SMART Goals

Setting smart goals I feel is a necessary component of learning. Goals help me reflect on how I am doing and if I am happy with what I am achieving and how I am progressing. 2 smart goals that I wish to achieve by my 1020 clinical placement are …

Goal #1

The first goal that I would like to achieve is to improve patient communication and rapport building. For my goal I would like to strengthen communication skills with patients. To achieve this goal I will engage each patient in at least one meaningful conversation per shift. I will focus on active listening and respond to what the patient is telling me. If the patient allows,  I will document a sample of these interactions and seek feedback from my nursing supervisor every two weeks to see what I need to improve on with my approach. I will know this goal is achieved by getting positive patient feedback and getting my nursing supervisor’s feedback. My patient’s feedback is also extremely important. My patients may respond with openness, trust, or appreciation in the care that I am providing. If they express feeling like they have been understood or respected, it shows that I have and am building rapport efficiently and effectively.

Goal #2

The second goal I would like to achieve is to build confidence in handling patient emergencies. I will review the emergency protocols weekly and research at least one potential code event. By the end of the placement I will hope to be and feel more confident in assisting during a real emergency, if one were to occur. I will know I have achieved this goal when I feel confident completing a mock or real emergency drill. By participating in a mock code or real emergency situations where I can effectively carry out assigned tasks, follow protocols, and respond to instructions, I will demonstrate growing competence and readiness. I will also know I have achieved this goal by reviewing my nursing supervisor’s feedback. If I get positive feedback from supervisors about my response in emergency scenarios is a strong indicator that I was confident in handling the emergency. My supervisor  evaluation may note my ability to handle stress and follow procedures accurately and quickly.

Goal #3

I would like to understand the responsibilities and roles of a first-year registered nursing student. Understanding the responsibilities and roles of a first-year registered nursing student (RN) will significantly enhance my nursing clinical experience. This is because  by giving myself a clear framework for what is expected I will have more of an understanding of how I can succeed in the nursing program. I will know that I have succeeded in this task by getting positive feedback from my nursing supervisor.  If my clinical instructors and supervising nurses provide positive constructive feedback and acknowledge my progress about my abilities in the clinical setting it is a strong indicator of success. Another indicator of success would be clinical evaluations. A formal evaluation or assessment from my nursing supervisor will provide evidence of my progress at clinical. If I consistently am meeting or exceeding expectations in these evaluations, then it confirms that I have been succeeding in my role as a student nurse at clinical.