Nursing Transition Essay

My journey to nursing began with my personal healthcare experience, and has continued to evolve since entering the nursing program at State University. My personal philosophy of nursing is related my life experience and my personal philosophy of life. Using reflection-on-action, I have begun to understand the influences that have lead me to nursing. I discovered client and family centered care to be an important quality when I look at the influential nurses in my life. To develop a positive therapeutic nurse-client relationship, nurses must integrate all 5 dimensions of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship into their practice (CNO, 2006). When it comes to providing client-centered care, the dimensions of trust, empathy

In 2008 the National League of Nursing (NLN) conducted a survey of students enrolled in nursing schools across the United States. Fifty three percent of students were enrolled in ADN programs, forty three percent were in BSN, while the remaining four percent were in a Diploma of Nursing program (National League of Nursing Data Review 2010). The rate of completion of the ADN nurse has exceeded that of the BSN, creating a deficit in higher educated

Nursing is more than traveling room to room, patient to patient, to provide medical care. Nursing is about treating the patient with the utmost respect and compassion. It’s more than providing medical care, but supporting the patient and family. Being a nurse only requires a bachelor degree and a “RN” badge, however, a great nurse possesses that knowledge, along with determination, a positive attitude, compassion, and patience. I believe that I display these characteristics and have a true passion for helping others. Throughout high school, I always had an interest in the medical field and biology. In my junior year, I decided to enroll in the CNA course to pursue my passion for nursing early on. Through this class, I experienced moments of self discovery

On August 2015, I started the RN-BSN program with the Transition to Professional Nursing as my first course. I took one class at the time because I was working as a full time nurse at the same time. I did not take a break and started a new class each start date because I wanted to complete this program as soon as possible. The journey has been a long, hard road and the stress was constant and many times I felt that I could not complete it; it has been a difficult but very satisfying journey.

We live in a world where the human race seems to be disconnected. Nowadays it feels that there are not enough people helping each other. I don’t treat life like a competition I look at it and I ask myself how may I help? What may I do to make this world a more suitable place for all to live a comfortable and peaceful life? I yearn to come forward and fulfill my role and contribute to our society in any way possible. Nursing is my calling for helping others. It sounds cliché, this I know, but it’s what I desire and what I decided to do with my body, mind, and soul.

I am aware that this is not an easy program. I know that it will a lot of take hard work, determination, and a passion for what I am studying. I am prepared to take on the challenge. I will come to school eager learn and ready to work hard. I am prepared to manage my time, and put nursing school as my top priority. I am ready to be your student, and I know I will be successful if accepted into the BSN

An underlining principle that forms all nursing practice is respect for the inherent dignity, worth, unique attributes, and human rights of all individuals. (Jimenez-Lopez, Roales-Nieto, Seco, Preciado, 2016) Nurses are to always treat all patients with dignity. For example, closing doors before you start providing patient care. It’s also essential as a nurse to respect patients regardless of their background, race, culture, value system, or spiritual belief. (Jimenez-Lopez, et al., 2016)

The beginning of a new graduate nurses career rarely begins easily, there seems to be a distinct disconnect between the fantasy of what it means to be a nurse and the reality of bedside nursing. Nursing school seems to feed into this disconnection, in that it does not prepare the new graduate registered nurse (NGRN) for their professional practice. What nursing school does is give the NGRN the basics, a peak into what is to come. The NGRN has to find out for themselves what the true meaning of being a nurse is and if it fits their preconceived ideas.

Challenging myself and taking the right steps to move forward earn my BSN is already a huge accomplishment. Bachelor's degree in nursing for me has always been long term achievement and educational goal that I have put off for many reasons. What I will gain from going through this program personal self-confidence, improving my writing skills and grammar, communication, and overall knowledge that one gets for pursuing a higher level of education. Professionally having your BSN means job security, more career opportunities, advancements within an organization, financially. When I moved back to San Diego two years ago, I had a difficult time getting a full-time job. I went on many interviews where my close friends were the managers and directors

What has surprised you? I think the most surprising thing about my nursing school journey has been how much I have grown and changed as a person in the past two years. I have become a much more assertive and direct person. I have a greater appreciation for the monotonous moments in my life and have learned how to not over think things and just to appreciate every moment and day for itself. Part of this group come about from clinical and part of it developed through my work experience as a nurse tech in the Emergency Department at Seattle Children’s Hospital. I personally have grown and learned a lot from the kids that I have worked with and its taught me the importance of slowing down and living in the moment. It’s also taught me that happiness is something that only you can determine. I feel that throughout all my clincials I have learned important life lessons from the people from every age and stage of life. All of these lessons have helped to shape me into a more compassionate, understanding, and better therapeutic communicator with my patients and have shaped my personal nursing practice.

As I began the RN-BSN program, I felt that much of the work was redundant and very time-consuming. As I moved through the program, I realized that I was learning more than I expected. I had never looked up nursing articles, nor used them to help my nursing practice. The class, Transition to Professional Nursing, was my first introduction to reviewing, researching, and using articles to support my essays (Poster, 2015). This opened the flood-gates for my love of nursing and my curiosity. I wanted to review more and research other topics. I had surprised myself because it sparked a bigger desire to learn more about the topic I was researching and to understand nursing interventions

REFERENCES American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2000). The Baccalaureate Degree in nursing as minimal preparation for professional practice. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/position/bacc-degree-prep American Association of Nurse Practitioners. (2015). Scope of practice of nurse practitioners. Retrieved from https://www.aanp.org/images/documents/publications/scopeofpractice.pdf

Transition theory is one of the most applied theories in the nursing practice. In fact, whether or not nurses are aware of this theory, it is often used in the nursing practice because nursing is all about helping people that are going through changes, whether they are physical changes like an illness or developmental transitions like the birth of a child. Meleis reiterates this point as he states “Nurses often are the primary caregivers of clients and their families who are undergoing transition. They attend to the changes and demands that transitions bring into the daily lives of clients and their families” (2000, p. 13). Before going any further in exploring Transition theory, we must define transition. Meleis states that “Transitions are both a result of and result in change in lives, health, relationships, and environments” (2000, p. 13). Transitions are the times when a nurse can step in and act as a therapeutic medium and help the individual have a smooth transition from one semi stable state of being to another semi stable state of being (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 237). This is the essence of Transition Theory. It is the process that goes on between people undergoing some changes in their lives, and the nurse who is guiding care for a stable outcome.

The standards of practice describe a competent level of nursing care as exhibited by the critical thinking model known as the nursing process. This practice includes the areas of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation. The nursing process includes significant actions taken by registered nurses (RN) and forms the foundation of the nurse’s decision-making (“American Nurses Association,” 2010).

I am striving to achieve professionalism and growth in roles and values while going through the bachelor’s degree in nursing program. I plan on taking each class one at a time, try to do my best, and gain the knowledge needed to grow in the nursing profession. By October 2010, I should obtain my bachelor’s degree in nursing, which will provide new opportunities, such as management, and educator positions. A bachelor’s degree in nursing will provide the opportunity to further my education to a master’s degree level.