Report on Progress of Professional Portfolio

IDENTIFY
COMPETENCY
NUMBER, LETTER
AND SUBCATEGORY

Major Competency Area: M Mental Health Nursing

M14Demonstrateknowledgeandabilitytodescribecommonmental
healthissues
One significant learning experience in this course related to CLPNA
competency is when I was studying for my mid term exam and

DESCRIBE ONE
SIGNIFICANT
LEARNING
EXPERIENCE IN THIS
COURSE RELATED TO
THE CLPNA
COMPETENCY.
PROVIDE AN
EXAMPLE

researching a class paper, I learned that the stigma of mental health

disorders has improved over the years and continues to improve. An
example of this is with the history of Schizophrenia mental disorder, in
the past its symptoms were associated with being possessed by demons
or punishment by gods for evils done but over the years health
professionals have used more evidence-based approaches to better
understand and diagnose such mental illness.
What I learned in this course is that the Mental Health Commission of
Canada has taken action to reduce the stigma of mental disorder and
preventing discrimination as important priorities in improving mental

DESCRIBE WHAT
YOU LEARNED AND
HOW IT RELATES TO
THE COMPETENCY.
EXPLAIN WHY IT
WAS MEANINGFUL.

health of Canadians. This relates to the competency because as nurses

when we have the knowledge and can describe common mental health
issues we can better advocate for patients. It was meaningful to learn
this because as a nursing student preparing to enter the workforce in
Canada I am glad to know that there are Canadian policies/ strategies
that aim to protect mentally ill Canadians.

Fairunderstandsthecompetencyintheory;unabletoapplyitto
USE THE
PROFICIENCY
CATEGORIES TO
RATE YOUR
PROFICIENCY IN THE
CHOSEN CLPNA
COMPETENCY.
EXPLAIN WHAT WAS
DONE TO ACHIEVE
THE COMPETENCY.

DESCRIBE HOW YOU

WILL APPLY THIS
LEARNING IN YOUR
CURRENT AND
FUTURE NURSING
PRACTICE

scenariosornursingpractice.
IgavemyselfthisgradebecauseIhavereadthesubjectofmental
healthandunderstoodthecompetencyintheory.Iwasableto
demonstratemyknowledgebyansweringexamquestions.Ihowever
willnotbeabletoputitintopracticeuntilIaminaclinicalsetting.

I will apply this learning into my nursing practice by advocating

correcting stereotypes and stigmas about mental disorders. I will also
further encourage knowledge about mental illnesses in order to cope
will the illness or understand someone with a mental illness.

Student Name: Princess Ndlovu

Course: Ndlovu
Date: June 14, 2016
Instructor/Tutor: Heather Zirk