Registered Nurse Standards: Clinical Appraisal Tool Evaluation

This document presents a comprehensive self-assessment of a nursing student's clinical practice using the Clinical Appraisal Tool (CAT), aligned with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) standards for Registered Nurses. The student reflects on their development across seven key standards, including critical thinking, therapeutic relationships, maintaining capability for practice, assessment skills, planning and collaboration, safe and responsive nursing practice, and evaluating outcomes. The student provides specific examples from their clinical experiences, such as engaging in ethical considerations, using reflective models like the Gibbs Model, and demonstrating effective communication and cultural competence. They also highlight their ability to work in groups, resolve conflicts, and promote inter-professional relationships. Furthermore, the student showcases their commitment to evidence-based care, evaluation of practice outcomes, and the delivery of safe, appropriate, and responsive quality nursing care. The self-assessment demonstrates a strong understanding of the principles of nursing practice and a commitment to professional development.

Starndard#1
Critical thinking and analysis in nursing practice have been a fundamental aspect of my
life-time during the schooling program. As a student, I have engaged in research regarding the
ethical consideration in studies. This is an essential aspect of complying with the narrative of
evidence-based care in the clinical setting. I have also employed reflective models such as the
Gibbs Model on relevant case studies and obtained feedback from the tutors in order to assess
my development in critical thinking and analysis. Furthermore, I have promoted professional
development in critical thinking and analysis by working with practical case studies in
determining solutions to underlying challenges.
Standard#2
I have profoundly developed my ability to engage in therapeutic and professional
relationships. I have worked with different groups of people both in the school setting and
professional entities. Active participation in group work is one of the greatest attributes in
achieving professional development. I have worked with members of different social classes and
cultural backgrounds. This aspect has enabled me to develop my cultural competence in the
workplace. Currently, my level of trust, respect and generosity is at the peak of the recommended
standards. Developing effective communication has also promoted my inter-professional
relationships.
Starndard#3
Maintaining capability for practice has been my guiding principle since the start of my
professional specialization. I understand the need to promote personal development and ensure
that I am competent enough in the workplace. I have periodically engaged in self-reflection
activities to identify strengths and weaknesses in my clinical practice. Also, I have promoted
evidence-based strategies to advance on my weaknesses. I have maintained flexibility in my
working schedule to ensure that I am capable of working on emerging emergencies in the
workplace. Furthermore, I have promoted accountability through an intensive understanding of
personal roles and responsibilities.
Standard#4
I have attained distinction results in contacting assessments during my education
program. The most important aspect relates to my ability to articulate different assessment
techniques in collecting relevant and accurate information to inform the nursing practice. I have
maintained the use of peer-reviewed articles in all my studies to ensure that the data being used
is accurate. Furthermore, I have involved technology such as videos and audio taping during
primary information collection and transcription strategies to ensure that the information
documented is accurate to guide the formulation of conclusions.

Standard#5
Working in groups has enhanced my welfare in the planning process. It has come to my
notice that effective collaboration and interrelationships bring about the effective planning
process. Most importantly, an effective plan has to be seconded by all the members of the group.
Planning must articulate all the needs of the respective members of the group to prevent rivalry
and promote the effective achievement of desired objectives. As a group leader, I learned how to
develop a transactional model of leadership. This makes staff motivated in supporting the
implementation of the overall plan.
Standard 6
The provision of safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice is a
fundamental principle that must be incorporated into the nursing practice. Personally, I am
conversant with evidence-based care which is important in ensuring the appropriate delivery of
services to patients. On the same note, I have acknowledged the need for inter-professional
collaboration in the working practice. This is a vital aspect in ensuring easy resolution of
underlying challenges during the delivery of care to the patient. Furthermore, the great
experience in working with case studies during the schooling program has advanced my
knowledge in the delivery of appropriate care.
Standard 7
Evaluating outcomes to inform practice is a significant aspect in the clinical setting. It is
fundamental to understand personal challenges, weaknesses and strengths. I have engaged in a
series evaluation of cases studies using appropriate evaluation tools like the Gibbs Model. This
has advanced my knowledge in applying the model in a real-life scenario. On the same note,
experience in evaluation had developed my critical thinking in formulating resolutions to the
underlying issues. Currently, I know how to set goals and objectives and comparing the actual
performance to the set standards. This is a vital aspect of understanding professional
development.
Workplace
As a nursing practitioner, I have played a significant role in promoting effective
communication and qualities in the clinical setting. Firstly, I have taken my role to understand
non-verbal and verbal cues. It came to my notice that I was very poor in the use of non-verbal
cues. However, through participation in groups and teamwork, I have come to understand the use
of non-verbal communication techniques in the delivery of services to patients. A typical
example of a non-verbal communication strategy that I have utilized in the nursing practice is
holding a patients shoulder while consoling for emotional pain relief.

I have also played a profound role in promoting group-work in the clinical setting.
Conflict resolution is one of the approaches I have used to promote welfare in the working
groups. Often, the deviations in the groups bring about interpersonal conflicts that may hinder
the achievement of desired outcomes. I have worked extra hard from the student level in dealing
with such conflicts as a leader for the welfare of the group.
I have also ensured that the definition of roles is made explicit as possible because
ambiguity in roles is a fundamental challenge to the welfare of interpersonal relations. I have
educated my colleagues on the importance of collaboration in the workplace. Furthermore, I
have ensured equality in the allocation f roles to prevent the adverse consequences relating to
role overload. I have encouraged frequent meetings as team members in the workplace setting.
This narrative has made members get used to each other and understand each other for the
welfare of operations in the clinical setting.
I have developed my communication skills by interacting with colleagues from different
cultural backgrounds. This narrative has enabled me to be culturally diversified and understand
various demographic factors. Furthermore, promoting my spiritual wellbeing has enabled me to
be sympathetic while communicating with people. I have handled patients with excellent care
irrespective of their attitudes and personalities. Most importantly, I have developed my
understanding of the guiding principles of nursing practice.