Professionalism in Nursing Question Set

Professionalism in Nursing Question Set

Describe an incident derived from your clinical experience which to you represents the ideal of professional values in nursing. Describe the characteristics and actions of the nurses involved. How has your idea of professionalism changed during the semester?

During my clinical experience I witnessed countless examples of nurses demonstrating their genuine commitment to professional values, but one incident was especially resonant considering the circumstances. The role of nurses in extending human dignity to patients suffering pain, uncertainty, and fear is well-established, but as nursing students struggling to study and keep pace, this capacity of our chosen profession can often be overlooked. I was reminded of the nurse's natural ability to resort human dignity to those in need towards the conclusion of a particularly grueling shift, when an elderly patient arrived in extreme distress after slipping in the shower. This patient was immediately tended to, examined for internal injuries, and provided with medication to relieve his pain, but their emotional state continued to fluctuate between confusion and anguish. A senior nurse, who had already worked an exhausting 10-hour shift, took the time to sit with this patient, asking him about his family and pets, and simply calming him down as best she could. My colleague spent almost two hours in the room with this man, making sure he understood his situation fully, and even waiting until his adult children arrived. This experience changed my conception of professionalism and values in nursing, because I learned that this job is more than simply a skill to be parlayed into a paycheck. I discovered that nursing is somewhat of a higher calling, and that in my career I would be presented with a number of opportunities to reaffirm a patient's sense of dignity.

DQ2: Review your discussion post #1 and 2. Evaluate your initial assessment by comparing your initial assessment of strengths and weaknesses to your actual clinical experience. Based on these experiences, relist your strengths and weaknesses and areas you excel in and need improvement. What do you think of your new list? How can you improve on your weaknesses?

Prior to gaining clinical experience in the field, I listed believed that my professional strengths included patience, compassion, good organizational skills, effective personal communication skills, having respect for patients and coworkers, and a desire to learn. My perceived professional weaknesses included my lack of experience in delegating, lack of confidence in communicating with MDs, and being a new graduate. I also stated my firm belief that by identifying my weaknesses, I would know what areas I needed to work and improve on, because practice is the best way to overcome those particular weaknesses. After working in the clinical setting and gaining valuable firsthand experience, I have learned many things about my ability to provide qualified and competent nursing care to patients in need.

My initial assessment of strengths proved to be mostly well founded, as I learned that character traits like patience and compassion can be parlayed into positive health outcomes when combined with a firm grasp of the necessary knowledge and skills. The organizational skills I have always prided myself on were also extremely useful in the clinical setting, as the ability to record, retain, and reapply information on the fly is essential during the course of a typical day of nursing duties. Communicating openly, honestly, and respectfully with fellow nurses, physicians, and patients was another example of my natural strengths becoming an asset during my clinical experience, because delivering quality healthcare services on a daily basis requires the collaborative effort of all parties involved.

My experience working in the clinical setting also confirmed that my initial assessment of weaknesses was mostly accurate, as I often encountered difficulties when asked to delegate certain tasks to fellow nurses who had more experience. I also found myself becoming slightly nervous and unsure when dealing directly with medical doctors, simply because I know that they have certain expectations and standards which must be met. Nonetheless, these weaknesses eventually improved as I spent more time in the clinical setting, spending time around other nurses and doctors, and seeing up close how my education and effort can be used to help patients recover from injury and illness.