A Reflection On Competency Development In Nursing

Opioid addiction is so prevalent in the healthcare system because of the countless number of hospital patients being treated for chronic pain. While opioid analgesics have beneficial painkilling properties, they also yield detrimental dependence and addiction. There is a legitimate need for the health care system to provide powerful medications because prolonged pain limits activities of daily living, work productivity, quality of life, etc. (Taylor, 2015). Patients need to receive appropriate pain treatment, however, opioids need to be prescribed after careful consideration of the benefits and risks.

Patient-centered care recognizes that the care that you provide as a nurse should be centered on the patient, respecting the patient’s needs, values and preferences. By using this competency, I was able to create a mutual respect relationship between me and my patients. I believe that when they feel respected, and that you are there for them, to care for their needs, the whole process of providing care for your patient becomes easier and a better experience for the patient, independently of what the reason is for what they are being cared

Like most other professions, nursing is controlled by government regulatory agencies and professional organizations. For instance, boards of nursing in various states are the government entities mandated to regulate nursing at the state level, while the American Nurses Association is a professional organization that governs nursing at the nation level. Regulatory agencies and professional organizations are guided by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Out of the six QSEN Competencies I believe patient-centered care is the most important. As you talked about in your discussion post, nurses should always give patient’s choices regarding their care. If patients don’t feel comfortable or want to accept treatment then that is their right. “Training patients to be more assertive and involved in the medical encounter has been shown to be effective in increasing patient involvement in their own care and in producing better health outcomes” (Spath, 2011, p. 235). The more a patient understands the care they are receiving the more at ease they will feel throughout the entire experience. To me that is extremely important because we are there to make our patients feel at home and that they are in a

Human flourishing, one of the National League of Nursing competencies, refers to the overall state of well-being of an individual within multiple contexts. This competency celebrates diversity, freedom, happiness, and holistic well-being of individuals within their families, communities, and society (Nursing Framework and Program Outcomes, n.d.). The concept of human flourishing embodies the elements of contrast and conflict in life, connection with the surrounding world, loving kindness, and harmony and stillness (McCormack, B., & Titchen, 2014). It is within both the challenges that arise in life and the joyous moments that the individual grows physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. Human flourishing requires one to embrace the unknown, the uncomfortable, and the contrasts that occur in life and find a sense of inner peace that enables one to show kindness and love to others (McCormack, B., & Titchen, 2014).

Considerable cautions have been obtained throughout the United States to decrease the misuse of prescription opioids and helps to minimize opioid overdoses and related complications. Even though the pain medications have a significant part in the treatment of acute and chronic pain situations, it sometimes happen that the high dose prescription or the prescribed medications, without having enough monitoring, can create bad outcomes. It is always a dilemma for the providers to find who is really in need of pain medications and to identify those who are questionably misusing opioids.

The second category of provisions relates to the nurse’s responsibility to maintain their own proficiency and health environments, delegate appropriately, preserve integrity, and keep their practice and competence current. It is crucial that nurses are proficient and maintain competency in order to deliver high quality care to patients. "The virtue of professional competence calls for continual professional growth and a commitment to lifelong learning. You must practice nursing that’s evidence-based, be knowledgeable about the scope and standards of nursing practice, and have the necessary skills to perform nursing tasks effectively” [ (Lachman, 2008, p. 44) ].

Painkillers are prescribed so fluently within doctors offices, hospitals, and other similar facilities. Part of the issue comes from our physicians and those patients who complain about their “pain.” Rarely do physicians say no to a begging patients, but also they rarely take the time to run the necessary test to find the root of the problem. As a beginning solution, educational classes on dealing with and treating chronic pain and how to properly dispose of unused pharmaceuticals like opioids are gaining popularity(Meldrum). With the proper knowledge, people can begin to understand how opioids become so addicting. Along with knowledge about the epidemic comes help for those affected. Treatment centers for those who need it should be implemented at a proper cost and with availability for everyone. Through the Affordable Care Act, treatment coverage has been broadened. This contributes to actual care for addicts rather than punitive measures. Along with treatment options, emotional support to an addict goes a long way. Addicts can return to a life full of bad choices when they feel as if no one cares to see them get better(Newcomer). With proper treatment and precautions, the epidemic can be solved.

The knowledge of and experience of and Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) can be of value when examining core competencies. This paper will discuss the nine core competencies stated by The National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). To gain a more complete understanding of how the core competencies integrate into practice an interview of an APRN was conducted. Additionally, an analysis of selected NONPF core competencies will be discussed and how they apply to the roles of the APRN. The paper will end with a conclusion of key points and benefits from interviewing an APRN.

This lack of independence could further cause the patient to feel hopeless in their own recovery, which would lead to a lack of effort in getting better, causing a strain on the family members who are doing everything they can to improve the patient’s condition. Secondly, in spite of the short term effects, doctors do not practice appropriate care when prescribing opioid-based medications. According to Anna Lembke, in recent years American doctors have been “prescribing opioids with abandon for chronic, non-terminal pain” (“problem”), leading to an “epidemic of opioid painkiller overprescribing” (“Drug”, 57). If the patient feels like the doctor is giving him an opioid medication because it is the easiest course of action to deal with the pain, the patient may not fully trust his or her doctor to have the patient’s best interests at heart. The family of the patient may have the same mistrust for the doctor. Further than mistrust, it is possible that the patient and those caring for him or her may question the doctor’s knowledge and credentials. This mistrust could lead to the patient and the family (specifically the caregiver) neglecting to follow the doctor’s specific instructions as to usage of the medication, which could cause the pain relief to be less effective than is necessary, or could cause the patient to be in

Patients would regularly take their prescribed opioid medications in order to relieve the symptoms of their pain. In

Living with pain is a daily struggle for many among us. We as a society push our bodies past the breaking point and live to tell the tale through opioid pain relievers. What did the many generations before opioids were created do, how was the pain relieved? That’s easy enough to answer they lived with it, or they didn’t. Medical and pharmaceutical interventions have come a long way in the treatment and management of pain, so much so that now we have run into another problem, the epidemic of opioid addiction and abuse. Out of this problem a far greater problem is being seen and that is the health risks associated with any drug used in a recreational form.

Many schools have integrated the competencies but do not know how to adequately assess if they were met by students (Connor, n.d.). The QSEN website has multiple courses and teaching strategies to help with the integration of competencies into early nursing and clinical education. There are also a multitude of research available for diploma through doctoral nursing curriculum. QSEN recommends that each competency is best taught or reinforced through multiple types of learning such as in the classroom, in skills/simulation lab, and in clinical sites. It is also recommended that instructors use multiple methods of learning such as case studies, online modules, readings, role-playing, and other assignments. A variety of curricular strategies will yield greater gains in the nursing profession long-term (Zierler,

Mary considers “Competencies for registered nurses” is affecting her career the most. It helps her to maintain the high standards as a nurse. This document has been implemented by Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) to ensure the on-going education and compliance with standards for nursing care. It consists of four main parts. They are competences in professional responsibility, management of nursing care, interpersonal relationships and interprofessional care and quality improvement. It requires ability to show knowledge and judgment, and being responsible for own actions and decisions, while assuring safety of the patients, their independence and quality of life and health. Also it requires competences in client assessment and managing the care. The clients care should be sensitive to his/her needs. It is supported by nursing knowledge and evidence based research. Besides to comply with “Competences for registered nurses” the patient care should be cultural sensitive (Nursing Council of New Zealand, 2007). Every 3

The five core competencies identified by IOM and the sixth added by QSEN, safety, are believed to be necessary to improve both quality and safety of the healthcare system within which nurses work (Multimethod teaching). The six core competencies outlined are patient-centered care, teamwork and collaboration, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, informatics, and safety (Diffusing Qsen). While all competencies are significant to the healthcare system, patient centered care is vital to positive patient outcomes and focuses on the patient’s perspective within the healthcare system.