Gibb’s Reflection about Blood Pressure Assessment

This reflective paper discusses the challenges faced while conducting blood pressure assessment and its implications on future clinical placements. It reflects upon the importance of patient education and consent in healthcare assessment.

Running head: REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT
GIBB’S REFLCETION ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE ASSESSMENT
NAME OF THE STUDENT
NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY
AUTHOR NOTE

REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT 1
Introduction
As per the Australian Nursing Standard Tools (ANSAT) (2019), healthcare assessment is
one of the crucial aspects of healthcare process, as it is the first step of understanding the
concerns of the patient. Through a series of physical examinations healthcare professionals
identifies the health status by evaluating the patient’s health history and current symptoms
(Vargas, Chuang & Lee, 2014). This semester, we are taught about this specific aspect of
healthcare as ANSAT criteria 4 mentions of comprehensive assessment and its importance on
patient’s wellbeing. Therefore, in this reflective paper, I would be reflecting upon one of the
crucial assessment procedure that is measurement of blood pressure and through the steps of
Gibb’s reflection cycle, would mention the challenges I faced while conducting this clinical
assessment aspect. Further, I would also reflect on the implication of this challenging experience
on my future clinical placements.
Description
In our classroom sessions we were provide with the information regarding ANSAT tool
and the first competence that we were asked to develop as a nursing professional was ability to
conduct nursing assessment procedure. As per the Australian Nursing Standard Tools (2019), it
is important for the nursing professionals to be able to conduct health assessment properly as
depending on it the healthcare interventions are determined (Australian Nursing Standard Tools,
2019). Measuring blood pressure on of the aspects of ANSAT criteria 4 and it has always
fascinated me. In a practical session, we were asked to measure blood pressure of our peers and
follow the ANSAT criteria 4 while conducting comprehensive physical assessment. I
commenced the process by greeting the patient and then asked the patient to sit up in a

2REFLECTION ASSIGNMENT
comfortable condition. Further, as per my understanding, I placed the patient’s hand on a pillow.
However, while conducting the process I did not educate the patient regarding the process and
completed the measurement and documenting the results. However, I was aware of the korotoff
sound that indicates the systolic pressure and listened to it for the last beat that indicated towards
the diastolic pressure. Further, I also complied with the post measurement procedure and cleaned
the machine after use. Hence, this was the situation that I faced while conducting blood pressure
related health assessment.
Feelings
After completion of the process, I was satisfied that I was able to understand the manual
procedure of blood pressure assessment. Prior to commencement of the process, I was hesitating
as I was not sure that I would be able to comply with the procedure but I was able to overcome
my lack of confidence and complete the assessment. However, I was also aware of the process
that I was unable to comply with such as providing the patent with education about the process
and collect the consent, which is one of the primary aspect of care procedure (Anhang Price et
al., 2014). Therefore, this incompetency reflected my inability to communicate with patients and
provide them with healthcare information for all the interventions applied. This incompetency is
a severe lack that could affect my future nursing clinical placement and affect my abilities as a
nursing professional (Forsberg et al., 2014). Therefore, despite of completing the entire process
without any mistake, I was concerned about my incompetency of patient education and consent
prior to health assessment.

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Evaluation
There are both positive and negative outcomes of the situation arise in the practice
session in the university. The positive outcome of the situation was my ability to comply with the
ANSAT criteria 4 and conduct the blood pressure assessment without any error in the first trial.
This boosted my confidence and now I feel I have better understanding of the manual blood
pressure method and I could perform the assessment with confidence. However, not complying
with the patient education and consent related aspects, affected my practice and made me
concerned about my future clinical placement. Therefore, it was negative for my confidence and
encouragement because now I am more focused on completing these other aspects than
completing the core process effectively (Australian Nursing Standard Tools, 2019).
Analysis
While analyzing the situation, I was able to understand that in university sessions, I was
more concerned of the manual blood pressure assessment because majority of the healthcare
professionals are unable to understand the procedure and requires practice and time to conduct an
error free blood pressure assessment. Hence, I was more concerned of the process than the
complete assessment session, which leads to the above-mentioned situation. However, besides
this, I was able to note the accurate systolic and diastolic pressure through manual process of
blood pressure assessment and conducted the process without any error as mentioned in the
paper by Sherlock and Brownie (2014). Therefore, besides collecting consent and educating the
patient about the assessment process, I conducted the complete assessment in compliance with
the ANSAT criteria 4.

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Conclusion
The complete blood pressure assessment process practice and the education about the
ANSAT criteria 4 provided me with the opportunity to conduct the most crucial healthcare
process for any patient. I am satisfied and confident that I would be able to conduct such tasks in
my clinical placement if I was allowed to and with further practice would be able to comply with
all other additional competencies so that I could maintain the effectiveness of the process.
Therefore, despite of all the challenges and concerns, I was assured that I would be able to
conduct the blood pressure assessment with complete compliance with the ANSAT criteria 4 and
the patient communication and consent strategies.
Action plan
The action plan that I would be following is to include the effective flow of
communication in the process. I would be educating the patient in every step of physical
assessment and would also provide them with the rationale for the procedure so that acceptance
of the patient could be achieved that will help the patient to take part in the process effectively.
Further, I would discuss with my senior nursing professionals so that I become aware of their
strategy of complying with the process and apply them in my clinical placement in the next
semester. Therefore, these action plans would help me to comply with the ANSAT criteria 4 and
NMBA standard.

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References
Anhang Price, R., Elliott, M. N., Zaslavsky, A. M., Hays, R. D., Lehrman, W. G., Rybowski,
L., ... & Cleary, P. D. (2014). Examining the role of patient experience surveys in
measuring health care quality. Medical Care Research and Review, 71(5), 522-554.
Australian Nursing Standard Tools (2019). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Registered nurse standards for practice. [online] Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.
Available at: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/
professional-standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx [Accessed 17 Apr.
2019].
Forsberg, E., Ziegert, K., Hult, H., & Fors, U. (2014). Clinical reasoning in nursing, a think-
aloud study using virtual patients–A base for an innovative assessment. Nurse Education
Today, 34(4), 538-542.
Sherlock, A., & Brownie, S. (2014). Patients' recollection and understanding of informed
consent: a literature review. ANZ journal of surgery, 84(4), 207-210.
Vargas, C. R., Chuang, D. J., & Lee, B. T. (2014). Assessment of patient health literacy: a
national survey of plastic surgeons. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 134(6), 1405-
1414.