University Nursing Program: Clinical Experience and NSQHS Standards

This report details a nursing student's clinical experience, focusing on the application of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards, specifically preventing healthcare-associated infections and communicating for safety. The student utilizes the Gibbs Reflective Cycle to analyze a situation in an emergency ward where registered nurses were not adhering to safety protocols. The reflection encompasses the student's feelings, evaluation of the experience, analysis of the situation, and a conclusion outlining an action plan to prevent future errors. The student emphasizes the importance of effective communication and awareness in maintaining clinical standards and ensuring patient safety. The report highlights the significance of clinical governance, ethical considerations, and the need for continuous improvement in healthcare practices to enhance patient outcomes. The student proposes preventive measures, including educational posters and readily available contact information for senior staff to promote adherence to nursing principles and maintain quality care.

Running Head: CLINICAL NURSING EXPERIENCE
CLINICAL NURSING EXPERIENCE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors Note

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INTRODUCTION
The reflection of the NSQHS Standards is done to develop a framework for the promotion of
safety and quality of healthcare in the field of nursing. This study is based on the Gibbs reflective
cycle. The reflection is done intentionally to identify, analyze, reflect the process of nursing,
improve practice and learn. It is a method of understanding the patient and providing better care.
Gibb’s Reflective Cycle consists of six stages, namely Description, Feelings, Evaluation,
Analysis, Conclusion and Action Plan.
In this paper, the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards were used,
which provides a framework for the health care professionals to deliver quality care to the
patients. The Commission developed the standards in collaboration with the Australian
Government, private sectors, clinical experts, patients and other professionals related to health
care (safety and quality, 2018). I have chosen two standards which are preventing and controlling
healthcare-associated infection standard and communicating for safety standards.
Description
During my nursing program, we underwent many practical classes with some senior staff
members to learn how nursing practices are implemented during the management of any patient.
During those practical classes, a total of ten student nurses was participating, including me. We
were sent to the emergency ward to exercise our practices under a senior nurse supervisor so that
we could understand the theoretical concepts in a practical approach. Though, before initiating
the practices, I decided to follow clinical governance by preventing the associated healthcare
infections and enhancing effective communication between other supervisors and me so that
positive patient outcome could be observed. However, when I entered the emergency ward, I

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noticed that some registered nurses were managing the medications and injections for some
patient, but they did not wear safety gloves while administering those procedures. This was a
serious violating of nursing practices. We all are taught about all the precautionary measures in
our classes. Thus, in that situation, I helped our supervisor to direct his focus towards the RN’s
with the help of my active communication abilities and made them rectify their mistake
(Safetyandquality.gov.au, 2019).
Feelings
As I received the information that we will be able to practice in that busiest emergency ward, I
was very much excited. Nurse specialists in the Emergency wards need adequate knowledge,
rapid decision-making skills and proper patient information to provide timely and adequate care
to the patients. I was very much enthusiastic as I would be able to improve my professional skills
by following clinical governance and effective communication. However, upon entering the
ward for clinical placement, I was shocked after looking at the RN’s violating all the nursing
principles, and it led me to follow the NSQHS standards for my care delivery process. But I was
able to prevent the adverse effects of medication error by communicating with my supervisor
about the matter, and also we all learned an important thing that during real-life practices there
are chances that small errors can occur, but we should stay aware of our surroundings while
implementing the nursing skills and should give our best so that our practices can help in the
enhancement of the patient’s health outcomes (Bramhall, 2014).
Evaluation
This experience was about good and bad experiences as I gained them by experiencing it during
my nursing program and I was unaware that I would be able to implement all of my theoretical
knowledge in the practical gatherings. Furthermore, I was able to understand that there could be

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many complications which could arise during real-life practices such as there could be wrong
medication or miscommunication that would put an impact on my nursing skills as nursing
career and henceforth, this situation aided me to understand the way and gave me ideas through
which I can tackle such situations and rectify my professional practices.
Analysis
From the given situation which I face, I was able to learn a very important aspect that effective
communication, and awareness is very important in a clinical environment. As I saw the RN’s
seeing committing the blunder it was sure a shock to me, but my quick decision making ability
and effective communication helped me direct the focus of supervisor towards them which not
only helped the patient but also helped the RN’s to be aware of their mistake and we all received
an important lesson. However, my supervisors made me understand that being a part of this
healthcare sector, we all have a responsibility to notify others mistakes and even be aware of our
own mistakes so that our mistakes don’t put an impact on the public. This will help in the
continuous improvement of quality health care, and also ensure that they are patient-centered
which are safe and as well as effective. I analyzed and realized that this whole scenario was very
life-threatening as it was violating the ethical and clinical standards and also violated the nursing
principles. If I had not communicated efficiently with my supervisor then the RN’s could have
done their task against the clinical standard, violating the ethics of nursing profession (Makaroff
et al., 2014).
Conclusion
Thus I would like to conclude that in a clinical setting we need to be always prepare for any kind
of emergency situation. As per NSQHS, the clinical governance standard always prioritizes the
qualities of leadership and patient safety. If such similar kind of scenario arises again then I

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would help my colleague to come back to senses and be aware of what they are doing. I would
make them remember to follow the nursing principles and if they face any kind or situation they
should seek help from their supervisors. This will help in maintaining the clinical standards as
well as ensure to enhance the well-being, dependability, and the quality of care.
Action Plan
The action plan that I came up with as a precautionary measure to avoid any such slipups
in the future includes the creation of posters which would contain all the necessary nursing
principles that should be followed by every medical staff members and also a chart containing all
the seniors nursing staff members contact number and their room number where they can be
found for in case if anybody needs superior help they can easily go and seek such help.

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