Nursing

My Journey as a Nursing It goes without saying that it will take tremendous amount of dedication for one to be able to graduate any collegiate degree. Going into college is not an easy thing to do, not to mention finishing it. To say at the least that one will have to experience countless sleepless nights before he/she graduates is an understatement. Passing a single subject alone is not an easy feat to do; how much more the whole program of studies. As for me, reaching this far in my BS Nursing degree is the fruit of my hard labor. Being optimistic is one thing and being goal-oriented is another. I’d like to think I’m more of the second one. When you set a goal and you are determined to achieve it, nothing can stop you to get that goal. With proper motivation, going through the path of that goal would be easier; and motivation is something that one will have to inspire within himself/herself. Of course, discipline also plays a huge factor in every success. Finally, some useful additional tools to have with along the way are hunger for knowledge and willingness to learn. These are the things that would encapsulate my attitude towards achieving the objective of the BS Nursing program. They seem to be effective so far. A few months from now I will have finished my program of studies and graduate with flying colors. As I go along the way on the program, year after year, I was able to equip myself with several competencies that will definitely be useful when I finally embark on a professional career. Having learned these capabilities, I can say that I am now more ready as a soon-to-be nurse. First and foremost, I was able to hone my critical-thinking ability. Nurses are constantly exposed to multi-disciplinary tasks and hence they must have the ability to properly think of solutions in a very efficient manner. This ability is very useful in works that requires problem-solving, evaluation of patient situations, identification of cause-effect relationships in clinical situations, developing nursing care plans, and so forth. The second competency I developed is the psycho-social-behavioral competence. I have learned that expressing myself effectively is important; that I must communicate sensitively with other people around the work environment. In addition, I learned how to make good judgment, and create mature and sensitive relationship with patients and co-workers. Another indispensable ability that I learned is the proper handling and operation of medical equipment. This know-how is a very important ability every nurse must learn. In a clinical setting, there is a number of equipment that needs to be operated and as a nurse it is a prerequisite to know how to operate them. Finally, for the past few years I believe I have developed impressive leadership ability. I was able to realize that to lead by example is necessary to inspire others, and to guide people if need be. It is undeniable that over the course of my studies I have learned a lot of practical and non-practical skills and abilities. As I learn those things, so does the development of my maturity. Personally, I felt more mature because of the years of experience I gained. As the cliche goes, wisdom comes with age. I learned to handle things the way a proper adult handle things; calmly, collectively, and with proper judgment. My interpersonal relationship with older people in particular improved as well, and for me that is a good sign of maturity. On the professional note, the maturity I developed can be attributed to the Nursing-related knowledge I gained. Each year I felt that I am getting more and more knowledgeable in the field of Nursing; that what I’m learning is getting deeper and deeper. There is no more satisfying feeling than to realize you’re learning something new; that your understanding is getting wider and wider by the day. If there is one thing the BS Nursing program of studies contributed to my personal growth, it would probably the fact that it made me well prepared as a future nurse. The program provided me with the necessary tools and know-how of being a nurse. Through that, my career opportunities were enhanced. It made me eligible for any nursing positions be it clinical or non-clinical. The experiences I gathered during my trainings made me even more eligible for a job. My immediate plan for the future, maybe four or five years starting now, is to just gather enough experience as a nurse on a clinical setup. I want to enjoy this wonderful job of providing care to patients who are in need of care. Once I gathered enough experience, maybe a Masters degree in Nursing will be a good idea to be able to further develop me as a Nurse. Or who knows, I might pursue a medical degree and someday become a doctor. There are just so many doors to choose from and I don’t want to forego an opportunity by quickly deciding my future. For now, I will just savor the moment and enjoy. To finish a college degree is an achievement of a lifetime. To complete the BS Nursing program of studies and to graduate is a momentous moment that I am really looking forward to. All throughout the program, I have gathered useful competencies and knowledge that help me be prepared for my future job. Being a nurse is one of the most rewarding jobs to do. It requires expertise in a broad range of skills and abilities. To develop these abilities during the course of the program is necessary for future success. Reference Gardner, A., Hase, S., Gardner, G., Dunn, S. V., Carryer, J. (2008). From competence to capability: a study of nurse practitioners in clinical practice. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(2), pp. 250-258