Reflective Assignment on NSQHS Standard 1, Clinical Experience

This reflective assignment, based on a 3rd-year clinical placement in a medical oncology unit, analyzes an experience through the Gibbs reflective model, focusing on NSQHS Standard 1, specifically medication safety and communication for safety. The assignment details an incident where a nurse administered an incorrect medication dosage, highlighting the importance of proper assessment and communication with patients. The student reflects on their feelings, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, particularly their assertiveness and clinical knowledge, in relation to the NSQHS standards. The analysis emphasizes the significance of therapeutic relationships and adherence to nursing standards to prevent medication errors. The conclusion underscores the need for effective communication and adherence to safety standards. The action plan outlines steps to enhance assertive skills, communication, and clinical knowledge to improve future patient care. The assignment references key nursing literature to support its arguments.

0REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT ON NSQHS STANDARD
REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT ON NSQHS STANDARD
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

1REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT ON NSQHS STANDARD
Reflection in the nursing is demarcated as the most effective tool to analyze the strength
and weakness of the nurse with the help of past experiences. In the heath carte setting it is
usually performed by the nurses to evaluate their learning and to enhance the knowledge in order
to provide better treatment to the patient in future by working on the skill which needs to be
considered (McKinnon, 2016).. This reflective is focused on the two NSQHS standard, which are
medication safety standard and the communication for safety standard (Safetyandquality.gov.au,
2019). The reflection details about my experience in the 3rd year of the clinical placement in the
medical oncology unit, where I was assigned to work under a registered nurse. The reflective
model that is used to structure my experience in the essay is the Gibbs reflective model. Gibbs
reflective model is the most widely used reflective model in the health care setting as it helps in
better analyzing of the condition and develop the action plan accordingly (Lestander, Lehto &
Engström, 2016).
Description:
During my 3rd year of the clinical placement, I was assigned to take care of a 50 year old
woman, who has been treated for breast cancer. I was assigned top work under a supervisor
nurse. The patient had been diagnosed with breast cancer and is treated accordingly. As the
patient has received chemotherapy a number of times, she has become weak (Zhang et al.,
2019). The patient has a speaking disability and hence cannot speak or express her words
properly, which made it difficult for us to build a rapport with her. On one day, a nurse had
administered the medication to the patient, without even assessing the health condition of the
patient or without communicating with the patient due to her disability, with double the dose by
saying that it will improve her health. I tried once top stop her but later though that have more
experience and knowledge than me and hence did not said anything. Later, I narrated the whole

2REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT ON NSQHS STANDARD
incident to my buddy which ended up calling a MET meeting. The health of the patient worsens
at evening. Her breathing rate has increased, but due to my assertive action, she got the treatment
immediately to avoid any further problem.
Feelings:
At the beginning of the placement, I was excited for the placement as it will help me in
gathering clinical knowledge and experience which is important to ensure quality care in the
future practice. During the clinical placement, I felt that I should be more assertive while treating
the patient. Due to the incident, the health of the patient had worsen, she was in pain but due to
her speaking disability not able to express it, which making me feel sympathy for her. I also felt
disappointed as despite of having the knowledge regarding the medication safety standard I was
not able to stop the nurse at that moment only.
Evaluation:
From the clinical placement incident, I was able to evaluate my strength and weakness. I
evaluated that one of my biggest strength is my clinical knowledge which is very important to
provide proper care to the patient and also reduces the chance of medication error. According to
the NSQHS standard 4, that is the medication safety standard, the dose of the medication should
not be exceeded without the proper assessment of the patient (Safetyandquality.gov.au, 2019).
However the nurse had administered that into the patient, which led to her health deterioration. I
also got knowledge about the importance of proper communication or rapport between the
patient and the nurse according to the communication for the safety standard formulated by the
NSQHS (Safetyandquality.gov.au, 2019). In addition to that, I also understood that I should be
more assertive while handling the patient.

3REFLECTIVE ASSIGNMENT ON NSQHS STANDARD
Analysis:
From the above incident, I analyzed that proper knowledge of the medication safety
standard is vital in order to reduce the risk of medication error in the clinical setting. I also
analyzed the importance of maintaining a therapeutic relationship with the patient as it help to
improve the patient health outcome and as well it is also effective in reducing the chances of
medication error (Cherry & Jacob, 2016). According to the standard 4 of the registered nursing
standard, the nurse should carefully assess the patient before treating the patient, which is
violated by the nurse in the mentioned incident (Nursing and Midwifery board, 2019).
Conclusion:
From the above incident, it can be concluded that effective communication among the
patient and the nurse is essential for better treatment of the patient and the nurse should maintain
a rapport with the patient with the help of the effective communication (Cherry & Jacob, 2016).
To conclude, a single medication error might put the life of the patient at risk and hence the
proper knowledge of the medication safety standard and communication for safety standard is
important to provide safe care to the patient (Cloete, 2015). The registered nursing standard that
has been formulated by the Nursing and Midwifery board (2019) should be followed by nurses.
Action plan:
To enhance the future clinical practice, I will, have top work on my assertive skill, which
is very important during the treatment. I will also enhance my communication skill to build the
rapport with the patient (Cherry & Jacob, 2016). I will also work on my clinical knowledge by
working under the supervisor to gather more learning to provide quality care to the patient in the
future practice (Moore, Sublett & Leahy, 2016).

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Reference:
Cherry, B., & Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, & management.
Elsevier Health Sciences.
Cloete, L. (2015). Reducing medication errors in nursing practice. Cancer Nursing
Practice, 14(1).
Lestander, Ö., Lehto, N., & Engström, Å. (2016). Nursing students' perceptions of
learning after high fidelity simulation: effects of a three-step post-simulation reflection
model. Nurse education today, 40, 219-224.
McKinnon, J. (2016). Reflection for Nursing Life: Principles, Process and Practice. Routledge.
Moore, L. W., Sublett, C., & Leahy, C. (2016). Nurse managers’ insights regarding their role
highlight the need for practice changes. Applied nursing research, 30, 98-103.
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.(2019). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Registered nurse standards for practice. Retrieved 22 August 2019, from
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Professional-
standards/registered-nurse-standards-for-practice.aspx
Safetyandquality.gov.au. (2019).Clinical Governance Standard | Australia Commission on Safety
and Quality in Healthcare. Retrieved 20 August 2019, from
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/clinical-governance/clinical-governance-
standard
Zhang, L., Zhang, Y., Xue, Y., Wu, Y., Wang, Q., Xue, L., ... & Zhang, C. (2019). Transforming
Weakness into Strength: Photothermal‐Therapy‐Induced Inflammation Enhanced

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Cytopharmaceutical Chemotherapy as a Combination Anticancer Treatment. Advanced
Materials, 31(5), 1805936.