Practice Placement 1

Clinical practice represents 50% of the undergraduate nursing programme and the development of skills, knowledge, professional behaviour and attitudes represents a key component in the undergraduate nursing students’ attainment of competence to practice as a registered nurse (NMBI, 2017). The NMBI (2015) defines competence as the attainment of knowledge, intellectual capacities, practice skills, integrity and professional and ethical values required for safe, accountable and effective practice as a Registered Nurse. Thus the aim of this module is to enable the student psychiatric nurse to commence the process of attaining competency in psychiatric/mental health nursing through exposure to and participation in all aspects of practice on placement, and to enable competency assessment at Novice Level to be undertaken under direct supervision of a registered nurse.

Competence encompasses six domains of practice:

Domain 1: Professional values and conduct of the nurse competences

Knowledge and appreciation of the virtues of caring, compassion, integrity, honesty, respect and empathy as a basis for upholding the professional values of nursing and identity as a nurse.

Domain 2: Nursing practice and clinical decision making competences

Knowledge and understanding of the principles of delivering safe and effective nursing care through the adoption of a systematic and problem-solving approach to developing and delivering a person-centred plan of care based on an explicit partnership with the person and his/her primary carer.

Domain 3: Knowledge and cognitive competences

Knowledge and understanding of the health continuum, life and behavioural sciences and their applied principles that underpin a competent knowledge base for nursing and healthcare practice.

Domain 4: Communication and interpersonal competences

Knowledge, appreciation and development of empathic communication skills and techniques for effective interpersonal relationships with people and other professionals in health care settings.

Domain 5: Management and team competences

Using management and team competences in working for the person’s wellbeing, recovery, independence and safety through recognition of the collaborative partnership between the person, family and multidisciplinary health care team.

Domain 6: Leadership and professional scholarship competences

Developing professional scholarship through self-directed learning skills, critical questioning/ reasoning skills and decision-making skills in nursing as the foundation for lifelong professional education, maintaining competency and career development.

1. Identify and utilise all individual learning opportunities available in the practice placement area

2. Describe knowledge required to implement holistic care at Novice level within psychiatric mental health nursing

3. Demonstrate professional behaviour in practice as advised by NMBI and the GMIT Code of Student Conduct and MMHS Policy and Procedures

4. Access the Policy and Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines Portfolio in the practice placement area and apply same

5. Demonstrate and apply the principles of Safe Moving and Handling, Cardio-Pulmonary Resusitation training and The Management of Actual and Potential Aggression training as required

6. Appreciate the importance of an evidence based approach to psychiatric/mental health nursing care

7. Participate in reflective practice

8. Achieve competency at Novice Level and complete and submit the National Competency Assessment Document