Leading and Managing Nursing Care

Introduction This assignment will examine and reflect upon a critical incident that occurred whilst on placement. The incident will be analysed using relevant management concepts and an action plan formulated, which will propose a change in practice. Minghella and Benson (1995) cited by Ghyae, T and Lillyman, S (1997) identifies that ‘critical incident analysis has been espoused as a valuable method of promoting reflective practice in nursing and it can be used as a tool in developing curriculum content’ (p770).

The Reflective Cycle of Gibb’s (1988) (appendix 1) will be used as a framework to conduct this assignment. My reasoning for choosing Gibb’s can be explained by [anon] (2006) ‘Gibb’s reflective cycle is fairly straight forward and encourages a clear description of the situation, analysis of feelings, evaluation of the experience, and analysis to make sense of the experience’. The assignment will also be organised into sections based on the reflective cycle. Pseudonyms will be used to maintain anonymity and confidentiality in accordance with clause five of the NMC (2004).

The critical incident which I have chosen is an inappropriate assessment and application of mouth care in a pre-operative patient. ‘Oral assessment is required in planning effective care, and that the incidence of oral complications was reduced by the frequency of care’ Ginsberg (1961) cited by Mallett, J and Dougherty, L (2000 p361). I have chosen this as I found that mouth care is a valuable skill to perform on a NBM patient, and the appropriate assessment will reduce a patient’s discomfort. The managerial concepts I have chosen will appropriately explain my reasoning for implementation of this into practice. A full account of my critical incident can be found in appendix 2.

Naylor (2004) cited by Mullins, L (2005) states