Why I Choose Nursing As A Profession
Nursing has been around for centuries. People were already doing it way before Florence Nightingale popularized and set some standards for it; they just did not know what to call it at that time or whether it can be categorized as job. Growing up, I had already been exposed to this profession not only because both my parent were both registered nurses back in my home country, but also due to the fact that I was a sickly child who had to be around clinics and hospitals. I always wondered why people would decide to take up this course since I thought that the only one who mattered on the health care team was the doctor. I had no idea about the struggles and complexities associated with this profession. Over time, I grew to understand just how vital nurses were to the patients, their families and everyone else in the multidisciplinary team.
Nurses work across all domains of health care and provide individualized patient care while working alongside other members of the healthcare team. Being regulated and registered meant that they should be up-to-standard with regards to their professional practice. Nursing in the Philippines and Australia may have some differences but they aim for one goal: patient’s safety and well-being. Back home, nurses are overworked, underpaid and exploited most of the time. Some experienced working with a nurse to patient ratio of 1:60. Others had to pay the hospital for traineeship in hopes of being absorbed one day as a permanent worker while others just decided to forget about nursing altogether and just pursue a different career. Here in Australia, nurses have the autonomy to initiate medications and advocate for the patients according to their judgment. Their opinions matter and they are considered as equals when it comes to ensuring quality patient care since they are in the frontlines and they interact with the care recipients more. They are also governed by regulating bodies that ensure the code of practice and standards are adhered to and implemented. The standards of practice encourage nurses to continue developing professionally and uphold their aptitude for professional practice. Their duty of care also ingrains in them the desire to do well and do no harm to patients as well as colleagues. Aside from this, since nurses are constantly confronted with numerous ethical and legal issues throughout their careers, these standards will help safeguard the patient’s safety as well as their own. They will be able to handle ethical dilemmas if they are endowed with the knowledge and awareness of these ethical and legal guidelines.
During my 6 weeks of placement at The Sydney Private Hospital, I was exposed to different situations and issues that could prove useful once I am able to get my registration and practice as a nurse here in Australia. The knowledge I gained for the limited time I was able to expose myself to the rehab ward setting could prove invaluable should I be assigned as a registered nurse in a similar area. Looking back, each week I was able to hone in on a certain issue mainly because of the reflective journal I had to make for that particular week. This not only allowed me to focus on this particular area of the nursing profession, but also look for ways on how I could improve myself on this certain capacity.
On the first week of placement, I was able to observe differences on how organizations implement their infection control practices. Handwashing technique and cough etiquette remain universal however, certain procedures such as segregation of linen and waste materials had a different rule depending on the facility. Compared to the residential aged care facility I have worked for, they did not segregate linens even from patients who were considered infectious. Everything went in the same skip since, according to them, everyone was already thought of as infectious. Although they had different strategies in going about infection control, I still feel confident that they are still ensuring the patient’s safety and welfare in doing so. According to the World Health Organization, “Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a scientific approach and practical solution designed to prevent harm caused by infection to patients and health workers”. Since nurses have day-to-day contact with patients, it is essential that they adhere to these practices to prevent spread of healthcare-associated infections and resistant organisms. As a nurse, it is important to follow appropriate measures set by the facility for infection control and update myself of any changes or improvements to render better nursing care without compromising the safety and wellness of patients.
Another important aspect I learned about during week two was medication administration. I observed different styles in going about medication administration especially when handling a whole ward full of patients. I worked with one of the senior nurses in the hospital and she taught me all about the important things to do when handing out medication such as always doing the checks, giving it at the right time and making sure to avoid errors. Nurses consistently administer medications making them well positioned to prevent medication errors. They must be prepared to not only catch their own errors, but also the errors of healthcare providers, pharmacists, and others. Administration errors may lengthen a hospital stay, increase costs, or have life and death implications for the patient. This is the reason why nurses should follow the correct procedure when administering medications. Vigilance and focus could help catch any discrepancies on the order or medication administration.
On week three, it was all about communication within the health care team as well as with the patients and their families. The health care team would have case conferences to discuss a specific case and try to gather as much information they can in order for all of them to decide on how to go about the care of the patient. The patient and family members were also consulted and their involvement and participation were crucial. Although there were problems at times, such as language barrier or misunderstandings, they were still able to find a way to work with one another. Good communication is vital to have a successful outcome of individualized nursing care of each patient. Effective communication involves understanding the patient and their experiences. Increases in nursing communication can lessen medical errors and make an impact in patient outcomes.
During week four, I observed the NMBA and NSQHS Registered Nurses Standards of Practice in action correlating with one another particularly Standard 6 which provides safe, appropriate and responsive quality nursing practice as well as partnering with consumers standard, respectively. These standards serve as a guide for safe and effective nursing care which can assist registered nurses to work well within their scope of practice. Patient and consumer partnerships serve as a pillar of person-centered which is needed for the best health outcomes. With the standards in place, it is much easier for nurses to evaluate if what they are competent enough to practice their profession in the Australian health care system. They will be guided on how to properly conduct themselves to provide individualized nursing care that would benefit the patient.
On week five, the focus was on ethical dilemmas. . What the patients want and what you are obligated to do may not coincide with one another. It is frightening to think about lawsuits and losing your registration. It puts a lot of pressure and stress especially for those still trying to grasp the enormity of the responsibility nurses face. In certain cases, not being able to do something which could eventually lead to harm for a client is a form of negligence. Negligence can be defined as the inability to take reasonable action to prevent loss or injury to another person. In the healthcare setting, the standards of care will hold the nurse responsible for any action or inaction; meaning, they will be judged against what other nurses in the same situation might have done.
During the final week of placement, I learned all about professional development. I was able to observe how the hospital conducted in-service sessions and trainings to the employees. There was one instance where they were encouraged to attend the whole day training session covering different topics such as manual handling and patient care. Nurses are also usually required to update themselves in relation to their nursing role. There are, however, barriers that exist such as cost, time constraints, childcare and home responsibilities. Professional Development helps inexperienced nurses transition from school to practice, and advise seasoned nurses on ways to stay current and advance their careers. It enables nurses to continue to grow in their practice and enhance their ability to provide quality patient care. It was also recognized that in order to best promote collaborative teamwork, regular and ongoing intraprofessional training and education sessions should be provided.
Conclusion
Nurses must have integrity and regard for ethical and legal standards to guarantee patients’ safety and well-being. All nurses must honour and uphold the dignity and rights of clients in all aspects of nursing care without infringing their basic human rights. An environment of mutual trust and respect should be fostered between clients and healthcare personnel alike. Their concerns and opinions should always be taken into consideration especially regarding the implementation of their care plan. Fair and equal treatment for all clients should be rendered regardless of economic status, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity and disability. Furthermore, open communication and active listening should be exercised in order to have a more productive relationship with patients. Proper assessment, monitoring and documentation should be done while making sure privacy and confidentiality is protected. The focus should always be on the safety and well-being of patients and how we can be of service to them to help them in their trying times. They also have a duty to continue their education so that they can remain aware of and keep up to date with medical advancements and new research. Being educated with such developments can make a difference especially when it comes to quality nursing care and career advancement as well.
