Reflective Assignment: Clinical Placement, NSQHS Standards Analysis

This reflective assignment, based on a nursing student's clinical experiences, analyzes two National Safety and Quality Health Services (NSQHS) standards: preventing and controlling healthcare-associated infections and medication safety. The reflection utilizes the Gibbs' reflective cycle to evaluate the student's experiences in a gynecology unit. The assignment details an incident involving improper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and the student's assertive response, highlighting the importance of infection control. It also discusses a medication error incident, emphasizing the need for accurate drug administration and adherence to NSQHS standards. The student reflects on lessons learned, the importance of confidence, and the need for continuous improvement in clinical practice to ensure patient safety and quality care.

Running head: REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
Reflection is a vital tool that is operated by the nursing learners in the course of their
clinical placements. Conferring to Bulman and Schutz (2013), reflection is used as an important
mode of gathering knowledge in order to promote professional and personal growth. This
assignment will imitate on the 2 National Safety and Quality Health Services (NSQHS)
formulated by the healthcare government in order to provide value care to the patient. The
reflection includes my clinical experience which I had experienced during my clinical placement.
The structure of the reflection is based on the Gibbs’ reflective cycle. Gibbs’ reflective cycle is
considered as the one of the most commonly used theoretical model in order to appraise the
efficiency of various approaches and in addition to develop a link between the theory and
practice (Chang & Daly, 2016). The essay is founded on my industry reflection.
This reflection is grounded on the 3rd standard formulated by the NSQHS, which is
preventing and controlling healthcare associated infection standard. Conferring to the Australian
Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care [ACSQHC], 2017, the third standard of the
NSQHS is associated with the prevention and controlling of the infection which is frequently
observed in the healthcare. This assignment is the Reflection of my experience in the third year
of my clinical placements in the gynecology unit. While working in a gynecology unit, I
confronted a problem that is when the team of the doctor reviewed a patient, who is suffering
from airborne disease and in contact precautions, I observed that they are treating the patient by
wearing a usual surgical mask. Whereas, according to Bischoff (2014), the health professionals
are suggested to wear N95 or P2 masks while handling a patient with chronic infectious illness.
In the above incident, I observed that due to this when the team visits the other patients; they will
be in the risks of getting infected as it is an unsafe practice. I have gained knowledge regarding
the appropriate use of PPE and was confident about my knowledge; but felt daunted since the

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team of the GP was more knowledgeable and knowledgeable than me, who is a third-year
learner.
After the incident the supervisor nurse, with whom I was assigned to work with spoke to
the team of the doctors about the incident. The doctors retorted absolutely to the response and
response received from the administrator. As the occurrence experienced by me was inspiring
and at the same time challenging, I learned a lot from the incident and hence does not remorse by
acting on the experiment before examining another patient. It is one of the significant
experiences during my clinical placement, as I learnt the significance of performing an assertive
action when with the colleagues for the safety of the patient in a sensitive manner. My act was
according to the third Code of professional Conduct in Nursing and Midwifery which mentions
that it is the responsibility of the nurse to practice sensitively and act accordingly to detect and
lessen the patient risk.
Infection prevention and control is the technical method to avoid the damage that can be
instigated by infection among the patient and healthcare workers; but, rendering to World Health
Organization (2016), mutual complications are seem to be related with the healthcare
contaminations in the clinical area. In order to reduce the hazard of contamination, the standard
protections and precautions such as, practice of the personal protective equipment (PPE), hand
hygiene, safe disposal and use of sharp equipment’s, cough etiquette and respiratory hygiene are
the principal line tactic to the Infection prevention and control (Forrester & Griffiths, 2015).
Current strategies which are published by the Department of Health (2017), which highlights the
selection of the communicating infections and illnesses through the inappropriate use of PPE
(personal protective equipment), and the requirement to appraise the policies of the standard
protections and measures.

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REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT
Another essential NSQHS standard, which is mentioned in the assignment, is the
medication safety standard that defines the strategies and systems to confirm proper
administration of medications and monitoring (ACSQHC, 2017). During my current placement, I
was assigned to work with registered nurse, where I administered antihypertensive drugs and
beta-blockers to Mr. Y (pseudonym) during the morning shift. The vital signs of the patient were
assessed by night healthcare staff before an hour the administration, and hence, my pal nurse
(RN) did not worried about to commence the remarks again due to the emergency.
I directly reported to the registered nurse as the patient was heavily sweating and feeling
anxious and called up MET call. I was conscious about the side effects which lead to disbelief
and horror. I was worried about the potential negative impacts but fortunately, the patient had
only experience hypotension due to careless administration. However, the patient was recovered
after getting treated from the MET team.
According to Ankem, Cho and Simpson (2016), drug administration poses highest risk in
the nursing practice and hence from the incident, my clinical practice will be enhanced and along
with that quality measures connected to medication safety. According to a survey conducted by
ACSQHC (2017), 20-30% of patients experience adverse medicine incident. Therefore, it is the
accountability of registered nurses to administer correct medication as prescribed (Jones &
Treiber, 2018). Rendering to the 4.1 Standard formulated by NSQHS, while managing the risks
associated with the medication, the nurses must use quality and safe methods from the clinical
authority standard (ACSQHC, 2017).
From the above mentioned experiences, I gathered knowledge regarding the clinical
errors that I have acknowledged many appreciated teachings. It helps me to realize that single

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clinical errors can risk somebody’s life and along with that, I had also commenced pertinent
assessments just earlier to the administration of the drug. This development of the practice will
benefit the nurse to arrange for quality care to patient by the use of evidence-based nursing care.
In divergence, after the event of the infection control, I realized that I need to work on my
assertive talents while working with the colleagues in order to ensure that no unsuitable practice
has been conducted which might put the life of the patients at risk. In examination with my
facilitator and classmates, I tend to identify that confidence while treating the patient is vital and
hence I need to work enhance my confidence to encounter unsuitable practice for the ease of the
patients.

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References
Ankem, K., Cho, S., & Simpson, D. (2016). Nurses’ perceptions and problems in the usability of
a medication safety app. Informatics for Health & Social care.
doi: 10.1080/17538157.1364249
Australian Commission on Safety and Qality in Health Care [ACSQHC], 2017. National Safety
and Quality Health Services Standards [NSQHS]. Retrieved from:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/
Bischoff, W. (2014). Preventing the airborne spread of Staphylococcus aureus by persons with
the common cold: effect of surgical scrubs, gowns and masks. Infection Control and
Hospital Epidemiology. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press
Bulman, C., & Schutz, S. (2013). Reflective practice in nursing (5th ed.). Chichester, United
Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell.
Chang, E., & Daly, J. (2016). Transitions in Nursing: Preparing for professional practice (4Th
ed.). Chatswood, Australia: Elsevier
Department of Health (2017). A National Framework for Communicable Disease Control.
Retrieved from: http://www.health.gov.au
Forrester, K. & Griffiths, D. (2015). Essentials of law for health professionals (4th ed.).
Chatswood, Australia: Elsevier
Jones, J. & Treiber, L. (2018). Nurses’ rights of medication administration including authority
with accountability and responsibility. Nursing Forum. doi: 10.1111/nuf.12252

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Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia [NMBA] (2018). Professional codes and guidelines
for Registered Nurses. Retrieved from: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
World Health Organization (2016). Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). Retrieved from:
http://www.who.org.au