Edited by Ayodele Nwosu
Published on August 17th, 2014
As the field of healthcare continues to grow with new endeavors and initiatives that will continue to generate medical innovations for the benefit of its patients, so must the field of nursing. This can be accomplished by transforming nursing education with more academic and clinical orientation focus, which should also contain an emphasis on moving towards Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Program. In order for today’s nurses to be considered professionally equal to their medical counterparts further education will be vital.
After reviewing the report from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on the future of nursing, there is a need to devote more clinical education to overall programs to allow the student to become more comfortable and confident before entering the healthcare arena. The report also, states that there is a shortage in nursing school faculty, which is a direct correlation that could effect nursing education as a whole. Without qualified nursing educators the field of nursing will be unable to meet the demands for quality patient care. From my point of view, more preparation is needed in order for nursing graduates to communicate and integrate more effectively with other healthcare professionals. Furthermore, a revamp of competencies at the Advance level is also needed to unsure that the complexities in health and science areas are being address. This will give Advanced Practice Registered Nurses the capability to serve as researcher, and to establish healthcare systems, which can meet the needs of the community. To improve the overall nursing field the education system must adapted to address all issue concerning nursing such as; healthcare policy, leadership, and critical thinking just to name a few.
As person in a accelerated, second degree bachelor’s program, I feel that having a bachelors gives me a opportunity to bring a more diverse background to the field of nursing. Diversity can energize the field of nursing and provide an outlet for fresh ideas as well as a renewed approach on old philosophies. While healthcare facilities are becoming more complex, I will be able to use my BSN to make more critical decision for the benefit of my patients. Likewise, I will know more than just basic nursing science and will have a stronger background that will allow me to adapt to an evolving models of care. It is my belief that nurses must be equipped with the educational tool and skill sets that will render care and expand their role as a healthcare professional.
The George Washington School of Nursing is providing me an opportunity to begin my voyage in becoming a healthcare professional. After completing this program it is my intent to move directly into an advance practice register nurse program while working as a registered nurse. Ideally, I would prefer to extend my efforts at a teaching hospital with an outstanding women’s health department. I would like to utilize my past research experience and foster new projects in the field of women’s health with an emphasis on reproductive issues. Additionally, it is important to provide diverse educational leadership in the classroom setting, which can transition into better patient care. Therefore, as I gain more experience as a nurse; I would like to transition into an instructor’s position for a nursing program.
A personal goal of mine is to create a mentorship program for minority high school students with an interest in the field of nursing. This program will provide internships; workshops on educational criteria, and guidance as the student begin to pursue a career in nursing. I have received guidance from mentorship and feel it is important to foster positive relationships with our younger generation and to provide them with the necessary tools to be successful.
