Reflective Commentary about My Placement in a Nursing free essay sample

Reflective commentary Placement one The aim of this essay is to reflect and evaluate my experience whilst on my third year first placement in a nursing home for people with profound and severe learning disabilities. This reflective commentary will describe briefly about my placement setting and also about the nature of the service they provide to the service users and how I have participated in handover during placement. Finally it will underline the feedback from my mentor and the staff, actions taken to improve on my learning and a conclusion will be rawn. Reflection is a process of learning that require the ability to reflect or think about what you have done, how you did it and how you could do it better London Pharmacy Education Training, (2005). However using Gibbs, (1998) reflective cycle, which includes the description of an event, the feelings from the event, the evaluation of the event, analysing the situation of the event, the conclusion of the event and finally action plan made to improve on the event. The Nursing and Midwifery code of conduct, (2008) guidelines, stresses the fact about onfidentiality, so therefore all information about my placement settings will be respected and treated with privacy. The placement is a ten bedded unit for people with severe and profound learning disabilities and also a respite home for people with learning disabilities between the age ranges of 18 to 60. In addition, the clients in the home are dependent, they cannot do things on their own and also suffer from other illness and due to this they require full support with most aspect of their daily living such as personal care and social activities (Roper et al, 2000). After my induction, I was given clients folders and care plans to read, with this I was able to identify their needs and was able to support the clients. After the induction, myself and my mentor discussed about my learning outcomes and I took six learning outcomes that were relevant to my placement setting. I emphasised to my mentor that I would like to develop my management skills because module 8 is about managing Learning disability nursing care. As part of my learning outcome on management skills, I was allowed to be in charge of the unit under my mentors guidance following the handover from the ight staff. Handover helps provide relevant information; ensure effective and safe patient care (Hoban, 2003). During the handover I had my mentor, and two healthcare assistant for the shift. I listened tentatively in order to understand the care to provide for patients. Listening is the ability to perceive the exact message that the sender intended (Scovell, 2010). After the handover, to enable consistent management of the unit, I introduced myself as the person in charge of the unit; this is to ensure staff members are aware ot my role. I knew I nad to assign my mentor and tw ccording to their abilities and limitations. According to Tappel et al. (2004), adds that nurses must assess each clients particular needs; make an educated decision about which staff members have the appropriate skills for the work. I allocated the shift according to the staff capability and experience under supervision of my mentor. During the allocation of Job, I communicated verbally in an effective way by projecting my voice in an audible and clearer manner, using eye contact helps to regulate the flow of communication and to convey interest. Simkins (2005) confirmed that effective ommunication facilitates good team management, continuity of care; avoid omissions and duplication of duties thereby saving time. Delegation and communication are important because both need to function together for a successful task to be carried out. In delegating patients care, it involves good and effective communication skills. If delegation is carried out incorrectly in practice it can cause suspension in the care given and that can put patient at risk (Marquis and Huston 2006). However if delegation is carried out correctly, it will be beneficial to everyone working in the organization (Maddux, 1990 Nelson, 1994). Therefore professionals must make sure that safe care is given to patient (NMC 2008). Assessing, planning, implementing and evaluation comprises of delegation (McCabe and Timmins 2006). It may be direct or indirect; direct delegation is usually given verbally regarding an activity or task in a specific nursing care situation (Tappen et al. 2004). Verbal delegation was used to ensure that everyone understood their duty. I gave delegates the chance to assess the task given to them to know if they have got any question and told them to call for assistance whenever there is need for it. Furthermore, when delegating care, it must be in the best interest of the patient and delegation can be more successful if the right person with the right skill is chosen for the task (Payne 2002). The task was very challenging putting myself in the front line of the shift has helped me to identify my strength and weakness. The feedback that I received from my mentor and the staff will help me in my nursing career. At the placement I was able to dispense and administer medication, participated in care plan review, attend MDT meetings; I was also given the opportunity to take the ead in referring service users to access community services. I also had an opportunity to attend different trainings.