7 Pages
1625 Words
Exposure 1: Mother and Baby-Community Setting
During my exposure to Mother and Baby Community Setting field, I have got an opportunity to support Mothers and their infants. The prior focus was implied on developing nurturing attachment relationships while promoting mental well-being and assuring safe parenting practices. The theoretical learning complies with understanding the concepts of attachment theory, importance of maternal mental health and significance of social support network. One significant difference evident between this field and own practice within mental health nursing complies with focusing on the developmental milestone and physical well-being of infants. In mental health nursing primary focus implied on psychological and emotional well-being of patients (Reynolds et al, 2024). However, in community settings, I have observed that assessment is further incorporated with developmental checklist and subsequently, areas such as social interactions, emotional response and motor skills are focused out. In contrast, mental health nursing prioritises those assessment that based on cognitive-emotional functioning and psychological stressors among adolescents and adults.
As per NMC Platform 6 “Improving Safety and Quality of Care” registered nurses are accountable for making a key contribution in consistent monitoring and quality improvement of care and treatment procedure (NMC, 2018). Nurses assess potential risks complies with safety and accordingly appropriate actions are taken. Considering this standard, it can be said that assessments which are undertaken in both the field [Mother-baby community setting and mental health nursing] are specifically for improving safety and quality of care so that patient outcomes could be enhanced to greater note and consistent support can be assured to them. In my own practical experience, I have learned that it is pivotal to undertake early interventions for promoting both maternal and infant mental health. From the research it has been witnessed that early life negative impacts can develop long-lasting psychological complexities in individuals. This is reinforcing new role “Educating new parents” by nurses; it aligns with managing emotions and psychological fluctuations during postpartum period.
In accordance with NMC Platform 1 “Being and accountable professional” it is the responsibility of nurses to educate their patients (Palmer, Julian and Vaughan, 2023). In future, I will perform this accountability and subsequently, I will incorporate early assessment strategies along with educating patients regarding treatment options, consequences and care procedure. This experience is resonating with NMC’s proficiency standards- Platform 2 “Promoting health and preventing ill health” (NMC, 2018). I will ensure prior focus on maternal mental health complication as this will allow me to advocate robust approach and influence health outcomes in positive manner. I have identified the importance of social network during community exposure. Further, I got to know that patient education is significant in care procedure specifically for mothers and infant mental health. I will focus on involving family in future nursing practice and consequently, holistic approach will be prioritised and effective care services to patient will be provided.
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Exposure 2: Supporting Children with Cancer –Children’s Oncology Setting
My exposure with children developed in an oncology setting; I have participated in an initiative aiming to provide social support to children. It is essential to ensure social support to children with cancer as this enhances their resilience capabilities and empowers them to cope up with the current situation. Certain activities such as painting, art and craft and drawing was organised for increasing the engagement of children. Despite struggling from severe condition children were actively engaged in activities. However, I have observed that there were certain children who were isolating themselves. This placement enabled me to develop significant insights regarding the unique issues experienced by children in implementing social interaction. From this exposure I got to know that children with cancer often isolate themselves due to varied factors such as their appearance, social stigma and lack of hope. One significant difference in own setting and oncology setting was identified; in mental health practice the focus in implied on enhancing the mental wellbeing of patient whereas, oncology setting focuses on adopting a holistic approach that focuses on promoting physical, emotional, menta, social and spiritual wellbeing of children (Mateo et al, 2022). There are different programs implemented in oncology setting those individual focuses on different wellbeing domains.
NMC Platform 3 “Assessing needs and planning care” depicts that registered nurses are accountable for prioritising the needs and requirements of people while assessing and reviewing their mental, physical, behavioural, cognitive, social and spiritual needs (NMC, 2018). The information which has been obtained during assessment are used for undertaking person-centred and evidence-based nursing interventions (Penberthy et al, 2022). During children’s oncology setting exposure I have learned that it is important to analyse the needs of individuals as it supports in providing quality care to them. The findings indicating that social interventions are effective for improving children resilience. By engaging children in the protective factors such as social skills, emotional regulation and resilience capabilities long-term benefits can be ensured to them (Ramamurthy et al, 2023). In the role of registered nurse, I will focus on adopting a proactive approach that focuses on advocating about preventive programs in schools and community settings for supporting children.
NMC Platform 5 “Leading and managing nursing care and working in teams” articulates that registered nurse performs the role of leadership and they area accountable for delegation and supervision of care provided by other team members involving lay carers (NMC, 2018). By adhering with this platform, I am aiming to implement collaboration with oncology settings and subsequently, I will perform active role in leading children while providing support to them. My motive aligns with supporting children who are socially isolated due to cancer. Furthermore, I will develop awareness regarding ensuring social support to children suffering from cancer. In this manner, I will comply with NMC platform 1; hence, my core motive is to empower children who are suffering from cancer (NMC, 2018). Consistent support would be ensured to them and accordingly their social altercation will be encouraged.
Exposure 3: Learning Disability – Care Home Setting/End of Life
In my final exposure I have worked in a care home setting that provides support to adults suffering from learning disability and receiving end-of-life care. Holistic care has been provided to patient while ensuring comfort and dignity of patient in final stages of life. Through this experience, I have gained significant insights regarding management of complex issues persisting due to learning disabilities; individuals in the setting were facing significant challenges such as- communicating, understanding instructions, taking medication, managing their health and memory issues. Learning disabilities influences the cognitive skills whereas, mental health impacts emotional and behavioural wellbeing of individuals (Northway and hopes, 2025). I have supported individuals with learning disability by adopting person-centred care and accordingly, unique needs of patient were identified and support was ensured to them. I have learned one significant component in care home setting that complies with NMC platform 7 “Coordinating Care”, in accordance with this protocol registered nurses are accountable for coordinating and managing complex nursing and integrated care needs in all stages of patients live within range of setting (NMC, 2018). I will follow this protocol in my future nursing practice and by implementing effective coordination with patient and other colleagues effective support can be ensured to patient.
My learning in this exposure underscoring the importance of compassion and communication within nursing practice. End-of-life care teaching about the value and difficult conversation takes place regarding death and dying. This enables in undertaking honest conversation and discussion with patients and promotes resilience and acceptance for both families and residents. I got to know that effective communication consistently alleviate anxiety and further provide relief for those individuals who are facing learning disability. NMC platform 4 “Providing and evaluating care” depicts that registered nurse provides patient-centred care to patient and specific focus is implied on assessing needs and requirements of patient and accordingly, evidence-based decisions are taken (NMC, 2018). Nurses are accountable for working with all ages of people and consistent support has been ensured to them. I will focus on this area and patient-centred care will be provided for enhancing health outcomes of people in future. My goal aligns with promoting dignity, respect and empathy in every interaction. Specifically, I will focus on vulnerable populations who are suffering from learning disability challenges. By implementing effective interaction with them, their issues will be analysed and subsequently, effectual support would be ensured to them.
Hence, through this exposure I realised that when patients are suffering from learning disability, they require consistent support. Holistic care approach requires to be adopted by nurses so that mental, physical, emotional, social and spiritual support can be provided to them (Spaul, et al, 2020). In my future practice I will adhere with all of the NMC codes and platform and accordingly, effective quality services will be provided to patient and their health outcomes would be enhanced. I will focus on adopting patient centred care principles as this aligns with respecting unique needs of each individual and accordingly, consistent support to patient will be ensured.
REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Mateo, J., Steuten, L., Aftimos, P., André, F., Davies, M., Garralda, E., ... & Voest, E. (2022). Delivering precision oncology to patients with cancer. Nature medicine, 28(4), 658-665.
Northway, R., & Hopes, P. (2025). Learning Disability Nursing: Developing Professional Practice. Routledge.
Palmer, W., Julian, S., & Vaughan, L. (2023). Independent report on the regulation of advanced practice in nursing and midwifery.
Penberthy, L. T., Rivera, D. R., Lund, J. L., Bruno, M. A., & Meyer, A. M. (2022). An overview of real‐world data sources for oncology and considerations for research. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 72(3), 287-300.
Reynolds, R., Edge, D., Neill, S., Hayward, M., Alexandropoulou, M., & Carey, M. (2024). Impact of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (2018) future nurse: Standards of proficiency for registered nurses on children's nursing curriculum–A cross-sectional study. Nurse Education Today, 106284.
Spaul, S. W., Hudson, R., Harvey, C., Macdonald, H., & Perez, J. (2020). Exclusion criterion: learning disability. The Lancet, 395(10223), e29.
