Category: Nurse

I have chosen to apply for adult mental health nursing as it is a profession that offers the opportunity to make such a profound difference in the lives of people who truly need and appreciate it. Also, I want to feel a high level of job satisfaction in the rewarding field of healthcare, providing practical support to those who need it. I have researched the job role and requirements for nursing. I understand that nursing can be a very demanding yet very rewarding profession for dependable, reliable, devoted people who can develop a relationship with patients. The need to support and bring compassion to a diverse society of people is a desire that has driven me to apply for a nursing degree from a very young age. The fact that I embrace the 6Cs within everyday life is a very good personal quality that can be used effectively within nursing. I believe that I possess the skill and ability to greatly contribute to the success and stability of healthcare institutions and the mental and physical well-being of patients by helping them at their most vulnerable times.

Nursing is a very versatile field and the subjects I am currently studying have many links with adult mental health nursing. With my keen interest in Human Biology, I especially relished studying Biology and Geography. I very much enjoyed learning about communicable and non-communicable diseases in Biology and how they are distributed around the world in countries of varying wealth in Geography. I look forward to enhancing my expertise in Science which in turn will help me when studying for nursing. Studying Chemistry at A Level has improved my acute logical thinking and problem-solving abilities, as I have learned to process and interpret information effectively.

To gain a clear understanding of what a career in nursing has to offer, I took the initiative to undertake a work experience placement in Mercy Hospital, the Emergency Care Unit, and the Cardiology Department. On my placement, I was allowed to shadow doctors and nurses to see what they do on a typical day and was introduced to many of the medical equipment used by nurses. I developed my communication skills as well as my empathetic skills. I was able to ”put myself in the patient’s shoes” to understand how they were feeling. I had to use this skill quite regularly as patients in the emergency care unit have life-threatening illness injuries and are in a large amount of pain.

Furthermore, I have taken part in several medical online work experience programs and courses provided by King’s College, University of Plymouth, and NHS on Future Learn and Springpod which has helped me gain some understanding of the different roles people play in a hospital to provide the best healthcare to patients. This has further enhanced my study skills to become a successful university student.

In my spare time, I enjoy playing fast paced sports such as badminton and puzzle games. This has allowed me to develop vital critical thinking skills within a logical context. I am versatile and adaptable enjoy being challenged and am very dependable. I work well in a team but am equally confident acting on my own. I am confident of embracing this challenge as I would work to the best of my ability due to my empathetic and caring nature which I believe are important qualities required in nursing. To conclude, I believe I am well suited to pursuing a career in nursing and will study hard to ensure I am successful in achieving my career goal.

I wish to apply for an MSc. Adult Nursing. This program caught my interest because as a graduate who already has a first degree in health-related courses (Microbiology), this course is a faster route to achieving my dream of becoming a certified Nurse in 2 years. This course would enable me to study both in an academic setting and work in the clinical practice environment, enabling me to complete the necessary knowledge and skills to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council. I would also be trained to work according to the National Health Service standard. I have always aspired to become a nurse since the age of 12. After my undergraduate studies, I did my National Youth Service Corps at the School of Post Basic Nursing, (Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria), I have also working as a health volunteer in the Hospital from 2017 to date.

Some of the Modules of this course include;

• Development of Adult Nursing Practice (NAD019-3)
• Introduction to Adult Nursing Practice (NAD018-3)
• Essentials of Adult Nursing (NAD007-6)
• Research methodologies for Health care (NUR016-6)
• Nursing Dissertation

The above-mentioned compulsory modules are essential knowledge one must acquire to become a certified Adult Nurse. For example, Introduction to Adult Nursing Practice gives an overview of what the Nursing practice is all about, also research methodologies expose nursing students to lots of previous works and research that had been done by other researchers and this prepares the students for their Dissertation.

I have chosen to come for my MSc. Adult Nursing here at the University of Bedfordshire based on many reasons, some of which are;

• This course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
• The mode of assessment through assignments, academic assessment, practice assessment, etc
• I also have the qualifications and skills required to be considered for admission to this course.
• The University of Bedfordshire also has a conducive environment for learning having ranked 8th out of 154 UK universities in the latest People and Plant University Green League in 2019.

My plan after being a certified Adult Nurse through this 2-year MMSc program is to go back to my home country to work as an Adult Nurse in organizations that need my services. This would enable me to impact the delivery of good healthcare services. Although, as a health volunteer since 2017, I tried to the best of my ability, not being properly trained to become certified has limited me from practicing fully.

My Undergraduate degree in Microbiology is health-related. I have also had the opportunity to work at the School of Post Basic Nursing (Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria) during my National Youth Service Corps for One year. I also worked as a health volunteer from 2017 till date, which makes me a perfect candidate to be considered for this course. Some of the skills I have acquired through the years are;

• Ability to take vital signs of the patient and keep proper records.
• Assisting the Nurses and Community Health Workers during the immunization program and also fixing appointment dates for immunization with proper follow-up.
• Family planning Sensitization and fixing of appointment dates.
• Health Nutritional orientation for nursing mothers who are about to wean their babies.
• Daily record keeping and monthly report of the collated data.

This course (MSc Adult Nursing) is not available in my home country. This is why I have to choose a suitable and recognized institution (University of Bedfordshire, where I can achieve my desired certification in 2 years with a recognized international certificate. Unlike in my home country, where I would spend 5 years (4 years through direct entry) to have a BBSc certification in Adult Nursing.

I would also love to study in the city of Bedfordshire because it’s a safe place to live in according to my research, the city also offers access to the capital (50 miles to London city), as well as all the amenities of a big city on their doorstep. The city is also a balance of rural and urban features which ensures that living there is appealing to all.

I never had a long break in my studies. I started an MMSc program in Medical Microbiology (virology option) in 2018, while I worked as a volunteer. Working as a volunteer motivated me to pursue my ambition of becoming a certified Nurse. I will be through with my MMSc program this August (2021). My transcript for the MMSc program is not available which is why I did not include it in my academic achievements.

Nursing is a career where you never finish training, My ambition is to become a nurse. This became a reality when I started working in a nursing home at the age of 15, throughout my life to date I have been involved in caring for others in one capacity or another. I have been involved in helping a diverse range of people and I have recently started volunteering to help special needs children at my school which is very rewarding, therefore this shows I have relevant experience to show I am committed and would like to care for others in the future, Nursing is a career for dedicated, reliable, trusting people who can develop relationships with patients fast.

I have these skills and I genuinely want to make a difference to people, to support them and their families through hard times when they are at their most vulnerable. I want to become a nurse because I have a genuine and honest passion to not only care for people but to also help educate them to lead healthier lives and make better lifestyle choices. With the role of a nurse comes a huge amount of responsibility, and I believe the qualities I possess will eventually make me a highly proficient and competent member of the nursing team After I have completed my studies. I was initially attracted to nursing when I started working at a local nursing home in 2019 during this time I got to see first-hand the exceptional work care workers and nursing staff undertook and also the dedication they show within the role, In addition to the qualities I feel I already possess, I knew that at that stage I wanted to become a nurse, and so I started to explore the different educational routes available while working in a nursing home I observed, listened and participated in several patients needs assessment’s, and this was an invaluable insight into the necessary patience, communication skills and commitment to quality of care that is required as a professional nurse,

In the nursing home, I work long shifts which shows that I’m not afraid of hard work which will be an advantage when on a placement, working in a nursing home has also helped me gain the necessary experience to know nursing is a vocation, I enjoy and get a lot of satisfaction out of helping and serving others, In the nursing home where I work, we deal with a wide variety of patients, from residential patients, dementia patients to end of life patients. Due to the nature of dementia, we are often faced with challenging behavior and I have learned how to deal with these behaviors whilst remaining professional and calm. I enjoy contributing to a pleasant and friendly working environment and working as part of a team. At times I like to make people laugh and enjoy putting a smile on the staff and patients’ faces. I am a strong communicator, I will be 100% dedicated to my studies, and I can also plan my work properly to make sure I meet all deadlines throughout this nursing course. I have always acted with honesty and I can be relied upon to maintain the highest standards achievable at all times, whilst also demonstrating confidentiality when needed. I have studied the course in detail, including the core values of the 6C’s, and I feel I can uphold and maintain the requirements of the role. In my spare time, I enjoy exercising such as going to the gym or going for a walk. Whatever it is, I feel it is important to keep myself healthy mentally and physically. Many dedicated and ambitious people apply for nursing courses. However, I feel the effort and the commitment I will put into my studies and my role as a nurse once I am qualified makes me a worthy contender for a place on this course. I understand the responsibility that comes with the role of a nurse, and I will always uphold the highest standards of professionalism, commitment, and competence to quality of care if I am offered the opportunity to study this course.

Nurses perform a vital role in medicine. Although their role does not carry the status of a doctor or consultant, nurses are at the center of clinics, and surgeries and are an important part of the team that runs wards and hospitals. To be a nurse requires commitment and dedication, qualities that I believe I have and that I am willing to improve during my training and beyond.

There was one recent occasion in my life when I spent hours sitting at a hospital bedside. My mother had open heart surgery and the survival chances were minimal.

Prior to and after the surgery, I was staying with her trying to keep her spirits up and make sure she had all the support needed. The nurses who cared for her always drew my admiration. I feel there are a handful of truly inspirational professions and Nursing is, without a doubt, one of them. This experience and watching my mother’s in-law nursing career develop has in many ways given me a passion for nursing.

Along with doctors and other medical staff, nurses provide an invaluable service to society, and to be part of that group has long been an ambition of mine.

I am confident that I am ready for the commitment and academic challenges and possess the stamina, reliability, trustworthiness, and motivation to undertake the requisite curriculum.

I appreciate the academic demands and rigors of the course will be tough but I hope my previous ability to study and enthusiasm will speak for themselves.

The compassion, selflessness, patience, and intelligence of Nurses with whom I have come into contact with (via my own health needs, that of relatives, and those whom I have had the privilege of dealing with) have inspired me and helped drive my passion and motivation.

From observation and drawing from personal knowledge, I believe the qualities and skills required from a nurse include the innate desire to help and care for people.

Excellent communication skills are essential, such as the ability to work autonomously but also as part of a team. It is an art to combine scientific knowledge and the skills acquired from education and training with caring for people, and it is a privilege to be there for people in their time of need.

I want to become a nurse because I find my current job very rewarding and satisfying but I believe I have more to offer and am capable of making that transition from my current role into a staff nurse.

Every day as a nurse, I know I will learn something new from my colleagues and patients, which will inspire me to explore deeper knowledge of the techniques and procedures I use. I understand that nursing is not an easy route as there will be 24-hour care and on-call shifts as well as dealing with the deaths of patients, but I know that I am ready to undertake this challenge and prove to myself that I can do anything I want to. The welfare of the patients is what will matter most to me, if they are happy, I will be happy as well.

I love learning to do new things and developing new skills. I speak 5 languages fluently so I definitely think it will make my communication with the rest a lot easier.

I have a vision that my career will develop and follow a pathway in this specialty by building on these foundations and hopefully once qualified to apply for a post in this field.

In my free time, I love to spend time with my family and especially with my 3 years old son, and take care of myself training at home. I love to learn about new things and appreciate the finer things in life such as good food, good company, and travel.

My rationale behind this choice of university is to conclude, that I am aware that gaining a place will not be easy, but I hope I have been able to articulate my reasons for wanting to undertake training and convey how delighted I would be to become a student at this university and what a privilege it would be.

Introduction

Despite completing a degree and studying for three-plus years, graduate nurses often find it difficult to transition into registered nurse. Having so much support throughout their degree, it can sometimes be a shock to the system for a graduate registered nurse when finally taking full responsibility for patients, as well as completing tasks and delegating. Even though, the graduate may feel that they have learned tasks whilst at university, these tasks may be a lot more difficult to complete than the graduate thought, because of this the graduate nurse may develop feelings of insecurity and hopelessness as they feel like they may not “have enough knowledge”. It is often that graduate registered nurses describe feelings of being unprepared for their new profession. The feelings that a graduate registered nurse can feel when faced with these transitional challenges range from somewhat uncomfortable to highly shocking. Having these feelings can not only affect the individual but it can have an impact on staff retention in the workplace. This essay will be based on a case study of a graduate who begins her new job within a busy medical ward and will consider the transition challenges and the coping strategies required by the graduate to overcome these. As well as this, the essay will critique conflict and change management strategies within organization cultures and how this can impact all members of the multidisciplinary team, and define the scope of practice and the delegation roles of the registered nurse and how to use them within the nursing profession.

Transitioning from a nursing student to a registered nurse has proven to be a difficult transition. Studies show that new graduate nurses were not adequately prepared to assume the role of a nurse (Saifan, AbuRuz & Masa’deh, 2015, p.20). As the new graduate nurse Karen Is faced with transitional challenges whilst entering the workforce. One of these challenges is the theory-practice gap. The theory-practice gap is known as the gap between “what is taught” and “what is practiced” (Saifan, AbuRuz & Masa’deh, 2015, p.21). There is clear evidence of difficulty with what a student learns by theory and what they practice when faced with a real-life scenario (Saifan, AbuRuz & Masa’deh, 2015, p.27). What is taught in a classroom can never truly resemble what happens in real life (Falk, Falk & Jakobsson Ung, 2016, p.14). It can never give a fully comprehensive explanation in nursing application to practice, nor can it give a real picture of the patient’s current status (Monaghan, 2015, p.2). When in nursing clinical practice, the student is given scenarios that resemble real-life scenarios, and although this is helpful for the student it can never truly resemble what is going to happen at that point in time when in the clinical field (Jamshidi, Molazem, Sharif, Torabizadeh & Najafi Kalyani, 2016, p.1)

As the new registered nurse Karen was faced with a patient that needed to be hoisted, as Karen had performed this before in clinical nursing practice she felt like she would be able to complete this task alone. Although, this patient was complex as they have had recent major abdominal surgery as well as, intravenous therapy, an indwelling catheter, a wound drain, and a large incision at the operation site. As Karen was getting Mr. B in the hoist she accidentally got all his attachments caught in a tangle causing the patient quite a bit of pain. It is evident that in this scenario Karen is currently struggling with a theory-practice gap, due to the fact that although this has been completed plenty of times before in a clinical setting, when faced with a real-life scenario with more complexity it becomes difficult to perform the same task. Linking theoretical information with practice is found to be one of the challenges for many nursing students in their current study period. Many new graduate nurses explained that they are not sure how to exactly link their information to clinical scenarios and that theoretical education is in one world whilst practice was in another (Reference).

Reality shock

Another challenge that most students face when transitioning from a student nurse to a registered nurse is reality shock. Transitioning from a newly graduated nurse to a registered nurse Is considerably challenging, to say the least. As healthcare is always advancing and undergoing complex change, it can become a significant burden to a new graduate nurse (p.106). Reality shock is found to be experienced by the majority of new graduate nurses and is described as a reaction to different emotions (p.107). Some emotions that a graduate nurse may feel when experiencing reality shock are doubt, confusion, disorientation, and constant feeling of loss (p.111). As graduate nurses they feel as reality shock is highly avoidable, as it is never truly understood due to the inconsistency between what was expected of them before and what is expected of them now they are in the workforce (Reference). Graduate nurses fear being ‘exposed’ as incompetent and portrayed as they cannot providing safe care, and fear not being able to cope with their responsibilities, ultimately they fear rejection from the multi-disciplinary team (Reference). Studies show that new graduates discussed that when commencing on their wards they found the increase in responsibility and the upskill needed to complete certain tasks which the new reality surprised and overwhelmed them (Reference). Some new graduate nurses even described that it got to the point where they were not listening to their patients and were too focused on completing tasks (Reference). In the scenario provided it was evident that Karen was aware of the task on hand, and what needed to be done but was not aware of how to complete the task for that particular patient. Karen felt reality shock and began to fear what the team might think of her if she was to ask for help with what she thought was a ‘simple’ task. These types of transitions occur due to a lack of professional and emotional support for the new graduate nurse, it also occurs due to a lack of confidence, the uncertainty of a new environment, and unrealistic performance and expectations. (Reference). A solution for Karen in this particular scenario would be to put aside her lack of confidence and ask for help, or go home and continue learning about the expectation and safety of manual handling of patients. It would also come as a benefit for the hospital to provide education programs to prepare nursing students with the knowledge and skill base needed before starting their new role (Reference).

OHS

When new graduate nurses prepare to start their new roles, they undergo training in regard to occupational health for nurses and patients. Occupational health and safety provide employees with guidelines to protect the safety, health, and welfare of themselves and their patients (Reference). Occupational health and safety also provide nurses with guidelines to protect their mental well-being whilst at work. It is just as important as ensuring that nurses protect their mental well-being, as well as their physical health (Reference). Looking after the mental well-being of employees provides for a positive workplace and decreases the likelihood of mistakes being made (Reference).

In the scenario, Karen is faced with a difficult situation between herself and her patient, as a new graduate nurse Karen feels like she cannot ask for help as her team might look at her as incompetent, therefore goes ahead with moving the patient. As Karen moves Mr. B, she accidentally gets all of his attachments caught and causes the patient quite a lot of pain. It is evident that during this situation that Karen was faced with reality shock, and chooses not to ask for help, during this time of shock she proceeds with moving the patient and not only put herself in danger but the patient.

Nursing education has evolved over the years to provide an excellent education for student nurses and support them to have a better transition (Kim, Yeo, Park, Sin & Jones, 2018, p.206). Although, because of the theory-practice gap and reality shock, the initial experience of newly graduated nurses is not positive (Kim, Yeo, Park, Sin & Jones, 2018, p.107). Studies show that because of the real shock and the theory-practice gap around 13 percent of new graduate nurses changed their jobs within a year, and 26 percent of new nurses quit within 2 years (Kim, Yeo, Park, Sin & Jones, 2018, p.111). As for this, it is important as a new graduate nurse that positive coping strategies and skills of resilience are absorbed in order to keep good new graduate nurses in the profession. As a new graduate nurse, it is important to work on skills of resilience as well as development strategies. Resilience is a skill that provides the ability to overcome a stressful situation (Wahab, Mordiffi, Ang & Lopez, 2017, p.52). Using resilience enables the individual to emerge stronger, perform better, and become more confident and self-efficient (Wahab, Mordiffi, Ang & Lopez, 2017, p.52). Resilience will assist healthy, well-adjusted individuals and overall enhance their abilities and improve overall job satisfaction (Stephens, Smith & Cherry, 2017, p.278). It is evident that as a graduate nurse, these areas definitely lack. Therefore, the importance of advancing resilience and coping strategies is paramount to ensure the safety of the nurse and the patient (Barratt, 2018, p.43). Strategies to consider as a new graduate nurse to improve resilience within the workplace would be to establish a supportive workplace culture by treating colleagues with respect, ensuring the need to reflect together as a team, always working for change, and remaining hopeful when times get challenging (Barratt, 2018, p.47). Once the ability to identify, enhance and or/ develop certain factors and strategies is developed, new graduate nurses will be better equipped to effectively manage stress within the workplace (Yu & Lee, 2018, p.352).

As well as developing resilience, it is important to consider positive coping strategies to overcome the real shock and the burnout that new graduate nurses experience.

Conclusion

It is clear that the prevalence of reality shock for new graduate nurses is high. It is becoming more of a common situation for graduate nurses to feel overwhelmed during their first year. As a student nurse, it is evident that there is a strong feeling of hopelessness and the need for change when starting in a new nursing position. It is common for them to feel like they are in the wrong career and that they are not efficient enough for this position. Therefore, as students and teachers, it is recommended that resilience and coping strategies are used to overcome the fear and struggle of reality shock. If this is implemented throughout universities and hospitals that take a large number of graduate nurses, it could reduce the likelihood of new nurses quitting. This essay has outlined reality shock, the theory-practice gap, the occupational health and safety of reality shock, and the coping strategies that could be used as a graduate nurse to overcome certain situations.

References

1. Saifan, A., AbuRuz, M., & Masa’deh, R. (2015). Theory Practice Gaps in Nursing Education: A Qualitative Perspective. Journal Of Social Sciences, 11(1), 20-29. doi: 10.3844/jssp.2015.20.29
2. Monaghan, T. (2015). A critical analysis of the literature and theoretical perspectives on the theory-practice gap amongst newly qualified nurses within the United Kingdom. Nurse Education Today, 35(8), 1-7. doi 10.1016/j.nedt.2015.03.006
3. Falk, K., Falk, H., & Jakobsson Ung, E. (2016). When practice precedes theory – A mixed methods evaluation of student’s learning experiences in an undergraduate study program in nursing. Nurse Education In Practice, 16(1), 14-19. doi 10.1016/j.nepr.2015.05.010
4. Jamshidi, N., Molazem, Z., Sharif, F., Torabizadeh, C., & Najafi Kalyani, M. (2016). The Challenges of Nursing Students in the Clinical Learning Environment: A Qualitative Study. The Scientific World Journal, (1), 1-7. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/1846178
5. Kim, E., Yeo, J., Park, H., Sin, K., & Jones, C. (2018). Psychometric evaluation of the Environmental Reality Shock-Related Issues and Concerns instrument for newly graduated nurses. Nurse Education Today, 61, 106-111. doi 10.1016/j.nedt.2017.11.003
6. Wahab, S., Mordiffi, S., Ang, E., & Lopez, V. (2017). Light at the end of the tunnel: New graduate nurses’ accounts of resilience: A qualitative study using Photovoice. Nurse Education Today, 52, 43-49. doi 10.1016/j.nedt.2017.02.007
7. Stephens, T., Smith, P., & Cherry, C. (2017). Promoting Resilience in New Perioperative Nurses. AORN Journal, 105(3), 276-284. doi 10.1016/j.aorn.2016.12.019
8. Barratt, C. (2018). Developing resilience: the role of nurses, healthcare teams and organizations. Nursing Standard, 33(7), 43-49. doi: 10.7748/ns.2018.e11231
9. Yu, M., & Lee, H. (2018). Impact of resilience and job involvement on turnover intention of new graduate nurses using structural equation modeling. Japan Journal Of Nursing Science, 15(4), 351-362. doi: 10.1111/jjns.12210

Introduction

The aim of this essay is to present a reflective account of my role as a student Nurse and as a future healthcare practitioner with a one-year action plan for a developmental need. I will discuss first learning in higher education, studying for a Nursing degree, and my roles as a future Healthcare practitioner. I will confer on nursing in current healthcare and the Value of lifelong learning. This will be followed by my initial reflections on entering higher education. I will discuss my academic profile and identify my learning style and the impact this has on my learning. This will be followed by a discussion on my area of development in relation to Essential Skills in higher education and a reflection on its significance in my practice as a student and future nurse. This essay will end with a conclusion that summarises all points discussed and the recommendation of what needs to be done in light of the findings. Reflection helps both student nurses and healthcare practitioners to enhance current and future nursing practice through learning from one’s experiences (Bulman and Schutz, 2013)

Discussion

It’s my first year at university and it has been an exciting experience so far. The diversity in culture and religion that make up the school community attracts an array of students from different backgrounds. The learning experience at higher education is one that will provide me with the skills I need as a student in practice and also as a future Healthcare practitioner; as I am strengthened through rigorous reading and research on various topics, to think independently, and also question what I read and learn. My first few weeks of attending classes confirmed that my choice to study mental health nursing was the right decision for me. Answers to questions I had always wondered about concerning nursing were taught and I found this particularly intriguing, as I hadn’t previously studied it.

I effectively manage my time to ensure that I meet all the program requirements for the completion of theory hours, practice hours, and theoretical and practice-based assessments. As a student nurse am expected to effectively manage the continual transition between my role as a health care support worker and my role as a student nurse. Am required as a student nurse to understand what it means to be a registered professional and how keeping to the Code helps to achieve that … these guidelines (Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC], 2018). The patient is my first priority as a future Healthcare practitioner. My role as a future nurse is to advocate for the best interests of the patient and to uphold the patient’s dignity through treatment and care. This may include educating patients about the management of illnesses, collaborating with other health professionals, and making suggestions in the treatment plan of patients (Temple, J. 2012). Other roles are administering medications and treatments, Monitoring patient health, and recording signs. I am committed to upholding the standards as stipulated in the NMC (2018); this commitment to professional standards is fundamental to being part of this noble profession.

There are many urgent Healthcare issues that need to be addressed as recognized by stakeholders nationally and internationally. Global population Health has drawn the concern of the World Health Organization (WHO); in light of this, it encourages healthcare providers to work collaboratively for solutions to improve the lives of people around the world especially the underserved. Nurses must, however, rapidly adapt as medicine, technology, and societal health concerns change. While this swift pace is a good thing in some ways, it also means that the problems the healthcare professionals encounter are constantly changing too. Given that nurses are part of the most integral members of the healthcare community; this is especially true for them. Continuing professional development is imperative because it ensures that as a professional nurse, I will continue to be competent in the profession. It is an ongoing process and continues throughout a professional’s career. The ultimate value of well-planned life-long learning for professional development is that it safeguards the public, the employer, the professional, and the professional’s career. Lifelong learning ensures that as a nurse my knowledge stays relevant and up to date.

The University’s motto struck a chord with me, as the Career University, before I’d even set foot on its beautiful campus. I knew I would have to work had to come out in flying colours and I was prepared. What seemed like fun at the start of the course has now turned into what I fear the most; low grades. I have been trying to keep my grades up but to no avail. I felt I could manage my studies, extra-curricular activities, and most importantly the challenges of studying with work and family life. I feel am distracted by other commitments, but I feel I can still get it right if I take the right steps. I don’t think I prioritize my various activities well, there should be a balance that will leave me stress-free at the end. Although my academic effort has been relentless, I am punctual and I do all my course work too. If I had been more careful in planning my time, instead of being disorganized, I would have done better. With excellent time management skills, I can get my grades up and put my life on track.

I have a BA. Ed English, however, I discovered my calling to be in the field of nursing so I did a diploma in mental health and social care level 4. My prior studies gave me a good foundation to build on my nursing career. I will attribute this to my strengths and the willingness to go the extra mile. I was always punctual in every class we had, even on days that I was a little under the weather I still made it to class. My core strengths are teamwork, strong work ethic, and problem-solving. I would say my learning style is more Kinesthetic and Auditory I learn better when I can move my body, and use my hands and sense of touch like in practical classes or placement (Schmeck, R. 2013). Writing or drawing diagrams are physical activities that I do to improve my learning as well, I also tend to grasp what I hear during lectures or recorded lectures.

As a nursing student, my schedule is hectic. Sometimes I regard my present school as the hardest thing I’ve ever done; I juggle all the responsibilities of school, my family life, and work. Using Gibbs’ reflective model I was able to explore my situation and then identified ‘Time management’ as an area of development in relation to Essential Skills. Time management doesn’t just benefit me as a future nurse; it can also be a big stress relief for me now as a student nurse with the high pace of study and the challenges at work and home. Knowing how to prioritize all my tasks and keeping track of my to-dos on the three fronts can make a big difference in lowering my stress and helping me to better manage my time. Improving my time management skills will make me a more efficient nurse in the future, one that will be capable of attending to the needs of more patients in less time. This doesn’t mean that I will sacrifice patient care and bedside manner; it’s just that I will be able to complete the basic care they need in an efficient way that takes less time. In some cases, I may even get more time to speak with and get to know those that I am caring for by the application of excellent time management skills.

Holland and Rees (2010) framework guided the appraisal of the paper by Duncombe (2017). The purpose of a framework is to analyze and evaluate the strengths and limitations of the research process and to determine the validity of the paper (LoBiondo-Wood and Haber, 2017). Duncombe (2017) adopted a quantitative methodology for this study. According to Polit and Beck (2017), quantitative research is the scientific process involving large groups of participants and data, worthy of improving the understanding of nursing. Presented as statistics it offers hard facts by way of empirical data centered on a positivist approach (McEwan and Wills, 2017).

Duncombe’s (2017) focus is obvious in the title and the measurable variables constitute the ‘barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based practice.’ It appears there is difficulty implementing EBP globally, therefore, an important, current topic for research with the potential for many research questions. The author details a clear background with studies to validate the importance and rationale for choosing this topic, backed by an extensive, balanced literature review. These studies show organizational obstacles obstruct nurses from implementing EBP, giving justification for this research question. This is explored in great depth and supported by a considerable amount of robust studies from primary sources.

The research design is the strategy to address research questions. The design details techniques followed by the researcher to gather reliable, unbiased, and accountable knowledge (Polit and Beck, 2017). There are different forms of quantitative research for example, descriptive, correlational, quasi-experimental, and experimental (Walker, 2005). Duncombe (2017) used a non-experimental research approach known as a descriptive, comparative design. According to Gerrish and Lathlean (2015), the fundamentals of a descriptive, comparative design is to ascertain relationships between variables. Although descriptive, comparative studies are not as rigorous a design as randomized control trials or quasi-experimental (Parahoo, 2017), this approach is sensible for this study because Duncombe (2017) is examining the relationship between ‘the barriers’ and ‘facilitators’ of implementing EBP, with no manipulation of these variables (Cantrell, 2011). The research design Duncombe (2018) employs is a survey to obtain knowledge from a selection of people by their replies to questions (Ponto, 2015). Surveys can be useful because they are simple to carry out (Gerrish and Lathlean, 2015), but securing high response rates is difficult and, therefore not a strong research strategy (Kelley et al, 2003). This survey was paper-based and administered by a contact person, which has better response rates than online or postal surveys (Messer, Edwards, and Dillman, 2012). Duncombe (2017) could have increased the response rate by sending a reminder postcard to all participants (Lapane et al, 2007).

The method Duncombe (2017) used to collect data was self-administered questionnaires. A questionnaire consists of a collection of questions to collect knowledge from the respondents. The advantage of self-administered questionnaires is that they can be delivered in broad numbers and are versatile (Polit and Beck, 2017). Nevertheless, self-administered questionnaires have limitations, an example being respondents may differ in reading levels (Jones et al, 2013). According to Polit and Beck (2017), personal interviews are a more reliable method for gathering data and would have been a more robust method for Duncombe (2017), attributable to less participant rejection. Duncombe (2017) used a structured self-report by incorporating a Likert scale (Joshi et al, 2015) into the questionnaire (Timmons, 2014). Cronbach’s Alpha was used to measure the reliability of the Likert-like items and was found to be between 0.8 and 0.91, which indicates these results are reliable (Tavakol and Dennick, 2011). Duncombe (2017) strengthened the quantitative methodology by utilizing a pilot study. Pilot studies are a key element of successful study design because they indicate whether the questions are intelligible or unequivocal (Teijlingen and Hundley, 2002).

Analysis of data may include inferential or descriptive statistics (Moxham et al, 2012). Descriptive statistics identifies and analyses data and displays trends and patterns of collected observations or measurements (Turner and Houle, 2019). The purpose of the study was to compare and summarise a sample of nurses’ perceptions based on 4 different settings; therefore, descriptive statistics are appropriate for this study. The data analysis approach is well organized and properly set out, with the results of this study presented in tables and a graph, and have been analyzed appropriately. Graphs are a robust feature for data analysis as they show data features that might be absent from statistics and render interpreting results easier to comprehend for the reader (Unwin, 2020).

Duncombe (2017) used stratified, random sampling to select 100 registered nurses. Stratified, random sampling is a type of probability sampling (Broomfield, 2015) that requires splitting a randomly selected sample from a target population into smaller groups, based on shared attributes (Parahoo, 2017). Probability sampling is considered the most robust method of sampling strategy (Gerrish and Lathlean, 2015). In this case, this type of sampling strategy is suitable, however, Duncombe (2017) used surveys to gather data resulting in a poor response rate of 61% (Kelley, 2003). A sample of this size is weak, and it could be argued the researcher may have benefited from approaching a higher number of respondents (Ponto, 2015). Duncombe (2017) could have strengthened the sample size further by approaching respondents within the private sector.

Ethical approval is paramount when conducting research (Heale and Shorten, 2016) and Duncombe (2017) clearly states the participants were treated in line with the guidelines set out by the Ethics Committee in the Bahamas. Informed consent was acquired from each respondent and confidentiality and privacy (Fouka and Mantzorou, 2011) were pursued throughout the research process, this has been done well by Duncombe (2017). According to Parahoo (2017), a self-administered questionnaire is one of the data collection methods that could theoretically keep respondents completely confidential. However, Duncombe (2017) has made no mention of protocol for psychological risks for respondents (Avasthi et al, 2013). It is apparent though that this study is ethically vigorous, and the author has maintained this throughout.

The profession of nursing involves a multitude of qualities that are needed in order to successfully provide care to patients. Our group has created a Coat of Arms depicting just a few of the key qualities involved in nursing. The Coat of Arms consists of five symbols, each representing an important quality in nursing. The first symbol is a dragon, which represents integrity. A dragon represents integrity, as it conveys strong morals, honesty, and accepting responsibility, this is also the reason that the color of the dragon is red, as this color often symbolizes strength. The second symbol within our Coat of Arms is the light bulbs on the chandelier, the light bulbs represent the quality of collaboration. The lights represent the different ideas of nurses, physicians, and patients coming together in unison in order to provide the best care possible, which is also the reason for the multicolors. The third quality we believe is critical to nursing is continuing education. This is represented by a book which is often used to signify knowledge and the color gold represents a wealth of knowledge. The next quality represented on our Coat of Arms is advocacy. This quality is represented by the speaker phones and scale. The speakerphones represent the voice of the nurses advocating for their patients, while the scales represent fairness needed within nursing practice. The color of this quality is blue as blue often symbolizes trust and responsibility, which are both important aspects of advocacy. The fifth and final quality that we believe plays an important role in nursing is self-reflection. This quality is symbolized by the mirror in the background of the Coat of Arms. The mirror symbolizes the nurse’s reflection as it is crucial for nurses to look at themselves and reflect on their actions and behaviors in order to provide the best care they can. Overall, the qualities of integrity, collaboration, continuing education, advocacy, and self-reflection are all important aspects of nursing and are needed in order to provide the best care possible.

In order to be a successful nurse one of the most important qualities one must possess is quality of collaboration. This quality was represented by the light bulbs. Collaboration plays a key role in a nurse’s day-to-day tasks. Throughout their careers, nurses must learn to work together with not only other physicians but their patients as well, and only then will they be able to provide effective care. An example addressed in the article Conceptualizing Collaboration in Nursing revealed how without the use of collaboration a patient’s life could be at harm. In the example, it mentions a case in which a 60-year-old female patient was brought into the hospital by paramedics after falling into a lake, the next day the patient complained about shortness of breath, however, this information was never relayed to the orthopedic surgeon who was on the case. Also, the nurse later found that the patient had been taking medication to lower her blood pressure, and when the nurse tried to relay this information to the surgeon they were angrily turned away and told to just follow orders. Due to this incident, the nurse decided not to administer the medication which resulted in the patient having low blood pressure and a worsened shortness of breath. Luckily, the patient was able to recover, however, this whole situation could have been avoided, had the physician and nurse collaborated professionally (Emich, 2018). This situation clearly proves the fatality that the lack of collaboration can have on a patient. Although this situation ended positively, due to a lack of collaboration there could be others that would not. Overall, the quality of collaboration plays a key role in the profession of nursing.

Another crucial quality needed in order for a nurse to provide the best care possible is continuing education. According to the article Continuing Education as a Core Component of Nursing Professional Development, continuing education is “a process that focuses on improving and expanding the knowledge, skills, and behaviors of nurses with educational opportunities and training”. This quality is represented by the book on our Coat of Arms. This quality is important to the nursing profession as it allows nurses to better themselves and overall be able to provide better care. In order to further their knowledge nurses, have the ability to gain different certifications. One certification includes NPD certification which is a “voluntary, specialty certification that benefits not only the RN but also the organization and the patients and families who RNs serve” (Shinners & Graebe, 2020). By participating in further education, such as NPD certification, a nurse is able to gain more knowledge and skills, and with the use of the knowledge and skills gained they can now provide a patient with even better care than before. Overall continuing education is an important quality for a nurse to have in order to promote and provide the best care.

The final quality I will elaborate on is self-reflection, which is represented by the mirror. Self-reflection is the concept of taking a step back and looking, thinking, and evaluating your actions, behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes. This is important to nursing as it allows a nurse to look at their failures and turn them into learning opportunities. By self-reflecting, a nurse has the ability to bridge relational spaces, create a caring environment, and improve nurse-patient interactions (Younas, Rasheed, Sundus, & Inayat, 2019). By being self-aware and truly understanding themselves, a nurse is more capable of building more meaningful relationships with their patients. Self-reflection is much deeper than just looking at your actions and behaviors, it also involves your motives and judgment which is why it is important for a nurse to know this information before caring for a patient. Ensuring that this is known, will allow the nurse to provide care to a patient without pushing their own views and allows them to aid without judgment. Overall, nurses must be self-aware as it is often difficult for one to understand others without understanding themselves.

After completing this Coat of Arms and researching these different qualities my ideas of nursing have both evolved and remained the same. When looking at the quality of collaboration, with my previous knowledge I had assumed that this quality is quite important but only after further research had I truly realized the true meaning of collaboration. After doing my research I came to the understanding that without collaboration between nurses, other physicians, and patients the outcome of care could end extremely negatively. I will now be able to use this information and knowledge within my own nursing experiences as well. My previous ideology on the quality of continuing education has remained the same. The research just supported my previous knowledge that continuing to educate oneself can help them with their knowledge in skills used within the nursing field. Finally, my perception of self-awareness has evolved, as with the research I was able to learn that it is extremely important for a nurse to truly have an understanding of themselves and that without being able to do so, they cannot truly connect and care for their patients. Overall, nursing involves a multitude of qualities which include integrity, collaboration, continuing education, advocacy, and self-reflection.

I am interested in the Nursing Bachelor’s Degree Programme. I intend to pursue a career in Adult or Mental Health nursing which offers exciting explorations and fascinating discoveries, inspiring goals and absorbing new challenges. I believe Nursing would be a good fit for me because the idea of supporting and caring for the sick in society gives me joy.

I am from Nigeria in West Africa and relocated to England to start a new life. Back then I had a third cousin who was suffering mentally but I watched my grandmother and her elder sister supporting and looking after my cousin. I could also remember during my late mum’s second to last pregnancy with my younger sister. She came home from the city to the village to be treated by the village midwife, an elderly woman called Mama Anugom who uses local medicines and herbs to treat any complicated pregnancy and other sicknesses, she was very brilliant and exceptional in her role with no formal education.

This has spanned up my desire to go for nursing as my career path to enable me to put a smile on someone’s face. I have a tremendous eagerness to make people happy and help them to live normal lives.

Nursing I know is very challenging and demanding. it involves compassion, empathy, observation, and a lot of paperwork. While working as a part-time support worker, I discovered that good interpersonal communication skills and teamwork a contributing factors in successfully supporting people who suffer from health issues.

I am unwavering and devoted and I like to keep myself busy in a challenging situation. Being passionate, diligent, and conscientious would enable me to succeed in my chosen career path. In my experience working in health and social care. I have achieved the following skills as a support worker/healthcare assistant in a care home and supported living.

Interacting with the clients, promoting a healthy lifestyle, prompting medication / helping individuals take their medications correctly, and working with team members and other care professionals to mention a few, I am confident that I will be a very strong candidate with an extremely high potential to succeed in the program.

A Nursing Bachelor Programme is an opportunity for me to pursue my specialist interests. Nursing is extremely rewarding and makes a huge impact on society enabling quick and more informed decisions on issues affecting people’s health. I would have the opportunity to interact with clients. I would further develop my personal and Nursing skills through continuing training.

I intend to work as a Nurse upon my graduation and will continue studying to obtain a master’s degree in Nursing I believe this program will provide me with a solid foundation and hands-on experience that would prepare me, not only for further studies but also for many career opportunities in the health sectors. Nursing graduates are very much in demand right now. I had a private conversation with one Nurse she gave me a lot of insight about the program, and potential job opportunities and she specifically mentioned that the program has very competent and experienced instructors. I also spoke with some nursing students who are currently studying at the university and the first thing they said to me was that I could never go wrong pursuing a Nursing career, they also mentioned that they have friends who completed the nursing program and they all gave them positive feedback, they all highlighted the fact that the program provided excellent preparation for their current career success.

I hope to learn from and network with people of diverse backgrounds and experiences. I am particularly interested in Adult Nursing, I attended college for access courses in September 2019 and I found it very informative and many of my questions and concerns were addressed by Mrs Natalie. Given my background and experience, I am confident that I am an excellent fit for the Nursing program, and from my access results, I see a strong match between the program and my interests and abilities.

I am applying for Adult Nursing as I am eager to pursue a career in which I can have a positive impact on people’s lives every day. I have always looked upon nursing and other medical professionals’ roles with respect, increasingly so during the current pandemic.

I am interested in nursing as it is a challenging and rewarding profession with lots of growth opportunities. I love to learn and want to be able to continuously develop through my career, I know that within nursing there are always ways to improve and expand my knowledge as it is an ever-changing industry and versatile field. I understand that nursing is far from easy and there will be many challenges including long and busy shifts as well as the death of patients, however, I know I can overcome these challenges.

I have researched the position of a nurse through the Nursing and Midwifery Council website and the NHS careers website and understand the role of a nurse and its importance. I believe I would be a competent nurse as I am a caring person with strong listening skills, empathy, and patience. I share the values of the NHS including treating everyone with respect and dignity, working together as a team, treating everybody equally, and having compassion.

Since November 2019 I have worked as a Recreational Assistant at a Leisure Centre. This role includes lifeguarding, cleaning, customer service, and changing equipment ready for customers. This has improved my observation and communication skills and taught me how to help customers of all types and involves acting quickly in emergencies and pressured situations. This job has also improved my attention to detail as I must be attentive always to ensure the safety of customers. During monthly training, we go over multiple common health issues and are taught to recognize the early signs of these health issues such as heart attack, stroke, asthma attack, and much more as a preventative measure so we can act early and decrease the risk, which is useful in a nursing career. During work, I have performed basic first aid on several customers and had to work with panicked and distressed customers where I needed to help them stay calm. Despite feeling incredibly stressed I have always coped well under this pressure and helped the customers as needed and not let my emotions interfere with my role.

I have also worked at a racecourse restaurant as a food runner and order taker which involves communicating with customers while working in a fast-paced environment with stress on timings and quality of service. This helped to develop my time management skills and increase my confidence around customers. Working here helped me realize I enjoy this work environment and that I enjoy being busy, working with different people, and facing different challenges every day which is a large aspect of nursing as every day is different.

I have read The Emperor of All Maladies written by Siddhartha Mukherjee which is a full biography of cancer and talks about the research and development in cancer treatment and how it changes and develops over time. Reading this interested me in the development of healthcare and how crucial and universal it is. It also encouraged me to pursue a career in nursing.

Another book I have read is Life at the Extremes written by Frances Ashcroft which is about the science of survival and investigates the physiology of humans, what our limits are, and how we differ from other animals and adapt to different conditions through scientific reasoning alongside real-life stories. The anatomy and physiology of the human body is what first interested me in Biology which led to my interest in nursing and is something that I would like to learn more about and know would be useful in a nursing career.