Continued competence--a reflective practice approach.

A B C D What is Continuing Competence? Continued Competence is the ongoing acquisition and application of knowledge and the decision-making, psychomotor, and interpersonal skills expected of the licensed nurse resulting in nursing care that contributes to the health and welfare of clients served. Why is continuing competence important to the Board of Nursing? The Board is responsible for protection of the public through the regulation of safe, effective nursing care. In order to become licensed, all licensed nurses have demonstrated initial competence by successfully passing the licensure exam. Because nursing practice changes rapidly, initial knowledge and competence can quickly become obsolete. As a result, safe practice is dependent upon the continuing competence of nurses. The Board is committed to ensuring nurses maintain and develop their skills and competence. What is meant by " Reflective Practice " ? Reflective Practice is " a process for the assessment of one's own practice to identify and seek learning opportunities to promote continued competence. Reflective practice helps nurses identify goals and progress from " novice to expert " (Benner, 1984). It is not a new concept; it is simply an approach for learning from experience and incorporating that knowledge into your practice. It is as simple as Assess four dimensions of nursing practice that are applicable in any practice setting. Dimensions of practice are founded in nursing law and are general in nature. In order to assess your level of competence in these four practice dimensions, you should select standards that apply to your area of practice. Standards may be general in nature (nursing law), or may come from professional or specialty organizations or agency policies. The Board has developed worksheets for your use in assessing your practice utilizing a reflective approach. Other tools, such as your employer evaluation, may also be used to assist you in assessing your practice.