NURSE

Just another word to describe a person strong enough to tolerate everything and soft enough to understand everyone. 

Introduction

Today’s healthcare environment is becoming more and more sophisticated and complex and nursing skills and competencies need to keep up with the growing advancements in technology and interventions.  As the result, the value of a BSN degree today holds a particular importance.  With the initiation of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reforms, nurses were called to participate in the changes, and advance their careers through continued learning and profesional self-improvement.  In fact, the American Nurses Association (ANA) along with the International Council of Nurses (ICN), stressed the importance of achieving the type of knowledge and competence that facilitates better patient delivery and promotes good competent nursing care (Marquis and Huston, 2012).  It has been long proven that RNs with BSN degrees enjoy much better practice and patient outcomes.  BSN-prepared nurses understand the importance of leadership and advocacy, and have better self-concept, self-confidence, and enhanced critical thinking skills.  In addition, BSN-prepared RNs have also proven to be better nursing leaders.

My own journey was far from easy.  It was challenging to continue with learning after attaining the RN licensure.  Nevertheless, from the start of the BSN program, the value of additional learning was evident.  Today, I believe that as the result of the BSN program, I have much better leadership and advocacy skills, recognized the logistics of policy-making and ways that RNs can impact positive policy changes, I also have a better conception of emergency preparedness, urgent care, and transcultural nursing care.  From assessment to planning of intervention, the BSN program has equipped me with the necessary skills and competencies that I can now carry with me into the field.

 

My Philosophy of Nursing

To me, nursing is a holistic, non-biased process, in which each patient is perceived as an autonomous, unique human being with individual rights for decision-making and self-determination.  Nurses are responsible for adhering to the highest standards in the delivery of human care, facilitating and nurturing trust, individuality, and mutual respect.  Nursing is an art form and no RN needs to be in an official leadership position to act like a leader.  Each nurse must possess transformational leadership skills, be a visionary of the future, and should challenge policies that are unjust.   An quality nursing professional is “…committed, has a vision, and is able to empower others with this vision…” (Marquis & Huston, 2012, p. 41).  Each nurse should be an advocate for each patient, support colleagues and management, and always strive to provide the best possible patient care.

Reference:

Marquis, B.L. & Huston, C.J. (2012).  Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application.  Philadelphia, PA:  Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.