Individual Health Needs Assignment

My individual health needs assignment will be looking at a task I undertook for my clinical skills assessment. For the assessment I had to take my fellow colleagues blood pressure. This assignment will be looking at the positive and negative skills I have learnt throughout practice and experience; it will also show the areas I need to work on more. My assignment will also look at the importance of respecting my colleague’s needs and preferences. The assignment will also look at the importance of gaining consent from my patient before I carry out any nursing intervention.

At the beginning of the assessment I had to give a clear understanding of which I was and the scenario I will be taking part in. I felt my instructions were clear; however I could have spoken louder and slower. Before I carried out my task I washed my hands and cleaned the blood pressure equipment, by doing this I have reduced the risk of infection (Dougherty, Lister 2006). Dougherty et al states hand washing is well researched and uncontroversial having been found to be the single most important procedure for preventing nosocomial infection as hands have been shown to be an important route of infection.

The DOH also states hands must be cleaned before and after any nursing intervention (cited Dougherty, Lister2006). I felt my hand washing technique was good as I followed the six hand technique which states, to wash hands correctly you initially have to wash your hands palm to palm, which I did, it also suggests you have to put your right palm over the back of your left palm and vice versa, thirdly palm to palm with bent and spread out fingers.

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The fourth step of this technique is to wash the outer parts of your bent fingers, fifthly circular rubbing of left thumb in closed right hand which I feel I did not do correctly, and finally is circular rubbing backwards and forwards with closed right hand fingertips in left palm and vice versa ( cited Braun Medical LTD). Although hand washing was good there are still areas for improvement, therefore I will continue to improve this technique by researching more about handwashing,as it is an important technique to get right and it helps stop the spread of infection.

I also introduced myself to my colleague by given my name, and what I was going to do. By doing this it would have made my colleague feel comfortable with the procedure. Although I communicated to my colleague I feel I could have spoken to my colleague more, I also feel my non-verbal communication could have been better as I found it hard to look at my colleague. During the scenario I was maintaining a safe environment by ensuring my colleague was sat comfortable, and by placing a pillow under their arm.

I also made sure there was a table near my colleague which I could all my equipment on, so she could identify what I was doing. I also made sure I was sitting comfortably and the table was reach of me without me stretching out to get my equipment (Roper et al 2004). I feel the scenario went well, although I could have read more about hand washing, although the technique was good, I could improve this more to stop the spread of infection.

I feel my interaction with my colleague throughout the scenario was poor as I did not communicate enough, a and I could of been reassuring my colleague more. After completing the scenario I cleaned the equipment down and disposed of any waste in the correct way To conlude this assignment I have learnt alot by participating in this assessment. I ahve learnt alot about myself and the ares in which I need to improve on. I have also realised the importance of gaining my colleagues consent befor carrying out any mursing intervention.

The assessment has also taught me the importance of maintaining my colleagues dignity and respect at all times, and that is more important to treat them as individuals. I since come away from the assessment aware of my mistakes and that I need to improve on my handwashing techniques. I feel the overall assessment was good as I have gained alot my knowledge about the correct a procedure should be undertaken. I have also learnt that it is important as health professionals we ensure our patients/clients are comfortable at all times.

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