Four Dimensions (Nine Criteria) of Nursing Practice
**Nurse Professional Standards Board**
Addressing the Four Dimensions (Nine Criteria) of Nursing Practice
Self Assessment
Congratulations on your selection for an RN position with the North Texas VA Medical Center! As part of the salary determination process for Registered Nurses, you will be evaluated by a panel of your peers (Nurse Professional Standards Board or NPSB) against the Four Dimension of Nursing Practice. The responsibility of the NPSB is to ensure that you meet established qualifications and subsequently establish a pay level recommendation. As such, your response to the Nine Dimensions has a direct impact on the establishment of your pay.
The following guidance is provided to optimize your success with this process. Although daunting at times, your thoughtful responses to each of the Nine Criteria within the Four Dimensions are critical to the outcome of your salary determination. The NPSB has an opportunity to qualify you at one of three grades: Nurse I, Nurse II, or Nurse III. Within Nurse I, there are also three levels—Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. When considering your responses, be advised of the following qualification standards for each grade:
Nurse I: Associate Degree/Diploma required. In each of the Four Dimensions, the Board is looking for INDIVIDUAL growth and development in clinical practice to increasing levels of self direction.
Nurse II: Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing required. (Associate in Nursing/Diploma with Bachelor’s in health-related field may be considered). In each of the Four Dimensions, the Board will expect UNIT level contributions and leadership.
Nurse III: Master’s Degree in Nursing required. (BSN with Master’s in health-related field may be considered). In each of the Four Dimensions, SUSTAINED LEADERSHIP resulting in program contributions and outcomes BEYOND THE UNIT/PRACTICE SETTING. That is, involvement at the ORGANIZATIONAL LEVEL is expected.
NOTE: Both educational requirements and meeting the Four Dimension standards for that particular grade are required to be recommended for that grade.
The Four Dimensions of Nursing Practice are as follows: Nursing Practice (Practice, Ethics, Resource Utilization); Professional Role-Leadership (Education/Career Development, Performance); Collaboration (Collegiality, Collaboration) and Scientific Inquiry (Quality of Care, Research). NOTE: Leadership is not one of the dimensions, but leadership principles are expected to be woven throughout the established categories.
Each of the Nine Criteria should be addressed by you citing examples (at least one) to support the qualifications standards. One example may suffice to support all criteria under a single Dimension, but all criteria must be met…NOT just the Dimension. As a template for your response, the following guidance is offered:
What as done? - ACTION
For Whom? - POPULATION
What difference did it make? - OUTCOME
When? – SUSTAINABILITY
Please see the following table for additional guidance:
***** If you want additional information/clarification, please see http://vaww1(dot)va(dot)gov/NURSING/psb.asp
Criteria
Nurse I
Nurse II
Nurse III
Nursing Practice
PRACTICE
Demo Independence;
No charge activities required
Demo Leadership;
Charge Nurse/Unit Level
Leadership at Service, Service Line, or Medical Center Level; looking for organized processes or systems
ETHICS
Assumes responsibility for Individual judgments/actions
Serves as resource in indentifying ethical issues
Leadership in anticipating risks, resolving ethical issues and dilemmas, analyzing trends, and taking appropriate action
RESOURCE UTILIZATION
Effectively plans/directs flow of patient care and nursing resources
Identifies potential problems involving resources or pt safety and takes action to avert (Team/Unit)
Manages and analyzes resources, evaluates options and takes actions that impact organization outcomes beyond the unit/practice area.
Professional Role
EDUCATION/CAREER DEVELOPMENT
Seeks knowledge for indiv competency (indiv educ plan/reads health care literature)
Participates in educational activities to enhance role performance at the unit/team level
Implements educational plan to meet changing needs of program/ service
PERFORMANCE
Incorporates feedback into personal development (self-assessment)
Self-evaluation and evaluation of others
Self-evaluation and evaluation of program or service effectiveness (recommending/implementing changes)
Collaboration
COLLEGIALITY
Attends/participates in staff meetings and in-services.
Educates colleagues, preceptor and mentoring roles
Coaches in team building: active involvement in group accomplishments; sharing expertise outside of the facility.
COLLABORATION
Team participation, interpersonal skills, develops collaborative plans of care
Uses group process to identify, analyze, and resolve care problems
Leadership and decision-making role in use of group process for interdisciplinary problem-solving beyond unit/practice setting.
Scientific Inquiry
QUALITY OF CARE
Use QI findings to guide OWN practice (NOT the RN providing quality care)
Participates in QI activities (data collection, analysis, recommendations, etc) at the Unit level
Initiates/Leads QI activities at the program, service, and/or facility level
RESEARCH
Awareness of research; uses to validate/change own practice
Uses research to validate or change Work group/Team practice
Demonstrates leadership in collaboration with others in research activities, across programs/services, to validate & improve practice
You may use the template below for your submission (or use your own format if desired). Expand the document as needed to individualize with your examples/input. The template supports two examples for each Criteria, although only ONE is required.
NPSB Input
Nine Criteria of Nursing Practice
Name:Date:
NURSING PRACTICE DIMENSION:
PRACTICE--Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ETHICS--Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESOURCE--Action:
UTILIZATION
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
PROFESSIONAL ROLE DIMENSION:
EDUCATION--Action:
CARRER DEV
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PERFORMANCE--Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLABORATION DIMENSION:
COLLEGIALITY--Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COLLABORATION-Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY DIMENSION:
QUALITY OF CARE--Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RESEARCH--Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Action:
Population:
Outcome(s):
Sustainability:
_______________________________________________(Your Signature/Date on last page)
I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, all of the information on and attached to this document
is true, correct, complete, and made in good faith. I understand that a false or fraudulent answer to any question or item on any part of this declaration or its attachments may be grounds for not hiring me, or for firing
me after I begin work.
Name: Date:
NURSING PRACTICE DIMENSION:
PRACTICE-- Action: Worked for 25 beds in Telemetry and a 15-bed step-down unit as a primary nurse, preceptor, team coordinator, and charge nurse. l was promoted to move to ICU by my supervisor. After I attended the ICU nurse internship class, I started working in the ICU. I quickly improved my ICU skills and knowledge. I then moved to the preceptor position. A preceptor hires new staff nurses.
Population: The population was patients in need of consistent monitoring of different vital body functions and of means to prevent their falls in the unit
Outcome(s): Provided direct patient care in a high-acuity environment. Ensured delivery of safe and effective care. Assessed and monitored patients’ responses to treatment and interventions. Worked on how to decrease patient’s falls in the unit. Developed care plan on focused assessment and evaluation of high fall-risk patients. The outcomes were positive, and no fall was reported in the three-month survey. Sustainability: I provided effective care to the patient during the entire tenure and managed to minimize fall incidents down to zero for three months - Action: Currently working as a charge nurse in a 14-bed ICU with seven nurses. The charge nurse is responsible for coordinating activities, effectively using staff members’ skills, staying aware of institutional policies and priorities, solving problems, delegating responsibility, ensuring everyone in the unit is working to deliver better patient care, and evaluating the effectiveness of care. Educating nursing staff regarding infection control practices and assessing their impact on the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. Population: The population comprises seven nurses working in the ICU willing to make professional and technical skills
Outcome(s): Outcomes were effective. The three-month survey was done. Evidence-based improvements were noted in decreasing hospital-acquired infection and length of hospital stay.Ethics Sustainability: The impact of my action against hospital-acquired infection was indicated by the fact that there was no significant event of hospital-acquired infection in three months. ETHICS-- Action: Respected hospital policies and procedures. Arrived on time to work. Respected patient’s beliefs, culture, and privacy. Created trust and strong relationships with patients and family. Treated patient with empathy. Population: Patients and their family members and hospital staff
Outcome(s): Improved relationship of nursing staff with patients and their families by increasing trust and promoting empathy; establishment of discipline and standards in nursing practice as per hospital policies and standards
Sustainability: Persisted professionalism in nursing practices and patient-nurse relationship Action: Creating a positive work environment. Ensuring patients and families are comfortable and getting good quality care during their stay. Assisting staff in providing supplies, advising, and supporting their patient’s care. Population: Patients and their families and staff nurses
Outcome(s): Development of a positive work environment based on the principle of mutual professional cooperation and establishment of positive relationships between staff and patients and their families
Sustainability: The professional and positive work environment has persisted since I started working in this hospital. RESOURCE-- UTILIZATION Action: I used wisely and properly our supplies in the unit. I noticed equipment failure appropriately and to make it in working order. Communication with supervisor areas that need improvement in charting, e.g., each nurse to complete required shift documentation, pain reassessment, etc. Population: staff nurses and supervisors
Outcome(s): Effective use of working and out-of-order equipment to maximize resource utilization and minimize equipment expenditure.
Sustainability: proper maintenance and utilization of hospital resources throughout the tenure Action: Checking durable supplies for proper work and teaching the staff to use supplies properly. For example, avoiding taking excessive supplies to the patient room to prevent waste of materials and notifying the unit director of any shortages. Using the available staff to ensure care and treatment are used to achieve the expected outcomes.
Population: Staff nurses of the healthcare institution
Outcome(s): I managed to use resources wisely and sustainably by avoiding unnecessary waste of material and human resources.
Sustainability: My current workstation has saved substantial resource expenditure since my joining. PROFESSIONAL ROLE DIMENSION:
EDUCATION/ CAREER DEVELOPMENT-- Including BLS, ACLS, NIHSS, and chest pain protocol. All internally assigned and self-study education. I attended many like Balloon Pump Impella. Population: colleagues working with me in the field
Outcome(s): I obtained professional certificates and expertise through extensive participation in various in-house training programs and courses and other professional courses.
Sustainability: My professional development has enhanced my professional skills, which worked for me throughout my nursing career. Action: I have completed the license renewal Education for BLS, ACLS, and NIHSS, the required education, and any updated policies and procedures for this year through the prime health stream. I recently started to study for CCRN.
Population: People I encounter in my professional and academic activities
Outcome(s): I have improved my professional skills through the renewal of my professional qualification; additionally, I have also upgraded my understanding of policies and procedures of the hospital and healthcare institutions, and my current enrolment in CCRN will further boost my professional growth.
Sustainability: Enhancing educational and professional qualifications will help me succeed professionally in the rest of my career as a nurse. PERFORMANCE-- Action: EKG interpreter, BLS, ACLS, complete BSN, Critical care internship program.
Population: patients, nursing staff, and charge nurse
Outcome(s): I managed t...
👀 Other Visitors are Viewing These APA Essay Samples:
-
Hierarchy of Leaders and Followers
2 pages/≈550 words | 3 Sources | APA | Health, Medicine, Nursing | Coursework |
-
Response on a Post: Obesity in Children
1 page/≈275 words | 2 Sources | APA | Health, Medicine, Nursing | Coursework |
-
Nursing Theory: Purpose of Application and Why It is Meaningful
2 pages/≈550 words | 3 Sources | APA | Health, Medicine, Nursing | Coursework |