Reflection Paper Undergraduate 681 words

Reflecting on "The Good Nurse" by Cortney Davis

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Abstract

This reflection paper examines how Cortney Davis's poem "The Good Nurse" prompted a practicing nurse to revisit the motivations, values, and personal philosophy that underpin their career. The paper explores the challenges of nursing — including long hours, marginal pay, and emotional strain — alongside the profound, non-monetary rewards the profession offers. The author articulates core nursing values such as caring, dignity, integrity, and holistic healing, while also describing nursing as both an art and a collaborative learning process. The reflection concludes by affirming that meaningful human connection remains the most enduring reason to choose nursing as a vocation.

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What makes this paper effective

The paper grounds abstract nursing values — caring, dignity, integrity — in concrete personal experience, making the reflection feel authentic rather than formulaic.
The author uses the poem as a consistent touchstone, returning to it at both the opening and the close to create a satisfying circular structure.
Honest acknowledgment of nursing's difficulties (isolation, low pay, verbal abuse) adds credibility to the ultimately affirmative conclusion.

Key academic technique demonstrated

This paper demonstrates reflective writing as a disciplined academic form. Rather than simply summarizing the poem, the author uses it as a lens for critical self-examination, moving systematically from external challenges to internal values to a broader philosophy of practice. This technique — using a literary or artistic stimulus to structure professional self-reflection — is standard in nursing education and aligns with models such as Gibbs' Reflective Cycle.

Structure breakdown

The paper opens with the poem as a catalyst, then moves through a candid accounting of nursing's hardships before pivoting to the profession's rewards. Subsequent paragraphs articulate the author's core values, philosophy of learning, and sense of social purpose. The conclusion returns to the poem's central image to reinforce the thesis that meaningful human connection justifies a nursing career. The progression is logical and builds steadily toward its closing affirmation.

Introduction: A Poem That Prompts Reflection

Reading The Good Nurse by Cortney Davis made me reflect on all the reasons I wanted to become a nurse in the first place. I remember when I started, there seemed to be many barriers to overcome. I wondered whether all of the long — and many times lonely — hours away from loved ones, the pay that compared to many other career choices was marginal at best, and the occasional abuse and insults suffered at the hands of others were worth the effort. There were times I had my doubts.

Yet on reflection, I realize that the important work we do far outweighs the negative aspects. This poem reminds me that nursing is a profession with positive rewards that careers outside the medical field cannot compare with, even if those rewards are not monetary.

Challenges and Rewards of the Nursing Profession

My core values have been shaped by my experiences. I believe caring is central to everything I do. I believe in promoting health, healing, and hope in response to the human condition. I value my personal integrity — that is, respecting the dignity and moral wholeness of every person without limitations or conditions. Every person is unique, and I respect the differences among individuals' ideas, values, and ethnicities. I pride myself on striving for excellence in all that I do.

Core Values That Guide Nursing Practice

These values align closely with what the nursing profession broadly defines as ethical practice: a commitment to the whole person, not merely the presenting medical condition.

2 Locked Sections · 240 words remaining

Nursing as Art and Lifelong Learning · 110 words

"Nursing as applied art and collaborative learning"

Giving Back: Nursing as a Personal Calling · 130 words

"Holistic care extends beyond the patient"

Conclusion: The Enduring Case for Nursing

This poem reminded me of all the positive ways our profession touches people's lives every day. I know there are times when it is easy to get caught up in the negative aspects of our work. This is normal and to be expected. After all, where else can one regularly witness the courage, the triumphs, and the tragedies of humanity? On the other hand, all it really takes is one occasional "kiss" from someone in my care to remind me of why I chose to become a nurse. As nursing continues to evolve as a profession, that fundamental human connection remains its most enduring reward. There really is no other job like nursing.

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Key Concepts in This Paper

Reflective Practice Nursing Values Holistic Care Professional Identity Compassionate Caring Lifelong Learning Nursing as Art Human Dignity Personal Calling Healing Process