Introduction
In this essay, I will discuss my clinical experiences and how they are connected to the NCLEX-RN® test plan. I aim to identify the areas of strategies and opportunities as I review this plan to help me as I professionally transition to practicing nursing. The NCLEX-RN® test plan acts as a guide in obtaining the nursing license with the required skills by providing the complete knowledge required, which is why aspiring nurses need to use it (NCSBN, 2023). The activity statements and my critical learning will be examined in this plan to test my plan for my next steps to seek out new opportunities in future experiences in nursing.
NCLEX-RN® test plan provides excellent maintenance and promotion of health, psychosocial integrity, an environment that is safe and effective, and physiological integrity (NCSBN, 2023). There are subcategories for each mentioned category that are the foundation of nursing practice. Understanding the categories helps an aspiring nurse like me be aware of the different aspects of nursing care addressed in the test plan; it also guides the readiness to practice nursing and ensures holistic care is provided to patients and their families.
Utilizing the NCLEX-RN® test plan helps align with the competencies that are set in the nursing field. Clinical practice and academic preparation are made possible when a standardized framework acts as a bridge between the two (Brunt & Morris, 2023). Understanding the format and test plan of the licensure examination would not be a challenge to me, and I would easily navigate the challenges involved in the nursing practice. This is a continuous learning process, so having such a test plan would act as a roadmap for professional development as nurses throughout their careers (NCSBN, 2023).
Clinical self-assessment helps individuals in nursing practice identify critical development areas (Brunt & Morris, 2023). By evaluating my experiences and comparing them with the activity statements test plan, I can easily understand my current competencies in nursing. Accountability is fostered by self-awareness, which helps an aspiring nurse like me understand weaknesses and areas of improvement (NCSBN, 2023). It also empowers me to set realistic goals as I develop my strategies and will help me set realistic goals and ways to achieve them, making me grow continuously in the nursing field
There are numerous activity statements within the NCLEX-RN® test plan that help in understanding the readiness and clinical competencies of an individual. They provide designed tasks that should be completed by aspiring nurses in diverse scenarios in the nursing field (Cardoso et al., 2021). When I align my experiences with these statements, I can easily approximate my skills and competencies and gauge my readiness. Furthermore, it can help me understand areas I need to practice more and the readiness required for the job, guiding me as I develop and grow.
Clinical Experience Reflection and Plan
Acute care settings have clinical rotations, where I encountered nursing scenarios that helped me experience real-world practice. Caring for a middle-aged man who admitted to having pneumonia is one of the scenarios that I encountered. I also had an opportunity to practice with other patients with different care needs throughout the care process as outlined in the NCLEX-RN® test plan.
In an environment that is safe and effective, patient privacy and confidentiality were my main focus, and ensuring there are safety hazards around the patient put appropriate measures to ensure that the information of the client is handled with the utmost confidentiality and their privacy safeguarded (NCSBN, 2023). A thorough assessment of the care environment was conducted to reduce potential risks to the client and their information.
In the Health Promotion and Maintenance category, health maintenance and preventive care was one of the areas in which I engaged in patient education. I provided the patient with education on the risks of pneumonia and effective preventative strategies, good respiratory hygiene practices, and vaccination (Cardoso et al., 2021). I also examined the patients’ potential to manage themselves effectively and adequately at home so that my educative discharge plan could be tailored to the same as they transition back to homecare.
Psychosocial Integrity in patients’ care experience was another critical aspect, which requires a nurse to incorporate the patients’ beliefs into their care plan (NCSBN, 2023). My communication in the care approach was adjusted accordingly to respect the patient’s cultural preferences, which led to an excellent therapeutic relationship. Those therapeutic techniques helped connect and address the patient’s emotional needs so that I could be able to give much more holistic support through the hospitalization process.
In the Physiological Integrity category, the patient’s pain was my main focus, and, at the same time, I helped with other things needed for the patient’s daily living. I used standard tools to conduct regular pain assessments while providing pain management interventions regularly based on the individual preferences and needs of the patient. Additionally, there was constant assistance with the patient’s daily living needs, such as ambulation and bathing, which brought independence and comfort to the patient.
Although I had an excellent opportunity to practice nursing experiences, I identified areas for further development and improvement did identify areas that need further improvement. Especially practicing the client needs categories and activity statements to improve readiness for professional nursing practice. I plan to focus on the following areas in the future:
- I am developing my pain management skills to help patients have comfort and relief.
- Understanding therapeutic communication techniques will help my communication with patients with diverse backgrounds.
- Learning more helps assess the potential of clients to manage their care as they home and provides better plans tailored to homecare for the patients.
Conclusion
The essay has examined my experiences in a nursing setting through the lens of the NCLEX-RN® test plan, showing strategies, opportunities, and options for enhancing readiness for practice. When the clinical statements and nurse experiences are well aligned within the test plan, one can quickly gauge areas of improvement. I am now committed to professional development through self-assessment to ensure I am well-prepared to provide safe care. The NCLEX-RN® test plan is a guiding framework for my journey of becoming a professional nurse, as it emphasizes clinical thinking and competencies while upholding ethical practices in a skilled nursing environment.
References
Brunt, B. A., & Morris, M. M. (2023). Nursing professional development evidence-based practice. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589676/
Cardoso, D., Couto, F., Cardoso, A. F., Bobrowicz-Campos, E., Santos, L., Rodrigues, R., Coutinho, V., Pinto, D., Ramis, M.-A., Rodrigues, M. A., & Apóstolo, J. (2021). The effectiveness of an evidence-based practice (EBP) educational program on undergraduate nursing students’ EBP knowledge and skills: A cluster randomized control trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 293. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010293
NCSBN. (2023). NCLEX-RN ® Test Plan. https://www.ncsbn.org/public-files/2023_RN_Test%20Plan_English_FINAL.pdf
write