Running head: OCNE COMPETENCIES

OCNE Competencies
Micah A. Finney
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Updated for NURS 221
3-11-15

OCNE COMPETENCIES

OCNE Competency #2
A competent nurse uses reflection, self-analysis, and self-care to develop insight through the
understanding that...
1. Ongoing reflection, critical examination and evaluation of one's professional and
personal life improve nursing practice.
2. Reflection and self-analysis encourage self-awareness and self-care.
3. Pursuing and advocating healthy behaviors enhance nurses' ability to care for client.
LEVEL 1: Seeks external feedback, sets realistic goals
With each clinical experience as well as through testing and classroom assignments I have
continually evaluated and re-evaluated my performance both as a nurse and a student.
Reflecting on the feedback I receive from clinical instructors has been important in my
growth and development as a nurse. Through feedback I am able to consider ways in which
to improve my performance. In third term, I was challenged to begin to work on improving
my clinical notes and with mentoring; I believe those notes have improved. Through
reflection I am able to improve my critical thinking skills.
NURS 222: Feedback from my clinical instructors as well as feedback provided by testing,
test review and assignments has provided me with opportunity to reflect on my development
as a nurse. I continue to learn from my interaction and appraisal of each individual I
encounter and with each opportunity to review the feedback.
LEVEL 2: Demonstrates recognition of the importance and relevance of reflection.
Identifies areas for improving personal and professional behaviors.
NURS 221: Feedback from the Director of Nursing regarding my approach to NCLEX style
questions and my personal reflection on this approach, I believe, has demonstrated that I

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have met Level 2 of this competency. I have been able to reflect on areas that needed
improvement in my study methods and have acted on that reflection by purchasing and
using NCLEX prep practice testing software. Also through the evaluation of my clinical
instructor, I have been able to reflect and improve on my clinical performance each week.
Also, I identified that during fall term, when I and my family were relocating, I needed to
come up with a solution for study time. I was not effective at this, but have since developed
a plan for studying that has improved my test scores somewhat.
OCNE Competency #3
A competent nurse engages in intentional learning with the understanding that
1. Engaging in intentional learning develops self-awareness of the goals, processes, and
potential actions of this learning and its effects on client care..
2. Purposely seeking new, relevant knowledge and skills guides best practice development.
3. Integrative thinking establishes connections between seemingly disparate information
and sources of information that will be applicable to new situations.
4. There is an array of communication and information technologies available to enhance
continuous, intentional learning.
LEVEL 1: Open to new learning opportunities, completes activities
Clinical and lab experiences have offered me the opportunity to learn new skills and think
through new processes each week. I have enjoyed the influx of multiple opportunities to
observe and take part in the bedside care of the patient. Also, writing the pathophysiology
paper each week provided me with increased knowledge of disease process as a supplement
to the learning I have experienced through lecture and study.
NURS 222: I have had the opportunity to work in specialty units this term that have
contributed to expanding the range of learning opportunities I have encountered. I have
had opportunity to work in the mental health and emergency department and then also

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cross-trained in these areas in my position as a CNA2. These combined experiences have

expanded my understanding of the processes involved in patient care in several different
departments. I also have recently enjoyed an experience in ICU where many new learning
opportunities and experiences were presented to me.
Level 2: Seeks new learning experiences beyond the limits of assignments. Recognizes
that information continually evolves. Readily identifies and takes responsibility for own
learning needs.
NURS 221: I believe I have met this competency as I have requested many different
learning experiences in the clinical period and been willing to try any new department. I
was able to rotate through the ED, OR, ICU, and LDRP as well as the med/surg units. Each
of these rotations offered me wonderful opportunities. I also again have been working on
my own study habits and plan for addressing Kaplan testing in preparation for the NCLEX.
OCNE Competency # 5
A competent nurse collaborates as part of a health care team through the understanding
that
1. The client is an essential member of the healthcare team.
2. Successful health care depends on a team effort, and collaboration with others in a
collegial team is essential for success in serving clients.
3. Learning and growth depend on receiving and using constructive feedback; effective
team members must be both open to feedback and able to give useful feedback in a
constructive manner.
4. Supporting the holistic development of colleagues creates an environment that
positively impacts client care.
LEVEL 1: Begins to work in team, begins to provide feedback, self-evaluation
Classroom group projects such as the STD power point and case studies have provided me
with an opportunity to work in a group and collaborate with my fellow students. This has

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provided me with opportunity to use my leadership skills as wells as to allow me to be a

team member who aligns with a leader. In nursing practice, I will have opportunities to
lead and opportunities to be a member under the leadership of another. Group projects
have provided me with experiences to reflect on in order to continually improve my
collaboration skills.
NURS222: Again the opportunities to experience nursing in the specialty units has also
contributed to my further understanding of the collaborative process, especially noted to be
involved in the mental health unit.
Level 2: Readily consults within the health care team: sees self as a participant in
collaborative interactions. Works well with team members.Actively contributes to
teamwork.
NURS 221: I believe this competency is best demonstrated by my participation in a code in
the ICU. I provided chest compressions as part of the working team and collaborated with
the physician and other nursing staff during the code. I also believe the simulated trauma
activity allowed me the opportunity to demonstrate a willingness and ability to be part of
the team.
OCNE Competency # 7
A competent nurse practices relationship-centered care through the understanding that
1. Effective care is centered around a relationship with the client that is based on: empathy
and caring, client preferences, a deep understanding of the care experience, developing
mutual trust and respect for the autonomy of the client.
2. The effectiveness of nursing interventions and treatment plans depends, in part, on the
attitudes, beliefs and values of clients and these are influenced both by how
professionals interact with clients and by the intervention itself.

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3. Clients reflect the culture and history of their community and their broader population,
and that these must be considered in developing nursing interventions.
LEVEL 1: professional boundaries, rapport, cultures
I have had the opportunity this year to work with patients in a variety of health states as
well as mental and emotional states. I have provided comfort care, have worked with
patients who were having mental health issues and patients of all different backgrounds.
Working at the Community Caf has also provided opportunity to reflect on culture and a
variety of populations. All of these experiences as well as my own life experiences have
provided me with a foundation of understanding regarding culture, and professional
boundaries.
NURS222: I continue to enjoy and learn from my interaction with my patients and the staff
I work with each clinical day. My experiences in the mental health unit as well as the ER
also contributed to further reflection on population variety, professional boundaries and the
importance of setting aside bias.
Level 2: Integration and adaptation of personal style with the expected professional
relationship style. Intentionally moves out of personal comfort zones to accommodate
patient needs.
NURS221: I believe I have demonstrated meeting this competency with every clinical
experience as I am not a real outgoing guy. However, in order to meet the needs of my
patients, my compassion generally overrides my introverted nature and I am able to focus
on patient need. This was demonstrated best by my experience in LDRP. I was completely

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uncomfortable in that arena, but the needs of the patients outweighed my own comfort and I
performed adequately that clinical day.
OCNE Competency #8
A competent nurse communicates effectively through the understanding that
1. Effective use of therapeutic communication, to establish a caring relationship, to create
a positive environment, to inform clients, and to advocate is an essential part of all
interventions.
2. Accurate and complete communication must occur with both clients and other providers
and is essential to ensure patient safety and provide for comprehensive continuity of
care.
3. Successful communication requires attention to elements of cultural influences,
variations in the use of language and a participatory approach.
4. Effective health teaching requires attunement to the clients perspective, their previous
understanding, and their ease of access to health information or degree of health
literacy.
5. Good communication requires selection and use of appropriate communication
modalities and technologies.

LEVEL 1: basic therapeutic communication, listens to clients, interventions for health

behavior change, culture
Providing teaching and daily care of the patient allows the nurse plenty of opportunity to
practice therapeutic communication skills. Also working with nursing staff and a variety of
personalities has given me the chance to practice this communication. Each experience
with patients, family or nursing staff has been an opportunity to communicate effectively.
Im not a big talker, but when it comes to caring for patients, I always want them to feel
comfortable and cared for.
NURS222: Again, the opportunities in the mental health unit and the emergency
department were invaluable this term when considering the importance of therapeutic
communication. The extra safety training and cross training for working in these

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departments also contributed to an increased level of understanding regarding the

importance of these traits in the professional nurse.
Level 2: Establishes goals for therapeutic interactions. Readily elicits clients and familys
communication. Caring apparent through tone and nonverbal.
NURS221: I do care about my patients and find myself at ease in almost every situation. In
my work as a CNA2 I have often been called upon to work with patients who are
experiencing mental illness and have not reacted well with other staff. For some reason I
have a calming effect on most patients. I have adjusted my approach to meet the needs of
my patients.