Category: Profession

The advancement in technology has changed the way many processes are carried out. The emergence of the World Wide Web has made it possible for information to be shared more efficiently. Record keeping has amazingly made it simple for records to be stored in a manner that makes it easily accessible. Some of the fields which are successfully integrating information technology include the nursing field.

Nursing Informatics is a new specialty designation in the Nursing discipline for which there is yet to be developed a specific system of credentialing, training, and certification. This new specialty career is an integration of the two disciplines namely Information Technology (IT) and Nursing. In assessing quality of life among different specialties within the Nursing practice, it is clear that Informaticists enjoy a better work-life balance compared to that of traditional nurses.

The Nurse Informaticist is becoming a new role model in the Nursing field as an increasing number of younger nurses set their new career goals to get into this specialty. The American Nurses Association defines Nursing Informatics as “…a combination of computer science, information science, and nursing science designed to assist in the management and processing of nursing data, information, and knowledge, to support the practice of nursing and the delivery of nursing care” (American Nurses Association 1). An informaticist is often described as a person who understands both Nursing and Information Technology. Senior informaticists may be involved in developing, maintaining, and supporting database architecture to meet organizational needs and achieve interoperability of healthcare information systems.

The current statistics on this new discipline show that it is a promising career choice within the Nursing field. In a recent publication, the Bureau of Labor and Statics (BLS) projects that “Careers in healthcare technology are among the 20 fastest-growing occupations and employment of health information technicians and managers is expected to increase by 18% through 2016” (BLS 1). This positive projection may be the reason why young nurses and IT professionals seem to be attracted to the educational path of health informatics. Another good reason is the monetary rewards and benefits of this career. In another survey published by the Health Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), “The average salary of 2007 respondents is $83,675; compared to $69,500 in the 2004 survey, demonstrating the increasing maturity and value of the specialty” (HIMSS 1). Based on this survey, perhaps a six-digit salary for Chief Information Officers (CIO) is not unlikely, nor is it far-fetched to expect a $100,000 salary for a mid-level or senior Informaticist.

Compared to traditional nursing practice, this new specialty is also attracting more candidates for a few logical reasons. For Constantino Castillo, who was an emergency room nurse prior to becoming an informaticist, this new career field was the escape route towards a more relaxed and rewarding work setting. The same reasoning may lead traditional nurses, who are looking for a better work environment and an improved quality of life, to transition into a career in health informatics. For younger nurses, the appeal of a technology-enhanced workplace may well be a rewarding challenge in this techno age. For others, the promise of job security in a high-demand field may be a key motivator in their career decision.

To assess the quality of life in this profession, I carried out an interview with four nurses; two of them are traditional nurses working in a hospital environment that involves direct patient care, one is a medical informaticist at the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the other is a Nursing Director at Innova Healthcare System. My objective was to gauge their satisfaction levels at work and happiness at home (work-life balance).

I used a modified questionnaire drawn up from our previous class notes which helped in assessing several factors namely General Satisfaction, Stress, Personal and Professional Advancement, Monetary Rewards and Benefits, and Quality of Life in general. The result showed that all the nurses are satisfied with their work, and have a good life-work balance despite the odd shifts and long hours. They stated that challenges and stress factors are expected in any nursing practice but then each interviewee has a slightly different way of dealing with job stressors. Jordana Thomas, a staff nurse said, “I separate home from work; when I’m home I devote my time to family matters, when at work I devote my time to my team, to my patients, and to my professional creed.”

Judging from individual responses and knowing them as long-time friends, the interviewees showed satisfaction with their work accomplishments, recognition, and advancement opportunities. The monetary aspect of being a nurse seemed to be a secondary motivator for all interviewed, however, none of the nurses seemed comfortable at discussing financial figures. Nurse Informaticists fare best in terms of financial rewards and their quality of life is significantly more manageable than that of a traditional nurse. Constantino Castillo, a Nurse Informaticist who also worked as an ER nurse, gave an optimistic overview about quality of life by saying, “As an informaticist, I am able to set or choose my work schedule. After eight hours of work, I have plenty of time for my family and relaxation. There is big room for advancement in this field. The ultimate objective for me is to become the CIO.” When asked how he compares informatics to his previous work environment, he answered enthusiastically: “This is a big improvement from working in the ER where my 12-hour shift can easily become a 24-hour workday….” While work situations vary dramatically depending on many factors, traditional nurses constantly deal with unpredictable challenges and stressors in the workplace. Job satisfaction and workplace quality of life in any nursing practice can vary from day to day, especially in direct patient care environments. Any day can turn out to be a very hectic day due to the number of patients and urgency of care needed in any given situation. Ideally, a nurse on duty wouldn’t want to be in a situation where more than one of her/his patients would need critical care at the same time. Unfortunately, a day doesn’t always turn out to be uneventful in the life of a nurse. Workplace quality of life diminishes when the workplace suddenly turns into medical emergency situations. According to an interview with Rosario Todd, a nurse manager, “work quality of life and job satisfaction among nurses is dramatically improved by interpersonal relationships with medical staff, perceptions of their workload, and their evaluation of the appropriateness of the system of nursing is practiced. Other notable factors to be considered are organizational morale, monetary rewards, advancement opportunities, and appreciation or recognition of achievements among other things.”

In most nursing specialties such as the ones that involve direct patient care, 12-hour shifts are quite common, thus making it hard for nurses to have quality time with family before and after work hours. The same may not be said about the nurse informatics workplace. Informatics is more on the management or office side and their workload may not include direct patient care.

With this exploration, I am led to believe that the intersection of information technology and nursing fields will re-shape the future of healthcare delivery by enabling doctors and clinicians to perform their jobs in a more efficient manner with the use of informatics and technology. Therefore, in this age of techno-revolution, there will be an increased demand for health informatics specialists. There will be great job opportunities in this exciting and high-demand field, and so informaticists will continue to enjoy the quality of work-life balance that some traditional nurses can only hope for.

Works Cited

American Nurses Association. The Scope of Practice for Nursing Informatics. Washington, DC: American Nurses Publishing, 1994. Print.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Registered Nurses, on the Internet: U.S. Department of Labor.Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition. Web.

Castillo, Constantino. Personal Interview. 2011. HIMSS. Nursing Informatics Survey. Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, 2007. Web.

Thomas, Jordana. Personal Interview. 2011.

Two major views of the dentistry exist in the American society as some see it as a profession while others argue that it is an occupation. Some practitioners (including the Canadian Dental Association (CDA)) claim that dentistry is a profession as it involves making “moral choices” (as cited in Welie, 2004b, p. 675). Welie (2004b, p. 675) also states that other practitioners (including the American College of Dentists (ACD)) focus on the “responsibility to the larger community” as the decisive criterion. It is important to consider both criteria to identify the central one.

It is necessary to note that ethics and morality are present in many fields. Welie (2004a) stresses that being ethical and adherence to moral principles are basic for the profession and occupation. People will not address the person who acts immorally as such approach is likely to translate into the provision of poor-quality services. For instance, if a seller provides the customer with stale fruit, the buyer will not use the product and will go to another seller. The competition will be lost. Morality and ethics have become important competitive advantages. Professionals should also act ethically and morally. Otherwise, people may lose the trust in their profession rather than individual providers of particular services. For example, if a doctor puts some interests above the patients’ interests and needs, the latter (as well as many other people) may develop distrust to the system of health care and will address healers or clergy.

As far as the responsibility to the community is concerned, it serves as the background for the social contract. Welie (2004a) claims that the profession implies the provision of services that are vital to people and the entire society. For example, when it comes to dentists, they reveal some responsibility to the larger community if some emergency cases occur. In other words, they feel they are responsible for adhering to the principles of the profession (competence, peer review, and so on) if there is a life-threatening condition. This area is the platform for maintaining the social contract between the public and dentists. Nevertheless, when it comes to the array of beauty-related issues, dentists do not follow the principles mentioned above. They act as business people as they often keep some secrets of the trade and are less involved in peer review. Competition is also quite fierce in this sphere. Hence, the social contract is impossible under such circumstances.

The brief evaluation of the two criteria makes it clear that responsibility to the public is the central one as far as the profession is concerned. Ethical and moral behavior is a must in the business world and the sphere of the public good. It is an important criterion, but it cannot be seen as the decisive one. Responsibility to the community is much more important as it is the background for the social contract, which, in its turn, is associated with the concept of the profession. Dentists as professionals should focus on the public good and the interests of people they serve. They should have the necessary knowledge, skills, training. However, they should also be open to peer reviews and assessment as these elements ensure the development of the field and the focus on the needs of individuals served and the community. Therefore, the criteria associated with responsibility is the central one to the profession while being ethical and moral is an important principle to follow in many spheres.

References

Welie, J. V. (2004). Is dentistry a profession? Part 2. The hallmarks of professionalism.Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70(9), 599-602. Web.

Welie, J. V. (2004). Is dentistry a profession? Part 3. Future Challenges.Journal of the Canadian Dental Association, 70(10), 675-678. Web.

The most striking difference between professions is the scope of activities of the various specialists. For example, Registered Nurse (RN) as well as Nurse Practitioner (NP) work in a diverse setting and provide a wide range of care options (College of Health Professions, 2022). Such specialists are involved in general practice, which includes work with different groups of patients and many health-related issues. At the same time, there are more specialized professionals who work with a particular problem or patient. For example, Speech Language Pathologists (SLP) help patients address difficulties in articulation communication (College of Health Professions, 2022). In contrast to more broadly specialized professionals, such practitioners focus on a specific health-related issue. Additionally, different professions require various levels of education, certification, and specialization. In particular, each practitioner, regardless of the direction of the professional activity, must acquire narrowly focused knowledge and skills that correspond to the field. Professional competencies are confirmed by various stages of formal education, including master’s and doctoral degrees. Thus, different professions have different scope and require diverse competencies.

Indeed, it is striking how broad the range of competencies RNs must have in order to carry out their duties. Social workers play a significant role in providing many people with the opportunity to heal and recover. I agree with the post that these professionals are an integral part when it comes to maintaining the psychological well-being of society and individual communities. I would like to add that sometimes the importance of the emotional and spiritual support that nurses provide can be overlooked. However, the empathy they show for patients, their families and colleagues is the basis for public healthcare. Sensitive approach to care, which is one of the principles of nursing practice, provides many patients with the opportunity for a speedy recovery along with physical treatment.

Reference

College of Health Professions. (2022). Part 1: Understanding and promoting interprofessional practice and collaboration [Video]. YouTube. Web.

Introduction

I have been interested in the profession of a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) since I first started working as a nurse seven years ago. My enjoyment of taking care of others, especially the elderly, was the main driving force behind my decision to pursue a career in nursing. Additionally, one of the most adaptable and in-demand occupations in the world is nursing. The foundation of the medical industry and a key player in patient care are nurses. Every patient may experience being seen and heard by a superb nurse who acknowledges that each individual has their own legitimate set of values, life experiences, and opinions.

Discussion

As a nurse, it is simple to realize that there are several employment options available to one. An interesting career with significant development, progression, and ongoing demand is nursing. For instance, after earning a degree, a nurse might transition to a different position within the nursing industry. The nursing job is exciting and involves so many various departments and tasks that it takes a lot of demand from me but also helps me to develop. A nurse can work in many different units, including pediatrics, geriatrics, and medical surgery. This is significant since you are not required to work in or remain with a certain specialty.

This element served as my springboard for applying to a certified Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) program. Due to the emphasis on practical learning in LVN programs, this step is beneficial to my development. Through clinical rotations and internships, it blends the greatest elements of traditional classroom instruction with practical experience. Working with seasoned nurses in the field will help me learn crucial knowledge, and it will also help me establish contacts with prospective coworkers and companies. Additionally, LVN programs are making great efforts to break down barriers since they are aware of the difficulties encountered by adult employees.

I have always believed that nursing is the key humanitarian profession in today’s world. It is a distinctive career in healthcare that focuses on providing care to individuals, families, and communities. In my opinion, nursing is a career built on a structured body of knowledge that serves as the foundation for professional practice and dedication to providing services that benefit society. I have always thought that being a nurse is about preserving a special position that values independence, accountability, and responsibility.

Conclusion

A successful nursing profession necessitates a certain set of talents and personality attributes in addition to rigorous educational and testing requirements. The most consistent and accessible point of contact is typically a nurse who provides care at some of the scariest and most vulnerable periods in a person’s life. An excellent nurse is capable of performing her duties successfully while demonstrating empathy, compassion, and care for each patient she serves. One of the most crucial work qualifications for a nurse, in my opinion, is the ability to communicate, both internally and externally, with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

Patients who are ill or in pain sometimes lack the ability to communicate for themselves. For this kind of assistance, patients and their families generally turn to their nurses. Being able to successfully advocate for a patient when you foresee a problem or see a concern that needs to be addressed is part of what it takes to be a good nurse.

Nursing is a profession that has several significant advantages that motivate people to pursue it. Primarily, it is a field of education that allows people to build successful careers and gain the knowledge and skills to help others. Nurses have an excellent opportunity to get a high-quality education and to work in a decent environment. Furthermore, being a nurse allows people to fulfil their desire to help others and be of service to society in general. Therefore, I want to become a nurse because this profession will enable me to acquire significant knowledge and skills and realize my desire to help others.

Obtaining quality knowledge is one of the main reasons why I want to become a nurse. In this regard, access to a significant amount of evidence-based information for nursing students is vital (Daly & Jackson, 2020). Access to educational information and practice opportunities allows nurses to develop lifelong professional skills, which is a distinct advantage. In addition, the nurse’s professional development combines with the opportunity to help people in difficult situations. It is also essential to understand that nursing work involves several difficulties, including complex learning and stressful working experiences. Nevertheless, I consider these challenges insignificant since the desire to develop and help people allows me to ignore them. Overall, the contributions to society and individuals’ lives provide additional motivation to gain theoretical and practical knowledge.

People’s aspirations to become a nurse are based on the many benefits of this profession. Nursing is an appropriate choice for people who are eager to help others and ready to study and work hard for the greater well-being of society. The nursing profession also offers good educational and working conditions, which provides nurses with the opportunity for continuous professional development. Thus, the possibility of constant professional development and the potential to benefit society are the main reasons I want to become a nurse.

Reference

Daly, J., & Jackson, D. (2020). Contexts of Nursing : An introduction. Elsevier.

The declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic brought much attention to the healthcare sector and its significance in our health. Medical professionals became the most important resource during the period as it became easy for the virus to be transferred and its effects manifest in patients. Healthcare workers are vital because they treat and prevent illnesses that affect individuals (Levine et al., 2019). They help patients overcome illnesses, lead healthy lives, and prevent diseases. Nurses are at the core of care provision through the various activities that they engage in when treating and providing other forms of services. To understand the role of practitioners in society, one needs to understand the process of becoming a nurse and their responsibilities in the healthcare sector. This essay is based on information acquired from a practicing nurse who shared insightful knowledge of the profession.

Becoming a nurse entails a process of education and training that ensures that only qualified individuals engage in care provision. The practitioners begin learning at different levels, each offering an opportunity for advancement. Training is a comprehensive process that requires a lot of time and effort. Training is a crucial process in becoming a qualified nurse since this is when one learns the basics of care provision and enhances (Mlambo et al., 2021). It also allows trainees to get their first experience of being professionals and have a view of what to expect when they begin providing care to patients. However, learning is a continuous process for the practitioners. The healthcare sector experiences continued evolution in various elements of care. Changes are frequent because of the changing patient population and needs. These changes demand that nurses engage in a continuous learning process that ensures they are updated on new knowledge, skills, and trends in care provision.

Nurses join the profession at different levels based on their qualifications at entry levels and can progress to higher levels of the profession and education. A significant section of professionals has basic qualifications as practitioners. Care providers experience several barriers to advancing knowledge and skills due to reasons like family (Fawaz et al., 2018). However, the profession offers nurses the opportunity to continue their education to higher levels, guaranteeing advanced roles and compensation for practitioners with the highest qualifications. The government has also adopted various measures that help encourage nurses to continue their education. Continuing skills enhancement is crucial in the sector since it helps to equip professionals with the relevant skills to address the various challenges practitioners experience.

Nurses are part of care provision from the moment a patient is admitted to their discharge and they offer various services to communities. Unlike other healthcare professionals, nurses are part of the whole care provision process due to the need for their services at each level of treatment. The practitioners get to engage patients from admission by collecting vital information that will support the development of a treatment plan when a patient is discharged and requires post-admission care or follow-ups. The care providers also provide community members with services like health education on healthy living. The professionals are part of society, and the provision of various services in their capacity as healthcare practitioners helps enhance health among society members. The role of care providers was particularly evident during COVID-19 when their services were in high demand. Nurse shortages during the period exposed the challenges experienced in healthcare and called for policies to address the issue.

References

Fawaz, M., Hamdan-Mansour, A., & Tassi, A. (2018). Challenges facing nursing education in the advanced healthcare environment.International Journal of Africa Nursing Sciences, 9, 105-110.

Levine, S., Malone, E., Lekiachvili, A., & Briss, P. (2019). Health care industry insights: Why the use of preventive services is still low. Preventing Chronic Disease, 16, E30.

Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a metasynthesis of the literature.BMC Nursing, 20(1).

Introduction

Nursing, as a profession, has a longstanding and rich history that can substantially inform and shape the direction of its future. Nurses should familiarize themselves with the history of the profession in order to better understand its future direction. The following decades in the nursing profession are going to be defined by several aspects, including the widespread implementation of technology in healthcare in general and nursing in particular.

Lessons Learnt

One of the main lessons that can be learned from the history of the nursing profession is to embrace advancements made in the field of technology as well as continuous education. According to Judd (2013), the second half of the 20th century was characterized by advancements in technology and its integration into health care, with nurses being accountable for ensuring competency. Technology can help decrease the workload and allow nurses to structure their workday around their patients, dedicating more time to patient support and education. Booth et al. (2021) note that nurses should avoid denying the importance of technology in their practice, while educational facilities should invest in informatics education for future generations of nurses. Furthermore, nurses should become responsible for overseeing the introduction of technology in health care in order to ensure “the universal aspects of human care continuing under a novel system” (Pepito & Locsin, 2019, p. 106). Therefore, it is essential to acknowledge the prevalence of technology in modern healthcare and the leading role of nurses in its implementation and invest in nursing education.

Conclusion

In summary, the next century in the nursing profession will be characterized by the widespread use of technology, with the increased responsibility of nurses for introducing new technology into healthcare. It is crucial to finance appropriate technology-related education for the future generations of nurses and support them in their new roles. In addition, the dismissal of new technological advancements by nurses as well as the dismissal of the importance of nurses in the technology-dominated healthcare field should be avoided.

References

Booth, R. G., Strudwick, G., McBride, S., O’Connor, S., & Solano López, A. L. (2021). How the nursing profession should adapt for a digital future. BMJ, 373, 1–5.

Judd, D. (2013). A History of American Nursing (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Pepito, J. A., & Locsin, R. (2019). Can nurses remain relevant in a technologically advanced future?International Journal of Nursing Sciences, 6(1), 106–110.

Fewer professions have a critical impact in the world than the medical industry. Workers in the medical field deal with human lives, which demand great care and professional qualifications to minimize adverse outcomes. Aside from doctors, nurses undergo a rigorous training program focused on quality service delivery and patient satisfaction. The time each nurse spends with a patient vitally contributes to good health and subsequently invites positive feedback for the hospital. Registered nurses require nursing school credentials, lab, and clinical experience before sitting a thorough licensing examination. These steps ensure the field upholds professionalism by employing qualified workers. Although admired for its impact on patient satisfaction through in-person contact, nursing is a demanding profession that disrupts one’s work-life balance, and it requires total academic commitment and an undivided focus on academics to become a specialist in the field.

I conducted an in-depth interview with a registered nurse to identify the hurdles and requirements of her career. According to her, she picked nursing as a profession because she always wanted to make a difference. Indeed, she began developing an early interest in healthcare due to her family and its extensive composition of medical professionals. Furthermore, she grew up hearing about inequalities faced by many people and felt the need to assist those experiencing hardships by providing them with comfort and support. Despite the numerous challenges her career path forebode, she was acutely aware of her strengths and felt up to the challenge. In a medical facility, nurses are the ones who interact the most with both patients and other specialists. Nurses expertly help people from various backgrounds as nurses aid patients, instruct families, and reinforce doctors. My interviewee attributes her choice of profession to the difference she makes in those who have lost hope due to health crises by offering specialized care.

The specialist I have interviewed is a female nurse who has been working as a registered nurse (RN) for a few years. When answering her nursing school (NS) question, she said NS was more difficult than anticipated. Coming from a family with several medical professionals, she was aware of the difficulties of healthcare and believed she had the power to overcome challenges. Nonetheless, experiencing NS on her own proved more demanding than she had heard from her relatives with medical degrees. For example, she stated that the diverse information introduced in NS was overwhelming in its entirety. However, despite having some trouble initially, she learned how to manage her time and be more productive with her assignments.

The RN said it was challenging to balance work, family, and personal life at the beginning of her career path. The primary difficulties were finding time for each activity and staying focused on essential tasks. For instance, during her first exam period in NS, the RN was in a situation where she had to study for several classes and help her relatives prepare for an important family event. To manage her academic, professional, and private lives, she prioritized some activities over others instead of attempting to accomplish everything at once. She shared that the most complicated part of balancing her duties was learning to ask for help in some cases. For example, she proposed her family members take over some chores, and she became less involved with group projects in NS by finishing her parts of assignments but not trying to control her peers’ work. Notably, the RN declared that such basic acts as exercising regularly and getting sufficient sleep were very helpful in handling complications in balancing all aspects of her life as a student nurse.

The RN I spoke with stated that to be successful, one must fully commit to NS. She said that although the hours required for studying vary depending on each person and a specific program, the learning process typically takes the most significant part of the day. For instance, she stated she had enough time to maintain her social life. Still, the overall workload was immense considering theoretical and practical aspects, so she had to be productive most of the time. The RN remarked that she paid more attention to academics than other activities, but some of her peers differed. For example, some of her fellow students managed to have good grades, attend social events, and have jobs outside NS. However, she noted that such individuals were relatively rare, and most people in her NS were busy acquiring the knowledge necessary for the occupation. She declared that education is easier for certain persons due to better memory or higher stress resistance. However, she claimed that NS requires substantial commitment because the specialty goes hand-in-hand with developing diverse skills.

When discussing her lab experience (LE), the RN I interviewed stated that the first few days in the lab would likely be overwhelming. She said that her relatives with medical degrees had consulted her on what to expect from LE, which helped her stay relatively calm when she entered the room. In comparison, many of her peers were seemingly nervous and unsure of what to say or do. She stated that LE establishes and enhances practical skills applicable in a clinical setting, such as assessing patients’ blood pressure, temperature, and pulse. For instance, the lab she attended did not have a dummy, so she and her fellow students practiced on each other by imitating different symptoms. During her LE, the RN realized that the most helpful approach was trying to imagine the process was genuinely authentic rather than thinking of lab activities as simulations. The RN declared that nobody should be knowledgeable at the beginning of LE, but it is crucial to remain calm and pay attention to the instructor.

Furthermore, when describing her clinical experience (CE), the RN conveyed that it was more challenging than LE because CE required participating in real-world situations. Throughout all CE, the profession rotated her to several practicing nurses in different settings, and each professional and environment were unique. The RN said her CE involved such activities as learning about a clinical setting, examining procedures, and assisting practitioners. Notably, she remarked that while most specialists were enthusiastic about teaching, some were hesitant to share their knowledge for various reasons, including limited time to explain specific aspects and high work overload. The RN suggested that student nurses saving lives during their CEs is not an expectation, but they should be polite and attentive to patients and medical staff. Overall, the RN stated that her clinical and lab experiences were demanding but influential for her future as a professional.

The RN said she used to have a studying system in preparation for examinations. Because many of her relatives had worked in healthcare before enrolling in NS, they taught her to concentrate on academics, thus increasing her chances of successful graduation. As a result, she always took notes during lessons at NS and after each lab and clinical practice. She said she read the notes for the past week every Sunday to memorize the material better. Depending on her assurance of understanding a specific class, she handwrote flashcards a few days before the exam and reviewed them alongside her notes.

Moreover, the RN declared that one of the most valuable methods was participating in study groups with her peers to determine whether she had forgotten anything and to learn a subject by explaining it to others. For instance, she shared how she realized she had misunderstood some questions from her pharmacology class during a group session with fellow students. She stated that such a system helped her organize and comprehend information.

The RN said her preparation for NCLEX (National Council Licensing Examination) was relatively similar to the methods employed in her regular learning process. She studied for NCLEX two months before taking the exam, made flashcards, and used her notes. In addition, she answered practice questions and engaged in-group sessions with her peers. She remarked that she started preparing moderately early but preferred carefully reviewing specific topics on some days and resting on others instead of scanning all subjects two weeks before NCLEX. Notably, she advised visiting the NCLEX webpage to explore such details as candidate bulletin and tutorials (“Prepare for success,” n.d.). The RN stated that creating a structured plan helped her memorize information without stressing her well-being.

The RN declared that her top three patient memories were quite pessimistic. One of those recollections was about the first patient who passed away under the RN’s care. She said a man excessively treated for a few weeks died due to a severe health condition. She noted that although her colleagues warned her of the patient’s likely demise, it was difficult to accept. The second memory the RN shared was of a woman who did not have a life-threatening disease but spent a long period in the hospital. During her stay, a distant relative a couple of times visited the woman, but she did not have a support system of friends or family. The woman was constantly sad, so the employees did their best to help the patient feel less lonely. The RN’s third recollection was of another woman who had experienced two readmissions but was always cheerful and put substantial emotional effort into fighting for her life. The RN expressed that the memories were unforgettable because one was her first distressing incident and the other two were simultaneously heartbreaking and joyful.

When asked what the phrase “NurseLife” means to her, the RN stated that the saying is associated with nursing being more than a profession. She said being a nurse is dedicated, compassionate, and open-minded. For instance, she shared that she often thinks about patients outside of work due to being worried about whether anybody’s condition is changing and what she can do the following day to assist him or her. She expressed that nursing also implies remembering to take care of herself because her well-being affects her productivity and relations with patients and other employees. The RN declared that “NurseLife” addresses challenges such as un-appreciation in the workplace; however, one should always be ready to help based on patient outcomes.

The RN said that the hardest thing about being a nurse is seeing patients pass away despite putting much effort into opposing their diseases. She stated that she often has to work overtime, experiences stress, and feels judged and unappreciated. However, such challenges seem manageable if she witnesses a person’s health improvement. For example, she noted that, like other healthcare providers, she worked long hours at the beginning of the pandemic but seeing even minor improvements in patients’ conditions made her less frightened. Nonetheless, the RN declared that it is not easy to overcome the profession’s challenges when losing someone under her care. She shared that being a nurse is especially hard when, after seeing a patient’s demise, she typically has to pull herself together quickly and go to the next room to assist another person. Moreover, she rarely grieves because thinking about the loss and the deceased’s family makes her feel powerless. The RN proposed that the most challenging thing about nursing is likely to be different for all specialists but is usually due to a combination of occurrences rather than one circumstance.

Upon finishing the interview, I thought it was very informative in confirming some of my expectations about nursing and providing several insights. For instance, I was aware of everyday activities for lab and clinical practices but was relatively surprised when considering that balancing academics and personal life is so demanding. The discussion with the RN changed my perspective, although not extensively. I now comprehend better that nursing is not simply about me making a difference but rather about caring for other people despite facing hardships, suffering from fatigue, or stress. Moreover, I believe that nurse life is also about correctly treating myself and focusing on constantly enhancing my knowledge and skills to make sure that I would be able to support my patients and colleagues. After reflecting on the difficulty of becoming a registered nurse based on the interview, I feel more enthusiastic about nursing school. I regard challenges as opportunities for improvement, and I am eager to learn how to help people. Despite having limited time, the registered nurse I questioned helped me see nursing from a professional’s perspective.

In conclusion, one requires resilience, focus, and commitment to become a registered nurse. According to an interview with a specialist in the medical field, her family primarily influenced her to join nursing despite its challenging nature. A combination of lab and clinical experience followed by an assessment from the National Council Licensing Examination are some of the hurdles she experienced. Despite the challenges, her self-confidence pushed her to become a registered nurse with the requisite skills to impact people’s lives significantly. Nonetheless, her work memories are mostly pessimistic due to a patient’s demise, and her career negatively influences her work-life balance. However, disregarding the stress or long working hours, nursing effectively improves people using time-tested skills and knowledge. The interview’s data serves as motivation to face each stage in the nursing profession confidently and constantly work on viewing it from the proper perspective. An expert nurse has a combination of skills and knowledge coupled with an innate desire to help people.

Reference

Prepare for success. (n.d.). NCLEX. Web.

Deductive Argument

In formal logic, arguments will be considered as deductively valid where the conclusion is drawn is true without a doubt, if the premises on which the conclusion is based are true. Arguments are considered inductively strong when the conclusions can be drawn on the probability of the premises being true. When the premises are secured and can be considered valid and true it is possible to derive a deductive logic from which the desired conclusion necessarily follows. Even though it is rare to have certainty with respect to any premises, in medical science it is desirable to have deductive logic for making decisions. However, it is not possible to avoid certain inductive conclusions due to the nature of various problems faced in the profession of healthcare. From the discussion, it follows that a deductive argument is one in which the premises are intended to provide absolute support for a conclusion. On the other hand, in the case of inductive argument, the premises can be expected to provide support for a conclusion only to some extent (Jenicek, 2003).

In the profession of healthcare, deductive and inductive logic are not used in their perspective of true logical sense. The terms are used in the process of reasoning itself. In epidemiology, deductive reasoning is used as a starting point for the gathering, analysis and interpretation of data. It involves using a general principle or hypothesis, which will be confirmed or refuted based on the analysis and interpretation of the information and data collected. Therefore, the relationship between the evidence on the grounds for the inference and the inference by itself can only be true if the underlying premises are true. Even when the premises on which the decision is based are inaccurate, still the conclusion might be true (Jenicek, 2003).

Example

An example for deductive reasoning is (that is drawing a necessary conclusion)

• Alcoholic patients vomiting fresh blood have esophageal ruptures (General)
• The patient who vomited fresh blood is an alcoholic (specific)
• Because the patient vomited fresh blood and those patients vomit fresh blood have esophageal ruptures this patient also has ruptured esophageal varices. (specific)

Inductive Argument

Inductive reasoning on the other hand makes use of established facts for drawing general conclusions or for confirming or refuting a hypothesis. Therefore, inferences or conclusions, which are just probable and not confirmed as true are known as inductive inferences or inductive arguments. Here the conclusion or the inference might still be false even if the evidence or premises on which the decision is based are accurate and true. In the case of inductive reasoning, the inference is only probable.

Example

An example for inductive reasoning is (that is drawing a probable conclusion)

• Alcoholic patient A who vomited fresh blood is known for having esophageal ruptures
• Alcoholic patient B who vomited fresh blood is known for having esophageal ruptures
• Therefore, alcoholic patients who vomit fresh blood have esophageal ruptures.

Normally, professionals in healthcare services do not try to generalize beyond the basic argument of “alcoholic patients who vomit fresh blood bleed from ruptured esophageal varices (Or, patients bleeding from ruptured esophageal varices are alcoholics)” (Jenicek, 2003). Such generalizations are not normally accepted as valid by the logicians; but are accepted in the healthcare profession.

References

Jenicek, M. (2003). Foundations of Evidence -based Medicine. New York: Informa Healthcare.

There are numerous definitions of the nursing profession provided by different theorists. The definition that appeals to me the most is the one provided by Dorothea Orem in her self-care deficit theory. She defined nursing as “the act of assisting others in the provision and management of self-care to maintain or improve human functioning at the home level of effectiveness” (McEwen & Wills, 2019, p. 151). I believe that this definition catches the central idea that patients are the best care providers for themselves, and nurses only need to assist them in learning and implementing sufficient self-care practices. While this definition appears holistic, there are also more function definitions of the nursing profession. For instance, Dorothy Johnson defined nursing as “an external regulatory force that acts to preserve the organization and integrate the patients’ behaviors at an optimum level under those conditions in which the behavior constitutes a threat to the physical or social health or in which illness is found” (McEwen & Wills, 2019, p. 155). This definition sees nursing as a force rather than an act, which appears inaccurate to me.

Nursing theories are crucial for nurses for many reasons. For instance, understanding the definition of nursing helps to understand the purpose of a nurse (Roy, 2018). In the case of Orem’s definition, the purpose of a nurse is to assist the patient, while Jonson states that nurses are to regulate the behavior. I also understand the nursing theories are crucial for nursing research, which can advance the nursing profession. A well-established nursing theory can direct a researcher in the studies and help to make predictions and hypothesize about the outcomes (McEwen & Wills, 2019). My understanding of the nursing theory’s importance and benefits was obscure, as I was uncertain how theory could be translated into practice. This course helped me realize the applications of nursing theory to practice.

References

McEwen, M., & Wills, E.M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.). Walters Kluwer.

Roy, C. (2018). Key issues in nursing theory: Developments, challenges, and future directions. Nursing Research, 67(2), 81-92.