Professional Experience Placement

Andre and Heartfield’s (2011) Portfolios. Evidence of continuing competence is resource for students and practitioners planning to construct a portfolio to provide evidence of continuing competence. This book provides chapter by chapter information about the rationale for use; styles; and compilation. It also provides information on collecting evidence and reflective practice. It is now the preferred text book for use within the final year program of the Bachelor of Nursing program at UTAS.

Reflection and reflective practice is an essential part of critical thinking or clinical reasoning. Chapter 3 provides an overview of the concepts of reflection and tools. The use of this book has implications for clinical supervisors. Students undertaking professional experience will seek feedback about their performance that they can use as evidence within their portfolios.  Similarly if students attend in-service workshops, they will require certificates as evidence of participation.

Registered nurses also need to provide annual evidence of continuing professional development as a mandatory requirement of registration. Portfolios provide a strategy for achieving this aim. The use of a reflective journal or blogs can be used. Additionally, using a portfolio as a repository for evidence will model attitudes and behaviour that will support and guide students towards collection of contemporary evidence and development of life long learning.

Do you use an portfolio or an e-portfolio? If you have any comments about using a portfolio you can post them here.