As I prepare for the practicum, it is clear that I have several skills and still need to learn more concerning different subjects. Individual and professional skills are crucial for nurse practitioners to be able to provide competently and quality care to patients. Understanding one’s strengths and weaknesses allow for appropriate decision-making when handling healthcare activities. Self-awareness is crucial for the enhancement of professional and personal skills at all levels (Ward & Barratt, 2021). In this case, I will assess my strengths, weaknesses, and abilities to be learned before completing the course.
My strengths include communication skills, documentation and professionalism. I have effective communication strategies that prioritize the needs of patients, their families and even colleagues. Such skills create positive relationships, hope and understanding between the staff and patients and among professionals (Tan et al., 2021). Documentation is crucial for the accurate and accessible facilitation of safe and quality nursing practice that is evidence-based (Buppert, 2020, Giddens, 2022).
Other important documentation assists in avoiding liability, fraud and trouble that malicious clients and colleagues may instigate. For instance, failure to have records related to service billing may require a nurse practitioner to compensate for the costs incurred. Lastly, I believe that my professionalism cultivates respect and appreciation in interactions with patients and colleagues. I always request constructive feedback and criticism to ensure that my progress is evaluated by my preceptor to enhance my chances of learning new skills and improving my existing knowledge.
Weaknesses
One of my challenges is a differential diagnosis which requires broad knowledge of common diagnoses associated with different and specific complaints or symptoms. A preceptor suggested that I should always consider several interrelated causes and effects probabilities. Another weakness and fear is the ability to prescribe medications, especially to the pediatrician population. I always want to be sure that I will not overdose or underdose them. I believe that I can enhance my skills by learning from supervisors and colleagues.
Areas of Improvement
Over the three practicum courses, I will need to enhance my ability in various activities, including ventilator setting, performing arterial punctures for ABGs and removing the arterial and venous sheath. After self-assessment, I realized that I have limited knowledge of sedation techniques, performing gastric lavage and intracranial monitoring. Improving these skills will require the active involvement of experienced practitioners and supervision, which can be affected within six months.
Lastly, I have zero experience or awareness of organ donation procedures and rules, activities related to compartment pressure measurement and management, digital nerve block, nail trephination, nail bed closure and local anesthesia injection. The new skills can be learned over the first practicum with an option to continue amassing more knowledge and experience in later stages of practice.
For clinical skills and in the nephrology rotation, I still need to learn more about suturing to enhance my confidence to offer better care services to patients in need. Since there are many deliveries, I need to strengthen my skills in evaluating cervical dilation in pregnant women. I have observed different situations during childbirth; however, I have struggled to assess accurately whether the cervix is ready for the last stage of delivery. I plan to request more guidance from the supervisor and read more about the process to become more confident within the next nine months. I will be able to evaluate success in career skill learning by asking for comments on my progress from supervisors and peers as I progressively assess my practice individually.
References
Buppert, C. (2020). Nurse practitioner’s business practice and legal guide. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Giddens, J., Douglas, J. P., & Conroy, S. (2022). The revised AACN essentials: Implications for nursing regulation. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 12(4), 16-22. Web.
Tan, M. W., Lim, F. P., ling Siew, A., Levett-Jones, T., Chua, W. L., & Liaw, S. Y. (2021). Why are physical assessment skills not practiced? A systematic review with implications for nursing education. Nurse Education Today, 99 (1), 104759. Web.
Ward, H., & Barratt, J. (2021). Passing Your Advanced Nursing OSCE: A guide to success in advanced clinical skills assessment. CRC Press.