Easy Self Assessment and Creating Learning Plans

 Learning Plans are essential from a CPD point of view..and for tracking  how you’ll go about getting relevant education. Once you’ve done a learning plan for the first time, you’ll see how invaluable and easy it is to get ahead.

First, assess yourself!

If you don’t know where you are.. how do you know which way to go?

 Assessing yourself probably needs to be done every year or so.  The tools I used to assess myself were :

• The Australia Nursing and Midwifery Council’s National Competency Standards (what a mouthful!)
• Competency Standards for Nurse in General Practice (Australian Nursing federation)

 Download and print a copy of these documents (or the one’s relevant to you if you are in a different state/country). Pop the documents in a folder..and then make yourself a good hot drink ..and settle in for an hour or so. Go through each and every competency .and see if you are up to scratch.!

 Here are some of my answers:

Highlight the areas that you don’t understand or areas where  you think you need more education. The learning plan has to be relevant to the work you do... so putting down a plan for “learning about patient care in the intensive care unit”..is not going to get you very far!

One example is this :

Competency Element 2.3

 ”I practice in a way that acknowledges the dignity, culture, values and beliefs  and rights of individuals and groups”

Assessment of self:

We have a number of Aboriginal people coming to our practice. Although I know a fair bit about the culture, I don’t really know how to deliver health care specifically for the needs of Aboriginal people.

 This now goes on my learning plan.  Here is my learning  plan  for the next  18 months:

You can copy this template and create your own learning plan. It’s important to have a date as a goal for the specified learning... this keeps you on track so you don’t lose sight of your goals.. and don’t try to do too much at once!

Areas of learning you may like to consider as a Practice Nurse:

Plastering

Wound management

Spirometry

Audiology

 ECG interpretation

Mental health crisis in the community

Immunisation Competency Certificate

Professional  Portfolio creation and maintenance

Chronic disease management

Managing a Nurse led Clinic

Diabetes clinics

Phlebotomy (blood taking, venipuncture)

Health Assessment

Travel medicine

Sexual Health Certificate

Pap Smear provider Course