Analysis of Clinical Competency Standards for Registered Nurses

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the clinical competency standards for registered nurses, as defined by the NMBA. The report begins with an introduction to clinical competency and its significance in providing safe patient care. It then delves into each of the seven standards, including critical thinking, therapeutic and professional relationships, maintaining capability for practice, comprehensive assessments, developing a plan for nursing practice, providing safe and appropriate quality nursing practice, and evaluating outcomes to inform nursing practice. Each standard is explained with practical examples of how a registered nurse can apply them in their practice. The report concludes by summarizing the importance of these standards for effective and efficient nursing care, referencing various books and journals to support its findings.

Task 1 b E Portfolio

Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Clinical competency refers to the ability of health professional and registered nurses to give
safe care to each patient (Coyne and et. al., 2021). This report highlights the registered nurse
standards which are considered by them while delivering care to patients.
1. Thinks critically and analyses nursing practice.
Nurses consider various thinking strategies and best available evidence to make decisions
and provide safe and high quality nursing practice. This standard basically puts reflection on
knowledge, experience and actions determining how these can be used to shape practice. It also
focuses over respecting culture and experiences of people and also contributes in quality and
research improvement. I always keep this standard in my mind so that I can achieve this each
time while doing my practice. When I have the duty of measuring blood pressure of the patient I
always focus over following infection control policy and always wash hands before starting
measuring blood pressure. Then I always make sure that patient gets comfortable with me and I
discuss with them about procedure of measuring BP. After this I document each finding on the
ADDS chart of patient systematically so that current results can be measured and compared with
the previous outcomes. I consider carried out findings as per the health status of patient, ADDS
score and previous findings. Thus, the standard of critical thinking has assisted me take care of
my patient because before taking any step I think about the outcome and its impact over health of
the patient.
2. Engages in therapeutic and professional relationships.
The other significant standard is engaging in therapeutic and professional relationships.
This is focused over creating professional and therapeutic relationships. In simpler words, it is
focused over creating mutual respect and trust in professional relationships. It helps nurses to
establish relationships in a manner that creates the boundary between personal and professional
relationships, gives support to people in relation to resources for optimising health related
decisions, considers consultation, supervision in professional relationships for attaining
improved health results. This standard is attained by me as I always greet patient and their
members of the family when they enter the room because this creates confidence among them
that I will carefully listen to their situation. I always observe the patient and listen to their issue
so that any verbal or non-verbal signs of discomfort can be avoided and the best part that I learnt
about through this standard I always take permission from patient before checking on them. I am

always respectful to the privacy and confidentiality of patient and I ensure that I discuss findings
patiently with patient. Thus, this is attained by continuously providing update to the patient so
that cordial relationship with them could be maintained.
3. Maintains the capability for practice.
Health professionals and registered nurses are always accountable and responsible to
ensure they are safe as well as are capable enough to continue their practice. This involves
ongoing responding and self-management when there is stress in relation to capability for
practice of other health professionals. In simpler words, registered nurses are responsible for
their own professional development as well as have contribution in other’s development. Thus,
they give education and information to people for making and taking decisions and actions for
their health. Thus, with the assistance of this standard I have learnt to respond and consider in a
timely manner to the well-being of self as well as others and I also provide education needed to
enhance control of people over health. In the simple procedure of measuring patient’s blood
pressure, I always review this process considering resources of the course and documents of
policy. I use findings in relation to my knowledge of normal ranges to health status of the patient
and I always have this minds-set that I must take help from my colleague registered nurse when I
am unsure of findings and procedure. Thus, this mind-set has helped me in continuing my
practice in a systematic and proper manner.
4. Comprehensively conducts assessments.
The other significant standard is comprehensively conducting assessments and this
focuses over accurately and properly conducting systematic and comprehensive assessments,
evaluating data and information and conveying results according to the practice. For this
registered nurses use appropriate techniques for collecting apt data for informing practice,
establish the requirement for nursing action and evaluate the available resources for addressing
the requirements and plans accordingly. This standard is attained by me as I conduct
measurement of blood pressure in acceptable time, focus over ensuring comfort of patient by
continuously communicating with them, compare & evaluate findings to normal ranges and
check health status, previous findings, medication regime, ADDS score of the patient, get
information from patient about the symptoms of high & low blood pressure, check intervention if
blood pressure is not near to normal range and if it is then escalate these concern to higher
authorities so that proper action or step could be taken. Hence, this standard has helped me in

evaluating and comparing the present outcomes with the earlier outcomes and thus, it has also
assisted me in taking relevant action at right time so that situation could be controlled easily and
patient can get right treatment.
5. Develops a plan for nursing practice.
This is the significant standard which focuses over responsible planning and timely
communication of nursing practice. Plans which get approval from each member then these plans
are considered as partnership plans. In simpler language, these are generally dependent over
comprehensive assessment, considering judgement & evidence of registered nurses and these are
communicated and documented to all the necessary persons. It includes using assessment
information and all the available evidence for developing a plan, considering documentation,
evaluation & modification plans for facilitating the agreed results, planning how practice would
be examined and the engagement’s time frame. This standard has achieved by me and helped me
a lot in the practice of my work. When I take BP measurements then I use these carried out
findings for developing a proper plan care, record all the necessary findings on care plan so there
is no scope of error, record timings of the observations and check if there is need of any
adjustments required while measuring blood pressure and then I check if there is need of any
escalation about abnormal findings. Thus, this standard has helped me in developing plan
according to the need of patient’s condition. It has also assisted me in finding out the concerns
which need to be escalated and not.
6. Provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice.
This the standard which focuses over registered nurses and health professionals are
delegating and implementing person-centred, high quality and ethical objectives directed steps
and actions. These are generally dependent over systematic and comprehensive assessment and
the best available resources & evidence for attaining planned results. Some of the criteria which
make this standard greatly important is that it gives quality nursing practice for attaining agreed
outcomes and objectives, systematically delegating each aspect of practice for enrolling nurses as
per the scope of practice of nurse, helps in practicing as per the right health and nursing
standards, regulations, legislation and guidelines and many more. In my situation I have achieved
this standard by making patient sit comfortably in bed or chair, ensuring blood pressure
measured on limb free of IV access, reviewing each abnormal finding as per the health status of

patient, escalating abnormal findings if required etc. All these quick actions I have learnt through
this standard.
7. Evaluates outcomes to inform nursing practice.
This is the standard in which health professionals and nurses take accountability and
responsibility for the examination of practice dependent upon agreed results, to form & plan and
revise practices systematically. This is the main standard which focuses over giving proper
outcome. Thus, it includes some criteria which are: evaluating and monitoring progress towards
expected objectives and results with relevant people dependent upon agreed priorities. It also
focuses over revising practice plan as required and identifies other significant priorities and
objectives with people as shown. I have attained this standard while doing my practice
passionately. As I have learnt that it is quite important to communicate each finding to patient so
that they can know their exact health condition. I have also become determined that it is
necessary to reassess the blood pressure at relevant time duration so that present and past BP
readings could be compared. Hence, this standard has assisted me in understanding that it is
necessary to have right present outcomes because then only future results could be predicted and
focus on future care.
CONCLUSION
As per the above information, it is summarised that NMBA 7 standards are very important
for health professional and registered nurses because they help in delivering their practice in
effective and efficient manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Coyne and et. al., 2021. A review of virtual-simulation for assessing healthcare students' clinical
competency. Nurse education today, 96, p.104623.
Kinnear, B., Warm, E.J. and Hauer, K.E., 2018. Twelve tips to maximize the value of a clinical
competency committee in postgraduate medical education. Medical Teacher, 40(11),
pp.1110-1115.
Konrad, S., Fitzgerald, A. and Deckers, C., 2021. Nursing fundamentals–supporting clinical
competency online during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teaching and Learning in
Nursing, 16(1), pp.53-56.
Schumacher and et. al, 2018. Influence of clinical competency committee review process on
summative resident assessment decisions. Journal of graduate medical education, 10(4),
pp.429-437.
Song, Y. and Lee, J.Y., 2020. Effects of clinical practice stress and moral sensitivity on clinical
competency in nursing students. The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing
Education, 26(2), pp.157-166.