From my personal experience nursing is a dynamic profession and the process of becoming a nurse is marred with challenges. However, the time I have spent pursuing a baccalaureate degree has been full of triumphs. The baccalaureate nursing degree has empowered the mind instilled discipline. Through the program, I have learned the power of scientific research and its application to day-to-day patient care. Every activity undertaken has helped me become an intelligent and a responsible nurse. Most importantly, I have learned the need to value human life by doing everything possible to improve the outcome. The information provided in the course has opened the mind and ignited the fire for self-inquiry and reflection. The learning has majorly been student-initiated learning and, as such, I have been able to develop personal leadership skills and confidence.

The teaching offered has been fundamental in creating interest in many things. Every lecture is structured to allow a systematic flow of ideas. Ideally, this has been important in building the foundation of nursing practices. Through this strong knowledge-based foundation, it has been possible to apply the knowledge in the daily care of patients. Furthermore, it has helped in understanding the complex things in the course as they are taught progressively. The baccalaureate degree in nursing also combines theory with practical, hence enabling a student to apply the knowledge gained in daily patient care. In essence, this has proved beneficial in building practical skills and creating a pool of skilled nurses ready to work in any environment such as community or hospital settings. The clinical settings provided a sense of direction, encouragement, guidance, and counseling, which have fundamentally empowered nurses pursuing this degree to achieve success and excellence.

Pursuing the nursing degree has not only been interesting but also instrumental in molding me to be a better nurse. All the units I took prepared me to think scientifically and, as such, apply the knowledge holistically and create a difference in the society. For instance, nursing research taught me various scientific methods applicable in the profession; that is, how to do research and present finding scientifically. Furthermore, I learned how to analyze scientific papers and look for facts. With these basics, I will be able to conduct research which will improve the nursing practice. During my studies, I was also able to do a physical assessment. Basically, this is the initial process that patients have to go through when they visit hospitals. The practical lessons conducted during the course of study taught me to be organized, keen, thoughtful, and systematic. As such, I was able to do a physical assessment of many patients, which promoted their diagnosis and consequent management.

The baccalaureate nursing degree also gives a significant focus to community nursing. Typically, this is done to provide trainee nurses with the skills, knowledge, and power to guide communities in making changes which impact directly on their health. It encompasses public health, health information dissemination, community health assessment, and health improvement programs. The experience obtained during community nursing will make me a health ambassador and it will promote people’s wellbeing through deliberate community emancipation and empowerment. Community nursing went hand-in-hand with urban nursing where urban nursing issues were addressed. Some of the issues dealt with were the role of nurses in tackling lifestyle diseases as well as health communication. Moreover, the training included ways of overcoming challenges encountered by nurses. Thus, I was well-equipped with the skills to tackle any problem related to nursing.

Nursing is an interesting and enjoyable profession. Nursing provides solutions to most of the challenges that afflict humankind. Nurses are ambassadors of health, thus instrumental in promoting change in the communities. The baccalaureate degree in nursing provided a strong knowledge base, sufficient experience, and relevant skills to tackle all challenges encountered in nursing today. The training has molded me to think holistically and offer quality and cutting-edge care to patients in various situations. The course has mentored me to pursue excellence and improve my thinking every day in a bid to remain relevant and professional despite changing paradigms in nursing.