NRSG367 Transition to Professional Nursing

Assessment Task 2 Case Study

Assessment Task Overview

Transitioning to professional practice is a critical phase for the novice Registered Nurse.
Managing professional role requirements, organisational technologies and team dynamics
while on shift can be challenging. This is often accompanied by changed personal
circumstances, with graduates balancing shift work, working full time and socialisation
with friends and family. The case study below highlights the professional and personal
challenges you may face as a Graduate Registered Nurse.

Critically analyse the following case study to answer the essay questions.

Case Study Background

Toby is a Graduate Registered Nurse (RN) who is 8 weeks into his first graduate rotation
at the local metropolitan, tertiary hospital. He is currently working on an Medical Ward.
For the first four weeks Toby worked alongside his nurse preceptor, predominately
rostered on morning shifts. Toby has just completed his first five (5) night shifts yesterday
morning and is back on an afternoon shift today (Saturday).

Toby is still trying to manage his roster and other commitments like cycling with his
friends and hiking. Today, Toby is feeling tired and frustrated because he slept through
his alarm this morning and missed hiking activity to celebrate his best friend’s birthday.
He is also disappointed that the he can’t join his cycling group in the evening.

On Shift

Toby has arrived 15 minutes prior to this shift starting. On arrival, he realises that he
hasn’t worked with the Nurse-in-Charge before but there are other nurses on the shift
that he has met.

Toby feels a little nervous, but he knows two (2) of the patients he has been allocated
from his recent night shifts and he is allocated a further two (2) patients who are to be
discharged this afternoon. He has not arranged a discharge before so he prioritises these
activities as he prepares his shift planner.

A short time later the Nurse-in-Charge tells him that his patient allocations have changed
due to skill mix. A different nurse will arrange one (1) patient discharge and Toby will be
receiving a new patient from Emergency Department.

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 NRSG367 Transition to Professional Nursing
Assessment Task 2 Case Study

His patient allocations are now as follows:

Patient Age Diagnosis Relevant Information

Mrs Janet 71 Pneumonia New admission from the Emergency department
Jones (ED). Febrile and hypertensive on arrival to the
ward.
For IVAB and chest X-Ray.
Urgent bloods have been taken. Patient’s family
present and appear distressed.
Mr Frank 62 Trans Requires minimal assistance
WIlliams Ischaemic Needs IVC to be removed
Attack

Ms Frances 68 Hyperglycaemia Ready for discharge. Discharge paperwork has

Fernandez already been completed by morning shift
nurse. Pharmacy has delivered discharge
medications and has conducted patient
education. Waiting for family to arrive and pick
up.

Mr Gerald 83 UTI New admission from ED. Mr Sommersby is a

Sommersby Increasing Nursing home resident. He is a high falls risk.
confusion

Toby feels overwhelmed with the admissions and discharge. He is unsure how he will
cope with the rest of his shift. Toby has not looked after a patient (Mr Somersby) who is
confused, high risk of falls and wanders around the ward. He decides he must push on,
and soon it is time for handover.

At handover, Toby realises that after he had not given Mrs Jones her IVAB. Toby had set
the observation machine to take automatic observations. However, he had forgotten to
go in and check this patient for the last 3 hours. Toby has not yet completed the
admission documentation for Mr Sommersby as he has been trying to stop him from
wandering out of the ward. The nurse he his handing over to rolls her eyes when this
information is handed over. Additionally, he has not completed any of his patient notes
on the computer on wheels (COWS) machine. Toby stays 30 minutes after the end of his
shift to complete his work.

Following his shift

On his commute home, Toby feels really stressed and feels that he did not provide
sufficient care for Mrs Jones. He is frustrated with himself that he may have missed other
things this shift and that he had to stay late to finish his patient notes. At home, he
spends some time reflecting on his shift and plans to ask his nurse preceptor for any
advice/tips on their next shift together.

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 NRSG367 Transition to Professional Nursing
Assessment Task 2 Case Study

Assessment Task 2

Toby appears to be struggling during his clinical shift. He also seems to be having difficulty maintaining a
work/life balance. Critically analyse the provided case study to answer all the following three questions
within an essay format:

1. Determine and justify whether the graduate RN met (or did not meet) their role and
responsibilities as an RN during his shift. Provide at least two (2) case study examples
and support your discussion using evidence, including Nursing and Midwifery Board
Australia (NMBA) Registered Nurse Practice Standards (2016) (LO1 & LO3).

2. Construct at least three (3) recommendations as to how the graduate RN could have
undertaken this shift differently. Consider in your discussion the knowledge, skills and
attitudes inherent in the RN role, including utilisation of technology and teamwork skills,
and support your discussion with literature (LO2, 3, 5 & 6).

3. Transitioning from student to Graduate Registered Nurse can be difficult. Construct at

least two (2) evidence-based strategies that could be implemented to promote resilience,
build capacity, and support work/life balance during the graduate RN’s transition period
(LO3, 4, 5).

Instructions:

• Word limit is 1800 words (+/- 10%), including the introduction and conclusion.
• Paper to be written in essay format, must answer the above questions, and should be
written in academic writing style (not first person). You may use headings.
• Ensure you consider the AT2 Rubric, Appendix 2 in the Unit Outline, when
undertaking this assessment task.
• Submit your paper to Turnitin by the due date.

NRSG367_202160_AT2CaseStudy