Post-work #2

(Complete Parts A and B)

Part A. American Nurses’ Association Standards of Professional Performance

The American Nurses’ Association (ANA) is a nationally recognized professional nursing association. A professional organization is responsible for developing the scope and standards of practice for its profession, and the ANA has long fulfilled this role for the nursing profession. The ANA publishes, maintains, and updates a Scope of Practice Statement and the Standards of Professional Practice. The Scope of Practice Statement outlines the who, what, where, when, why, and how of nursing. The Standards of Professional Practice include the Standards of Practice and the Standards of Professional Performance. The Standards of Practice specify competence in practice as exhibited through the nursing process (including assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation). The Standards of Professional Performance describe competent behavior in the professional nursing role, including the following components: ethics, culturally congruent practice, communication, collaboration, leadership, education, evidence-based practice and research, quality of practice, professional practice evaluation, resource utilization, and environmental health (American Nurses Association, 2015)

Review the table below which lists the 11 ANA Standards of Professional Performance, their descriptions, and examples.

For each standard you believe you have demonstrated as a student, write one reflection that specifically describes how you have demonstrated it. Thinking about how you have demonstrated a particular standard may be challenging to consider right now, especially since you don’t yet have much nursing experience. However, reflect back on some of your clinical experiences and courses that may tie into some of the key words in the standards. Statements provided do not necessarily have to come from clinical experiences. Examples of each standard are provided to help generate some ideas for you. For those standards you have not yet achieved, write a reflection describing your understanding of the standard and indicating in which course you anticipate achieving the specific standard.

Standard

Definition

Examples

Self-Reflection

1.

Ethics

The registered nurse practices ethically.

Follows guidance of Code of Ethics for nurses with Interpretive statements

Maintains therapeutic and professional patient-nurse relationships

Delivers care that preserves patient autonomy, dignity, and rights

Seeks available resources in formulating ethical decisions

Reports illegal, incompetent or impaired practice

Maintains patient confidentiality within legal and regulatory parameters

2.

Culturally Congruent

Practice

The registered nurse practices in a manner that is congruent with cultural diversity and inclusion principles.

Demonstrates respect, equity, and empathy in actions and interactions with culturally diverse and vulnerable healthcare consumers

Participates in life-long activities to understand cultural preferences

Creates an inventory of one’s own values, beliefs, and cultural heritage

Applies knowledge of variations in health beliefs, practices

3.

Communication

The registered nurse communicates effectively in all areas of practice.

Communicates with the patient, significant others, and health care providers regarding patient care and nursing’s role in the provision of care

Collaborates with patient, family and others health care providers in the formulation of overall goals and the plan of care and in the decisions related to care and delivery of services

Partners with others to effect change and generate positive outcomes

4.

Collaboration

The registered nurse collaborates with healthcare consumer and other key stakeholders in the conduct of nursing practice.

Communicates with the patient, significant others, and health care providers regarding patient care and nursing’s role in the provision of care

Collaborates with patient, family and others health care providers in the formulation of overall goals and the plan of care and in the decisions related to care and delivery of services

Partners with others to effect change and generate positive outcomes

Documents referrals, including provisions for continuity of care, as needed

5.

Leadership

The registered nurse leads within the professional practice setting and the profession.

Engages on teamwork

Works to create and maintain healthy work environments

Teaches others to succeed through mentoring

Directs coordination of care across settings and care givers

Demonstrates energy, excitement and a passion for quality work

Willingly accepts mistakes by self and others, thereby creating a culture in which risk- taking is not only safe, but expected

6.

Education

The registered nurse seeks knowledge and competence that reflects current nursing practice and promotes futuristic thinking.

Participates in ongoing learning /educational activities to acquire and refine the knowledge and skills needed to care for clients

Demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning by maintaining professional records that provide evidence of competency and lifelong learning

Seeks experiences to maintain clinical skills

Seeks knowledge and skills appropriate to the practice setting

Maintains professional records that provide evidence of competency and lifelong learning

7.

Evidence-based Practice and Research

The registered nurse integrates evidence and research findings into practice.

Utilizes best available evidence including research findings to guide practice decisions

Participates in research activities as appropriate to the nurse’s education and position such as the following:

Identifies clinical problems suitable for nursing research

Participates in data collection

Critiques research for application to practice

Uses research findings in the development of policies, procedures, and practice guidelines for patient care

8.

Quality of

Practice

The registered nurse contributes to quality nursing practice.

Demonstrates quality by documenting the application of the nursing process in a responsible, accountable and ethical manner

The nurse participates in clinical inquiry through quality improvement activities

Uses quality improvement activities to initiate changes in nursing practice and health care delivery system

Uses creativity and innovation to improve nursing care delivery

Incorporates new knowledge to initiate changes in nursing practice if desired outcomes are not achieved

Participates in quality improvement activities

The nurse ensures that quality improvement activities incorporate the patient’s and family’s beliefs, values, and preferences as appropriate

9.

Professional Practice

Evaluation

The registered nurse evaluates one’s own and others’ nursing practice.

Engages in self-evaluation on a regular basis

Seeks and reflects on constructive feedback regarding his or her own practice competencies from the team of patient, family, and other healthcare providers

Takes action to achieve performance goals identified during the evaluation process

Participates in systematic peer review as appropriate

Practice reflects knowledge of current practice standards, laws and regulations

Provides age appropriate care in culturally and ethnically sensitive manner

10.

Resource Utilization

The registered nurse utilizes appropriate resources to plan, provide, and sustain evidence-based nursing services that are safe, effective, and fiscally responsible.

Evaluates factors related to safety, effectiveness, availability and cost when practice options would result in the same expected patient outcome

Assists the patient and family in identifying and securing appropriate and available services to address health related needs

Assigns or delegate tasks based on the needs and condition of the patient, the potential for harm, the stability of the patient’s condition, the complexity of the task, and the predictability of the outcome

Assists the patient and family in becoming informed consumers about the cost, risks, and benefits of treatment and care

11.

Environmental Health

The registered nurse practices

in an

environmentally safe

and healthy manner.

Shares knowledge and skills with peers and colleagues

Provides peers with feedback regarding their practice.

The nurse interacts with peers and colleagues to enhance his or her own professional practice and promote optimal patient outcomes.

Maintains compassionate and caring relationships with peers and colleagues

Contributes to a supportive and healthy work environment

American Nurses Association (2015). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (3rd ed.). Nursesbooks.org.

Part B.

1. State three benefits of membership in a professional organization: Membership in professional organizations offer many benefits including professional journals, continuing education, certification, networking, specialty standards, and leadership development.

2. Define certification. “A process by which a nongovernmental agency or association certifies that an individual licensed to practice a profession has met certain predetermined standards specified by that profession for specialty practice.” (American Nurse Association)

3. What does NCSBN stand for and what is its purpose? NCSBN stand for National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

4. Describe the purpose of the Nurses on Boards Coalition and explain why is it important for nursing?