Reflection on My Entry into Nursing
I began my post-secondary education in 2019 at Babcock University, Nigeria, where I studied Nutrition and Dietetics. After graduating, I worked as a nutritionist at Ring Road State Hospital. During this time, I became more interested in working directly with patients beyond nutrition, which led me to explore nursing. I found myself drawn to the idea of providing care in different ways and learning more about how the human body works.
Moving to Canada and starting a nursing program this year was a big step for me. It was a mix of excitement and uncertainty as I needed to adjust to a new environment and academic system. My first semester has been eye-opening. The workload is intense, and keeping up has required me to stay focused, plan my time carefully and rediscover my strengths and weaknesses. I’m learning how to balance school, personal life, and settling into a new country. It’s been challenging but rewarding.
Looking ahead, moving to Canada and studying nursing has expanded my perspective, showing me new possibilities in healthcare that were not available in my home country, Nigeria. This journey has allowed me to consider areas such as flight nursing and emergency medical dispatch, which were previously beyond my scope of thought.
One thing that stands out to me about nursing is the importance of being there for people during their most vulnerable moments, understanding their physical, emotional, and social needs, and delivering holistic care. I am currently learning more about the significance of balancing empathy, skill, and responsibility, and I am eager to continue exploring how I can apply these values in various settings, from direct patient care to advocacy for better working conditions and healthcare practices.
In summary, my entry into nursing has been shaped by my desire to expand my knowledge of healthcare, to help those in need, and to apply my personal values in a way that promotes ethical, compassionate, and responsible care. I look forward to further developing my nursing skills while remaining grounded in the values that have shaped me.
Reflecting on My First Semester by Connecting Course Content with Relevant Research
Reflecting on the transition into my nursing journey, I recognize the significant shift in how I approach patient care, especially in comparison to my previous field of study. The nursing profession is grounded in a deep commitment to compassion, patient-centered care, and ethical practice. These values resonate strongly with me and have influenced the way I view healthcare.
One key aspect that stands out in my learning is the stronger emphasis on cultural competence. At the beginning of the course, we completed a certification in cultural competence, which has been a powerful tool in helping me better understand the diverse needs of patients. This was particularly eye-opening for me because it helped me realize that cultural awareness isn’t just about being aware of diversity but about actively fostering an inclusive environment for people from all backgrounds. As I move forward in my studies, I aim to integrate this knowledge into my practice, ensuring that I approach every patient with respect for their unique cultural perspectives (Astle et al., 2024).
In addition, the importance of ethical practice has become even clearer. Nursing is built on a foundation of trust, and this trust is upheld by adherence to ethical principles such as autonomy, beneficence, and justice. These principles guide my interactions with patients, reminding me that nursing isn’t just about providing care but about ensuring that care respects the dignity and rights of those I serve. This focus on ethics has been particularly impactful as I learn how to navigate the challenges that come with patient autonomy and the decision-making processes involved in healthcare (Mashford-Pringle & Webb, 2023).
Moreover, my understanding of the nursing profession has expanded significantly through the history of nursing in Canada. Learning about the evolution of nursing practice, the individuals who paved the way, and the challenges faced by marginalized groups within the profession has provided me with a broader perspective on the ongoing efforts toward equity and inclusivity. The readings and videos from our seminars have opened my eyes to the ways in which systemic issues, such as racism and inequality, still influence healthcare today, and how important it is to actively work towards a more just healthcare system (Yearby, 2020).
Overall, I feel that my nursing education is not just about learning technical skills but also about developing the mindset and values necessary to provide care that is ethical, inclusive, and patient-centered.
References
Astle, B., Duggleby, W., Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. A., & Hall, A. M. (Eds.). (2024). Canadian fundamentals of nursing (7th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Mashford-Pringle, A., & Webb, D. (2023). Appraising Canada’s 1979 Indian Health Policy: Informing co-development of distinctions-based Indigenous health legislation. Canadian Public Administration, 66(1), 62-77. doi:10.1111/capa.12348
Yearby, R. (2020). Structural racism and health disparities: Reconfiguring the social determinants of health framework to include the root cause. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 48(3), 518-526. doi:10.1177/1073110520957375
Insight and Critical Thinking Related to my Personal Transition
One of the most significant transitions I’ve gone through in my nursing education is the deeper understanding I’ve gained about the Canadian healthcare system and the ethical responsibilities it entails. Coming from a place where I had limited knowledge about healthcare systems outside my home country, my initial understanding was quite basic. However, through this course, I’ve learned so much more about how the healthcare system here has evolved and the various ethical challenges nurses face in their practice.
Before diving into this course, I didn’t realize how much debate there is around healthcare privatization in Canada, or the complexities tied to factors like funding for Indigenous healthcare. The policies that affect these areas, like the Indian Act, are things I hadn’t considered before, but they’ve really helped me see the intersection of healthcare, ethics, and social justice in a new light. The more I learned, the more I saw how important it is for nurses to not just care for their patients, but also to be advocates for equitable healthcare policies, particularly when it comes to marginalized groups.
The readings and discussions about ethics, especially the issues around informed consent and the significance of patient autonomy, have opened my eyes to the moral challenges nurses face. I now have a clearer understanding of how patient safety is not just about physical well-being but also about creating an environment free from discrimination, harm, and neglect. This has strengthened my commitment to being vigilant and compassionate, always putting the patient’s rights and needs first.
This transition has also given me the chance to reflect on my personal values and how they fit into the role of a nurse. I’ve come to realize that nursing is not just about providing care, it’s also about standing up for changes in the system that improve patient care and advocating for ethical standards that protect their dignity, safety, and rights.