and even received HETI certificate. Apart from
these, I even also attended a wound care clinic and received diabetes education. While
conducting these services, I analyzed my loopholes and evaluated that I have communication
issues (Influenced by LaFond & Blood, 2016). Furthermore, this standard also suggests that it is
the duty of midwives to take proper care of their patients. Halcomb et al. (2016:1193-1205)
opined that effective interaction with patients would help to develop a relationship between the
patient and nurses. Therefore, it can be said that this sort of communication and interaction skills
need to be enhanced. Regular interaction with healthcare professionals will help me to
understand my issues and develop a skill to interact with patients. Therefore, it is essential for me
to develop skills to communicate and interact with my patients within healthcare facilities.
Standard 6.1
Registered nurses need to provide effective services to their patients. It has been observed that
these nurses need to provide proper care and therapeutic interventions to their patients. Kane &
de Vries (2017:744-751) stated that code of conduct provides guidelines to these nurses to take
effective care to their patients. Furthermore, one of the initial roles played by these midwives is
to provide first-aid to their patients. Therefore, proper knowledge and information regarding
diseases and conditions are essential for these nurses. Being a nurse, I must provide initial care to
my patient in order to ensure the proper and effective health of them. This standard suggests that
every nurse need to have effective education and knowledge regarding care interventions to their
patients. Furthermore, this standard also suggests providing quality services to their patients
(Kangasniemi, Pakkanen & Korhonen, 2015). Similarly, I must have effective knowledge and
information regarding quality services so that I can take proper care of my patients.
Another major responsibility of the registered nurse is to refer patients to proper clinicians. In
order to refer to proper clinicians, proper information and knowledge regarding the disorders are
essential. Therefore, I need to have adequate information and knowledge regarding the clinical
difficulties faced by patients (Influenced by Hodge, 2015:27-38). In order to gain information
regarding clinical terminologies and their symptoms, journals and podcasts could be effective to
9

provide information. I have selected these two learning objectives as I have major difficulties in
communicating with my patients.
Part D: Further action
Registered nurses have a responsibility to provide proper interventions to their patients and take
care of their health. Ferri, Muzzalupo & Di Lorenzo (2015:41) commented that communication
and decision-making process are some of the essential actions that need to be considered in the
case of registered nurses. The following are some of the learning strategies that could help me to
develop better communication skills and attain my learning objectives.
Tutorial learning strategy- This strategy will help me to understand the necessity of
communication skills. Furthermore, health-related tutorials will help me to understand the
symptoms of various health issues and provide primary interventions to my patients (Influenced
by Hewitt & Cappiello, 2015:69-76).
Cooperative learning strategy- Interaction and cooperation with other health care professionals
will help me to understand my loopholes and address them. Hébert & Fillion (2017:33-42) stated
that this sort of interaction will help me to gain better information regarding issues faced by my
patients.
These are some of the learning strategies that would allow me to gain information and improve
my skills in order to ensure effective nursing practices.
Conclusion
Therefore, it can be said that professional development plan is essential in order to improve
knowledge and enable high competence within the health sector. Being a nurse, I must take
proper care of my patients and ensure them with effective interventions. I have communication
issues and unable to interact with my patients. Therefore, with the help of tutorial lessons and
health-related journals, I will be able to gain information and knowledge regarding my patient's
issues. Moreover, regular interaction with healthcare professionals will also help me to improve
my communication skills. Thus, these skills will help me to deal with problem and ensure
effective efficacy within the healthcare sector.
10

Reference List
Books
Ellis, P. (2016) Evidence-based practice in nursing. London: Learning Matters.
Iwasiw, C. L., & Goldenberg, D. (2014) Curriculum development in nursing education.
Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Keating, S. B. (Ed.). (2014) Curriculum development and evaluation in nursing. New York City:
Springer Publishing Company.
Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2016) Health Informatics-E-Book: An Interprofessional Approach.
Amsterdam: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Oermann, M. H. (2017) Teaching in nursing and role of the educator: The complete guide to
best practice in teaching, evaluation, and curriculum development. New York City: Springer
Publishing Company.
Journals
Foster, K., McCloughen, A., Delgado, C., Kefalas, C., & Harkness, E. (2015) Emotional
intelligence education in pre-registration nursing programmes: An integrative review. Nurse
Education Today, 35(3), 510-517.
Fowler, M. D. (2016) Heritage ethics: Toward a thicker account of nursing ethics. Nursing
Ethics, 23(1), 7-21.
Halcomb, E., Stephens, M., Bryce, J., Foley, E., & Ashley, C. (2016) Nursing competency
standards in primary health care: an integrative review. Journal of clinical nursing, 25(9-10),
1193-1205.
Kane, J., & de Vries, K. (2017) Dignity in long-term care: An application of Nordenfelt's work.
Nursing Ethics, 24(6), 744-751.
Kangasniemi, M., Pakkanen, P., & Korhonen, A. (2015) Professional ethics in nursing: an
integrative review. Journal of advanced nursing, 71(8), 1744-1757.
Millar, S. L., Chambers, M., & Giles, M. (2016) Service user involvement in mental health care:
an evolutionary concept analysis. Health Expectations, 19(2), 209-221.
Snelling, P. C. (2016) The metaethics of nursing codes of ethics and conduct. Nursing
Philosophy, 17(4), 229-249.
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Online Articles
Ferri, P., Muzzalupo, J., & Di Lorenzo, R. (2015) Patients’ perception of dignity in an Italian
general hospital: a cross-sectional analysis. BMC health services research, [Online] 15(1), 41.
Available from: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-015-0704-
8
Hébert, J., & Fillion, L. (2017) Development and validation of an individualized survivorship
care plan (ISCP) for women with endometrial cancer during the transition of the end of active
treatment to the cancer survivorship. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 27(1), 33-42.
Available from: http://www.canadianoncologynursingjournal.com/index.php/conj/article/view/
755
Hewitt, C., & Cappiello, J. (2015) Essential competencies in nursing education for prevention
and care related to unintended pregnancy. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal
Nursing, [Online] 44(1), 69-76. Available from:
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1552-6909.12525
Hodge, D. R. (2015) Administering a two‐stage spiritual assessment in healthcare settings: a
necessary component of ethical and effective care. Journal of nursing management, [Online]
23(1), 27-38. Available from:
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/David_R_Hodge/publication/236249493_Administering_a_
two-
stage_spiritual_assessment_in_healthcare_settings_A_necessary_component_of_ethical_and_eff
ective_care/links/5a2205bf0f7e9b71dd0362f7/Administering-a-two-stage-spiritual-assessment-
in-healthcare-settings-A-necessary-component-of-ethical-and-effective-care.pdf
LaFond, C. M., & Blood, A. (2016) Targeted Simulation Instructor Course for Nursing
Professional Development Specialists. Journal for nurses in professional development, [Online]
32(6), 284. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5123766/
Website
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2018). New codes of conduct for nurses and
midwives published. Viewed on 14th July 2018 <
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/news/2017-09-28-new-codes-of-conduct.aspx>
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Appendices
Appendix 1: Evidence record
Self-directed continuing professional development
Name:
Date Identified
learning
need
Action
plan
Type of
activity
Description
of topic (s)
covered
during
activity and
outcome
No./Title/
Description
of evidence
provided
CPD
hour
s
2.11.2018 Improving
communicati
on and
planning
skills relative
to nursing
practice
i)
Interaction
with
healthcare
professiona
ls
ii) Reading
healthcare
related
journals
Interaction
with
healthcare
professiona
ls
Interaction
will help me
to improve
my
communicati
on skills
.
Using formal
language
while
communicati
ng with my
professionals
10
AM
to 12
PM
13

Date Identified
learning
need
Action
plan
Type of
activity
Description
of topic (s)
covered
during
activity and
outcome
No./Title/
Description
of evidence
provided
CPD
hour
s
12.12.201
8
Providing
safe and
appropriate
nursing
practices to
the patients
i) HETI
modules
ii) Reading
online
learning
modules
and health-
related
journals
Reading
podcasts
and
journals
Reading
health-related
journals will
further
provide
detailed
information
regarding the
issues faced
by the
patients
Health-
related
journals need
to be
analyzed
9
AM
to 3
PM
14