Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice - Essay Example

"Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice" is a perfect example of a paper on care. Upon reviewing the criteria for a profession, a framework that is selected is adherence to professionalism or assumption of professional responsibility. This framework is met by the nursing profession in terms of gaining the required academic background to gain knowledge and develop the needed skills to undertake the role and responsibilities of a nurse. Likewise, through the nursing profession, the delivery of high-quality patient care is assured through following quality standards, as well as conformity to safety regulations. Finally, nurses are governed by ethical standards to ensure that interaction with clients (patients) and other stakeholders are undertaken within moral, legal, and ethical codes.

2. How did you view the image of nursing before you begin your student experience? How do the others you know (family, friends, acquaintances) view the image of nursing? How has your view changed as a result of your educational and student experiences?

            The image of nursing had always been revered as an honorable profession, even before I began my student experience. I honestly believe that people who selected a profession in the health care field of discipline has a great responsibility in safeguarding the welfare of people through undertaking their respective roles and responsibilities with due diligence, integrity, and professionalism. Concurrently, others I know also share similar views of the profession; that is why they have supported my pursuit of this endeavor. Likewise, my view of nursing has not changed; but it actually magnified the respect and admiration for the profession, as a result of my education and student experiences. I have realized and recognized the challenges and difficulties that potential future nurses would have to go through to ensure that we are provided with the appropriate theoretical framework that would aptly prepare us to be skilled nurses in the future.

3. Chose a media representation of nursing and identify how it portrays an image of nursing. Is this realistic/unrealistic (movie, TV show, and book)? Use examples of how the portrayal is effective.

            According to a journal article on the image of nursing: “although nurses are at the top of the 2012 Gallup Poll for Honesty and Ethics once again, the media and screen representations of nurses often are not positive or do not capture the reality of nursing practice” (Wolters Kluwer Health, 2013, p. 97). Some of the issues and comments noted that allegedly contribute to the negative image include the overall health condition of Americans, when compared to citizens of others countries, which is deemed worse off: “among those nations, the United States has the highest rates of infant mortality, injury and homicides, teenage pregnancy and teen STDs, human immunodeficiency virus infections and AIDS, drug abuse, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and disability” (Wolters Kluwer Health, 2013, p. 6). The role and responsibilities of nurses as promoters of good health through enhancing awareness were therefore considered ineffective.

4. Write a (fictional) letter of support or disagreement with the producers of the above and express your views about their portrayal of nursing and how that image affects the profession/society.

Dear Editor:

I strongly disagree to the negative image of nurses that was supposedly portrayed in contemporary media, as asserted in your article entitled “Image of Nursing in the Media” (Wolters Kluwer Health, 2013). There are so many nurses who have positively contributed to the improvement of the health and well-being of people through applying best practices in their respective endeavors. I affirm that the media has tendencies to magnify the negative image, even though only one or two isolated stories of nurses, who were found to be inefficient or ineffective in abiding with codes of professionalism. As such, I seriously believe that the media has a greater role and responsibility to promote the positive image of nurses through disclosing testimonies of their unwavering commitment to provide high-quality patient care and to confirm safety in their respective health care settings.

Using specific examples from your clinical experiences, identify your own experiences and/or observations, and discuss how providing care for the patients includes that of:

1. educator: Nurses are expected to promote health and awareness as educators through sharing information that emphasizes good nutrition, physical fitness, and preventing illnesses.
2. Counselors: Nurses become counselors when patients need assistance in mitigating feelings of hopelessness and despair through uplifting their spirits and providing hope for treatment.
3. researcher: Nurses provide additional information, gathered through research, on alternative treatments, or providing holistic care to patients under their jurisdiction.
4. advocate: Nurses support intervention and recommendation of physicians, as deemed crucial for the patient’s well-being.
5. caregiver: Providing care necessitates awareness of the cultural orientation and demographic factors of the patients to enable accurate dispensation of patient care.
6. interdisciplinary team member: Nurses work collaboratively with other health care practitioners to ensure that all interventions comply and abide by the delivery of high-quality care.

 

 

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