Reflection of the Scope of Practice of a Nursing Student

Answer

Reflection of the Scope of Practice of a Nursing Student

Attribute 2 of the National Competency Standards for the Australian Registered Nurse talks about the practices that should be followed in a professional and ethical nursing framework (Nursing, & Council, 2005). Attribute 2.5 is concerned with the decision-making in a nurse's scope of practice. From the heading of the attribute, a nurse’s decisions are required to be governed not only by the professional requirements but also by ethical standards (Jasper, 2011). The standards guide nurses in their decision-making and the way that they should conduct their roles and responsibilities.

To incorporate this competency attribute stipulated in 2.5 in my practice as a nursing student, I would always have to enquire of any instructions that I get from my lecturers (Jasper, 2011). In this regard, when the instructions are unclear or ambiguous, I would not act on them by first getting a proper understanding of the rationale of the said instructions. Additionally, I would have no fear to ask questions in situations where I do not understand from the lecturer. In any case, when I remain silent, I will suffer and end up getting the wrong results. Notably, the practice of seeking clarification should start on campus and end in the healthcare facilities (Baughan, & Smith, 2013). This way, I will be more confident in what I do, as the instructions from my lecturers will have clear and succinct.

I need to be decisive in the things that I do on campus. In this regard, I have to trust myself and not just rely on my seniors in making competent decisions. Specifically, when a situation arises that needs my decision-making, I will have to consider the options that are available and confidently choose the one that provides more benefit than risk (Thompson, & Stapley, 2011). Relying on my seniors all the time will render my competence irrelevant. Therefore, in my nursing studies, I will have to be bold and stand out in making decisions that are within my competence. However, I will need to assess the consequences of the decisions that I make. For instance, in any practical’s that I do, I will consider the pros and cons of a particular decision before making a conclusion on the best path that I should follow.

Cooperation is the cornerstone of health care. In this regard, in my studies, discussions and group works, I will involve all my group members so that we can come up with decisions that reflect the will and incorporates the arguments of the majority of the members (McCallum et al., 2013). Consultation before decision-making will be an important aspect of my studies. Specifically, I will consult either my friends, classmates or even the books. This way I will ensure that the decision that I make are based on evidence. More importantly, I will have to be accountable and responsible for my actions, I will not need to shift blame to my classmates but would rather stand up and own up to my mistake (McCallum et al., 2013). This will be the best way of learning.

To conclude, attribute 2.5 of the National Competency Standards for the Australian Registered Nurse is clear on the practices that I should make in my practice. As such, I will incorporate them in my studies, by always seeking clarifications from my lecturers on aspects that are not clear. Additionally, I will own up to my mistakes and not shift blame to others. Most importantly, I will consult before I make any decisions and always cooperate with my group members in discussions. In that case, I will transfer the attributes to the healthcare practice when that time comes.