"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuses" -Florence Nightingale
Self-Evaluation
The development of this e-portfolio has given me not only a visual illustration of my growth during my time at Stenberg College, but it has allowed me to reflect on previous accomplishments and a place to visualize my future goals. It is evident that a lot has changed from my first semester in the RDPN program and it is a great feeling to step back and see how far I’ve come. However, this is not to say that the Psychiatric Nursing program did not come without some difficult times. Shortly after embarking on this journey I lost not only one, but two members of my family whom I’m very close with. It wasn't easy to continue with this program after suffering such a great lost, but I’m proud of myself for persevering and sticking it out until the end. One of the main things that kept me motivated was a desire to make not only myself, but my grandmother proud. From an early age, my grandmother instilled certain values within me that subsequently lead to me to want to become a Registered Psychiatric nurse. I'm thankful that I chose Stenberg College to further my educational goals as they provided me with the opportunity to make various community connections, meet some of my closes friends and the ability to head out into the work force knowing that I’m fully prepared to work in this industry.
As I enter my final preceptorship I can see the development I have made over the last five semesters at Stenberg College. I’m no longer a novice nurse heading into clinical practice, but a contributing member of the health care team. I feel that as each semester came to an end my clinical skills have become more refined. Through clinical placements at Maple Hill, Langley Memorial Hospital, Cypress Lodge and now the New Westminster ACT Team, I was able to further develop my clinical competencies. Although I have achieved mastery in most clinical competencies I will continue to look for learning opportunities during my Psychiatric Nursing practice as a major aspect of nursing is lifelong learning and development.
Mastered Competences:
Competencies to further develop:
I plan on reaching the above competencies by developing extensive learning plans filled with various resources and to seek out learning opportunities during my final preceptorship with the New Westminster ACT Team.
As I enter my final preceptorship I can see the development I have made over the last five semesters at Stenberg College. I’m no longer a novice nurse heading into clinical practice, but a contributing member of the health care team. I feel that as each semester came to an end my clinical skills have become more refined. Through clinical placements at Maple Hill, Langley Memorial Hospital, Cypress Lodge and now the New Westminster ACT Team, I was able to further develop my clinical competencies. Although I have achieved mastery in most clinical competencies I will continue to look for learning opportunities during my Psychiatric Nursing practice as a major aspect of nursing is lifelong learning and development.
Mastered Competences:
- 1.03 Makes pertinent observations
- 1.04 Assess mental and physical status
- 1.05 Identifies and prioritizes individual client needs
- 2.01 Understands the roles and functions of other members of the health care team
- 2.06 Collaborates with other members of the health care team
- 3.01 Provides a safe environment
- 3.02 Measures vital signs including neuron-vitals
- 3.03 Implements seizure precautions
- 3.12 Feeds client when necessary
- 3.13 Assists client to maintain hygiene
- 3.14 Assists client to maintain ‘normal’ body function
- 3.20 Transfer and turns the client
- 3.29 Carries out isolation techniques
- 3.34 Obtains specimens
- 3.35 Tests urine specimens and capillary blood glucose level
- 3.42 Administers oral, rectal, vaginal, topical, intramuscular, intravenous, and subcutaneous medications
- 3.43 Instills eye and ear medication
- 3.45 Follows ‘control’ drug regulations
- 3.47 Assesses need for PRN medications
- 3.49 Follows established procedures for safe medication administration
- 3.50 Uses equipment and materials to provide support and protection
- 3.56 Adheres to universal precautions
- 5.01 Evaluates own nursing performance
- 5.03 Seeks help and guidance promptly when unable to perform competently
- 5.04 Identifies own learning needs in relation to client care
- 5.06 Maintains confidentiality
- 5.09 Recognizes legal implications of actions of self and others
- 6.01 Recognizes the effect of one’s behavior on others e.g. client/family, staff.
- 6.03 Recognizes and identifies own feelings
- 6.04 Recognizes and identifies feelings of others
- 7.01 Engages in goal-oriented communication (verbal and/or non-verbal)
- 7.03 Gives factual information to client/family
- 7.04 Verbalizes observations to appropriate persons
- 7.07 Uses appropriate communication channels within the agency
- 7.08 Documents observations and psychiatric nursing actions on appropriate records
- 9.02 Promotes a therapeutic milieu
- 9.05 Selects and implements psychiatric nursing interventions calculated to be most effective in the management of dysfunctional behavior patterns, e.g. hostile, acting-out, elopement, suicidal, depressed, psychotic, addictions, suspicious, confused, elated, ritualistic, and anxious
- 9.09 Facilitates the client to utilize his/her capabilities to his/her maximum potential
- 10.2 Demonstrates awareness of the community resources available
Competencies to further develop:
- 1.04 Assess mental and physical status
- 1.07 Involves the client/family whenever feasible in planning nursing care
- 2.08 Participates in planning the resolution for ethical dilemmas
- 3.36 Follows policy on admission, transfer and discharge procedures
- 4.05 Revises teaching and learning care plan based on results of specific evaluative criteria
- 8.05 Keeps current with the classification system of psychopathology contained within the DSM IV (1994)
- 8.06 Recognizes the behavior patterns if consumer population in relation to multiculturalism
- 9.01 Bases nursing intervention upon scientific concepts and principles
- 9.08 Uses techniques of social learning, reality therapy, supportive therapy, behavioral modification, cognitive-behaviorism and psychotherapy among others to help client to utilize his/her own maximum potential
- 9.12 Participates in client/family counselling and therapy
- 10.03 Identifies clients needs for assistance from community resources
- 10.04 Provides clients and family about relevant community resources
- 10.5 Initiates referrals to community resources
- 10.07 Assists client to plan treatment program involving community resources where appropriate
I plan on reaching the above competencies by developing extensive learning plans filled with various resources and to seek out learning opportunities during my final preceptorship with the New Westminster ACT Team.