My Professional Development for Future Growth as a Specialist Nurse in Mental Health Professional - Term Paper Example

Portfolio of Practice Name Student Number Institution Course Code Instructor Date Contents Contents 1 Executive Summary 2 Standard-Based Approach 3 Process-Oriented Approach 6 References 10 Appendices 13 Appendix A: Student’s Evidence on Unit Activity 13 Executive Summary The need for ensuring competence as a specialist nurse in mental health is inevitable. Further, continued enhancement of quality care is entrenched in the adherence to standard-based approach, as well as process-oriented approached backed with evidence-based practice to ensure enhanced quality care for mental health patients. This portfolio clearly outlines my competence on acquired knowledge and skills, as well as the acquisition of set standards of practice in mental health nursing. These are entrenched in Standards of Practice for Australian Mental Health Nurses 2010 and the Scope of Practice 2013. Having great skills and experiences is backed with a critical following of competency standards within nursing practice among mental patients to promote recovery and ensure high-quality care. The portfolio outlines my academic credentials backed with professional knowledge, experiences and skills in mental health nursing. Further, the portfolio with critically look into my professional development for future growth as a specialist nurse in mental health professional. Standard-Based Approach As a specialist nurse in mental health, being competent is one of the key pointers towards ensuring quality care for the mental clients. Critical understanding of the standards of practice for mental health nurses come in handy to ensure competence, as well as offering the best quality treatment and care (Thomas, 2012). Critical reflection on the standards of practice gives a benchmark to guide and measure the best method of providing care. This is through the inclusion of professional knowledge, skills and attributes, experiences in mental health nursing that present effective learning opportunities, as well as chances to change the prevailing situations (ACMHN, 2013). Further, the standards of practice give a specialist nurse the opportunity to follow set rules or competency standards in their care delivery promoting quality of care. The Standards of Practice for Australian Mental Health Nurses (2010) are underpinned by a number of core values. They involve working in partnership with patients, as well as their families, carers, agencies for support and other health care providers. This ensures that the treatment and care process for mental patients is carried out in collaborative efforts of all involved parties to ensure quality care and effective recovery. The second core value involves acknowledging personal experience and expertise of others involved in the care and support of patients’ treatment and ensuring quality care (ACMHN, 2010). The third core value entails recognising the human rights of patients in respect to the UN Principle on the protection of mentally ill clients and the Australian Health Ministers’ Mental Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. The fourth core value involves utilising evidence-based practice and quality improvement processes to enhance care provision and ensure high standards. Finally, the last core value involves enabling cultural safety, taking into account the age, faith affiliation, gender, race or ethnicity and health values of mental health patients (ACMHN, 2010). From these core values underpinning the standards of practice, it is imperative to state that the wellbeing of the patient is at centre irrespective of their background of status. These standards play a critical role in ensuring every patient is accorded the necessary treatment and care by a mental health nurse (ACMHN, 2013). As a specialist nurse, there are nine critical standards of practice in mental health ensures competence and delivery of quality care. Increased competence is pegged in following the competence standards as stipulated in the Australian Standards of Practice in Mental Health Nursing (ACMHN, 2010). From experience, the set standards guide a professional to approach every case scenario with competence and the seriousness it deserves. On evaluating the second standard, the aspect of diversity comes out clearly. The patient population in Australia is diverse with various cultures, and the first standard requires that mental nurses acknowledge diversity in culture, values and belief systems while ensuring they are non-discriminatory and promotes dignity and self-determination. To be competent in this standard, my plight is to continue enhancing my cultural competence to be able to handle all patients effectively. Establishing the collaborative partnerships to facilitate and support mental health patients in spheres that ensure quality care is necessary. As a specialist nurse, by interacting with other health practitioners in the facility will ensure critical consideration and interventions based on scientific proven experiences on how to improve the quality of care. This will critically promote my practice within the outline of standard three. Further, development of therapeutic relationships that is respectful of the individual’s choices, experiences and circumstances will promote my professional practice (ACMHN, 2010). As a specialist nurse in mental health care, my major aim in respect to standard 4 is to support patients through strengthening them, giving them hope and ensuring they embrace resilience to get through treatment to recovery. Standard five takes into account the contributions made by other stakeholders in the realisation of a holistic, evidence-based care to bring about comprehensive care to mental health patients (ACMHN, 2010). My aim is to ensure effective interaction and collaboration with other mental care practitioners, as well as other players to come up with effective interventions for enhancing mental health treatment and quality of care. By promoting handling of individual cases with symptoms and socio-cultural attributes presented will ensure addressing patients’ needs and come up with effective resolutions for quality care (Dickerson, 2010). Stigma and social exclusion among mental patients negatively impacts on the recovery process (Thomas, 2012). As a specialist nurse, through community-based interventions, my aim is to come up with process engaging the community in respect to reducing stigma while promoting inclusion of mental health patients in the community to promote recovery. By engaging the community in looking after the wellbeing of the mental health patients; reassurance of patients’ recovery process is paramount since they will feel appreciated and included as part of society. Further, it is necessary to continuously enhance effective treatment and quality care, coupled with continued demonstration of evidence-based practice (Bertulis & Cheeseborough, 2008). Evidence-based practice is inevitable as it promotes innovation by indulging in extensive learning, research, supervision, professional development and reflective practice as per standard number seven (ACMHN, 2010). In respect to the eighth standard, mental health practice involves reflection on common law requirements and relevant statutes coupled with professional Code of conducts and ethics (ACMHN, 2010). As a specialist nurse in mental health, integrating all policies and guideline whether local, state, nation or international with professional standards and competencies is paramount to promote quality of care. Embracing all legal stands and ethical considerations touching on mental health for the wellbeing of the patient will be my priority to reduce any chances of conflicts with the rule of law in my professional practice. This will ensure continued professional development and enhance my skills and expertise (Ross, Barr & Stevens, 2013), as a specialist mental health nurse. The final standard involves qualifications of a specialist while demonstrating the scope of advanced specialist knowledge and practice (ACMHN, 2010). As a professional nurse, my plight is to continue pursuing advanced mental nursing causes as evidenced with my taking a Master’s degree and integrates all standards competently while modelling leadership and teamwork in my practice. This will not only promote my competence and quality of care, but also will impact on my quest towards realisation professional development which is a core attribute in nursing (Lee, 2011). Process-Oriented Approach Professional development in mental health nursing ensures effective realisation of continuous competence and improvement of quality care. The following outlines the scope of practice and a critical reflection on my professional practice development. These two attributes are key to showing my understanding of the mental health nursing profession and indicating my future prospects to achieve a sterling record in the provision of effective treatment and quality care to mental health clients (Bertulis & Cheeseborough, 2008). Scope of Practice The scope of practice involves the range of activities in a profession that are learnt and legally authorised to be provided. My scope of practice is guided by the Standards of Practice for Australian Mental Health Nurses (2010), as well as the scope of practice 2013 which provides key attributes for a specialist nurse attending to mental patients. The merging of the two components support or complement each other to promote quality of care in mental health (ACMHN, 2013). Practice entails any given role where an individual utilises their nursing skills and knowledge to ensure quality care and effective recovery. In context, my professional practice entails providing effective quality care to mental health patients in a timely and competent manner through embracing standard-based approach within the mental nursing practice. The approach employs a holistic process that seeks to ensure patients’ wellbeing coupled with that of family and friends. As a specialist nurse, it is evident that various cases will be presented in the cause of my profession, and hence embracing competency standards is one major obligation to ensure efficiency (Ross, Barr & Stevens, 2013). Further, interacting and sharing with other nurses and health practitioners in the quest to make care delivery more effective and of high quality is necessary. The Scope of Practice of Mental Health Nurses in Australia (2013) states that mental health nurses in Australia play a leading role is defining their scope of practice. With increased changes in the current world, there is need for room to changes that will enhance professionalism and quality of mental health care. As a mental health specialists nurse, my main focus is to promote competence and ensure my profession evolves with changing times to address new challenges facing mental health care. This will be realised by embracing a flexible stand and adapting to my profession in a holistic manner with respect to the changes occurring for better service delivery (Lee, 2011). It is imperative to note that being culturally competent in the Australian health care system is one key attribute based on the diversity of the patients’ background (Chipchase, Johnston & long, 2012). Thus, my future professional practice will be premised upon critical adherence to the Standards of Practice for Australian Mental Health Nurses, as well as efficiently incorporating interventions and evidence-based practices for better care. The interventions and evidence-based practices will be taken from already existing and scientifically proven experiences in the field of mental health care (ACMHN, 2013). Further, persistence in ensuring that continuous development of skills and experiences through learning and undertaking refresher courses to enhance my skills and competence will be adhered to. As a specialist nurse, my practice also spans competency standards entrenched in National Competency Standards for the registered nurse in Australia (ANMC, 2009). Advanced mental health seek to ensure improved mental health services to patients with respect ensuring flexibility in order to evolve with situations, and account for prevailing demands in the mental health practice. With a clear understanding of my scope of practice, it will promote effectiveness in my profession by being aware of every standard and framework necessary in making credible interventions and competent quality care (NMBA, 2010). Having a flexible working approach enables me to embrace cultural diversity which is a great determinant in ensuring effective realisation of quality care for mental patients. This also promotes interaction with families and friends of patients attending to their needs allowing them to have a critical and positive mindset to help the patient in recovery. Critical Reflection Professional development for a registered nurse is inevitable in Australia as it is mandatory for one to continue practicing as a nurse (NMBA, 2010). This undertaking not only ensures competence but also promotes interventions through enhanced evidence-based knowledge acquired through widespread reading of proven studies and researches (Thomas, 2012). From my professional growth, the increased knowledge and skills have continued to be evident in my practice especially after enrolling for a Master’s Degree. It is evident that nursing practice is a dynamic profession pegged upon the Practice Standard for a specialty in nursing (ACMHN, 2013). With regard to mental health nursing, the aspect of dynamic is profound with the health problem affecting even the relatives due to psychological torture not only to the patient but family members and close people. This requires critical measures to address the prevailing situation supporting all involved parties in offering treatment and care to the patients, as well as psycho-social support to family and friends (Lee, 2011). The initiative helps the patients, family members and friends to cope with client’s situation which may at times be difficult to comprehend due to hanging moods and behavioural attributes. From my professional experience, it is evident that appropriate and accessible professional education is a key attribute towards effective mental health care (Chipchase, Johnston & Long, 2012). Further, collaborative efforts or organisational support within clinical settings greatly enhances attitudes towards continuous professional development in mental health nursing. Lacking opportunities to advance one’s knowledge and skills, for example nurses working in remote areas inhibit engagement, as well as acquisition of critical enhanced skills interventions for evidence-based practice. Thus, it is worth recommending all specialist nurses working in mental health care to ensure continuous clinical learning through widespread study and research to equip themselves with knowledge and new skills to foster their professionalism. On the same note, it is worth highlighting the great importance attached to supportive management in encouraging nurses working in mental health facilities to embrace learning and change to promote quality of care (Ross, Barr & Stevens, 2013). References ANMC (2009). Continuing competence framework for nursing and midwives. Canberra: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. (2010). Standards of Practice for Australian Mental Health Nurses 2010. ACMHN, Canberra. Australian College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. (2013). Mental health nurses in Australia: Scope of practice 2013 & Standards of Practice 2010. ACMHN, Canberra. Bertulis, R., & Cheeseborough, J. (2008). The Royal College of Nursing’s information needs survey of nurses and health professionals. Health Info Library J. 25: 186-197. Chipchase, L.S., Johnston, V., & Long, P.D. (2012). Continuing professional development: The missing link. Man Ther. 17(1): 89-91. Dickerson, P.S. (2010). Continuing nursing education: enhancing professional development. J Contin Educ Nurs. 41(3): 100-101. Lee, N.J. (2011). An evaluation of CPD learning and impact upon positive practice change. Nurse Educ Today. 31(4): 390-395. NMBA (2010). Continuing professional development registration standard. Canberra: Nursing Midwifery Board. Ross, K., Barr, J., & Stevens, J. (2013). Mandatory continuing professional development requirements: What does this mean for Australian nurses? BMC Nurs. 12: 9, doi: 10.1186/1472-6955-12-9. Thomas, S. (2012). The implications of mandatory professional development in Australia. British Journal of Midwifery. 20(1): 57-61. Appendices Appendix A: Student’s Evidence on Unit Activity Appendix B: Testimony of Student Practice Learning Read More