NR 351 Week 1 Graded Discussion: Nurse of the Future Nursing Core Competencies
Class, Here is your discussion for Week 1:
Now that you have examined the ... [Show More] Nurse of the Future Nursing Core Competencies, why do you think these competencies were selected? Which 2 of the 10 competencies will be most important to your future nursing practice and why?
Answer
• In my opinion, these competencies were selected because each of them is important, but together they represent the standard of care for patients. Combined, they are what helps nurses give excellent patient care. According to our reading in the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, the competencies as a whole, represent knowledge, attitude, and skill. All three are essential for nursing practice. These competencies place nursing knowledge “at the core to represent how nursing knowledge in its totality reflects the overarching art and science of the nursing profession and discipline” (Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, 2016).
• Each of the competencies plays an important role in nursing practice, but I feel that safety and communication will be most important to my future nursing practice. Safety is important to me because it not only applies to patients but nurses as well. My number one priority is patient safety, but I have to keep myself safe, healthy and injury free in order to provide great care for my patients. For example, sanitizing my hands and equipment when entering and leaving patients rooms helps prevent the spread of infection to myself and my patients. Not recapping needles and changing the sharps containers when full helps prevent needle sticks. Proper lifting techniques when repositioning patients helps prevent back injuries. These are all things that seem simple but are overlooked at times due to the fast pace of nursing. Following safety protocols ensures that I can keep myself and my patients safe in the future. Communication is important to me because my patients depend on my communication between them and other medical professionals for their care. I am the middle man at times. For example, when medical doctors round on patients and are updating them on their plan of care, they sometimes use terminology that patients don’t understand. Hence, I am the one who translates in layman’s terms what the MD tried to explain. Another example would be, when discharging a patient, I have to be clear and concise when reviewing their new medications, diet and activity restrictions. According to the CDC, 82% of American adults take at least one medication and 29% take five or more (CDC.gov). Therefore, sending my patients home with new medications, if not explained properly could put them at risk for an adverse drug event or rehospitalization. According to the CDC, adverse drug events cause more than one million emergency department visits and 280,000 hospitalizations each year (CDC.gov). Thus, communication is important in my future nursing practice because it helps create meaningful relationships with my patients and improves their quality of care.
Hello Professor and Class,
In my opinion, the ten competencies were chosen because they represent the education and the methods in nursing professions that provide standard of care for patients (“Massachusetts Nurse,” 2016, p. 5). These competencies will help guide and prepare the future nurse in their nursing career. The two competencies most important in my nursing career and future are communication and teamwork and collaboration (“Massachusetts Nurse,” 2016, p. 5). Communication is most important because I can then accomplish tasks and goals quickly and efficiently to provide the best quality care to patients. Communication in my career will prepare me to “use written, verbal, non-verbal, and emerging technology methods to communicate effectively” (AACN, 2008, p. 12). Communication between the physicians and the rest of the clinical team, along with the patient and/or family will promote safety and best standard of care for my patients. Teamwork and collaboration within the ambulatory setting promotes patient safety, high quality care, and efficiency. Working as a team is in the best interest of the patient. By working effectively within our team, our patients can have the best patient experience throughout their office visit. By collaborating with every team member, our patients have an excellent experience in and out of the office (WHO, 2010, p. 12). Thus, communication, teamwork, and collaboration are high priority to meet the goals of every patient that I come into contact with.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice (Rev. ed.). Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/education-resources/baccessentials08.pdf (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
(Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.Massachusetts Nurse of the Future Nursing Core Competencies. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.mass.edu/nahi/documents/NOFRNCompetencies_updated_March2016.pdf: pp. 1-9
World Health Organization. (2010). Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. Retrieved from http://www/who/int/en/ (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.: p. 12
I believe that Future Nursing Core Competencies were selected to enhance the current nursing processes. They are crucial to the nursing profession because they bring together knowledge, attitude, skills, and vision. Additionally, the competencies connect to the core of nursing. Since our ultimate goal is to improve the care of our patients, we as nurses must continue to better ourselves and as a result, improve the treatment of those who rely on us. Each of the competencies has a separate meaning and purpose and at the same time they connect together and wouldn’t be complete without each other. For example, “communication” and “informatics and technology” connect to each other: we communicate with doctors via computers, we read and write notes via computer, we print teaching material for our patients, we able to translate and communicate with our patients in different languages using “Blue Phone”. I have a strong feeling that developing the Nursing Core Competencies is another way to grow, learn and change the view of NOF “to create competencies for the future, there must be an ongoing process of evaluation and updating of the competencies to ensure that they are reflective of contemporary health care practice” (Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, 2016).
The two most significant competencies to me are Informatics and technology and Quality Improvement. These competencies are very important to our future and will advance in many ways. I have two passions in my life: nursing and advance technology. Working as a nurse for more than 10 years, I have already witnessed big changes in informatics and technology, which I truly admire. Our computer program has changed and improved tremendously, and it was automatically reflected on my personal nursing process. My time management improved, the new system gave me ability to organize better and provide me with additional time for patient care. I start to scan medications, which safe me as a nurse and patients from medication error. I able to see all electronic medical records including past admission and discharge to review and process patient history accordingly. The link to our pharmacy site allow me to be able to read and prevent side effects from certain medication for patient safety. We are using Pyxis PARx system in order to reduce error and recordkeeping of narcotics. Also, we are using Philips Mews system (modified early warning score) and (VALT phones) to communicate with nurses, doctors, rapid response team and manager to respond quick and accordingly when patient deteriorated. “The National Patient Safety Agency (UK) had reported in 2007 that 11% of deaths analyzed in one year were the result of deterioration not recognized or acted upon. Some incidents involved cases where no vital sign observations were made for prolonged periods but more frequently vital sign observations were made but the significance of the trends were not appreciated. And in yet others, the significance was recognized but there was a delay in the medical response” (http://www.patientsafetysolutions.com/docs/March_2012_Value_of_an_Expanded_Early_Warning_System_Score.htm, n.d.).
All of these reflect on Quality Improvement and give us ability to review different incidents, to improve nursing care process and outcomes, and increase comprehension of nursing policy and procedure. I believe Quality Improvement has the biggest value and meaning in nursing future. Since technology grows fast, a lot of machines will involve in patient care. Nursing processes and protocols will change and incidents will reduce. Quality improvement tools and committee will work endlessly to describe, comprehend, explain, review and improve new nursing process. Just like Informatics and technology, quality improvement will improve the experience for the patients as well as the nurses. I will become more competent and confident as a nurse.
Dear Bridgett,
I agree with you that communication is an important competency in the nursing process.
One reason why it is crucial is because without clear communication, we will lose a quality nursing care. Doctor rounds for example will be more sufficient if the nurse were involved. Nurses can update the doctor about patient condition and at the same time, the doctor could give additional orders to improve patient condition.
I often reflect on my own communication stile and I work hard to improve on the way that I communicate with others. Sometimes impatience and anger course problems with communication between nurses, doctor, patients and their family due to cultural differences. For example, when a patient is away from home, is not feeling well, and is in a new environment, it is very important that the patient feels understood. Feeling understood will allow the patient to feel secure and therefore this may cause a patient to reveal something that may be significant and even change his or her plan of care. In today’s diverse world, it is wonderful that we have technology such as “blue phone” which helps us translate from different languages and communicate appropriately with our patients.
I appreciate that you and Sarah acknowledge that communication is important in nursing practices.
Dear Natalie,
I agree with you. Team work and communication are very important in the nursing process, which embrace everybody including our patients. Very often when I take care of one of my patients, another patient who is High Risk for Fall could fall, and to prevent a fall, everybody from the team involved and communicate appropriately. The Safety and security of our patients is priority number one. Communication and team work are ongoing practice where everybody has different role and responsibility. In our Hospital, we use TeamSTEPPS, “a teamwork system developed jointly by the Department of Defense (DoD)and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to improve institutional collaboration and communication relating to patient safety” (http://www.patientsafetysolutions.com/docs/March_2012_Value_of_an_Expanded_Early_Warning_System_Score.htm, n.d.)
Working together as a team we save our patients in many different ways. In the morning when we sign out, rounds together with a night-shift nurse help us to organize accordingly and give unlimited care for our patients during the day. We also use “iHelp” in our hospital. This amazing program involves everybody in the hospital and requires everyone react on the patient’s call bell to assist the patient with his needs.
I appreciate that you, Leslie and other classmates recognize that communication and team work play a tremendous role in the Nursing Core Competencies.
Thank you, Bridgett, for excellent examples. Communication with doctors could be very challenging for nurses that right away reflecting on our patients. Therefore, it is important to communicate and work as a team to provide unlimited patient care. [Show Less]
