Workplace Environment and Nursing

Self-Assessment of Clinical Skills

The three strengths that I was able to identify after completing the Risk Control Self-Assessment Checklist for Nurse Practitioners are: 1) professional conduct, 2) scope of practice, and 3) assessment skills. I consider these my strengths because I always take seriously myself and my workplace environment and thus make every effort to conduct myself in a professional manner. I believe that the work calls for professionalism and that doctors, patients and co-workers all expect and appreciate when an NP shows the kind of professional conduct that one wants to see from one in a leadership role. I always view my scope of practice as a strength because of my years of experience in nursing and all the different training I have received over the years with many fine co-workers at my side. This, in addition to my schooling, allows me to take a broad view of all characteristics and qualities that go into being a top-notch NP. Finally, I believe my assessment skills are a strength as well because of the compliments I have received in the past and the great care I take in performing assessments, of which I am always very conscientious.

I have identified my weaknesses as: 1) competencies, 2) medication prescribing, and 3) documentation. I believe competencies is a weakness of mine -- not because I have been proven to be incompetent in the past or have not demonstrated sound judgment in communicating with other nurses and patients -- but that I feel that I have room to grow in this area of core skills. I view this as a weakness primarily because I want to perfect my skills in the core competencies area and I have not done so yet. Medication prescribing is one particular area that I feel that I can do better at, mainly because I do not like prescribing and try to avoid it if possible. I feel that there are alternative methods that work well -- however, I realize that in this profession sometimes a prescription can make all the difference and I want to be able to discern precisely when that is. Finally, I think documentation is a weakness of mine because I so often will communicate to both nurses and patients and then not record this communication in the notes regarding the patient/issue -- and this is something we should do so that everyone involved in the quality of care process can see what exchanges have taken place.

Three clinical skills I need to obtain prior to exiting the program are: 1) suturing, 2) initial radiographic interpretations, and 3) proficiency in interpreting 12 lead EKGs. I plan to master these clinical skills before exiting the NP program by prioritizing my commitment to lifelong education and putting these goals at the front of my list -- meaning that my current courses will lead me to accomplish these tasks soon. Education is an important part of the nursing journey and it requires a full commitment (Davis, Taylor et al., 2014). This coupled with practice and experience in this three fields will ensure that I achieve my goals.