Registered Nurse Standards of Practice Reflection - AHPRA Standards

This report reflects on two AHPRA Registered Nurse Standards of Practice: critical thinking and therapeutic relationships. It emphasizes the importance of these standards in nursing, particularly in evaluating evidence and maintaining professional boundaries. The author shares a personal experience of caring for a patient with severe depression, discussing challenges faced and lessons learned regarding resource utilization and confidence. The reflection uses Gibbs' Reflective Cycle to analyze the experience, highlighting the significance of leadership and continuous learning in nursing practice. The report concludes that understanding both personal and professional values is essential for effective nursing.

Nursing 1
Nursing

Nursing 2
Introduction:
Professional standards state the competent level of care for each and every stage of the
nursing process, and it mainly reflects the expected and achievable level of performance from the
nurse. In other words, actual performances of the nurses are compared from the performance
stated by these standards (Charlotte, 2014.
This assignment reflects the two the AHPRA Registered Nurse Standard of Practice and
this reflection is done as per the Gibbs Reflective Cycle. This paper is concluded with the brief
conclusion. The chosen standards in this context are standard 1 (Thinks critically and analyses
nursing practice, and standard 2 (Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships.
Importance of standards
Standard 1- Thinks Critically and Analyse Nursing practices
These standards state that nurses are responsible to use the different thinking strategies and the
available evidences for making their decisions. This standard introduce following practices-
 Must access and evaluate the best available evidences.
 Must develop the practices through different reflections related to actions, knowledge,
and experience.
 Must respect all the cultures and experiences, which means, does not discriminate
between the patients.
 Must comply with the legislations and other regulations.
 Must maintain the documents related to the assessment in accurate and timely manner
 Must contribute to the quality improvement (NMBA, no date.
This standard mainly address the issues related to the practices conducted by nurses while
performing their duties such as they act without considering all the necessary and relevant
evidences. It impose obligation on the nurses to use their best knowledge while performing their
duties, and mainly consider the professional values possessed by nurses while performing their
duties.
This standard mainly reflects the thinking capabilities of the nurses, and set measures for
them in terms of their performance.
Standard 2- Engaged in therapeutic and professional relationships
This standard mainly impose obligation on the nurses to engage in the effective
therapeutic and professional relationships, and this standard mainly focus on the development of
the mutual trust and respect in their professional relationships. This standard introduce following
practices-

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 Must establish and sustain the different boundaries for ensuring the differentiation of
their personal and professional relationship.
 Must communicate in effective manner and show respect for the dignity, values, and
culture of another person.
 Must recognize that other peoples are also the experts in the different experiences of their
life.
 Must give support and direct the people towards all those resources which optimise the
health related decisions (NMBA, 2018.
This standard highlights the personal values and ethical responsibilities of the nurses,
which means, nurses of the organization are ethically responsible to ensure that they does not
mix their personal values with their professional relationships. This standard also addresses
number of issues such as personal beliefs and values of the nurses must not affect their duties,
and they must separate their personal issues and beliefs with the professional’s one.
Case of Depression and dejection
Above stated standards mainly focus on the thinking strategies and professional duties of the
nurses, as it states that before taking any action all the relevant evidences must be evaluated and
personal beliefs must be separated from the professional duties. In my theory sessions, I will
always prepare myself that before taking the action I will evaluate all the best possible evidences
and give support and direct the people towards all those resources which optimise the health
related decisions. Recently, I get the opportunity to care one of my senior’s patients who was
suffering from the severe depression and dejection.
While working with this patient, I found that depression is the severe cause and it affects the
health of the person on continuous basis. It was completely new experience for me and it
becomes little difficult for me to handle such patient because she is not responding any of my
action.
During this period of time, I am trying to work with her depression and slowly I see the
improvement. However, after two weeks situations changed on sudden basis and her health starts
deteriorating. Suddenly, she fails to response the meditation and other treatments which are
given to her and it becomes very difficult for me to take care of her. At that time, my seniors
handle the situation, as I ask for their help. All these incidents affect my working abilities,
because I realise that I fail to give support in terms of all the resources which are required by her
for optimizing her health. In one these situations, my confidence level goes down and I am not
able to deal with her. Overall, the complete experienced ends well and as stated I learn number
of new things and become more prominent in performing my job.
That thing which does not work well was happened because of the lack of experience and
also because of the nervousness I face while performing my job. For resolving these issues for

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future work, I will definitely work on the operations skills and try to develop my confidence. I
would take training session organized by my workplace, and try to grab all those teachings which
are stated in training sessions. Those things which were well were happened because of the great
leadership of my senior and also because of the focus I put in understanding those things (KCL,
no date.
At the end, I can say that it was the most memorable experience of my nursing career and
it will definitely enhance my knowledge in terms of my work. Through this campaign I learn
number of things and all these things help me in performing my responsibilities with all the
effectiveness.
Conclusion
After considering the above facts, it is clear that both the standards focus on the
professional and personal values of the nurses, and also highlight the relevant practices which are
expecting from the nurses at the time when they are performing their duties.
References
AHPRA. Professional standards. Retrieved from https://www.ahpra.gov.au/search.aspx?
q=competency%20standards.
Charlotte, D. (2014. The importance of professional standards. The Importance of professional
standards, Volume 12(5, pp-4.
KCL. Using Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle. Retrieved from
https://www.kcl.ac.uk/campuslife/services/disability/onlineresources/StudyGuides/USING-
GIBBS-REFLECTIVE-CYCLE-IN-COURSEWORK-DEC-2016-P-LIA.pdf.
NMBA, (2018. Code of conduct for nurses and Code of conduct for midwives. Retrieved from
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-
standards.aspx.
NMBA. Registered nurse standards for practice. Retrieved from
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/professional-
standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx.