Personal Reflection on Neurovascular Assessment in Clinical Skills

This assignment is a personal reflection on the practical experience of learning neurovascular assessment skills during clinical classes. The student details the procedures learned, the facilitator's guidance, and the development of confidence in performing the assessment. The reflection covers the student's feelings, including excitement and aspiration to excel in nursing practice, and an evaluation of the components of neurovascular assessment, such as temperature, capillary refill, sensation, pulses, and motor function. The student analyzes the learning experience, highlighting the importance of neurological imaging and documentation, while also acknowledging areas for improvement, such as asking more questions. The conclusion emphasizes the significance of neurovascular assessment and the student's commitment to using acquired skills in future practice, including building patient-nurse relationships and documenting assessments. The action plan outlines the intention to provide quality care, engage with colleagues, and ensure patient safety.

Running head: REFLECTION 1
Personal Reflection
Name
Institution

REFLECTION 2
Clinical Skills Reflection
Description
During my practical classes in school, I was taught several nursing skills that will be very
important my future practice. One of the most important skills that I learned during the practical
classes was neurovascular assessment. In the company of my classmates, our facilitator took us
through the important procedures and showed us what we were supposed to learn in the practical
classes to ensure that we were well equipped with the necessary neurovascular skills. We were
then divided into three groups where were practically did the things the facilitator had taught us.
Every session I attended, I noted down everything that I learned and everything that may have
seemed unclear. The facilitator also ensured that he assessed my daily progress and gave me
feedback. This feedback helped me in recognizing my strong points and flaws. The experience of
the facilitator in neurovascular assessment was key in ensuring that I understood the basics
because he is a retired nurse.
Feelings
During these practical classes, I developed a serious aspiration to read further and learn more
about neurovascular assessment. The amount of available knowledge on neurovascular
assessment was fascinating and I felt excited about this clinical skill. The idea of using this skill
to help patients to realize better health outcomes in my future practice as a nurse was exciting
and I felt like I could not wait to become a nurse. The facilitator made the classes interesting
because of his vast knowledge in this skill and he, therefore, ensured that I always understood
every detail of the sessions. My fears and worries were eliminated and my confidence levels in

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executing this clinical skill rose with every passing lesson. I feel that the neurovascular skills that
I learned will help me excel in my future practice as a nurse.
Evaluation
A neurovascular assessment is very important in physically examining patients who may be at
risk of neurovascular compromise. According to Schreiber (2016), this assessment is done to
evaluate peripheral circulation and motor and sensory function. I understood that the components
of this assessment include temperature, capillary refill, sensation, pulses, and motor function.
These practical classes also ensured that I understood the importance of including every detail of
a neurological assessment in my documentation. It is always very important to compare the
findings of the assessment because even slight changes can have enormous implications.
Schreiber (2016) states that through neurovascular assessment; any neurovascular deterioration
can be identified to ensure that early interventions are initiated. It is important to note that early
neurovascular assessment can prevent a patient from losing their limbs or from deaths in worst-
case scenarios. During the sessions, I failed to properly perform an assessment of the motor
functions because I did not understand it properly. I also shied away from asking important
questions regarding the assessment processes thus limiting my understanding of the assessment
of motor functions.
Analysis
The practical lessons were a good learning experience for all of us and I particularly enjoyed the
classes. According to Saba (2015), neurological imaging is fundamental in improving
neurological skills and assessing components such as pulses, motor function, temperature,

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capillary refill, sensation, pain, and edema. Saba (2015) further confirm that neurological
assessment through imaging helps in early identification of pathological conditions such as
stroke and design appropriate and timely interventions. The findings of the neurovascular
assessment must be documented and any changes must be reported to the appropriate healthcare
practitioner for further scrutiny (Schreiber, 2016). According to Nayani, Sreedharan,
Namboodiri, Sarma & Sylaja (2016), during the assessment of pulses, a 0-4 point scale is used to
assess the presence of a pulse or if the pulse is diminished or absent. Temperature is assessed by
using the back of the hand to bilaterally assess the temperature of the skin. According to my
facilitator, the frequency of performing this assessment varies within healthcare facilities,
procedures, or diagnosis. Nayani et al. (2016) however, state that the default frequency of
assessment however if a patient’s condition does not change is after every four hours.
Conclusion
From my experience in the practical classes, I learned a lot of things that changed my opinion on
neurovascular examinations and how they will affect my future practice. I now hold a belief that
this clinical skill is very significant and it will make my transition from a student to an enrolled
nurse and later a registered nurse easier. From the practical classes, I established that the keys to
gaining the fundamental knowledge of neurovascular assessment are confidence and dedication.
I, however, had a few challenging experiences during the classes and I sometimes shied away
from asking questions. I realized that for future success, I needed to engage my facilitator
frequently by asking the important questions.
Action Plan

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In future, I would like to use all the skills acquired in class concerning all components of
neurovascular assessment to provide quality care services to my patients. I will make sure that
my patients get the most appropriate quality of care by building a patient-nurse relationship with
them. This will improve patients’ trust in my practice and thus ensuring that they are comfortable
with me during the delivery of care. I additionally intend to document all the important
assessments to keep track of my patients’ progress and make sure that they do not experience
deterioration. Furthermore, I intend to engage my colleagues and seniors during uncertain
moments to ensure that I deliver safe care to my patients.

REFLECTION 6
References
Nayani, S., Sreedharan, S. E., Namboodiri, N., Sarma, P. S., & Sylaja, P. N. (2016). Autonomic
dysfunction in first ever ischemic stroke: Prevalence, predictors and short term
neurovascular outcome. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery, 150, 54-58.
Saba, L. (2015). Neurovascular imaging: seeing the future more clearly. Neurovascular
Imaging, 1(1). doi: 10.1186/s40809-015-0006-x
Schreiber, M. L. (2016). Neurovascular assessment: an essential nursing focus. MedSurg
Nursing, 25(1), 55.