Clinical Skills Reflection - Neurovascular Assessment

Running head: REFLECTION 1
Personal Reflection
Name
Institution

REFLECTION 2
Clinical Skills Reflection
Description
During my practical classes in school, I was taught several nursing skills that will be very
important my future practice. One of the most important skills that I learned during the practical
classes was neurovascular assessment. In the company of my classmates, our facilitator took us
through the important procedures and showed us what we were supposed to learn in the practical
classes to ensure that we were well equipped with the necessary neurovascular skills. We were
then divided into three groups where were practically did the things the facilitator had taught us.
Every session I attended, I noted down everything that I learned and everything that may have
seemed unclear. The facilitator also ensured that he assessed my daily progress and gave me
feedback. This feedback helped me in recognizing my strong points and flaws. The experience of
the facilitator in neurovascular assessment was key in ensuring that I understood the basics
because he is a retired nurse.
Feelings
During these practical classes, I developed a serious aspiration to read further and learn more
about neurovascular assessment. The amount of available knowledge on neurovascular
assessment was fascinating and I felt excited about this clinical skill. The idea of using this skill
to help patients to realize better health outcomes in my future practice as a nurse was exciting
and I felt like I could not wait to become a nurse. The facilitator made the classes interesting
because of his vast knowledge in this skill and he, therefore, ensured that I always understood
every detail of the sessions. My fears and worries were eliminated and my confidence levels in

REFLECTION 3
executing this clinical skill rose with every passing lesson. I feel that the neurovascular skills that
I learned will help me excel in my future practice as a nurse.
Evaluation
A neurovascular assessment is very important in physically examining patients who may be at
risk of neurovascular compromise. According to Schreiber (2016), this assessment is done to
evaluate peripheral circulation and motor and sensory function. I understood that the components
of this assessment include temperature, capillary refill, sensation, pulses, and motor function.
These practical classes also ensured that I understood the importance of including every detail of
a neurological assessment in my documentation. It is always very important to compare the
findings of the assessment because even slight changes can have enormous implications.
Schreiber (2016) states that through neurovascular assessment; any neurovascular deterioration
can be identified to ensure that early interventions are initiated. It is important to note that early
neurovascular assessment can prevent a patient from losing their limbs or from deaths in worst-
case scenarios. During the sessions, I failed to properly perform an assessment of the motor
functions because I did not understand it properly. I also shied away from asking important
questions regarding the assessment processes thus limiting my understanding of the assessment
of motor functions.
Analysis
The practical lessons were a good learning experience for all of us and I particularly enjoyed the
classes. According to Saba (2015), neurological imaging is fundamental in improving
neurological skills and assessing components such as pulses, motor function, temperature,