Reflection On Clinical Experience

Introduction
As a first-year student, my love and desire for being a nurse and my background in health have enabled me to face the challenging moments in nursing. My first clinical placement started at one of the busiest hospitals (Gynecology/ Urology/ Plastics/ Head & Neck) ward.
Due to my lack of experience and according to the NMBA registered nurse standards, I had to follow my scope of practice which was limited to bed making, observation, shower the patient and simple help. However, my focus was on learning and gaining experience.
On the second day of my work, I was helping an experienced nurse who was willing to teach and answer all my questions. After the handover in the morning, she walked me through the rooms and she introduced me
Tod was unable to communicate due to the antistatic and the medications he had after surgery, he was very drowsy and lethargic. My RN was also helping another nurse who was new in that ward, I was asked to keep an eye on the patients especially Mr. Tod and once the food arrived I must help him and encourage him to eat. I helped Mr. Tod to sit upright and I started to spoon-feed him and I notice he was coughing with every spoon of food and he had difficulties to swallow.
His coughing wasn’t normal and I was concerned about him and uncertain of the situation. As I decided to call out for my RN, Mr. Tod’s Doctor visited him, when he saw the patient asked me “what I was doing” he told me with an upset voice that “I have specified in his file that he must not eat due to the problem he has with his airway”. I wasn’t sure in that moment what to do, I apologized and told him that I wasn’t aware of his request and I will confirm with my RN
Also, remembering all the details about the patient until documenting the finding wasn’t an easy task. However, that can be a cause of major mistakes if the nurse forgets to document or read all the details on patient’s file.
At this work placement, I observe the importance of communication and attention to details. Therefore, small mistakes of not reading patient file could cause someone’s life. As described in a similar situation when the patient is unable to communicate it will be harder to point out the mistakes and resolution.
Considering the NMBA standards of nursing, the relevant standard that I can relate to is standard 6.3 “appropriately delegates aspects of practice to enrolled nurses and others, according to enrolled nurse’s scope of practice or others’ clinical or non-clinical roles” (NMBA 2016). During this placement, I was conscious of my actions and if there was any kind of situation that I didn’t mean to contribute due to my scope of practice I explain to patients and nurses and they understood my