Organisation: Tasmanian Health Organisation – South
Job Title: Registered Nurse
Word Limit: 350 to 500 words per criterion
Location: Various
Current knowledge of, and the ability to apply nursing principles, procedures and practices in
the delivery of patient/client care in a Designated practice area and in line with legal
requirements and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC) National Competency
Standards for the Registered Nurse
Currently registered with APHRA, I have been a fully experienced Registered Nurse for 18 years.
My knowledge and ability to apply nursing skills are supported by my Diploma in Nursing Science
(General, Psychiatric, Community) and Midwifery, eCRF training and certification in InForm and
Rave, Antineoplastic Drug Administration Course (ADAC), Airsafe Transport Training, and NIDA
Clinical Trials Network General Code of Practitioners (GCP). Additionally, I am registered to receive
regular updates from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network and Medscape.
I have demonstrated experience in providing a high level of clinical based care to patients in
various sections, including oncology, neurology, cardio and emergency departments. Within these
departments I have worked closely as part of a team of professionals in the care of patients. This
has involved initial interactions, identifications, maintenance, observations, recording of changes
and the administration of medications.
As a nurse I am relied upon for my clinical abilities and ability to think in a critical manner, using
sound judgement. Through continual training and many years of experience with patients, I have
developed excellent skills in this area. Also, I have demonstrated abilities in being able to identify,
judge, interpret and analyse situations, liaising with medical staff and patients to determine the
best course of action. My history includes working well as part of a team in some of the most
demanding departments with decisions needing to be made rapidly with the ability to back them
up with sound clinical reasoning. I can confidently say that I am able to fulfil this requirement with
ease.
A confident communicator within the nursing environment, I have continually improved my
written and verbal skills through ongoing professional development, taking on board and seeking
feedback, and engaging with colleagues as much as possible to allow me to learn and integrate
new approaches to positive communication. As such, I readily adapt my communication style to
suit the needs of those with whom I am exchanging information, an attribute that serves me well
when dealing with the range of stakeholders I encounter as a Registered Nurse. By keeping up-to-
date with current procedures and advances in medicine and how treatment is administered
through the study of medical journals, and attending training and seminars whenever possible, I
can confidently say that my approach to patient care is evidence based and focused on using the
most current methods.
With an excellent eye for detail, I have the ability to identify and monitor patients, noticing and
recording even the slightest of changes in their condition. Working closely with doctors and other
nurses, I ensure that the level of care each patient receives is tailored toward their individual
needs and requirements.
Sound interpersonal and communication skills, including written skills and the ability to function
effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment
As a team player, I employ excellent interpersonal and communication skills at all levels of nursing
including verbal and written reports in a trial setting where accuracy and attention to detail is
vital. With more than 18 years of nursing experience in hospitals and performing clinical trials, I
have honed my excellent verbal skills during interrelationships with doctors, patients, other
nursing staff and stakeholders.
For example, I regularly have catch up meetings with oncologists to discuss trial-related issues and
trial patients, their progress and any changes. My input is relied upon to keep the oncologists up
to date with any changes and the effects of these. This includes negotiating and discussing with
the various pharmaceutical teams the contracts and budgets required.
Functions undertaken on a regular basis include:
Updating nursing staff on an ongoing basis and through in-service training regarding the study
of chemo protocols to ensure that they administer chemo in my absence according to the
study protocol and in line with the General Code of Practitioners
Effectively handover to ward staff when trial patients are admitted, ensuring that everybody is
up-to-date with the patient’s current treatment plan and what is expected from them to
ensure that the correct data are collected
Meet on a quarterly basis with Clinical Research Associates (CRAs) who comes to monitor the
studies and through good and clear communication we ensure that the correct data is
collected on each patient
Working closely with the Human Research and Ethics Committee Coordinator by submitting
documentation when trials need approval or when protocols and patient information sheets
need amendment
Corresponding with all relevant stakeholders to ensure the expectations of the Sponsor are
met in a timely manner and to ensure that the study is submitted to Ethics before the deadline
Communicating effectively to re-evaluate how our trial finances are managed (this follows on
from my discovery of large gaps in the system that needed improvement)
Having a good relationship with my patients and their families is vital to me: I educate them
constantly by reinforcing important facts relating to their treatment. Patients feel very
comfortable with me and they always compliment and praise me for the good care I give them.
Having found that explaining to people what you need from them (and why) makes it more likely
that they will comply with your requests, I applied a program of continuous education throughout
the hospital to ensure everyone now knows we have a functioning trial department.
Regular feedback from managers, CRAs and nurses regarding my work ethic demonstrates how
successful I have been in working as part of a very large multidisciplinary team. Able to work
without supervision, I have proven to be very capable as the only study coordinator for our
hospital. I always meet my deadlines and CRAs are always commenting on the quickness of my
replies to emails and requests.
Knowledge of continuous quality improvement (safety and quality) and the application of
evidence based practice in the practice setting
There are 10 standards that provide a national set of uniform measures of safety and quality.
Adherence to these standards ensures Health Services deliver safe and high quality care to the
public and protect the public from harm. During the hospital’s accreditation our performances
were measured against these 10 standards.
To illustrate my adherence to these standards, I participate in monthly audits for various sectors in
nursing, for example infection control such as hand hygiene audits, PICC and dressing audits, as
well as documentation audits on patient case notes. I also perform audits on patient satisfaction
questionnaires to assist the hospital in identifying areas where customer service in all aspects of
hospital stay needs improvement. This also includes, on a yearly basis, performance appraisals of
all staff in the hospital to identify areas of improvement within the staff’s scope of practice and to
ensure that staff members are upholding their APHRA-required Continuing Professional
Development points.
The critical hand over system implemented in the wards involved a short handover with just basic
information by the team leader and then individual patient bedside handover. With my
participation, I ensured that with this new handover procedure, two staff members reviewed all
patient charts to ensure that fluid balances were completed, medication charts signed and the
nurse was introduced to the patient.
A function I take seriously is the Riskman reporting system, where staff members are required to
report all incidents and near misses. Riskman is used by managers to investigate these incidences
and ensure corrective actions are undertaken and staff are educated to prevent the same
incidences from recurring. Riskman is monitored by the Occupational Health and Safety Manager
of the hospital. I am continually on the alert for any potential safety issues that might cause or
have the potential to cause a safety risk to staff and patients. This includes ensuring corridors are
clear, wards and trial areas are clean and with no excess material impeding the operations of the
staff performing their duties. Also, I stay alert for any issues with the nursing staff such as
potential shortfalls in staffing, and sick or ailing staff who have the potential to spread infection.
Anything I find which could be a potential risk I immediately report through the Riskman reporting
system.
Ability to undertake client education in the practice setting, together with a commitment to
participate in ongoing professional development
My objective in my scope of practice is to promote positive outcomes and experiences for our
patients and their families. My studies and professional development is focused on enhancing my
ability to achieve those objectives. In my studies and reflections, my personal observation is that
knowledge is promoted foremost in patient care. Even though knowledge and experience is vital
to carrying out the duties of nursing, holistic care is also a skill that cannot be discovered through
studies, but through experience, empathy and humility. Each team player has knowledge and
experience to share, regardless of how little, or how much experience they have working in the
health industry. Providing a supportive work environment and sharing knowledge in respecting
patient values and choices, promotes respect and continuity of care for the patient and their
families. Having this attitude and outlook in my career, demonstrates my commitment to ongoing
professional development and illustrates my suitability for this role.
Some of the ongoing professional development I have undertaken includes:
Upholding my GCP training for trials – for every new study I do, trial specific training is
required and it is mandatory that I receive a certificate to substantiate completion of the
training before I can undertake any work on that trial
Participating in in-service training schedules delivered by pharmaceutical representatives
on a regular basis regarding new chemo drugs and updates on central venous access
devices
Completed my Antineoplastic Drug Administration competency and participate in yearly
updates and chemo competency in administration of chemotherapy
Participating in self-study to broaden my knowledge as part of my professional
development
Ensuring I receive regular updates from Medscape about new advances in cancer care
Attending education evenings that are organised by our Oncology Clinical Educator
Completing the yearly mandatory competencies required by the hospital
As well as the above, by being alert and attentive I have been able to improve my dexterity in
interrelational and interdisciplinary outcomes by learning from experience over the past 18 years
on the job and I expect to continue an ongoing learning regime in order to improve my knowledge,
expertise and abilities as a Registered Nurse.
