Reflection
Becoming a nurse has been a process of learning about myself and growing. At first, I wanted to become a nurse because I wanted to help people and make a real change in their lives. But as I have gone further in my studies, I have realized that nursing is more than just a job; it is a calling that takes hard work, persistence, and always trying to get better.
When I first started nursing school, it was important for me to understand how important the therapeutic nurse-patient bond is. At first, this seemed vague, but as I worked on my assignments, it became clear that good communication and sensitivity are key to patient-centered care. Reading study papers that talked about how important these skills are in nursing helped me come to this conclusion.
Patient Outcomes and Empathy: Sinclair et al. (2017) did a study that looks at the link between empathy and better patient outcomes. They stress how important empathy is to nurse practice. According to the study, patients are happier and more likely to follow their treatment regimens when they believe their nurses are sympathetic. This made me even more sure that developing empathy as a core nurse skill is important.
Reflective Practice: For nurses to grow personally and professionally, they need to do reflective practice. Bulman et al. (2011) wrote a piece that talks about how reflective practice helps nurses think more deeply about their actions and choices, which leads to better patient outcomes. When I think back on my first few weeks in the nursing program, I understand how useful this tool is for finding ways to improve and learning how to think critically.
Resilience in Nursing Students: The change from being a student to a nurse can be scary, so students need to learn how to deal with academic and mental problems. Turner and Kaylor (2015) looked at ways for nursing students to become more resilient, such as making friends and doing things for themselves. Like my own experiences adjusting to the demands of nursing school, this article reminded me how important it is to balance my personal goals with my work goals.
These studies have helped me learn more about the skills and habits that nurses need to be successful. The qualities of empathy, introspection, and resilience are not only ideals; they are useful instruments that influence my approach to learning and my future profession. By applying these ideas to my daily life, I have begun to build the skills and kindness I need to become a good nurse.
References
Bulman, C., Lathlean, J., & Gobbi, M. (2011). The concept of reflection in nursing: Qualitative findings on student and teacher perspectives. Nurse Education Today, 32(5), e8–e13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2011.10.007
Sinclair, S., Beamer, K., Hack, T. F., McClement, S., Bouchal, S. R., & Chochinov, H. M. (2017). Sympathy, empathy, and compassion: A grounded theory study of palliative care patients’ understandings, experiences, and preferences. Palliative Medicine, 31(5), 437–447. https://doi.org/10.1177/0269216316663499
Turner, S. B., & Kaylor, S. D. (2015). Neuman Systems Model as a Conceptual Framework for Nurse Resilience. Nursing science quarterly, 28(3), 213–217. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318415585620