Comprehensive Analysis of NSQHS Standards During Clinical Practicum

This report presents a reflection on a student's clinical practicum, focusing on the implementation and understanding of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. The student observed and gained direct experience in speech language pathology, accumulating a total of ...Read More

Running head: NSQHS STANDARDS 1
A Reflection on National Safety and Quality Health Standards
Name
Institutional Affiliation

NSQHS STANDARDS 2
During my clinical practicum, I was able to undergo through both Direct clinical
observation as well as Direct clinical experience. In direct clinical observation, I directly
observed speech language pathology for 25 hours successfully (Falender & Shafranske, 2012).
For direct clinical experience on the other hand, I was able to cover a minimum of 375 hours
divided into several sessions and gained hand on experience. It is during these sessions that
theory learnt in class was put into actual practice in clinical settings. I aimed at gaining adequate
experience while simultaneously providing the highest quality patient centered care. It is also
during the practicum that I gained vivid understanding of various National Safety and Quality
Health Service Standards. Outlined henceforth is my understanding and experience on Blood
management standard and Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard.
The primary aim of the Blood management standard is coming up with strategies to
handle identified risks so as to ensure that a patient’s blood is conserved and optimized to the
maximum (Thomas, Thompson, & Ridler, 2016). The standard also ensures that any other blood
receivable by a patient in the course of his/her treatment is safe and appropriate. It is also to my
understanding that this standard plays significant roles in ensuring that a patient is not exposed
unnecessarily to blood and blood products and therefore avoid any lethal effects that could result
from the same. Additionally, since usage of biological materials carry significant intrinsic risks,
it is elaborate to me that this standard oversees all actions aimed at minimization of the risks.
Such actions include; testing and screening of donors as well as blood donated and ensuring that
considerations for all treatment options, their benefits and risks have been made before arriving
at the final decision to carry out a transfusion.
Certain instances during my practicum made me gain the real insight on application and
implementation of this standard. It was during treatment of a critically ill patient suffering from a

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cardiovascular disease. Putting into consideration the Transfusion Requirements in Critical Care
(TRCC), the RN conducted transfusions when the patient’s concentration of hemoglobin
lowered to below 7 g/dl an was subsequently maintained at levels between 7 g/dl and 9 g/dl.
With exemption of patients suffering from unstable Angina and acute Myocardial Infarction, the
fore mentioned strategy proved effective in lowering the mortality rate of all other patients who
are acutely ill. To effect success of the transfusions, I learnt that standardized practice had been
assimilated by blood management initiatives. Additionally, the initiatives also eradicate outlier
patterns; the most common one being RBCs being ordered in two units instead of one.
I also observed that blood management programs that eventually got successful were
under the captainship of dedicated leaders, mostly a Registered Nurse who implemented
evidence-based practice (Curlee & Gordon, 2013). Development and driving initiatives is also a
responsibility to be assumed by a Registered Nurse. I closely monitored the blood management
implementation plan and figured out it was a three phase program. The phases are; Focused
planning phase, practical roll out phase and lastly the maintenance phase.
I was also able to experience implementation of Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-
Associated Infection Standard. My understanding of the standard is that; it works towards
minimization of possibilities of patients acquiring preventable infections that are associated to
healthcare provision in the clinical setting as well as managing such infections in case they occur
(Percival, Williams, Cooper, & Randle, 2014). Additionally, as part of antimicrobial
stewardship, it is clear to me that this standard oversees far-sighted use of antimicrobials as an
intervention to minimize occurrence of antimicrobial resistance. To achieve its chief goals, the
standard requires use of systems that are evidence based. For patients showing colonization or
infection with, or predisposing risks of locally, nationally and/or globally significant organisms,

NSQHS STANDARDS 4
prompt action is taken after identification to avail the relevant treatment and management plans.
The health service-providing organisation should also be hygienic and clean (Soule, Memish, &
Malani, 2012).
Preventing and Controlling Healthcare-Associated Infection Standard prevailed
throughout my practicum. It was continuously applied to ensure the safety and wellbeing of
patients because such infections could result to significant harm. Patient’s use of health services
could be extended –for example, by increasing the duration of stay as well as prolonged use of
health resources such as beds meant for inpatients. The aforementioned would occur when a
patient contracts healthcare-associated infections. I was able to identify the strategies
implemented by the facility’s management to avoid such repercussions. First, I noted that
surveillance activities were conducted to highlight areas requiring quality improvement. Such
activities included creating awareness, assessing and practicing aseptic technique for hand
hygiene. I additionally witnessed consumer engagement and antimicrobial stewardship that
oversaw appropriate and safe prescription and usage of antimicrobial agents (Damani, 2012).
I can therefore conclude that my entire practicum period was educative and added
significant value to my career. I experienced first-hand implementation of all National Safety and
Quality Health service standards and subsequently, I have developed relevant skills that will
enable me deliver safe and efficient patient-centered care as a registered nurse.

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References
Curlee, W., & Gordon, R. L. (2013). Successful Program Management: Complexity Theory,
Communication, and Leadership (illustrated ed.). CRC Press.
Damani, N. (2012). Manual of Infection Prevention and Control (illustrated ed.). OUP Oxford.
Falender, C. A., & Shafranske, E. P. (2012). Getting the Most Out of Clinical Training and
Supervision: A Guide for Practicum Students and Interns (5 ed.). American
Psychological Association.
Percival, S. L., Williams, D., Cooper, T., & Randle, J. (2014). Biofilms in Infection Prevention
and Control: A Healthcare Handbook. Academic Press.
Soule, B. M., Memish, Z. A., & Malani, P. N. (2012). Best Practices in Infection Prevention and
Control: An International Perspective (illustrated ed.). Joint Commission Resources.
Thomas, D., Thompson, J., & Ridler, B. (2016). All Blood Counts: A manual for blood
conservation and patient blood management. tfm Publishing Limited.