nursing assignment.

Desired Clinical Skills for Students to Achieve

Confident (Can complete independently)

Mostly confident (Can complete with supervision)

Beginning (Have performed with supervision or needs supervision to feel confident)

New (Have never performed or does not apply)

Comprehensive psychiatric evaluation skills in: 

Recognizing clinical signs and symptoms of psychiatric illness across the lifespan

Differentiating between pathophysiological and psychopathological conditions 

Performing and interpreting a comprehensive and/or interval history and physical examination (including laboratory and diagnostic studies) 

Performing and interpreting a mental status examination 

Performing and interpreting a psychosocial assessment and family psychiatric history 

Performing and interpreting a functional assessment (activities of daily living, occupational, social, leisure, educational).

Diagnostic reasoning skill in:

Developing and prioritizing a differential diagnoses list

Formulating diagnoses according to DSM 5 based on assessment data 

Differentiating between normal/abnormal age-related physiological and psychological symptoms/changes

Pharmacotherapeutic skills in:

Selecting appropriate evidence based clinical practice guidelines for medication plan (e.g., risk/benefit, patient preference, developmental considerations, financial, the process of informed consent, symptom management) 

Evaluating patient response and modify plan as necessary 

Documenting (e.g., adverse reaction, the patient response, changes to the plan of care)

Psychotherapeutic Treatment Planning:

Recognizes concepts of therapeutic modalities across the lifespan

Selecting appropriate evidence based clinical practice guidelines for psychotherapeutic plan (e.g., risk/benefit, patient preference, developmental considerations, financial, the process of informed consent, symptom management, modality appropriate for situation) 

Applies age appropriate psychotherapeutic counseling techniques with individuals and/or any caregivers

Develop an age appropriate individualized plan of care

Provide psychoeducation to individuals and/or any caregivers

Promote health and disease prevention techniques

Self-assessment skill:

Develop SMART goals for practicum experiences 

Evaluating outcomes of practicum goals and modify plan as necessary 

Documenting and reflecting on learning experiences

Professional skills:

Maintains professional boundaries and therapeutic relationship with clients and staff

Collaborate with multi-disciplinary teams to improve clinical practice in mental health settings 

Identifies ethical and legal dilemmas with possible resolutions

Demonstrates non-judgmental practice approach and empathy

Practices within scope of practice

Selecting and implementing appropriate screening instrument(s), interpreting results, and making recommendations and referrals:

Demonstrates selecting the correct screening instrument appropriate for the clinical situation 

Implements the screening instrument efficiently and effectively with the clients

Interprets results for screening instruments accurately

Develops an appropriate plan of care based upon screening instruments response

Identifies the need to refer to another specialty provider when applicable

Accurately documents recommendations for psychiatric consultations when applicable

After carefully completing the Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form checklist, here are my strengths;

1. I am effectively able to ensure the completion of a thorough and precise physical exam making use of the proper methods while concentrating on the symptoms of the patient. Additionally, I am also able to apply the use of appropriate methods in assessing patients as warranted to ensure a precise and effective diagnosis. I plan to regularly practice them in community health clinics and in medical wards for the examination of patients (Klemenc‐Ketis et al., 2014).

2. I am also able to apply the use of effective verbal communication as well as interpersonal skills when meeting with patients and other healthcare professionals. Moreover, I have discovered that I am patient and able to maintain a positive attitude when under pressure while also being able to effectively communicate in writing as well as verbally.

3. I strongly believe in educating the patients on what they are going through, the procedures to expect and how to basically increase their quality of life. Currently, many patients that I have encountered in the hospital environment have showed self-care deficit or non-compliance due to lack of knowledge or medical literacy (Buppert, 2020). Providing them with education is important as I believe it provides them with a great autonomy and self-empowerment.

My opportunities for growth include;

1. I would like to apply to a physician assistant graduate program. As a nurse practitioner, I never want to stop improving. The love for patients drives my desire to constantly learn and develop new skill sets (Krautter et al., 2014).

2. I would also like to build my network and advance my career. Networking, collaborating, meeting new colleagues, and building relationships is important my professional development and career advancement.

1. Goal: Safety

a. Objective: I will ensure the use of healthcare policy guidelines to develop an updated patient and staff safety hazard checklist.

b. Objective: I will also ensure that the list be checked by every nursing practitioner on a rotating basis twice a month.

c. Objective: I will ensure the completion of the list by the end of April and assess monthly whether other team members are completing it.

2. Goal: Patient Care

a. Objective: I will ensure the handing over of patient details, assessment notes and care instructions to the nurses on the next shift before the completion of my shift.

b. Objective: I will do this before every break to make sure that the details of the patients are noted and certain instructions are strictly followed.

c. Objective: Moreover, by doing so, it will assist all nurses to comprehend the patients’ areas of interest to build a rapport.

3. Goal: Efficiency

a. Objective: By following the timetable that guides for a weekly meeting with the rest of the staff, I will be able to document my additional tasks.

b. Objective: I also want to effectively and efficiently divide my time to manage all my duties.

c. Objective: Lastly, I want to improve how I generally manage my time and seek assistance when the ward becomes too busy.

4. Goal: Learning and Development

a. Objective: By the end of the year, I want to attend four workshops that are centered on my area of specialty.

b. Objective: I also want to apply for a communications class online for three months to improve on my verbal and writing skills.

c. Objective: I also want to network and meet with other people from my area of specialty.