NRSG140 Integrating Practice

Using Gibb’s Cycle of Reflection as a structural framework, reflect on the relationship of the clinical skill and your preparedness for clinical practicum.

Answer:

Description

Manual handling is an essential skill in the nursing profession. It is the process of supporting, transporting a load through the use of the hand or any other part of the body. Activities included in manual handling include carrying, pulling or pushing (Warren, 2016). The majority of accidents occurring in the healthcare setting are associated with manual handling. Additionally, about 40% of absenteeism caused by sickness is associated with handling and moving accidents (Kulkarni & Darsana, 2013).Besides, the number of nurses who sustain back injuries annually is estimated to be over 80,000.These facts make it significant for nurses to acquire manual handling skills.

During one of my practical classes, the other two colleagues and I were working in the s attending to a 75-year-old gentleman named Robert, who had suffered a major spinal injury after being involved in an accident. On top of his spinal injury, the patient also had injuries in his skull. The Nurse supervisor in charge had tasked us with the responsibility of supporting the movement of the patient. Some of our  duties included aiding the progress of the patient from his bed to the bathroom or washrooms, lifting him to his bed, changing his sleeping or sitting position. Handling, the patient was challenging because of his heavyweight, because of this reason, at one incident, we almost dropped him while helping him to get back to his bed. In most of the situations, we had to seek assistance from our supervisor to attend to the patient without worsening his condition or risking our physical health. However, through guidance and support from our supervisor as well as the repetition of tasks associated with the role, I was able to improve my effectiveness in the manual handling of patients.

Feelings

The acquisition of manual handling skills through practical experience was quite exciting. I felt a sense of fulfillment by making use of the theory acquired through the theoretical aspect of the nursing profession. Before starting my clinical placement, I was quite happy and thought that dealing with patients in conditions such as that of Mr. Robert would be quite straightforward. When I realized that perfecting manual handling skills required patience and practice, I felt frustrated at myself for my ignorance. Although our lack of experience almost harmed the patient, the fact that at the end of it, I had perfected the skill of manual handling made me happy and contented.

Evaluation

The good thing about my practical manual handling experience was the fact that the commitment of our instructor to ensure that we mastered the skill was exceptional. The acquisition of the skill was also facilitated by my dedication as well as the determination of my group in carrying out all the practical aspects of the course. The fact that I initially encountered challenges at the start made me work even harder. The thing that did not work for me was my prior assumption that the mastery of the skill would have been effortless.

Analysis

I believe that the reason why the practical class went on so well because I was committed to the task. I also consulted on several occasions with my colleagues and the nurse leader. I also believe that the effort put by the nurse leader to provide us with the necessary support was a contributing factor in the success of the practical class. From this situation, I can clearly understand how important it is for nurses to have manual handling skills because what awaits them in clinical practicum is not something easy. The use of relevant literature can help me to enhance my mastery of the skill (Kay, Evans & Glass, 2015).

Conclusions

I learnt that the acquisition of manual handling skills is quite essential for me as a nurse. I also discovered that success in manual handling required repeated practice and commitment. The situation could have been more positive if I had not relied on my assumptions about the ease of acquiring manual handling skills. Doing sufficient personal research before undertaking my practical classes would also have made the experience more positive.

Action Plan

If I had the opportunity to learn about manual handling again, I would have done enough personal research before embarking on my practical skills. Additionally, I would also ensure that I consult a nurse experienced in manual handling to have a prior understanding of what it takes to care for patients with mobility challenges. Potentially, I would also suggest an increase in the number of hours allocated for practical classes to ensure that all students including those whose understanding is lower than the rest of us acquired the skill without many challenges

References

Kay, K., Evans, A., & Glass, N. (2015). Moments of speaking and silencing: Nurses share their experiences of manual handling in healthcare. Collegian, 22(1), 61-70.

Kulkarni, S., & Darsana, N. G. (2013). Musculoskeletal Risk Assessment among Nurses in Patient Manual Handling in Hospital Wards–A Cross Sectional Study. Cureus, 5(8).

Warren, G. (2016). Continuing Professional Development. Moving and handling: reducing risk through assessment. Nursing Standard, 30(40).