Reflections in Nursing

Running Head: SANTOS

A Reflection Paper on Various Nursing Roles

NU420 Trends in Nursing

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

A Reflection Paper on Various Nursing Roles

Introduction

As an individual reaches the stage where they come to a decision about what they want to be in life, they must look deep inside themselves. They have to reflect on what is important to them and what makes them happy. In addition, one must take into consideration the resources that are available to help the person reach their goal. In this paper, I intend to share my reflections on why I chose to become a nurse as well as and why I decided to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. I will compare my initial perceptions on the different roles of the nurse to what I see in current practice and develop specific objectives and plans to achieve goals I have set to achieve after one and five years.

Choosing Nursing and a B.S.N.

As a child, I was the one in my family who took interest in caring for members who had scratches or bruises. I thought of myself as the “doctor” of the family. That idea carried throughout my years of elementary and secondary education. Nursing fulfills all of the criteria I am looking for in my personal definition of the perfect job. I chose nursing because it is a helping profession. Personality tests that have identified my as an accommodator support my decision to take on nursing as an occupation. I wanted to work in a field that is challenging and in demand. Nurses are especially valuable in these times because there is such a great nursing shortage around the world. As a nurse, I will be able to supplement my husband’s income and help support our family. I will have the knowledge needed to be able to take care of my parents, family, and friends from a nursing perspective. Another major factor that influenced my choice to become a nurse is that after receiving my degree, there is always the opportunity for advancing towards becoming a nurse practitioner or even a doctor.

I studied diligently in high school so that I could go on to college, obtain my degree and work in a field that would ensure a comfortable life for my future family. I strive to achieve the best there is to offer in any given situation. When I decided that I wanted to become a nurse, I knew the best way to do it was to study for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. It is the recommended entry level into practice. The BSN program prepares the nurse not only to be able to provide the necessary technical skills, but develops the nurse’s critical thinking abilities. This is necessary especially in these times as nurses begin to take on roles as patient care managers. Barter and McFarland (2001) state that

Today's professional nurse is expected to coordinate and facilitate the interdisciplinary team through the use of appropriate and timely resource allocation and management… the scientific knowledge explosion, combined with sophisticated technology, requires nurses to have broad preparation, including genetics, biotechnology, informatics, and skills in chronic care management. A 4-year nursing degree provides the minimum foundation for this future. (p.141).

Nurse Roles and Future Goals

Caregiving

When I decided that I wanted to become a nurse, I already knew that nursing was all about caring. I perceived caregiving as meeting the physical needs of patients and being compassionate and comforting to meet their emotional needs as well. My initial idea of the nurse as caregiver is very much in line with what I have learned throughout my years in nursing school and what I have found in the nursing literature. What surprised me is that caregiving is formally emphasized and defined. I thought that caring behavior was a trait that all nurses held and did not require instruction. I have learned how to use therapeutic communication in combination with cultural competence to deliver caring behaviors towards clients. I see how nurses in the community hold patients’ hands and speak with them in empathetic voices. In the hospital setting, I have recognized that while the physical aspect of caregiving is provided, the delivery of emotional care can be more challenging. With ratios averaging