Introduction
Few occupations are as crucial to the maintenance of the health and well-being of the population as nursing. Illnesses, ailments, traumas, and other physical conditions force people to become dependent on others. Nurses are responsible for the well-being of patients when their health deteriorates, and outside help is necessary. Round-the-clock care ensures medical control and timely as well as qualitative response to any changes in the organism. Nurses are essential in saving lives and helping patients overcome their hardships. Considering the full weight of responsibility, it is important that people of this profession are committed, motivated and qualified.
However, neither the skill mastery nor the accumulated knowledge has any meaningful significance when the nurse’s inner mindset is disturbed. When an individual lacks personal philosophy, their actions become chaotic, disorganized, and unpredictable. As a result, unmotivated nurses may experience professional burnout, make mistakes, and jeopardize their patients’ lives. Therefore, it is imperative to understand why a person has chosen this profession and how compatible they are with it. As such, the desire to help people heal and the innate affinity for comprehension of human biology comprise my personal philosophy underscoring my choice of nursing as a profession.
Personal Understanding of Nursing
I believe that the ultimate essence of nursing is helping people heal. Such a definition does not limit the extent of nurses’ responsibilities to providing medications and issuing treatments. In my opinion, nursing entails psychological help as well as physical assistance. The human caring theory is centered around four metaparadigm concepts – person, health, environment, and nursing (Nikfarid et al., 2018). In my opinion, environment is the most important concept since it incorporates internal as well as external factors. For instance, a patient’s immediate surroundings and availability of medication constitute external factors, but the level of stress is an internal factor, which is just as important in recovery.
Subsequently, paying attention to a patient’s mental health is just as important. I believe that nurses should have empathy to inspire trust in their patients. No matter how effective prescribed medication is, it cannot cure the illness on its own. Patients should believe in the possibility of their successful recovery. Some of the methods of psychological healing include therapeutic touch, active listening, being present in the moment, and instilling hope (Solomon et al., 2021). Combined with the actual treatment, these subtle actions empower patients, make them feel healthier, and contribute to overall holistic nursing.
Reasons for the Choice of the Profession
There are two factors that propelled me to become a nurse – interest and innate desire to help people fix their deficiencies. From my early years, I have been particularly interested in biology and the human body specifically. Learning how the organism functions was not challenging as I acquired the knowledge quickly and successfully in school. Moreover, I keep track of developments in the sphere of medicine and biology as well. Being on the frontline of patient care, nurses directly work with any technical innovations, which is a motivating sign of progress (Cusson et al., 2020). As a result, the position of a nurse fits me precisely because it is dynamic and responsive to any innovations.
The second factor lies in my personal affinity for helping people. Providing assistance is the most emotionally rewarding experience for me, even it requires me to spend my own time and resources without a payoff. In my opinion, work without guaranteed compensation is a reality of any nurse’s life. My inner strength is the ability to resist emotional exhaustion due to the deep satisfaction derived from the fact that I provide help. I think that nursing is the most appropriate profession for my needs, as it directly entails alleviation of pain. Combined with my biology aptitude, this inner drive constitutes my reasons for choosing nursing.
Personal Future as a Nurse
First, I want to become a registered nurse in direct patient care. The nursing license gives an opportunity to perform nursing activities in a healthcare setting. In order to become a registered nurse, I need to complete a registered nurse program and acquire a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Then I will have to pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Finally, I will need to apply for licensure, which will enable me to work in the state that I plan to live in. Once I acquire the license, I can work as a registered nurse and continue to grow in the nursing field.
In five years, I intend to be a nurse practitioner. This position will significantly extend my level of responsibility and the number of duties, the most important of which is the ability to provide diagnoses. In order to become a nurse practitioner, I will need to pursue a master’s degree in nursing. Afterward, I will need to pass the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse certificate examination. As is the case with registered nurses, I will need to obtain state licensure. I intend to start studying for nurse practitioner as soon as I become a registered nurse.
Ten years from now, I hope to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). With this degree, I will be viable for a position in healthcare administration, such as managing a nursing department. In order to achieve this degree, I will need to complete the post-master DNP program. Once I get it, I will complete my journey through clinical nursing practice education. Not only will I be able to deliver patient care myself, but I will also be able to direct other nurses to help patients.
Conclusion
Altogether, my interest in the profession of nursing is based on personal talents and emotional predisposition towards helping people. My understanding of biology and the human body will facilitate learning and completing programs. At the same time, my inner drive will help me overcome common emotional issues experienced by nurses, such as burnout and irritation at the lack of adequate compensation. According to my personal philosophy, a nurse is a person who is willing to provide holistic assistance, which includes psychological help and alleviation of stress. It is, therefore, imperative to use empathy to better connect with patients.
While my goal is to help people heal, my practical aim is to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice with a position in healthcare administration. Reaching this target requires first becoming a registered nurse and then a nurse practitioner. Accumulation of education and clinical hours will comprise my competence and qualifications. I believe that I am capable of going through this journey due to the combination of my personal philosophy, interest in human biology, and a sincere desire to help people overcome their ailments.
References
Cusson, R. M., Meehan, C., Bourgault, A., & Kelley, T. (2020). Educating the next generation of nurses to be innovators and change agents. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(2), 13-19. Web.
Nikfarid, L., Hekmat, N., Vedad, A., & Rajabi, A. (2018). The main nursing metaparadigm concepts in human caring theory and Persian mysticism: A comparative study. Journal of Medical Ethics and History of Medicine, 11.
Solomon, B., Sutton, D., & McKenna, B. (2021). The experience and meaning of recovery‐oriented practice for nurses working in acute mental health services. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(4), 963-974. Web.