Reflection on Clinical Experiences and NSQHS Standards for Nurses

This report presents a student's reflection on their clinical experiences, focusing on the National Safety and Quality Healthcare Service Standards (NSQHS), specifically medication safety and communication for patient safety. The student utilizes the Gibbs reflective model to analyze their experiences in an intensive care unit, detailing instances where they ensured medication administration adhered to safety protocols and facilitated effective communication among patients, families, and healthcare providers. The report evaluates these experiences, highlighting the importance of NSQHS in protecting both patients and healthcare workers. The student identifies strengths such as empathy and critical thinking, and outlines a plan for future practice, emphasizing the importance of risk management and continued professional development through seminars. The report concludes by emphasizing the crucial role of communication and medication safety in healthcare settings.

R AD A A SA A D A A CAR S RV C S A DARDSUNNING HE : N TION L FETY N QU LITY HE LTH E E I E T N 1
National Safety and Quality Healthcare Service Standards
Name
Institution
Tutor
Date:

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National Safety and Quality Healthcare Service Standards
INTRODUCTION
In this particular interview, I will select two NSQHS then I will link them to the
experiences from the undergraduate clinical placement then provide a thorough and detailed
response to the interview question .I will also use the Gibbs reflective model in the interview .I
prefer using this model due to its effectiveness when reflecting on different nursing practices
(Williams, Woolliams, & Spiro, 2012). The two National Safety and Quality Health Standards
that I will focus on in the interview are medication safety and communication for patient safety.
. DESCRIPTION
During my clinical placement at the Intensive care unit, I was the one who was assigned
to carry out medication documentation and administer drugs at some extent. I had to ensure that I
administer drugs to different patients .I always ensured that all the rights of medication are
adhered to and they include the right dose, right drug, right time and the right patient. There were
was no single incidence of negligence such as subjecting the wrong medication to the wrong
patient.
During my clinical placement, I was the one who was given the task to ensure that I
motivate all the patients and their family members on the importance of sharing information. We
were also encouraged as healthcare workers to share or communicate frequently regarding the
condition of the patient so that there is better outcome.

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FEELINGS
During all the two scenarios, I was a very happy healthcare provider. Since I am always
empathetic, I felt that the patients would receive the correct medication and dose while there
would also be communication amongst the patients and their family members and amongst the
healthcare providers. I also felt very motivated to act as nurse leader where I would ensure that
medication safety and communication for patient safety are adhered to any given time.
EVALUATION
All parts of the experience were positive and everything worked in my expectations. The
only difficulties that I experienced was the workload at the Intensive Care Unit but since it
improves patient outcome, I have no problem with working too much (Vincent & Amalberti,
2015). The concepts of communication for patient safety and and risk management were well
covered .I actually feel that everything was done correctly and I don’t see anywhere or anything
that I would do differently.
ANALYSIS
Medication safety is one of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
The objective of this standard is to ensure that the correct medicine or drug,the right dose,the
right route of administration and the correct patient gets the prescribed medicine(Goodman et al.,
2016). According to studies, 12% of the mortality rates in Australia are as a result of wrong
medication and that is why this NSQHS was implemented (Clevenger, Mallett, Klein, &
Richards, 2015). These act of ensuring that the nurses adhere to all medication is just a
precautionary measure to reduce on those death rates. Furthermore, the Intensive Care Unit is out

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of bounds to unauthorized individuals (Frew, Alexander, Hood, & Acornley, 2016). Medication
safety is therefore a very important NSQHS that all the other healthcare facilities should adhere
to.
In the second scenario ,I had to ensure that there was communication from all fronts.I had
to ensure that there is communication between the patient and the caregiver.I also ensured that
the care giver would communicate with the family members and tell them the importance of the
nursing interventions (Shander, Isbister, & Gombotz, 2016). Besides,I had to also ensure that
there is communication and collaboration amongst the different healthcare providers.the
healthcare providers were supposed to share information on how well the condition of the patient
would be handled.
This act of communication is one of the NSQHS under communication for patient safety.
It involves an interchange of information between different parties but with a common objective
(Raj, 2014).. The objective in this case is to improve patient outcome and protect the public form
harm. All Healthcare organizations should therefore ensure that they work along the
communication for patient safety NSQHS.
CONCLUSIONS
From the two scenarios, I have learnt that communication for patient safety and
medication safety are very important NSQHSS .They all have a common objective of protecting
both the patient and the healthcare worker from infections(Duffy, 2013). In the two scenarios,
the healthcare facility that I worked during my placement have made sure that all the practices
are in line with the NSQHS (Edvardsson, Watt, & Pearce, 2016). From the scenario, I have also
learnt that my strengths are empathy and critical thinking. Could it have been not for empathy, I

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doubt if I would have considered all those precautionary measures before drugs are finally given
to the patien.
ACTION PLAN
In future, I would wish to advocate that all the NSQHS are taken into consideration at
any healthcare facility .I would prioritize risk management since I have to be safe so that I can
protect others (Healy, 2016). The experience was generally educative and what I would
specifically do to improve my nursing practice is regular attending of seminars so that I gain the
necessary knowledge on effective communication for patient safety and medication safety.

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References
Clevenger, B., Mallett, S. V., Klein, A. A., & Richards, T. (2015). Patient blood management
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Duffy, J. R. (2013). Quality Caring in Nursing and Health Systems.
doi:10.1891/9780826110152
Edvardsson, D., Watt, E., & Pearce, F. (2016). Patient experiences of caring and person-
centredness are associated with perceived nursing care quality. Journal of Advanced
Nursing, 73(1), 217-227. doi:10.1111/jan.13105
Frew, N., Alexander, D., Hood, J., & Acornley, A. (2016). Impact of a blood management
protocol on transfusion rates and outcomes following total hip and knee arthroplasty.
The Annals of The Royal College of Surgeons of England, 98(6), 380-386.
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Goodman, D., Ogrinc, G., Davies, L., Baker, G. R., Barnsteiner, J., Foster, T. C., … Thor, J.
(2016). Explanation and elaboration of the SQUIRE (Standards for Quality
Improvement Reporting Excellence) Guidelines, V.2.0: examples of SQUIRE
elements in the healthcare improvement literature. BMJ Quality & Safety, 25(12), e7-
e7. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004480
Healy, J. (2016). Improving Health Care Safety and Quality. doi:10.4324/9781315588049
Raj, V. (2014). Chapter-13 Clinical Governance. Handbook of Healthcare Quality and
Patient Safety, 165-173. doi:10.5005/jp/books/12287_13
Shander, A., Isbister, J., & Gombotz, H. (2016). Patient blood management: the global view.
Transfusion, 56, S94-S102. doi:10.1111/trf.13529

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Vincent, C., & Amalberti, R. (2015). Safety in healthcare is a moving target. BMJ Quality &
Safety, 24(9), 539-540. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004403
Williams, K., Woolliams, M., & Spiro, J. (2012). Using a framework for reflection: Gibbs’
reflective cycle. Reflective Writing, 90-102. doi:10.1007/978-0-230-37724-0_16