Introduction
The profession of a nurse is one of the most important in the healthcare field. Thus, it implies the availability of special education and training, which includes many different competencies. The American Association of Nursing Colleges has identified nine main aspects that should be observed in the practice of these healthcare providers. Among the core competencies, the most relevant for me are organizational and systematic leadership, quality, and safety improvement, scholarship in practice, technology, and inter-professional collaboration. These aspects are also closely related to my practicum experience, contributing to my improvement as a medical specialist.
Discussion
The first competence that should be considered within the framework of this reflection is organizational and systematic leadership. I think it is one of the most critical because, according to my practice, the process of helping patients can become quite hectic. Due to this aspect, it is necessary to be able to direct work and make decisions quickly. These advantages are provided through the work of a leader who distributes the features among medical professionals and can respond in emergencies (Huber, 2017). For example, in my practice, there was a case when the head was temporarily absent, and I had to take on the role of a leader and make decisions about first aid to a patient.
Improving the quality of healthcare services and staff work can significantly contribute to improving the degree of safety in medical institutions. Thus, it is necessary to spread awareness about the importance of complying with all the necessary rules, standards, and requirements that are put before nurses (“The Essentials of Master’s Education in Nursing,” 2011). In my practical experience, I came across a well-established work system at a medical institution where all regulatory aspects were observed at a high level, which was reflected in the low possibility of medical errors that jeopardized safety.
The competence of translation and integration of scholarship into the practice of nurses implies the use of knowledge acquired at a higher educational institution in the provision of health services. Moreover, this aspect is precious as it helps in solving practical problems based on evidence-based knowledge and examples obtained during the study of scientific research. For me, this competence is essential since it plays the role of a change agent that contributes to improving medical practice. In my experience, this aspect is reflected in the application of knowledge when prescribing treatment, depending on the symptoms of the disease.
Technological advancement is an integral part of the practice of nurses. Hence, it promotes expanding ways to study the disease and find strategies for its treatment and prevention (Krick et al., 2019). For me, telemedicine has become an exciting part, which provides advantages in controlling and monitoring disease. In my practice, I have come across this technology, and I believe that further innovation in the practice of medical professionals can significantly improve the quality of health services.
The last but no less critical competence is inter-professional collaboration. Its importance lies in the improvement of patient and population outcomes and the overall improvement of the work of medical specialists. Thus, interaction provides an opportunity to find the most effective disease treatment and develop effective preventive measures. Henceforth, in my clinical practice, I have encountered the need to consult with more narrowly focused specialists, such as cardiologists, to better understand patients’ further treatment plans.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the competencies of the practice of nurses are of particular importance for the field of medical care and are critically necessary for the acquisition by medical specialists. They are valuable because following them provides an opportunity to achieve the best outcomes of medical care and improve the overall practice of nurses. I believe that I have developed each of the competencies quite well, but I still require improvements to achieve the most excellent effectiveness in clinical work.
References
Huber, D. (2017). Leadership and nursing care management-e-book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Krick, T., Huter, K., Domhoff, D., Schmidt, A., Rothgang, H., & Wolf-Ostermann, K. (2019). Digital technology and nursing care: a scoping review on acceptance, effectiveness and efficiency studies of informal and formal care technologies. BMC Health Services Research, 19(1), 1-15. Web.
The essentials of master’s education in nursing. (2011). American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Web.