Evolution of Self as a Nurse - Research Paper

Introduction

A person's narrative is a creation that helps that individual make sense of who she or he is as a human being. The construction is broad in that people include past, present and future actions and knowledge gained in their narrative. The assertion is important in understanding how we evolved to become who we are as nurses. That is, by examining how what we have learned has modeled us to fit the description of a nurse. This essay seeks to give a reflection of this course by examining the important theories learned, personal experience and view on certain topics, outcomes as well as the question not addressed by the course.

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Engaging Occasions

The course aimed at exploring ways of nursing in care within the role of the nurse. The coursed examined theories of nursing, professionalism, critical thinking and other core concepts involved in nursing. The course had the most engaging and the least engaging occasions. Two occasions when I was most engaged were during the class on the Past, Present and Future of Nursing (history of nursing) and the class on Ways of Knowing. The class on the history of nursing was engaging at it chronicled the evolution of nursing in Canada which began with care for natives and settlers by Jesuits priests and male attendants in the 1600s. The presentation mentions Florence Nightingale who is referred to as the 'mother of nursing.' The history addressed not only the evolution of nursing but also PN programs, what was taught and how the curriculum has changed to date. The class on Ways of knowing was also engaging in that rather than using empirical data or knowledge, there exist, according to McEwen and Wills (2017) non-verbal ways of knowing a patient's situation. For example, how can one know when to disconnect a patient from mechanical ventilation. The ways of Knowing were engaging in that it addressed how to acquire objective information about the patient and how the information can be used to facilitate understanding and caring for the patient (McEwen & Wills, 2017).

Two occasions when I was least engaged was on the classes on Role of a Nurse and the Human Science Nursing Theories. I found it difficult to draw a distinction between paradigm and met-paradigm theories in the nursing theories class. The 'Role of Nursing' class was least engaging as it only involved mentioning the roles of nurses.

Important Concepts

Two important concepts I learned during this semester are Therapeutic Nurse-Client relationship and Professional Caring Practices. Therapeutic Nurse-Client Relationship recognizes that there exist professional boundaries (Peternelj-Taylor & Yonge, 2008). This boundary is the point in which the relationship deviates from professional and helpful to non-professional and private. Overpassing the borderline indicates that the licensed nurse has either abused the authority in the connection to attain her or his needs, as opposed to the wants of the patient or has behaved in unprincipled conduct with the patient. The course topic is important in that it provides students with strategies that a nurse can apply to manage the restriction of the boundary in the therapeutic nurse-client relationship. These include nurse being sensitive to the context in which care is provided, and the nurse is responsible and accountable for their behavior irrespective of whether the injury was intended, and is ready to terminate the relationship for safety and well-being of patients. The topic is important as it offers an insight of dealing with scenarios where a patient wants to engage the nurse in a sexual relationship, extensive non-beneficial disclosure to the client and cases of receiving a gift or money from a client.

The concept of Professional Caring Practices is also an important concept I learned in this course. Caring is a core practice in nursing, and its absence renders the profession irrelevant. Caring practices in nursing encompass assistive, supportive, enabling and facilitative behaviors toward another individual or group to promote health. The topic was important in that it instilled in us values of patient-centered care and compassionate approach to care. It aided in the understanding that patient care goes beyond medical aspects of nursing and treating patient's physical ailment but extends to taking care of the emotional needs of patients. The topic called for nurses to show empathy and mutual respect for positive patient outcome. Cultivating care in nursing can be achieved by smiling, making eye contact, listening attentively, carrying out requests and answering questions among other positive signals.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, several outcomes had been projected. Among the seven outcomes, two of them include the student ability to describe the professional, legal and ethical dimension of nursing while the other includes the ability to recognize professional caring practices and reflect upon personal nursing behaviors. I have made progress towards meeting these goals. By engaging with licensed nurses and reading online from experience of nurses, I now can conduct myself in a professional manner. Moreover, I understand the ethical dilemma that can arise in the workplace. So far I have identified Confidentiality a one of the conduct that is utilized and breached in equal measure. I can identify with the legislation and national policies in regards to the nursing profession engagement with clients as well as work safety and health. I am aware of nursing care practices such as practicing good posture and facial expressions, adaptability humor, and relevance.

The sub-topic on nursing ethics raises questions of how to handle dilemmas such as procedures regarding death procedures and the decision to revive a person and respect for human rights in extreme contexts. On legislation, I would like to point at California's minimum nurse staffing law which sought to raise the number of licensed nurse staffing and improve healthcare. The question that arises is whether the incremental increases are worth it. On caring practices, the question raised is what caring involves when dealing with mentally ill persons who might be violent and whether restraining is justified in such situations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the paper has reflected on the course topic by looking at the most engaging occasion in the course as well as the least engaging. Moreover, the paper has discussed two important concepts covered in the course and their importance. The course, Development of Self as a Nurse, calls for reflection of what has been learned to make an assessment of whether the nursing knowledge and culture has been instilled in a student. I have examined how two outcomes projected by the course and my progress at achieving them. My efforts have included engaging with practicing medical professions as well as reading scholarly and opinionated articles on nursing in general. Though the course has tried exhausting on the issues of care in nursing, I have raised several questions which in my opinion need to be addressed.

References

McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2017). Theoretical basis for nursing. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Peternelj-Taylor, C. A., & Yonge, O. (2008). Exploring Boundaries in the Nurse-Client Relationship: Professional Roles and Responsibilities. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 39(2), 55-66. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6163.2003.tb00677.x