Critical Reflection On Registered Nurse

The aim of this assignment is to provide critical analysis on the transition from Student Nurse to Registered Nurse. The critical reflection will be based on Accountability and Autonomy and how they affect my practice. To maintain high standards patients’ safety and care must take priority with all staff/colleagues working together as a team, each taking accountability for their own actions (Begley 2010 cited in Jones 2017h). For anyone to be accountable they must have the ability (knowledge and skills) to carry out the task appointed and accept responsibility. Student nurses are accountable for their own learning, time management and actions and should not work beyond their own level of competence (NMC 2009). The registered nurse is accountable

Good working relationships need to be formed with colleagues so that they feel valued. The registered nurse tasks responsibility for determining the best course of action when making decisions about staff and how to speak to patients and their relatives/carers sometimes in difficult situations (NMC2018a). When delegating thought must be given to the person most competent to carry out the task (RCN 2018). If there is dissention and the person is not happy this could cause conflict. Unrealistic expectations of a newly qualified member of staff could make them feel vulnerable and question their clinical skills. To address this there is a structured transition with the newly qualified member of staff being given a preceptor for support and to consolidate their learning and practical skills (Department of Health 2010).

As a student independent learning is important to develop new skills (Counihan 2017). Once qualified it is essential to continue updating skills and knowledge to keep up to date with new policies, skills, treatments and protocol to continue meeting the needs of patients, the health service and for your own professional development (PECK 2000). Addison (2013) says one important recommendations from the Francis Report was nurse revalidation, the importance of raising standards and

According to (Draper et al., 2010) trying to find your place within a new team can be stressful as well as the anxiety of being a registered nurse and the responsibility and accountability that comes with this. According to Rafferty (cited in Jones 2017b) nurses who worked well together had more autonomy and this improved quality of care. As healthcare changes, effective teamwork is expected to enhance quality of care and patient safety. Rose (cited in Jones 2017c) suggests more focus should be on building structures to enable teamwork. As a registered nurse it is essential to draw on a range of evidence to become an independent practitioner (Jones