Interview With a Registered Nurse, Research Paper Example

Interviewing a registered nurse who has completed their degree and is currently working is an exercise in learning components of the real world nursing profession. Important points to discuss during an interview include the educational training and motivation to become a nurse. The interview also supplies information about typical work tasks. Memberships and professional organizations are valuable to keeping abreast of new nursing information. This is one way a nurse can stay updated on current research and new information. Nursing shortages impact not only institutions but also the nursing profession as a whole. Stress factors and coping mechanisms are subjects important to the interview.

Education

I conducted my interview with a registered nurse named Ken M. (fictitious name) who currently works in a large university teaching hospital. Ken attended a four year college and earned his nursing degree through this college approximately 10 years ago. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).  Before entering college the prospective student must have completed a high school diploma.  This is the only prerequisite for attending a school to earn a nursing degree.  The nursing student also has the options of sub specializing in a nursing discipline. Ken took extra classes and specialized in pediatrics. Once a person graduates with their BSN they must then take the National Council Licensure Examination in order to obtain their registration to be considered and validated as a registered nurse (R.N.)

Motivation

During my interview with Ken he explained how he became a nurse and the motivating factors which precipitated his decisions. He entered the army out of high school and married quickly; fathering three children. After he completed his army career, he realized he had a family to support with no education or practical experience to be able to financially care for a family of five.  During his army career he was impressed by the medical emergency teams he encountered. His curiosity with medicine and the health care profession began to develop.  Loving being a father and enjoying being around children he began to think of going to nursing school. With the support of his wife, he went to college and successfully earned his BSN.  He now works on a pediatric floor in the hospital.  He reports that his patients are his real motivation.

Tasks and Duties

Ken has a plethora of duties.  A typical day for Ken consists of caring for young children on the floor he works. He begins his day by checking in with the existing nurse and receiving the update on what patients are currently on the floor. He then rounds on each patient, introduces himself to the new patients and reunites with the current patients. He works a day shift so he is responsible for distributing medications and ensuring patients are taking them. He changes dressings on wounds when needed or other tasks as ordered by the attending physicians.

Memberships

Ken is a member of the American Nurses Association (ANA). This is an organization supporting and recognizing registered nurses. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the rights of ruses and lobbying political on health care issues affecting nurses and the public (ANA, 2010). Ken has been a member of this organization since he earned his R.N. He uses this organization to keep his continuing medical education credits current by participating in learning conferences and webinars.

He is also a member of the Society of Pediatric Nurses. This organization is dedicated to promoting excellence in the nursing care of children through the clinical practice, education and research of the members (Society of Pediatric Nurses, 2010). This membership allows Ken to keep updated on pediatric nursing issues.

Current Research

I discussed with Ken the concept of how current research impacts his position and perception of nursing practices. At the organization he works they are proactive in keeping the nursing staff updated on current research. They have several publications which describe new research and theories. He also obtains information through his membership with the ANA, which provides excellent communication for nurses to study. Specializing in pediatrics, Ken also must keep updated on research and new procedures and processes for this sub speciality. This is where his membership in the Society of Pediatric Nurses is beneficial. He understands the importance of keeping updated on current research and how this affects nursing practice. He is an advocate for continuing medical education and is dedicated to keeping abreast of new research.

Nursing Shortage

The nursing shortage has not specifically affected Ken in his current position. The university he works at began a program several years ago to help with this issue. They provide financial support for associate degree nurses to return to school to earn their BSN, as well as offering BSN employees the opportunity to return to school to earn their masters. If they choice to return to school they are required to dedicate a certain number of working years with the university. The number of years will depend on the degree attempted and the amount of funding received.

Stress Factors

There are many factors which create stress in the nursing workplace. The ANA have reported that nursing stress include factors such as workload, relationships with other staff members, ineffective leadership and management and dealing with the emotional needs of patients and their families. Ken states that his number one stress factor is when he has a sick child and the family members are not supportive of the patient or there is suspected child abuse. He takes his patient care very seriously and he watches closely for the support network of the children. His second most stressful factor is the terminal children with diseases such as cancer. He is continually amazed at the emotional capability of the children to endure their illnesses and trauma.

The inadequate coping skills of the families to help the children rather than looking for sympathy for themselves is a stress factor and a large reason for workplace frustrations. Ken has discovered that if he communicates with the family and they understand his level of education and expertise they are more willing to work with him to be supportive of the children. In general patients look for the advice of the physicians. Ken uses his knowledge to help teach and mentor patients to the high quality of nursing care the university provides.

Ken realizes the important of developing coping strategies and mechanisms for avoiding burnout due his workplace stressors. His children are all grown and on their own. He and his wife, who is also a nurse, have developed travel as one of their stress reducers. They regularly take trips to Mexico and the Caribbean islands for relaxation and decompression. They both love the climate and tropical environment. They exercise regularly and while on these trips they will take hikes and scuba-dives. Physical activity and a change of scenery have become their havens to stress reduction. For Ken this allows him the avenues to work at his fullest capacity without burnout.

Compare and Contrast Coping Strategies

“It is hypothesized that nursing stress varies as a consequence of nursing speciality” as well as job satisfaction (Power & Sharp, 1988, p. 726). This article demonstrates that various different stressors which nurses’ in different specialities experience. Nurses who work in disciplines where there is a high rate of death, such as a Hospice nurse, report more stress associated with death. Workload stressors are more commonly seen in underappreciated jobs such as in the mental health sector.

Job satisfaction and workplace stressors are concepts which are affected by each; the higher job satisfaction the greater chance of dealing with workplace stress.  However, if workplace stress is not adequately dealt with, job satisfaction is jeopardized. There is sufficient evidence in the literature to demonstrate job satisfaction as a positive indicator of increased retention; “conversely, dissatisfaction has been shown to lead to turnover, absenteeism, and burnout “(Wyatt & Harrison, 2010).  According to this article nurses also report that family support and cooperation are tied to the level of degree the nurse has. The impression is that a degree is associated with higher quality of care.

Another concept to comparing Ken’s real life experiences and scholarly articles is the fact that Ken is a male and historically nurses have been female. Could some of his perception of patient family and lack of support have anything to do with this stereotype of nurses?  Preferences for gender association have been documented by many studies. Growing literature to support the general idea that some people have a gender preference in healthcare is demonstrated by surveys given to healthcare professionals (Kerssens, Bensing and Andela, 1997).  Kerrssens, Bensing and Andela investigated gender preference and found that for the most part, the population associated technical medical care, such as surgery, to the male gender while more caregiving such as nursing was attributed to the female gender.

This study was conducted several years ago.  More recent studies show a higher correlation to the degree the nurse holds rather than the gender of that person. However, the patient perception of the health care professional has become associated with an entity rather than personality. As the population becomes more educated and empowered through the internet, healthcare professionals have higher standards to overcome. A study found that 127 nurses who had left were and were unemployed cited the reasons included lack of recognition, poor work conditions and lack of opportunity for professional growth (Wyatt and Harrison, 2010).

Summary

I learned a great deal about nursing and the varying components associated with earning a degree and how the profession is dealt with in the real world. Reviewing the peer-reviewed nursing journals also encouraged me to investigate the sub specialities of nursing and familiarize myself with the stressors and job satisfaction components. Understanding these dynamics will help me decide on my career path in a proactive and informed way.

References

ANA (2010).  About ANA. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/FunctionalMenuCategories/AboutANA.aspx

Kerssens, J.J., Bensing, J.M., Andela, M.G. (1997). Social Science Medicine. Patient preference for genders of health professionals. Vol. 44, Iss 10, pp 1531-1540.  Retrieved from http://nvl002.nivel.nl/postprint/PPpp680.pdf

Power, K.G. & Sharp, G.R. (1988).  Journal of Advanced Nursing 13,726-732

A comparison of sources of nursing stress and job satisfaction among mental handicap and hospice nursing staff.  Retrieved from http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2648.1988.tb00563.x/pdf

Wyatt, J. & Harrison, M. (2010). Pediatric Nursing. Certified pediatric nurses’ perceptions of job satisfaction.  July-August, 2010.  Retrieved from http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FSZ/is_4_36/ai_n55187995/?tag=content;col1