The nursing profession

The nursing profession

Introduction

According to American Nurses Association, nursing is a profession within the healthcare setting that involves the protection, promoting health, and optimizing health, preventing illnesses and injury, diagnosis and treatment of human responses to alleviate suffering, and advocating for patients ( Frisch & Rabinowitsch, 2019). The intention of nursing globally is for its experts to ensure quality care for all, as the profession’s code of ethics, competencies, credentials, and standards are maintained. Nursing care is holistic, and it should include the physical, psychological, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual well-being of the individual.

What nursing career means to me

In the past, nursing was related with a white dress and a cap. This attire was associated with compassion, purity, and care.  Then, it also used to mean a person who takes orders from physicians. Today, being a nurse means more than just attire and taking orders. Besides, nursing today involves much more than just operating at the bedside. Today, nursing aims at impacting people in many ways and many settings.

Nursing as an opportunity

To me, a nursing career means an opportunity. In addition to getting good money, nursing has presented me with many opportunities. Such opportunities include the opportunity to learn a different skill set. The experience gained during my training can enable me to work in diverse fields and with persons of diverse backgrounds of knowledge. For instance, educators, business persons, human resources, inventors, financial planning, politics, leadership and management, emergency services, and entrepreneurs. Nursing has offered me the chance to serve others, and make a difference in their lives through prevention, promoting health, and caring for the sick. Also, being a nurse has enabled me to help those who are vulnerable as their advocate.  According to Albina (2016), one of the roles of a nurse is to work on behalf of patients to protect patients’ rights and uphold the quality of care. Nursing has also allowed me to help those who are unable to help themselves in times of need. This alone gives me satisfaction because I believe our prime purpose as human beings is to help those who are in need.

Nursing as an identity and a job

Being a nurse says something about who I am as an individual. According to provision one of the American Nurses Association code of ethics, nurses should act with compassion and respect for every patient regardless of their backgrounds or nature of their illness. So, as a nurse, my identity is a compassionate person, with respect for every individual. Besides, being a nurse requires me to be a critical thinker, keen observer, problem-solver, and highly creative. All these traits are my identity.

Nursing as a job, in my opinion, means performing care, helping, supporting, and attending to individuals, families, and communities in need of nursing services. Besides, nursing as a job means accepting responsibility for the care I have given to patients.

How my nursing profession parallels the ANA code of ethics

The nursing code of ethics ensures that nurses practice competently and with integrity (Chadwick & Gallagher, 2016). My nursing profession is guided by the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the International Council of Nurse’s codes of ethics. My nursing profession equates to the ANA code of ethics in the following ways; Being compassionate and respectful. According to provision one of the ANA code of ethics, nurses should in all professional relationships, apply compassion and respect for the worth, uniqueness, and inherent dignity of every person, regardless of economic, social status, personal characteristics or the nature of health problems

Secondly, my main purpose as a nurse is being committed to the patient, who can be an individual, family, or community. There are circumstances where, as a nurse, I have experienced conflict in the dual duty to the organization and the patient. According to provision two of the ANA code of ethics, the principal obligation of a nurse is to the patient. According to Ingvarsson et al. (2019), a nurse achieves this by having the virtue of courage, being truthful according to the understanding the ethical, having fidelity, and non-maleficence.

Additionally, as a nurse, I am responsible and liable for individual nursing practice to ensure the patient receives optimum care. According to the fourth provision of the ANA code of ethics, acknowledgment of accountability for actions is the basis for the nursing profession because it implies a social contract with the public.

As a nurse, I should promote, advocate for, and endeavor to protect the health, welfare, and rights of the patient. According to provision three of the ANA code of ethics, nurses should strive to ensure the patient’s right to safety, privacy, and confidentiality.

My motivation in nursing

My motivation stems from the acts of Mother Teresa and Clara Barton. Neither was a nurse by occupation, but both served people in times of loss, devastation, and hardship in their entire lives. I love being a nurse, as it enables me to get close to people. During my father’s hospital stay, which ended by him dying, I had a pleasing experience with the nurse who was attending to my father. I can reflect on the moments I had with my late father every time I have a special moment with any of my patients. Besides, when I see a patient, I cared for, or pass them on the street, even when they do not see or notice me, but I can see how well they are faring and how well they have recuperated from a surgery or an ailment, it feels good and motivates me.

My goals

Growing in nursing career does not happen routinely. Instead, it encompasses smart goal-setting and determination.

Short-term goals

My short-term career goals are;

Passing exams of nursing school successfully.

Passing the national board exam (NCLEX) on my first attempt.

Once I pass in the NCLEX exam, I hope to work in a pediatric ward and polish my clinical skills. Pediatric nursing involves caring for sick children. I have chosen this department as a starting point because I have compassion for children.

Long-term goals

I am hopeful that I will be a dynamic member of the nursing profession, join the American Nurses Association, and pushing for nurses a broader scope of nurses to enable nurses to prescribe drugs independently.

Besides, nursing is a demanding career, and burnout is a real problem. Building a strong support network of people who can help you grow professionally and personally is my long-term goal to avoid burnout and, therefore, flourish in my career.

Hopefully, in the next six years, I will have a degree as an advanced practice nurse in the field of newborn care and be working in an emergency room.

Unique strengths

My strengths as a nurse are;

Interpersonal and communication skills

Empathy and compassion

Reliability and flexibility

Trustworthiness and honesty

How a BSN degree impacts my career goals

A BSN degree will help me pass my NCLEX exam. In my four years in school, I have learned a lot of concepts that will enable me to sit for the board exam once and demonstrate competency. Also, a BSN degree opens up opportunities for specialization. Therefore, working in a pediatric ward will be a base for my future career development.

My goal to specialize in newborn care will be enhanced by attaining a BSN degree. Hunker et al., (2018), postulates that a BSN degree opens up opportunities to fascinating specialties. A BSN degree has also enabled me to learn about leadership skills, communication, and critical thinking. These are essential skills that will enable me to pass my exams, relate well with colleagues, join associations, advocate for a wider scope of nursing, and build support networks.

In conclusion, nursing is the best career that rewards both emotionally and economically. Seeing people recover from their worst moments is a good thing and a blessing. However, to be a smart nurse requires one to be dedicated, have compassion, respect, treat each patient according to their unique needs, have proper communication skills, and update their skills to achieve optimum patient care. Sometimes, however, nursing a patient and seeing them suffer can be traumatizing. Nurses should, therefore, seek physical, psychological, and emotional support to be effective.