Evaluating Personal Clinical Skills and Plan to Improve Individual’s Skills
The purpose of this paper is to present an assessment of my skills with the aim of identifying my personal strengths and weaknesses. I will understand my strongest and weakest point in relation to my clinician course and study.
Strengths
- Understand different prescriptions of medication to patients.
- The skills to educate patients concerning different diagnoses and executing treatment and care services.
- The capability to use documentation for communication and store patients’ information in the healthcare electronic system.
From the experience that I have acquired from the NP program, I understand that for NPs to deliver their services appropriately, one should be in a good position to deal with a wide range of physical and psychological issues. I need to have the ability to interact with patients effectively, especially individuals who may display a number of emotions such as fear, anxiety, resentment, and depression. Conversely, to maintain my strengths, I am determined to further my NP training. Chaghari et al. (2017) allude that NP education and training is essential for clinicians to gain self-direction and practicality. As such, I will increase self-centeredness and initiative to work efficiently in improving patient outcomes.
Weaknesses and the Way to Address them
- Difficulty in accessing clinical information effectively
To address this weakness, I am planning to develop a process that will enhance information transmission, including the use of communication methods such as Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR).
- Challenges working with other care providers when put on practical activities
I plan to use face-to-face communication to express myself accurately and ensure that my colleagues assist me to address medical problems in a comprehensive and liable manner. I will also attend more teambuilding activities organized by my organization.
- Hardship in dealing with workload at the care centers
I will focus on understanding the healthcare layout and available resources in the healthcare system. Understanding the design of the nursing center is important to clinicians because it gives them an opportunity to know the environment layout and spatial information in reference to practical relevance to the nursing workload (Rahid, 2015).
Clinical Skills I Will Obtain Before Exiting the NP Program
- a) Knowledge-Based Skills
Before completing the NP program, I will be familiar with different aspects that relate to my field. As such, throughout the NP program, I will access the information in the form of educational materials to acquire technical, theoretical, language, and health care skills, which I will use to strengthen my career.
- b) Transferable Skills
These are portable skills that I will gain from the NP program. They include communication, analytical, and planning skills.
- c) Management Skills
My experience in the NP program will help me gain critical thinking and administration skills.
Plan to Master the Clinical Skills
I anticipate using health education as a strategy that can assist me plan and categorize the skills that are necessary for personal growth and development. Maconochie (2015) suggests that education is a core factor that allows care providers to accomplish everyday skills and advance in their specialty. Thus, to master the listed skills, I will ensure that I take a clinical training in reflection to my role in the healthcare sector, scope of my course, and needs of the members of the society.
History of Advanced Practice Nurses
Advanced practice nurses (APN) is a term used to refer to certified nurses, clinical nurses, anesthetists, or care provider midwives (Parker & Hill, 2017). The evolution of APNs in the U.S. has been remarkable since it allows clinicians working in different units to deliver appropriate services and work comprehensively to achieve the goal of healthcare organizations. The concept of APN started 40 years ago, and it was introduced at the University of Rochester Hospital Pediatric Center by both Loretta Ford and Henry Sliva, with the objective of increasing effectiveness and public satisfaction (Parker & Hill, 2017). According to Fougère et al. (2016), the term APN was applied by the healthcare system and the council of nurses to define registered nurses who have acquired the expert knowledge and decision-making skills relevant to the care providing activities.
In the U.S., the American Association of College of Nursing (CRNAs) has played an important part in the development of APN. In 2016, the CRNAs was recognized for its effort to administer 65% of RNs in the country (Fougère et al., 2016). The training context for the APN has changed from terminal degree to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). For example, in 2004, the American CRNAs recommended that by 2015, nurses under the APN program should advance their education from the degree to master level and then to Doctor Nursing Practice (Fougère et al., 2016). Personally, in my APN specialty, my roles include providing primary care services to patients. Finally, as a registered nurse, I plan to provide high-quality care services and ensure that health care reforms are implemented intensively for the benefit of those diagnosed with different condition. Conclusively, from my skills and educational qualification, I believe I will make the healthcare system operate professionally and focus on the provision of quality healthcare services.
References
Chaghari, M., Saffari, M., Ebadi, A., & Ameryoun, A. (2017). Empowering education: A new model for in-service training of nursing staff. Journal of Advances in Medical Education & Professionalism, 5(1), 26-32.
Fougère, B., Morley, J. E., Decavel, F., Nourhashémi, F., Abele, P., Resnick, B., … & Chicoulaa, B. (2016). Development and implementation of the advanced practice nurse worldwide with an interest in geriatric care. Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, 17(9), 782-788.
Maconochie, I. (2015). Recent advances in pediatrics: Vol. 27. London: JP Medical Publishers
Parker, J. M., & Hill, M. N. (2017). A review of advanced practice nursing in the United States, Canada, Australia and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), China. International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 4(2), 196-204.
Rashid, M. (2015). Research on nursing unit layouts: an integrative review. Facilities, 33(9/10), 631-695.
