SMART goals stand for specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound objectives. They allow us to set and accomplish personal, realistic goals in an attainable, set time period. This will be helpful in building my competency as a nurse and tracking my progress.
#1:
A desired long-term goal of mine is to feel confident in my communication skills and bedside manner by actively listening to patients, showing empathy in my practice, and providing clear patient education. I will measure my performance by asking and receiving feedback from my clinical instructors regularly, asking for suggestions for improvement as well. To aid my journey in achieving this goal, I will do personal research on strategies concerning both communication and bedside manner, including online resources, instructors, and experienced nurses. Strength in these skills are personally important to improve patient satisfaction and the growth of my professional journey. Wrapping up, by April 2028, I will feel confident in my ability to communicate effectively and demonstrate excellent bedside manner.
#2
A short-term goal I want to achieve is to gain the skill to perform thorough head-to-toe assessments and accurate vital signs. I will keep track of my advancements by using the available opportunities to practice these skills, as well as, comparing my measurements and findings with those of my clinical instructors and other nurses to confirm the accuracy. To achieve this, I will review necessary resources such as guidelines for doing assessment as a student nurse, using others’ experiences as examples, and by receiving critiques. Being proficient in these skills ensures high quality care, proper documentation, and more accurate data. By April 2025, I will confidently perform head-to-toe assessments and vital signs in a skillful manner.