Nursing Practice Reflection: Code, Standards, and Professional Growth

This assignment delves into the critical aspects of nursing reflective practice, focusing on the legal and ethical considerations as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). It examines the NMBA's Code of Conduct and Enrolled Nurse Standards for Practice 2016, highlighting how they guide nurses in reviewing and improving their practice. The assignment explores methods employers can use to support nurses' professional knowledge, identifies key features of a nurse's scope of practice, and discusses the benefits of industry networking. Furthermore, it analyzes the Gibbs model of reflection, outlines professional nursing bodies supporting industry networking in Australia, and details Continuous Professional Development (CPD) requirements. The student also provides a personal development plan, covering principles and techniques for achieving goals, and concludes by assessing how to confirm learning opportunities meet ethical and legal practice requirements. The assignment draws on multiple sources to support the analysis of the topic.

 Referring to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) Code of Conduct
for Nurses and briefly discuss which 3 principles relate to the legal and ethical
considerations for practicing reflectively, reviewing and improving your own practice.
(100 words)
I recommend nurses to value ethical management of information, quality nursing care for
all people, and a culture of safety in nursing and health care. These principles have enabled me to
understand the essence of the standards set for nurses to follow. They have provided a platform
from which I can reflect on my conduct as a nurse. I have developed decisive decision-making
skills in patient care. They have enabled me to create an awareness to my patients of the rights
am supposed to give them and how am supposed to uphold my duties when it comes to taking
care of them as a nurse (Lemone, 2013).
 Referring to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) Enrolled Nurse
Standards for Practice 2016 and briefly discuss which standard relates to the legal and
ethical considerations for practicing reflectively, reviewing and improving your own
practice. (100 words)
The NMBA standards have helped me understand that reliable patient care is the main
objective. The seven standard states that nurses should evaluate nursing outcome to inform
nursing practice. This gives legal authority for nurses to take responsibility to evaluate every
practice in the medical institution based on the priorities of the institution. This standard has
enabled me to monitor, revise the plans made, and evaluate medical decisions made in our
institution. I have developed a sense of accountability and clarity of what is need of me (Lewis,
Dirksen, Heitkemper, Bucher, & Harding, 2014).

 Discuss 2 methods an employer may provide or support to ensure that you are maintaining
your professional knowledge/learning. (60 words)
I would encourage managers to develop a scoreboard. This would help in mapping all the
exercises practiced in healthcare institutions. The scoreboard should contain valuable
information about the patient's health and keep a record of it for future reference. I encourage
managers to constantly influence the conduction of interviews of nurses and other medical
practitioners in healthcare systems. These meetings discuss the medical safety of patients and the
experiences medical practitioners go through (Evans, 2017).
 Outline the 3 key features to your scope of practice that identifies your responsibilities and
limitations (60 words)
I believe that nursing requires a nurse to have immense stamina, compassion, and effective
communication skills. A nurse should be physical, mentally and emotionally strong because of
the difference of medical attention required by patients. Compassion enables a nurse to have
empathy towards a patient and motivates the nurse to have an urge to take better care of the
patient. Efficient communication skills enable nurses to be able to elaborate more clearly and
also listen to the patients’ needs (Melnyk, 2015).
 There are various models that explain the purpose and understanding of the benefits of
professional reflection, discuss one that you feel that you can relate to. (100 words)
I personally use the Gibbs 1988 model of reflection. It was created by Graham Gibbs. It
involves the use of structures to generate more clarity to people about their professions.
Structures are: the initial experience, description of the experience, reactions or feelings towards
the experience, evaluation of the experience (whether it affects the person positively or

negatively), analyzing the experience ( getting to understand the experience more), conclusion
( getting to know the general and specific reason for undergoing the experience) and action plan (
getting to know the next step or what to do in order to learn from the experience. The model has
helped me gain more experience and improve my self-drive as a nurse (Tarrant, 2013.).
 Outline 5 benefits that you as a nurse will get from engaging in industry networking (60
words)
I have experienced lots of benefits after joining the nursing industry networking. The
program has enabled me to: keep building and strengthening, the creation of more opportunities,
gain friendships, gain professional advice, and generation of referrals in nursing practices. These
benefits have enabled me to be able to interact with more medical practitioners who have been a
support system for me.
 Research and state 2 professional nursing bodies that support and facilitate industry
networking. Provide a brief outline of what they offer to assist a nurse for industry
networking and professional development. (60 words)
In Australia, there are bodies that support industrial networking they are the Nurse and
Midwifery Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The
two bodies are in partnership with each other. In 2015 to 2016 the two bodies launched a national
scheme which had two major initiatives that enabled nurses and midwives in Australia to provide
safe healthcare to citizens, and also regulate them under the national scheme (Schober, 2016).
 Identify the current requirements for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for
enrolled nurses within Australia. Including the type of training and options available for
you to obtain the CPD requirements (60 words)

Nurses and midwives in Australia are anticipated to have participated in at least 20 hours of
CPD per year. The CPD must be relevant to their framework of practice, they must keep CPD
documentation which will act as evidence of their completion with at least 20 hours of CPD per
year, and they are required to participate in compulsory skills acquisition (Chism, 2016).
 When you set out to develop a personal plan it is important to understand how and why
you are doing it. For each point in the plan’s column, discuss the principles and provide 2
techniques for how it can be achieved. (Reference)
Plans Principles Techniques
Creating a personal
development plan
One should define his or her own
goals.
People should start prioritizing
Individuals should start setting
deadlines
People should set specific
deadlines that indicate when they
expect to have accomplished
their goals
Individuals should know their
strengths and how to build
towards that.
One should set a personal
development plan. Where an
individual comprises steps of
achieving the goals he or she has
set. The person should list the
steps in the order of degree of
importance that each goal
requires (Peterson D., 2019).
One ought to review the goals he
or she has set and figure up a
plan on how to accomplish that.
This helps people keep their
objectives straight and their eyes

People should recognize their
opportunities and threats that
their businesses may face
People should develop new skills
Individuals should take action
and try and achieve their
development
People should try and get support
to help grow their business (Lu,
2015)
in full sight of their intended
goals (Pomerenke, 2015).
Personal goal setting People should set goals that have
clarity
The goals that individuals set
should be challenging for them
to achieve
People should have a
commitment to their goals
People should acquire and
review feedback about their
progress
Individuals should set clear and
measurable goals. The goals
should be extremely clear and the
precise required amount and
dates should be included. This
enables people to measure the
degree of their success
(Lamachenka, 2016).
The goals set should be time-
bound, relevant and attainable.
The goals set should be

Individuals should able to assess
and rectify the complexity of
their tasks (REDMOND &
JANICEK, 2016)
achievable, give a sense of
purpose and direction to which
one's career should be heading,
and a deadline should be set for
the completion of one's goals.
This tends to increase a sense of
urgency to motivate individuals
(Lamachenka, 2016).
Setting realistic
timeframes
Individuals should clearly
specify what they want
Individuals goals ought to be
achievable and realistic for them
Individuals should have a
burning desire to achieve their
goals
People should visualize and live
their goals (Thum, 2008).
People should know how
realistic their goals are. This
helps them develop effective
strategies that support their
objectives.
People should get well aware of
what is needed for them to
achieve their goals (R.L.Adams,
2016 ).
Measuring progress
and performance
Individuals performance should
be able to expose the weakness
The use of Management by
Objectives (MBO). This helps in
identifying specific objectives

Their performance should enable
alliances across functional
boundaries
Performance measures should be
extremely visible and always
remain current
The measures should have the
right balanced lagging and
leading indicators
Performance measures should be
used as a driving tool for good
behavior (Peterson S., 2014).
and developing strategies to
achieve them.
The use of Performance
Appraisals. This helps in aligning
individuals’ goals with strategies
developed by the organization
(HAYES, 2019).
 Discuss how you can assess and confirm your own learning opportunities in nursing to
ensure that they meet the ethical and legal requirements for practice (80 words)
I am now aware that nurses have a say in deciding patients healthcare. I have learned that
nurses ought to take their obligations seriously and they deserve to observe all the standards and
codes set for them to abide by. Interaction with other medical staff is key as it enables us, nurse,

to create an efficient working healthcare system. I have learned that the Australian government
has played a major role in improving the healthcare of the Australian through the CPD.

References
Chism, L. A. (2016). The doctor of nursing practice a guidebook for role development and professional
issues. Burlington: Mass. Jones & Bartlett.
Evans, J. R. (2017). Quality and performance excellence: management, organization, and strategy.
Boston: 6Cengage Learning.
HAYES, A. (2019, March 25). Management By Objectives (MBO). Retrieved from Investopedia:
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/management-by-objectives.asp
Lamachenka, A. (2016, May 31st). 10 SMART Goal Setting Best Practices For Project Planning. Retrieved
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planning/
Lemone, P. (2013). Medical-Surgical Nursing (Australian Edition) Volumes 1-3. Melbourne: P.Ed
Australia.
Lewis, S. M., Dirksen, S. R., Heitkemper, M. M., Bucher, L., & Harding, M. (2014). Medical-surgical
nursing: assessment and management of clinical problems. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier/Mosby.
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http://www.mindofwinner.com/create-personal-development-plan/
Melnyk, B. M. (2015). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: a guide to best practice.
Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
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indicators/
Pomerenke, J. (2015, January 27). 5 Ways to Keep Your Eyes on Your Goals. Retrieved from Entrepreneur
Franchise: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/240411
R.L.Adams. (2016, November 21). 15 Bulletproof Strategies for Achieving Your Goals. Retrieved from
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Schober, M. (2016). Introduction to Advanced Nursing Practice: an International Focus. Cham: Springer
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Thum, M. (2008, 10 Aug). Goal Setting: 7 Steps to Set Your Life Goals. Retrieved from mykrothum.com:
https://www.myrkothum.com/goal-setting/