Transforming Nursing Education, Essay Example

The BSN-prepared nurse or higher represents a high degree of knowledge and skill within the nursing profession that supports growth and maturity within the field. The level of education and skill of nurses who are prepared at this level is critical to improving the practice setting. However, this process also enables nursing students to move to their own next level and to grow and mature in the nursing role with the support of others within the field. Professional nursing encompasses many concepts and reflects the importance of developing new ideas to ensure that students are able to experience the practice environment with a viable learning curve and a conceptual approach that will impact their entire careers (Hood, 2015). The ability to transform within the learning environment requires a level of acknowledgment of the difficulties of this process and how it influences a student’s ability to recognize their own potential value to the nursing profession. In this context, nursing education must experience its own level of transformation as a means of supporting professional growth and development, as well as the development of social skills that will improve communication and influence outcomes for nurses as they gain experience throughout their professional careers (Del Prato, Bankert, Grust, & Joseph, 2011). In this manner, nurse education must also undergo a transformation of sorts that will positively impact all students on a continuous basis through a transformative learning curve to meet needs and expectations as effectively as possible (Del Prato et.al, 2011).The effectiveness of communication among nurses will also reflect an opportunity to expand socialization and support a practice setting in which nurses will positively contribute at a high level. The utilization of specific resources such as communication tools and theoretical perspectives may provide further support to nursing students on their journey as they aim to achieve success in the practice setting that will have lasting and meaningful implications for nurses (Del Prato et.al, 2011).

The four central concepts of professional nursing are integral to the success and productivity of all nurses. However, some of these concepts are viewed as more vital than others, thereby creating an environment in which nurses are able to contribute at a high level throughout their professional careers. Perhaps most important to my personal philosophy of nursing is the concept of the person, whereby each individual patient deserves an opportunity to achieve a greater quality of life. At the same time, each person is unique and distinct from all others, thereby requiring a level of attention and focus that is highly individualistic and person-centered in many ways. An emphasis on the person’s needs must take precedence above all else and requires a means of understanding the dynamics of the nursing practice environment in order to make the person a critical priority above all else. It is expected that nurses will continue to explore new insights into the person in order to improve their focus on individual care and treatment (Rosemond, Hanson, Ennett, Schenk, & Weiner, 201). There are significant advantages for nurses and patients when a person-centered approach is assumed because patients are a key priority for nurses, but at the same time, their own needs must be met through a comprehensive approach to the practice setting. This is an important step towards the discovery of nursing core strengths and characteristics in order to facilitate positive outcomes for patients. This also reflects the need to understand the dynamics of nursing and how a person-centered approach might be effective for nurses in understanding the treatment population and its impact on patients at this level. The person must serve as a critical reminder of the importance of healthcare practice and how nurses are able to transform into effective leaders and care providers in order to achieve the intended outcomes. This practice supports a culture of positive and meaningful behavior for nurses over time.

References

Del Prato, D., Bankert, E., Grust, P., & Joseph, J. (2011). Transforming nursing education: a review of stressors and strategies that support students’ professional socialization. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, 2, 109.

Hood, L.J. (2015). Leddy & Pepper’s Conceptual Bases of Professional Nursing, 8^th Edition.  LWW.

Rosemond, C. A., Hanson, L. C., Ennett, S. T., Schenck, A. P., & Weiner, B. J. (2012). Implementing person-centered care in nursing homes. Health care management review, 37(3), 257-266.