Introduction
A SMART goal is an approach for establishing objectives and missions for activities or processes. The scope of the nursing profession that includes interaction with management teams in workplaces, patients as well as the work environment prompts for personal measures to improve the performance and adaptability of an individual in the work environment. This paper seeks to discuss identified personal goals. The paper will conduct a literature review on personal goals that had previously been developed based on the SMART approach.
Becoming a communicator and getting in the IEP team
Communication is an essential element of success in every profession. It allows for understanding and consequently facilitates the realization of objectives in a work environment. The nature of the nursing profession that relies on patients as primary sources of information that can be used for diagnosis or for recommending suitable diagnosis exalts communication as a critical element in the career. Good communication skills particularly bridge possible communication barriers between healthcare personnel and a patient. As a result, it facilitates professionalism and practice. A good example of the importance of communication in a nursing environment is the need for a patient’s trust and ability to communicate without fear of breach of privacy or embarrassment. With good communication skills, a nurse can control a conversation with a patient to ensure that appropriate information that is necessary for the provision of proper health care is retrieved (Nursing, 2007).
Improving a person’s communication skills is, therefore, a critical move in the nursing profession because communication has also been identified as a major problem. Most of the received complaints from patients are related to poor communication during service delivery. As a result, there are high chances of poor communication, which is a threat to diagnosis and treatment processes. Initiatives for improving communication skills are therefore necessary for every dedicated and ambitious professional. Learning communication skills through academic processes such as individualized education programs have been identified as key strategies to improving a person’s communication skills. Some of the necessary communication skills include “interpersonal skills, the opportunity for communication, assessment of communication needs and sharing information” among others (Nursing, 2007, p. 1). Improving personal communication skills is therefore an essential objective in the nursing profession or any other care based profession (Nursing, 2007)
Delegation of medication administration
Another essential goal in the nursing work environment is efficient leadership in service delivery. Currently, the profession is experiencing a shortage of personnel, and efficiency in management and administration is a priority. This can help in improving efficiency and quality of delivery to meet the high demand for services. Delegation of medication administration is therefore a step that can relieve pressure from personnel. According to Valentine (n.d.), there is a need for development in leadership in the administration of medication.
The concept and effectiveness of delegation of duties in any work environment depending on the ability of a leader to influence the parties to whom work is delegated and the leadership style that is applied by the leader. Transformational leadership for instance creates a cohesive atmosphere between the leader and the subordinates and consequently enhances the effectiveness of delegating medication administration. Transformational leadership through interaction with patients also facilitates communication through initiating responses. With efficient communication skills and leadership, some medication administration can be delegated to either junior medical staff or even patients. This has the potential of improving service delivery in the profession as well as empowering stakeholders in the health care sector (Valentine, n.d.).
Creating a wellness program
Wellness programs are initiatives that are aimed at enhancing healthy lifestyles. It should therefore be a core objective of every healthcare personnel. Developing a wellness program involves measures that influence people’s behavior and attitudes towards positive and healthy activities. To develop a wellness program, a person needs to be creative and informed of the environment in which the program is to be developed. Financial implications should for example be considered to ensure that barriers to the program are eliminated. Similarly, social factors among the target population such as religion and spirituality are important in creating a successful wellness program. This is because attitude and behavior are psychological reactions and need to be countered through social aspects. With a successful wellness program, a considerable step towards the provision of care services is achieved. This is because the program solves psychologically related health problems and therefore helps in achieving health care objectives (Lane, 2005).
Identifying hazardous material in the school environment
Another important goal is to ensure that immediate environments are free from physical hazards. Environments such as schools have students from different cultural backgrounds who exhibit varying behavior that can expose them or others to danger. Similarly, physical structures such as recently constructed buildings and facilities may present threats to health and security due to defaults and improper fittings. Identification and elimination or control of hazards requires skills for assessment and management of risks that patients might be exposed to (Smart, 2005).
Conclusion
SMART goals are important in developing objectives for improving standards. Objectives such as becoming a communicator, delegating medication administration, creating a wellness program, and identification of health hazards are important objectives in improving service delivery. These objectives can be implemented by exploring the elements of SMART goals.
References
Lane, M. (2005). Creativity and spirituality in nursing. Web.
Nursing. (2007). Communication skills (Essence of care benchmark).
Smart. (2005). Manual handling for nurses. Web.
Valentine, S. (n.d.). Nursing leadership and the new nurse. Web.