Nursing Consolidation Goals for Semester 5: A Journey towards Competence and Professionalism

QUESTION

I am in nursing concilidation Semester 5 and looking to get help with 2 more goals 
Goal #1 SMART format-what do you specifically want to learn & how will you measure if you
learned it:
To Competently and Safely Administer all Medications without near misses or errors to
patients with preceptor supervision throughout the entire consolidation period.
Activities that will help you meet your goal:
*Complete Medication Profiles on all Medications ensuring knowledge of classification, safe
range, nursing considerations, and side effects
*Complete 3 checks of medication when pulling medication from ADU
*Complete 10 rights of medication at the bedside
*Comply with agency policies when giving medications-work only within your scope
Evaluation-Evidence of Completion: How will you know you are meeting?
*No Medication Errors will occur and if they do, they are reported appropriately to agency and
Faculty Advisor
*Will be able to maintain medication knowledge and build upon understanding throughout
placement. Preceptor will give feedback as to quality of medication knowledge
*Able to educate patients on medications- this will demonstrate medication knowledge recall
CNO Standards that Goal Applies to: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics,
Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or

Nurse-ClientGoal #2:
To effectively and competently time manage a nursing care workload building from
shadowing to full case load and demonstrate entry-to-practice abilities by end of term.
Activities that will help you meet your goal:
*Begin by shadowing my preceptor and slowly working up to half a client workload with
supervision by midterm and increasing to a full workload with supervision by end of placement.
*NB-you are always to be supervised and should not be working independently. You are not to
be treated as staff and maintain your own workload. Patient assignment must be shared by nurse
and student.
*Work closely with preceptor to slowly increase medication administration capabilities starting
with stable patients and working towards more complex
*Work closely with preceptor to increase treatments and documentation
*Communicate and seek regular feedback from preceptor and other healthcare team
Evaluation-Evidence of Completion
*By midterm, I am able to care for half of my nurse’s patient workload with supervision
*By final, I am able to care for most of my nurse’s patient workload with supervision
*I will be able to provide nursing care, medication administration, treatments, and document
effectively with minimal assistance by end of 10 weeks
CNO Standards that Goal Applies to: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics,
Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or

Nurse-ClientGoal #3:
To be accountable and responsible for own practice and to be able to professionally
communicate with patients, families, preceptor, faculty advisor, and other healthcare team
members and to also be able to modify behaviour based on feedback.
Activities that will help you meet your goal:
*Build competency and confidence in effective communication with preceptor, faculty
advisor, and healthcare team members
*Utilize effective SBAR to identify and summarize pertinent findings and information
*Provide effective reports to preceptor and then healthcare team eg. bedside, handoffs…
*Develop respectful and collegial relationships with preceptor, faculty advisor, and health
care team members
Evaluation-Evidence of Completion:
*Ongoing throughout placement-Student will be able to effectively and professionally
communicate with preceptor, healthcare team and faculty advisor
*Ongoing throughout placement-Student will be able to articulate and demonstrate that
behaviour has changed based on feedback and why it has impacted nursing practice
*Student will be able to advocate for own needs while understanding the needs of the
healthcare team
CNO Standards that Goal Applies to: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics,
Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or

Nurse-ClientGoal #4:
*

Activities that will help you meet your goal: (be specific- 4 minimum)
*
*
*
*
Evaluation-Evidence of Completion : 3 minimum
*
*
*
CNO Standards that Goal Applies to: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics,
Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or

Nurse-ClientGoal #5:

*
Activities that will help you meet your goal: (be specific- 4 minimum)
*
*
*
*
Evaluation-Evidence of Completion 3 minimum
*
*
*
CNO Standards that Goal Applies to: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics,
Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or Nurse-Client

ANSWER

Nursing Consolidation Goals for Semester 5: A Journey towards Competence and Professionalism

Introduction

Nursing consolidation, occurring in Semester 5 of nursing education, marks a significant phase in a nursing student’s journey towards becoming a competent and professional nurse. During this period, students are expected to transition from classroom knowledge to practical application in clinical settings. This essay outlines five SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) goals for a nursing consolidation experience, emphasizing the development of clinical skills, communication, and professionalism.

Goal #1: Competent Medication Administration

Specific Goal: To competently and safely administer all medications without near misses or errors, with preceptor supervision throughout the entire consolidation period.

Activities

Complete Medication Profiles for all prescribed medications.
Perform three checks of medication when pulling medications from the Automated Dispensing Unit (ADU).
Adhere to the “10 Rights of Medication” at the patient’s bedside.
Comply with agency policies when administering medications, working strictly within the scope of practice.

Evaluation-Evidence of Completion

No medication errors should occur, and if they do, they must be promptly reported to the agency and faculty advisor.
Maintain and build upon medication knowledge throughout placement, as evidenced by feedback from the preceptor.
The ability to educate patients on medications effectively, demonstrating medication knowledge recall.

CNO Standards: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics, Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or Nurse-Client.

Goal #2: Effective Time Management

Specific Goal: To effectively and competently manage a nursing care workload, gradually progressing from shadowing to a full caseload, and demonstrating entry-to-practice abilities by the end of the term.

Activities

Begin by shadowing the preceptor and gradually work up to handling half of the preceptor’s patient workload by midterm.
Continuously seek feedback and communicate with the preceptor and healthcare team.
Gradually increase medication administration capabilities and treatment responsibilities.
Ensure all nursing care and documentation are completed effectively.

Evaluation-Evidence of Completion

By midterm, the ability to manage half of the preceptor’s workload with supervision.
By the final term, the capability to handle most of the preceptor’s patient workload with supervision.
Proficiency in providing nursing care, medication administration, treatments, and documentation with minimal assistance by the end of the 10-week placement.

CNO Standards: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics, Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or Nurse-Client.

Goal #3: Professional Communication and Adaptability

Specific Goal: To be accountable, responsible for one’s practice, and professionally communicate with patients, families, preceptor, faculty advisor, and other healthcare team members while demonstrating adaptability based on feedback.

Activities

Build competency and confidence in effective communication with all stakeholders.
Utilize the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) framework for clear and concise communication.
Provide comprehensive reports to the preceptor and healthcare team during handoffs and bedside reporting.
Develop respectful and collegial relationships with the preceptor, faculty advisor, and healthcare team members.

Evaluation-Evidence of Completion

Ongoing, effective, and professional communication with the preceptor, healthcare team, and faculty advisor.
Demonstrated adaptation of behavior based on feedback, with a clear understanding of how it impacts nursing practice.
Ability to advocate for one’s needs while understanding the needs of the healthcare team.

CNO Standards: Accountability, Continuing Competence, Ethics, Knowledge Application, Leadership, and Relationship-Professional and/or Nurse-Client.

Goals #4 and #5: To Be Determined

The specific goals #4 and #5 should be developed based on the unique context and learning needs of the nursing consolidation experience. These goals should align with the overarching aim of achieving competency, professionalism, and excellence in nursing practice. These goals and activities should be SMART, with clearly defined evaluation criteria and relevance to nursing standards.

Conclusion

Nursing consolidation in Semester 5 is a critical phase where nursing students transition into the role of competent and professional nurses. The SMART goals outlined here focus on key areas of nursing practice, including medication administration, time management, communication, and adaptability. By setting and achieving these goals, nursing students can ensure they are well-prepared for entry into the nursing profession, where they will provide high-quality care to patients while upholding the standards of the nursing profession.