Nursing is a discipline where I hope to make a positive difference in someone’s life, however small. The change I make does not have to be heroic or lifesaving, but can be as modest as getting someone to begin contemplating ideas that move them closer to wellbeing, or simply by providing a caring presense.
Values to uphold include fulfilling expectations that a nurse should be nurturing, which means being patient, nonjudgmental and empathic in order to form therapeutic relationships. Both Watson’s theory and the ANA Code of ethics expound on such values more systematically, and arguably provide frameworks that have value in realms outside of nursing.
Nurses have an obligation to remain knowledgeable on current research, facilitating better patient teachings and care. Lifelong learning is a given, as guidelines and the healthcare environment are ever changing, and helps attain our goals of elevating and maintaining the standards of the profession. Nurses spend more time with patients than physicians, therefore it is essential that we remain challenged and maintain a comprehensive knowledge base.
