Practice Expectation Spotlight: Are you meeting your professional practice expectation to be a resource for your team?

What does it mean to be a resource for your team? This can take on many different forms such as mentoring, coaching, providing direction and guidance. Let’s take a look at four nurses and how they are a team resource in their daily work life.

Agnes Seemstres RN(AP), Marcel Cyclist RN, Norma Tenpin RN, and Dany Farmer RN(NP) were discussing how they are no longer considered ‘new’ to their team, given some of the recent staff changes. They welcome the various health-care members to their team, yet at the same time, they admit that the work to on-board new staff feels a little daunting on a day-to-day basis. Comparing ‘notes’ at the end of a shift, they recognized the variety of ways they had supported the team.

Agnes adjusted the assignment of clients for the two Undergraduate Nurse Employees (UNEs) scheduled that day, as one of the UNEs was still developing their competence in taking on a fuller client load of stable patients. She then shared her decision-making process with the other nurses on that shift so they understand her reasoning.
Marcel agreed to take on the role of supervision for the first UNE so that he could provide direct guidance as the UNE increased their prioritization skills.
Norma took on the supervision and mentoring of the other UNE. Throughout this shift, she provided feedback on a particular skill that the UNE wanted to master.
Dany answered several practice-related questions for a seasoned RN(NP) who had just transferred to their area from a different specialized practice.
Agnes also coached a new team member from another health-care profession who did not yet understand the triggers on when to request a consultation on a client’s declining health status.
Norma accepted an assignment to precept a senior practicum student in the upcoming term because she remembers her experiences as a student and the positive influence of a preceptor. Dany comments on looking forward to mentoring an RN(GNP) this year.

Marcel asked for tips on giving feedback to other staff as he has been noticing gaps in the completion of certain tasks. Agnes asks Marcel what approaches he has tried when giving feedback and what he would like to see change. He knows that he tends to just finish up the task himself but realizes the other staff member does not get the chance to improve that skill. Norma then shares a couple ‘tricks’ that work for her, such as asking the other person if they noticed that they had not finished the task yet, offering to share her tips for efficiency, then letting them know she will check back with them. This allows for the opportunity to ask questions and develop understanding on both sides. The check-back adds accountability. With a chuckle, Dani then offers to check back with Marcel on his skill development in providing feedback.

These examples show just some of the ways that RNs, RN(AP)s and RN(NP)s can meet the responsibility from the Practice Expectations for RNs to “promote a practice environment that supports responsibility, accountability, professional development, and respect for others by acting as a mentor, coach, preceptor and/or resource to students, nursing colleagues and other members of the health-care team.”

Professional Practice Registered nurses are accountable and responsible to demonstrate professional behaviours, attributes and values that uphold trust in the profession of registered nursing. As an RN, you must Promote a practice environment that supports responsibility, accountability, professional development, and respect for others by acting as a mentor, coach, preceptor and/or resource to students, nursing colleagues and other members of the health-care team.

As we approach spring, please reflect on how you have been a resource to others you work with this year. Consider how you can continue to coach, mentor or guide anyone on your team. A co-worker, a student, or a new team member? Then remember, there are still many months left this year for you to continue to meet this professional practice expectation.

References and Resources

Mentoring-Role

Practice Direction: Practice Expectations for RNs

Practice Direction: Supervision of Undergraduate Nurse Employees