School of Nursing and Health Studies

Programme: Course Code & Name: 722.543 Foundations for Professional Development

Title of Assessment: Professional Practice Essay

Weighting: 40%

Due Date: 16th September, 2025

Time: 11:59pm

Learning Outcomes Assessed:

• LO1 Demonstrate the techniques associated with academic writing
• LO2 Identify the effect of relationships on personal health, cultural awareness and the link to competent nursing practice
• LO3 Demonstrate the understanding of effective interpersonal skills and professional relationships by differentiating between professional, personal and therapeutic relationships
• LO5 Identify and discuss the principles of professionalism

Word limit: 2000

Assessment Purpose:

Submit an essay of 2,000 words that demonstrates academic writing skills and an understanding of the Nursing Council of New Zealand’s (NCNZ) Competencies for Registered Nurse practice, interpersonal therapeutic relationships, NCNZ Code of Conduct, NCNZ Professional Boundaries and the concept of Cultural Safety in nursing practice. This assessment covers Learning outcomes 1, 2, 3, and 5.

Assessment Guidelines/Presentation Format:

• Carefully read this assessment outline and follow the marking criteria in the rubric.
• The assessment is marked online using the rubric in Canvas.
• The essay is uploaded to Canvas via the Turnitin portal by the due date and time.
• Review your Turnitin and AI similarity score before final submission.
• The use of Generative AI is not permitted. Ākonga are expected to complete this assessment independently. Copying or paraphrasing AI-generated text constitutes contract cheating, a serious academic offence that can result in a misconduct in assessment.

Assessment Link on Canvas

• Use 12 Arial Font, line spacing 1.5, all pages numbered, and word count included on the HEADER.
• Student ID number on the FOOTER.
• The word limit is 2000 words, use this carefully to cover all requirements.
• Check you have completed all requirements using the marking rubric before submitting.
• Penalties- 5 marks will be deducted for the overall word count above 2200 (over the 10% allowance)

Scenario:

Aroha and Jane are two year one nursing students enrolled in the first semester of the Bachelor of Nursing. In the early stages of learning, Aroha and Jane have been introduced to the concepts of professionalism, including professional values, knowledge, skills, and attitudes implemented in person-centred nursing care.

Aroha and Jane have also learnt about the concept of cultural safety, which requires understanding their own cultural identities and recognising others as having unique cultural identities that must be considered in how both Jane and Aroha practice nursing.

Aroha and Jane have learnt that the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Code of Conduct and professional boundaries govern patient interactions. Beginning in semester one, Aroha and Jane are learning foundational nursing skills in the Clinical Learning Suite (CLS).

In the CLS, the students attend a session on giving a bed wash to a patient. Before coming to CLS, they reviewed the required reading. They watch their Lecturer demonstrate the process, and are given a scenario to ‘practice’ in pairs.

Aroha and Jane are asked to give a bed wash for Mrs. William’s (55 years), who is recovering post-orthopaedic surgery and is on bed rest and unable to get up to the shower. Bernadette does have some pain in her left leg.

Aroha and Jane have been introduced to the NCNZ (2025) Competencies for registered nurses, of which there are four domains. In Domain One, a competence required is:

• Professional Responsibility: Competency 1.1 Accepts responsibility for ensuring that their nursing practice and conduct meet the standards of the professional, ethical, and relevant legislated requirements.
• Competency 1.5: Practises nursing in a manner that the health consumer determines as being culturally safe.
• Domain three 3.1: Establishes, maintains and concludes therapeutic interpersonal relationships with health consumers.

These three competencies will be demonstrated in Aroha and Jane’s nursing practice as they undertake Mrs. Williams’ bed wash.

Aroha and Jane have learnt to introduce themselves professionally to Mrs Williams using the acronym AI2DET (Acknowledge and Identify (2) self and the patient, Duration – how long the interaction will take, Explain the procedure and Enquire if the patient has any questions, Thank the patient after the interaction and check if there is anything else they require).

To practice developing a therapeutic relationship with Mrs. Williams and the new skill of giving a patient a wash in bed, before they start, Jane asks Aroha: “Aroha, I know we are meant to be practising developing a therapeutic relationship while giving Mrs Williams a wash, but what is the difference between a personal, social and a therapeutic relationship? Are professional boundaries necessary when we speak with Mrs Williams? How do the Nursing Council Competencies and the NCNZ Code of Conduct guide us in our practice?”

Assessment Activity/Tasks:

Write an academic essay – include the following tasks:

1. Identify the differences between personal, social and therapeutic relationships.
2. Discuss how Aroha and Jane would develop an interpersonal therapeutic relationship with Mrs Williams.
3. Describe and discuss the four phases of establishing an interpersonal therapeutic relationship: pre-orientation, orientation, working phase and termination as Aroha and Jane undertake Bernadette’s wash for her.
4. Link your response to the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Competencies for Registered Nurse Practice (2022), Domain 1, 1.1, 1.5, and Domain 3, 3.1.
5. Discuss professional boundaries.
6. Discuss the professional boundaries that govern nurses’ communication interactions with patients. In your response, explain how both over-involvement and under-involvement can compromise these boundaries. Provide three specific examples of each to illustrate how these behaviours may manifest in practice.
7. Discuss relevant NCNZ Code of Conduct (2012) principles to the scenario in your response.

To structure your essay, you will need: An introduction, a body and a conclusion.

Referencing:

• In-text citations are required for all sources using the APA 7th edition.
• A reference list is required at the end of your essay (on a new page after your conclusion) using APA 7th edition.
• APA referencing guide

Required Reading:

• Boggs, K. U. (2023). Interpersonal Relationships, (9th ed.). Elsevier. (Read Chapter 10)
• The Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Competencies for Registered Nurse Practice (2022), Domains 1 and 3: Professional responsibility 1.1, Cultural Safety 1.5, and Therapeutic Interpersonal relationships 3.1