HSC Employability Skills: Nurse's Roles and Performance Evaluation

This report examines the employability skills essential for a nurse, focusing on responsibilities, performance evaluation, and areas for improvement within the context of Akari Care Ltd. The report delves into the core duties of a nurse, including care provision, decision-making, care management, and patient advocacy, while also assessing the author's effectiveness in these roles. It identifies weaknesses such as difficulties with specific tasks, nervousness during rounds, and challenges in decision-making and time management. The report then proposes recommendations for improvement, such as enhancing knowledge, developing confidence, and improving decision-making skills. Furthermore, it explores the use of motivational techniques, including feedback, leadership opportunities, and positive communication, to enhance the quality of performance. The report also addresses work-related problems such as long working hours, hazards, and stress, providing potential solutions. It discusses various communication methods for addressing these problems and emphasizes effective time management strategies for healthcare professionals. The report concludes with an evaluation of tools and methods for developing solutions to problems within the healthcare environment.

EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
IN HSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Responsibilities and performance objectives of a Nurse..................................................1
1.2 Own effectiveness against defined job.............................................................................2
1.3 Recommendations for improvements...............................................................................2
1.4 Use of motivational techniques to improve the quality of performance..........................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................4
2.1 Solution to work base problems.......................................................................................4
2.2 Different ways of communicating regarding problems....................................................4
2.3 Effective time management strategies..............................................................................5
TASK 3............................................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................6
4.1 Evaluating tools and methods for developing solutions to problems...............................6
4.2 Strategies which will help in resolving a particular problem...........................................6
4.3 Evaluating the potential impact on the business of implementing the strategy...............7
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Employability skills are the set of behaviours and skills which are essential for every job.
These skills are also known as soft skills, job-readiness skills, foundational skills or work-
readiness skills. There are basically eight important proficiencies which an individual should
possess. These are team work, communication, planning, organizing, self-management, adapting
with technology, learning and taking initiatives (Stanley, 2007). This report is about Akari care
Ltd. which is provides medical support to people with mental or physical issues. (National
Health Service) which deals with about 1 million patients in every 36 hours. This report covers
responsibilities and performance towards the firm. Further, it focuses on developing transferable
and interpersonal skills. Moreover, it covers the dynamics of working with others.
TASK 1
1.1 Responsibilities and performance objectives of a Nurse
Being a nurse, there are number of roles and responsibilities that I have to perform and my work
depends on the patient’s needs. Following are my responsibilities as a nurse:
Care provider: There are number of supports provided by nurse like physical needs which
includes total care for the patients with illness. They maintain a dignity with their patients by
providing them with skilled care. In other words, it means that nurses address developmental,
spiritual, psychosocial and cultural needs. Role of care provider also includes all the other
elements which help in encouraging patients.
Effective decision maker: I have to use critical thinking skills for making decisions, for
promoting outcomes for the patients and for setting up the goals. Critical thinking also includes
analyzing the patient, understanding their problems, evaluating outcomes, implementing
interventions and planning. I also have to apply my clinical judgments for selecting the best
course of action for the patient.
Care manager: I have to support other workers of health care like Manager of care and I
also need to ensure that the patients are properly taken care. I have to coordinate and direct care
for both nonprofessional and professionals so that patient’s goals can be fulfilled. I am
responsible for patient’s care from the moment he enters the Akari care Ltd. till the time he gets
discharged. Among all these responsibilities, I have to manage care for multiple patients.
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Advocate of patients: This is the most important role which I have to play. I have to
protect all the rights of my patients. I have to act on the behalf of my patient and have to support
them in all the occurred situations.
1.2 Own effectiveness against defined job
I have analyzed my effectiveness against the defined job which is as follows:
Care proving: This is one of the main roles which I have to perform. I always get failed in
providing them proper care. I used to fail in understanding the actual needs which the patients
expect from me.
Taking tests: I have to conduct many tests like blood tests, sugar and checking blood
pressure (BP). Among these tests, blood test is very difficult for me as I find difficulty in
choosing the right vain from which blood has to be taken.
Nervousness: Whenever doctors come for rounds and ask me regarding each patient’s
problems, at that point of time, I used to get nervous in telling him the actual problem about
patient’s illness.
Decision making: Most of the patients will not be in a condition to perform any job or may
not be even able to express their requirements. In such conditions, I always get failed in taking
effective decisions for my patients. Also, I am unable to understand the needs and requirements
of my patients. Moreover, I get failed in getting proper time for each and every patient. There are
many patients under me and I find difficulty in spending time with each patient equally.
Advocate of patients: There are many rights which are provided to the patients which I
have to take care of. They have rights that care home will provide them with necessary health
services along with right to privacy, to receive medical records, etc. I do take care of all the
rights of my patients and provide them the required information.
1.3 Recommendations for improvements
Following are the steps which I can follow in order to remove my weaknesses:
Understanding: I always get failed in understanding the requirements of patients. For
improving this weakness, I will improve my knowledge regarding their illnesses. Once I will get
familiar with their illness issues, then I will be able to understand the requirements of patients.
Thorough study of their illness will be helpful in understanding the needs that patients will
expect from me.
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Decision making: A good nurse is one who understands the problems of their patients and
takes appropriate steps for solving them. I have to improve my decision making skills so that I
may be able to develop faith among patients and they can be cured quickly.
Developing confidence: I will study every issue of the patients so that when doctors come
on rounds would ask me the issues that patient is facing, then I will be able to explain that
confidently. People who have complete knowledge regarding a specific topic, they are confident
enough to give answers to all the questions. Similarly, complete study of all the issues of patient
will help me in developing confidence for providing the doctor with answers regarding the
patient's illness.
1.4 Use of motivational techniques to improve the quality of performance
Motivation is the desire of employees for performing job. Staffs who are motivated will
be more engaged, devoted and productive towards their work (Alam, 2009). Moreover, they will
improve their quality of work which is performed by them. Following are the few techniques
through which staffs can be motivated in improving the quality of performance:
Continuously ask for feedback: Nurses should be asked frequently regarding the nursing
issues which they face (Mesan, 2014). Open discussion should be encouraged like challenges
that they face in care home environment, through patients, form stressful nursing issues or
through working schedules.
Leadership: Nurses should be given with the opportunity to experience and demonstrate
leadership on regular basis. They should be scheduled in such a way that they would lead
department’s staffs or other nurses (Rodrigues and et.al., 2007). This would motivate and
encourage them for conducting their job effectively.
Positive communication: Communication plays a vital role in motivating the employees
of any profession especially in busy and stressful nursing environment. Effective communication
will help in developing caring, supportive and friendly atmosphere (Stanley and MacCann,
2009). They should be supported in specific problems. For example, if a nurse experience
frustration which a patient, then more experienced nurse should be assigned for that patient so
that she may concentrate on others effectivelly. In short, friendly interaction and positive
language will motivate the nurses and help them in performing their job effectually.
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TASK 2
2.1 Solution to work base problems
Nurses play a vital role in health and social care. There are many challenges which they face.
Following are the solutions for few of their issues:
Long hours of working: Nurses normally have to work for long hours. There are number of
cases where they have to work back to back. According to a survey done by Health Affairs it was
found that longer shifts for nurses, higher are the level of dissatisfaction to patients and burnouts.
More specifically, in this research it was found that, when nurses work more than 13 hours
patient’s dissatisfaction increases (Majumdar, 2011). As a solution to this problem, Akari care
Ltd. should schedule the timing in such a way that nurses should work for 10 hours per day and
not more than that. This will help in providing proper care for the patients.
Hazards: Every day nurses face hazards at their work place. Hazards like blood borne pathogens
which are type of infections in human blood which causes diseases and many other types of
injuries. According to a research done by Occupational Safety and Health
Administration(OSHA) it was found that 5.6 million out of 12.2 million workers who are related
with health and social care were at risk because of bloodborne pathogens (Gooch, 2015). Only
way to overcome this problem is by taking safety measures like providing masks, clean gloves
and cleaning the hospitals frequently.
Stress: It is a feeling of being under an emotional or mental pressure. During emergency cases
Doctors and nurses have to reach to hospitals even if they had finished their working hours for
the day (Laton, 2006). This creates a stress situations among Doctors and nurses due to work
pressure.
2.2 Different ways of communicating regarding problems
In relation with the work base problems following are the various techniques which are
useful in communication the problems:
Verbal communication: Nurses can directly approach their superiors and convey their problem
face to face. This technique is very effective as the speaker can also express his/her emotions. If
nurse conveys her problem effectively, then immediate steps will be take to solved their
problems (Miller, 2012). Other way through which problems can be conveyed is through
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telephone or mobile phone. Nurses can ring up their superiors and can convey their problems.
One more way to convey problems is by answering machine or voice mails.
Written: Nurses can write down their issues which they face on duty. This is a slow process but
effective. This type of technique can be used in solving hazard problems.
Meetings: Frequent meeting are conducted where important decision are taken related to issues
faced by nurses. This type of meeting will be helpful in scheduling working hours for nurses.
Most of the nurses have to work overtime which make them irritated and impatient (Dickens,
2012). Work scheduled in such a way that nurse’s work 10 hours per day and not more than that.
2.3 Effective time management strategies
Time management is a type of planning process which helps in arraigning tasks according to
their importance and which in turn helps in increasing productivity, efficiency and effectiveness.
Following are the strategies which can be adopted by health and social for effective time
management: Setting up priorities: Different types of patients are admitted. Emergency cases patients
should be taken care first (Rao, Madan and Reji, 2010). Patient who require more
attention should be given more time so they may recover as early as possible. Scheduling: Akari care Ltd. should schedule time so that nurses work 10 hours per day.
Nurses who work more than 10 hours a day will not be able to perform their work
effectively. Proper rest should be given to nurse so that they may be able to focus on
other patients effectively.
 Interactions: There may be patients who may be mentally sick and lack to perform
normal work. These kinds of patients have to give more care which is possible for nurses
only when they are given proper spare time to relax themselves. Sufficient break should
be given to nurse so that they can have friendly interactions with other nurses and could
reduce their stress.
TASK 3
Covered in PPT
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TASK 4
4.1 Evaluating tools and methods for developing solutions to problems
There are many problems which are faced by health and social care. As it was discussed
above, it was seen that stress is the main issue due to which patients are not treated properly.
Following are the tools which help in developing solution for this problem:
Having interaction with other nurses: When a nurse feels stressed out with something, then
they should share this with other nurses (Siddiky, 2015). This helps in reducing stress and a good
relationship with other staffs are important for healthy lifestyle. Firm should provide nurses with
proper breaks so they can have a healthy interaction with other nurses. This will be helpful for
them in reducing stress.
Adopting motivational theories: There are many theories given by different people which are
very helpful in reducing the stress. Most appropriate motivational theory which firm can adopt is
Need hierarchy theory as it covers all the areas through which nurses can be motivated. Firm
could satisfy their physiological need by providing them proper salary so that this need can be
satisfied (Connor and et.al., 2010). Akari care Ltd. can fulfill their safety need by providing them
security towards their health. Nurses could be provided with face masks and clean gloves so they
may not get affected by any patient's illness. Social needs can be satisfied by helping them with
difficult patients, patients with mental problems, etc. There are many situations were nurses find
difficulty in understanding the patient’s needs. Such cases should be given to more experienced
nurses. Esteem need can be satisfied by giving them respect. Firms can achieve this by providing
the nurses with promotions and additional responsibilities. When staffs are provided with
additional responsibilities and promotions they will be able to satisfy their esteem need. By
applying this theory firm will be able to motivate their staffs and moreover stress can be reduced.
Feedback: Akari care Ltd. should take feedback form nurses so that different causes could be
identified through which nurses feel stress. When reasons are identified, then firm should
develop policies which will be helpful in reducing the stress (Nkechi, Emeh Ikechukwu and
Okechukwu, 2012). For example, if a nurse finds difficulty in understanding the requirements or
needs of a patient and this results in stress then that nurse should be replaced with more
experienced nurse so that the needs and requirements can be fulfilled and nurses will not feel
stress.
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4.2 Strategies which will help in resolving a particular problem
In reducing stress following are the strategies which firm can adopt:
Activities: Firm should conduct activities for nurses so that stress can be reduced. Activities
should be designed in such a way that all the staffs can have active participation (Scott, 2015).
This will help in having interactions with other staff members.
Increasing responsibilities: This one of the best way to reduce stress. Akari care Ltd. should
offer nurses with promotions and additional responsibilities (Hall, Nix and Baker, 2013). This
will help them in motivating and stress can be reduced. Firm should concentrate in motivating
their staffs because motivation will help in reducing stress. Nurses should be provided with
compensation according to their performance of work. Providing compensation is another way of
motivating the employees.
Counseling: Akari care Ltd. should conduct counseling sections frequently. This will be very
much helpful in reducing stress. It will be helpful in handling emotions toward their patients. In
addition to this, it will help in understanding the patients more easily. Counseling is a process
through which one discovers himself/herself and helps in learning new ways in dealing with
different situations. This process help to feel more conformable with other, themselves and helps
in developing skills with will be helpful in managing stress (Eldredge and et.al., 2012).
Counseling increases self-awareness and better understanding of how they behave with others.
Moreover, it increases self confidence, peace of mind and increases productivity. In short is can
be said that counseling will be very much helpful in overcoming the stress problem in nurses.
4.3 Evaluating the potential impact on the business of implementing the strategy
Above given strategies will be helpful for the firm in many ways. Following are the impact of on
the business of implementing the strategy:
1. Increases understanding: With the help of strategies applied by the firm, nurses will be
able to understand their patients more clearly (Alam, 2009). Firm was problem like lack
in understanding needs of patients. With the help of strategies nurses will be able to
understand the needs and requirements more clearly.
2. Effective communication: With the help of strategies applied by firm, communication
among the nurse will be improved. Nurses will be able to convey the issues to the
Doctors easily.
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3. Clarity in roles and responsibilities: Nurses will be able to understand their roles and
responsibilities more effectively (Mesan, 2014). The strategies applied by firm will clear
the role and nurses will not have any doubt regarding the job which they have to perform.
4. Proper care: Nurses will be able to take care of their patients more efficiently. As they
will be able to understand the pain through which the patient suffers.
5. Managing stress: Nurses will be able to manage their stress and they will be able to
handle their patients more easily and with more patience (Rodrigues and et.al., 2007).
Patience is very important in case patients with mental illness.
CONCLUSION
From this report, it can be articulated that employability skills are very important in
performing any kind of job effectively. For a nurse skills like team work, communication,
planning and organizing are very important. In addition to all these skills a nurse should have
knowledge regarding all the diseases and meditations which will help to cure them. Knowledge
regarding the diseases will be helpful in understanding the needs and requirements of the patients
easily. Further, stress management is very important in order to work effectively and efficiently.
There are different ways through firm can help their staff in reducing their stress. The best way is
providing staffs with counseling which will help in reducing stress effectively.
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REFERENCES
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<http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/workforce-labor-management/5-of-the-biggest-
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Scott, E., 2015. Top 10 Self Care Strategies for Overall Stress Reduction. [Online]. Available
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