Nurse Role Transition
This essay is based on the role transition of a student nurse to a newly qualified nurse (NQN) and the roles and responsibilities a NQN is faced with in that transition period. In this essay the author will begin by giving a summary of the roles of an NQN and briefly discuss the changeover from student to NQN. The author will then explore Patient Group Directions (PRD’s) and Accountability as the two role choices. These two roles when then be critically analysed by using available literature to explore the core theories, views and concerns of the NQN. The author will address these hypotheses and the significance it has for nurses and the impact on nursing care as a whole. The preliminary stage when a nurse is classed as a NQN is around about a year (Whitehead & Holmes, 2011). In this year the NQN follows a preceptorship programme to help develop the skills of the NQN nurse, make a smooth a progression as possible from student nurse to NQN into the workforce and to build on the understanding of working within a team (DOH, 2011).
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There are many new roles that a NQN is faced with upon beginning a new job.
One of which is drug administration or medicines management. Prior to becoming a NQN all drug administrations are carried out under direct supervision from a mentor or any other qualified nurse (NMC, 2008). As a general rule the majority of trusts require NQN to complete a drug administration booklet that is usually signed off by the practice educator of the ward to deem the NQN competent to administer oral medications (Whitehead & Holmes, 2011). The same type of book is required for the administration of Intravenous medication (IV). A NQN must not administer or countersign IV or oral medications until these competencies have been assessed and approved according to trust policy (NMC,
2008).
Delegation is a task that a NQN is faced with and is an important as whatever tasks the NQN delegates it still remains that the delegator ie the NQN remains accountable (NMC, 2008). Therefore it is important that the NQN is aware of the level of competency of the staff that they assign work to. Often NQN find delegation difficult as they have not got to know all the member of the team yet and haven’t built relationships with team members and therefore instead of delegating work, NQN stay later to perform tasks themselves or overload themselves with work.
Record keeping is a fundamental part of nursing and if a task is preformed and not recorded it is presumed to not be done (NMC, 2009b). This role transition also again relates to accountability for the reason that although student nurses are involved in record keeping, all notes have to be counter signed by a registered nurse. The NQN have to keep up to date records in accordance with the NMC code of conduct as its legal obligation of a nurse (NMC, 2008).
Confidentiality is essential in nursing as patients trust nurses with their lives. Confidentiality is therefore a core requirement in the NMC code of conduct (NMC, 2008). The transition from student nurse to NQN in regards to confidentiality should remain exactly the same as there should never be a breach of patient’s confidentiality.
Safeguarding vulnerable adults is an essential part of any nurse’s job title. Most patients that are in the nurse’s care, be that NQN or a senior staff nurse are vulnerable therefore safeguarding is paramount. The role transition of this role doesn’t differ too much from that of a student. The big difference is that the NQN is held accountable and has a duty of care to the patient to keep them safe (Burton & Ormrod, 2011) (NMC, 2008).
I choose PGD as one of the roles to be critiqued as in order to carry out correct medicines management is it vital for a NQN to have adequate knowledge of PGD’s. NQN also have a legal and professional obligation to uphold to practice safe medicines management and for this reason PGD information is imperative (Courtenay & Griffiths 2010) (NMC, 2008). As a result I choose PDG as I have a personal interest in this area and it will expand on knowledge that I have already learnt throughout the course and prime my comprehension to make a smooth transition from student nurse to NQN.
There are many new roles that a NQN is faced with upon beginning a new job.
One of which is drug administration or medicines management. Prior to becoming a NQN all drug administrations are carried out under direct supervision from a mentor or any other qualified nurse (NMC, 2008). As a general rule the majority of trusts require NQN to complete a drug administration booklet that is usually signed off by the practice educator of the ward to deem the NQN competent to administer oral medications (Whitehead & Holmes, 2011). The same type of book is required for the administration of Intravenous medication (IV). A NQN must not administer or countersign IV or oral medications until these competencies have been assessed and approved according to trust policy (NMC,
2008).
Delegation is a task that a NQN is faced with and is an important as whatever tasks the NQN delegates it still remains that the delegator ie the NQN remains accountable (NMC, 2008). Therefore it is important that the NQN is aware of the level of competency of the staff that they assign work to. Often NQN find delegation difficult as they have not got to know all the member of the team yet and haven’t built relationships with team members and therefore instead of delegating work, NQN stay later to perform tasks themselves or overload themselves with work.
Record keeping is a fundamental part of nursing and if a task is preformed and not recorded it is presumed to not be done (NMC, 2009b). This role transition also again relates to accountability for the reason that although student nurses are involved in record keeping, all notes have to be counter signed by a registered nurse. The NQN have to keep up to date records in accordance with the NMC code of conduct as its legal obligation of a nurse (NMC, 2008).
Confidentiality is essential in nursing as patients trust nurses with their lives. Confidentiality is therefore a core requirement in the NMC code of conduct (NMC, 2008). The transition from student nurse to NQN in regards to confidentiality should remain exactly the same as there should never be a breach of patient’s confidentiality.
Safeguarding vulnerable adults is an essential part of any nurse’s job title. Most patients that are in the nurse’s care, be that NQN or a senior staff nurse are vulnerable therefore safeguarding is paramount. The role transition of this role doesn’t differ too much from that of a student. The big difference is that the NQN is held accountable and has a duty of care to the patient to keep them safe (Burton & Ormrod, 2011) (NMC, 2008).
I choose PGD as one of the roles to be critiqued as in order to carry out correct medicines management is it vital for a NQN to have adequate knowledge of PGD’s. NQN also have a legal and professional obligation to uphold to practice safe medicines management and for this reason PGD information is imperative (Courtenay & Griffiths 2010) (NMC, 2008). As a result I choose PDG as I have a personal interest in this area and it will expand on knowledge that I have already learnt throughout the course and prime my comprehension to make a smooth transition from student nurse to NQN.