Nursing: Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation
Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation: Nursing
The Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation
The Stairstep model of professional transformation advances the idea that identity formation in the nursing profession is a process, and not a one-time event. A nurse grows through their everyday experiences, developing their sense of professional identity in a systematic process until they achieve their professional ideal. One's professional ideal is at the top of the staircase; the various steps of the staircase represents the habits and behaviors (in both their personal and professional lives) that they adopt as they move up towards that ideal (Crigger & Godfrey, 2010). When one is at their ideal, they are able to exercise the core values of integrity, trustworthiness, courage, honesty and justice both inside and outside the profession; they learn to live by these values regardless of the context and situation (XXX).
Like many other nurses, I have often based the effectiveness of my nursing practice on my ability to follow rules. The basic rules governing that govern the profession include disclosing information if you believe that someone in you care is at risk, following legislation relating...
I always thought that living by these rules in my professional experience is what made me an ideal nurse. The Stairstep model, however, suggests that following the rules is just the first step on the staircase; one's formation and development does not end here. There are many other habits and behaviors at both the disciplinary and personal levels that one adopts/develops as they move up the staircase towards their professional identity. Like many other nurses, I have remained at this first step of the staircase, failing to pursue my professional identity by adopting new ideals about what and who a nurse professional is. The staircase model of professional growth encourages nurse professionals to be in a continuous process of learning and transformation until they can achieve their professional ideal.
They need to continually learn how to be a professional both inside and outside the workplace; people should be able to perceive you as a professional away from the workplace. As such, double standards or following the rules at the workplace alone is a sign that one is yet to establish their ideal personality. Moreover, every step requires one to look back on…
