Clinical Placement: Reflecting on NMC Professional Conduct Standards

This report provides a reflective analysis of a clinical placement event, focusing on the application of professional conduct standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). The author recounts a situation involving a post-operative patient experiencing pain and fluctuating vital signs, detailing the decision-making process and the importance of interprofessional collaboration. The analysis highlights the alignment of the author's actions with NMC standards, such as effective communication, risk management, and patient-centered care. The reflection emphasizes the significance of continuous patient assessment, therapeutic communication, and respecting patient preferences in ensuring patient safety and well-being. The report concludes that the author's nursing competencies and communication skills were instrumental in meeting professional standards, promoting patient safety, and fostering a collaborative environment.

Running head: PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Professional conduct
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Introduction:
For newly placed nurses, set of documents related to professional standards guides them
regarding the level of care they need to provide during the nursing process. The importance of
professional nursing standard is that they promote and guide clinical practice ensuring clinical
proficiency and safety. It is an important framework to evaluate clinical performance against
professional standards (Lúanaigh 2015). This report will focus on examining and event in
clinical placement which required demonstration of professional conduct set by Nursing and
Midwifery Council (NMC) and critically reflecting on ways by which the event illustrates
professional conduct.
Reflection and critical analysis of the event:
Description of the situation:
During one of my clinical placement in a medical ward, I was assigned the duty to care
for a 55 year old man, who came to the medical after post a hip replacement surgery. I came
during the night shift and the handover nurse gave me notes regarding the patient history and
medical notes. I was instructed to follow all the notes and immediately provide the medication to
patient as per schedule. I found that the patient was using opioids via epidural catheter to manage
his pain post surgery. As vital signs of patient fluctuate after surgery, I was vigilant to check the
patient’s vital signs after every 30 minutes. However, one challenge that I faced during the care
of patient was that apart from fluctuation of vital signs, the patient’s pain level was also
deteriorating. I took the approach to calm down the patient through my communication skill. To
maintain her vital signs, I had to provide certain medications. However, I was in a fix because I

2PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
was not sure whether her pain medication should be changed or not as she was already on
opioids via epidural catheter. To ensure safety and comfort for the patient, I took the approach to
consult the physicians and senior present in the ward regarding change of medications. I was
instructed that his medications cannot be changed for 24 hours as this could lead to adverse
effect for patient. I am glad that I took to approach to collaborate with other professionals as this
saved me from deteriorating the health condition of patient. The event also supported me in
following all professional standards required during the situation.
Analysis:
The above clinical situation is in alignment with the professional conduct standards given
by the NMC. For example, the NMC professional standards mention that to practice effectively,
nurse must work cooperatively and maintain effective communication with colleagues. It
requires nurse to respect the skills and expertise of other staffs and refer information to other to
preserve the safety of patient and reduce risk (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2015). I
demonstrated this professional standard by choosing the step to consult my senior staffs
regarding change in patient’s medication to manage his pain. I regarded consulting the senior
nurse as a vital step because the patient was already on opioid via epidural catheter and I was in
doubt regarding the need for changing his medication. However, consulting with my colleagues
helped me to practice effectively as I got ideal advice regarding the best option approach to
reduce risk for patient. This also helped to fulfil the NMC professional standard of acting without
delay when there is a risk to patient safety. Raising the concern to relevant authority helped to
me take effective decision for patient. Manias (2018) supports that interdisciplinary collaboration
has significant impact on medication errors as sharing patient information and making decisions

3PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
collectively help to solve patient care problems. It minimizes the likelihood of errors to a large
extent.
While engaging in the care of patient, I understood my responsibility and regularly
conducted vital sign assessment for patient as surgery is associated with significant fluctuation in
vital signs. Watkins, Whisman and Booker (2016) explains that registered nurses and midwives
need to conduct ongoing assessment for hospitalized patient to identify risk of deterioration and
take adequate response to change the health status of patients. Continuous vital sign surveillance
is an effective tool to promote safety of patient in the surgical or medical unit. Hence, my action
to check vital sign of the patient after every 30 minutes helped to keep a check on any adverse
symptoms or deteriorating condition of patient. The NMC standards mentions accurately
identifying and observing signs of normal or worsening physical and mental as important
professional standards in practice. This practice helps to avoid situation where patient may be at
risk (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2015).
Apart from nursing responsibilities like pain management, vital sign assessment and
medication administration, I used my communication skills to develop therapeutic relationship
with patient and calm him down. The patient was anxious because of pain and I used my
communication skill and empathy to calm down the patient and assure that his current symptoms
was due to the effect of surgery and his condition will stabilise within 24 hours. I also inquired
the patient regarding his preferences for comfort such as changes in environment or lighting. As
the patient was in pain, he wanted the lights to be dim and lower the temperature of the room. I
respected his needs and treated him with kindness and compassion (Jenerette and Mayer 2016).
This action is relevance with the NMC professional standard of treating people with respect and
upholding their dignity in care. The NMC standards direct that listening and responding to

4PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
patient’s preference is also achieved by recognizing patient’s distress and responding
compassionately to patients problem (Nursing and Midwifery Council 2015). Hence, by means
of my communication skill, I was able to meet both physical as well as psychosocial needs of
client.
Conclusion:
To conclude, the review of the clinical situation or event in practice demonstrated how
my nursing competencies and communications skills supported me to fulfil professional
standards set up by NMC. By entering into inter-professional collaboration in the medical ward, I
was able to promote safety of patient and assess the effect of changing medication on clinical
outcome of patient. Timely referral helps to take effective care decisions for patient.
Furthermore, being accountable for the health and safety of patient helped to demonstrate
respect, challenge discriminatory attitudes and promote well-being of patient.

5PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Conclusion:
Jenerette, C.M. and Mayer, D.K., 2016, May. Patient-provider communication: the rise of patient
engagement. In Seminars in oncology nursing (Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 134-143). WB Saunders.
Lúanaigh, P. Ó. 2015. Becoming a professional: what is the influence of registered nurses on
nursing students' learning in the clinical environment?. Nurse Education in Practice, 15(6), 450-
456.
Manias, E. 2018. Effects of interdisciplinary collaboration in hospitals on medication errors: an
integrative review. Expert opinion on drug safety, 17(3), 259-275.
Nursing and Midwifery Council 2015. Professional standards of practice and behaviour for
nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Retrieved from:
https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/nmc-publications/nmc-code.pdf
Watkins, T., Whisman, L., and Booker, P. 2016. Nursing assessment of continuous vital sign
surveillance to improve patient safety on the medical/surgical unit. Journal of clinical
nursing, 25(1-2), 278-281.