Nursing Competencies

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab.

Reposted from another board. Sorry to bother everyone, but if you could take a minute to answer this question, this stressed out nursing student would be extremely grateful! :)

My classmates and I are working on one of our LAST nursing school assigments. We are required to research this topic and then ask nurses for their opinions on the subject. We would really appreciate any responses to this question. Thank you in advance for your time!!!!

Topic:

"A competent nurse will engage in reflection, self-analysis, and self-care."

Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

(Specific examples are greatly appreciated - i.e. "A nurse who makes a medication error but reflects on what he/she would do differently next time will be less likely to repeat the mistake.")

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Specializes in ICU, ED, Transport, Home Care, Mgmnt.

Reflection and Self Analysis absoulutely, I think part of being a professional is to always be looking for ways to improve your skills and competence level. Learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others. Try to recognize behavior that could be improved on, attitude, work ethis etc. I've been doing this 28 years and still find ways to improve myself. I try to be cognizant of my behavior and not get too obnoxious! I observe others and try to imulate the good behaviors. Self care, depends on what you mean. If you mean make all the right decisions about my own health and always eat right, exercise and sleep enough! No, I'm not perfect, Lord knows! Do you mean monitor my own behaviors and choices to prevent myself from being impaired? Absolutely.

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I agree with the statement. I interpret the "self-care" to include education regarding whatever deficits were discovered in the analysis phase. Nurses should be reading journals, conferring with peers and attending conferences so as to stay current with new meds, new products and new procedures. My CPA is a professional and I expect her to keep up with changes in tax laws. As a professional nurse I try to do the same within my own field.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab.

Thank you so much for your responses! I appreciate your input. :bow:

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Specializes in Nursing assistant.

I am not a nurse, but in a more philosophical way I can see these attributes could serve a nurse well.

Reflective people are thoughtful about their decisions, weighing options and possibilities. Definitely a must in nursing.

Knowledge of yourself and an analysis of your reactions will help you avoid pitfalls. You have to be able to differentiate between being reactionary (based on personal history, and unresolved issues), and being responsive based sound knowledge and experience. Self care? You do need to maintain good physical and mental health to have the wherewithal to care for your patients. I don’t think that means you have to be skinny and have every part of you personal life running smoothly, but I do think you need to be in good balance.

Sounds like a good exercise. Good luck.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Cardiac Cath Lab.

Great response! Thank you. :)

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