Looking back at the beginning of the course, I should say that it provided us with the knowledge we needed to master our skills and improve the understanding of the essentials of nursing. First of all, the course contributed to the reconsideration of the approach to nursing theories, their practical utility, and integration with the existing practice. I am sure that these concepts are a fundamental element in the work of every specialist.
Regarding the fact that the health of the population is one of the most valuable achievements of any society, the ability to promote further improvement of peoples quality of lives and provide them with the needed care acquires the top priority for advanced practice registered nurse. However, this task is impossible without the enhanced comprehension of the theories of nursing. Second, the courses cultivated a new philosophy of nursing that emerged under the impact of innovative ideas about the role a nurse should play in the recovery process and his/her importance for patients. In this regard, the four assignments completed by us became a crucial aspect cultivating a new knowledge and promoting better cooperation with communities.
The fact is that modern nursing practice cannot be imagined without the use of particular theories to create the theoretical framework for further improved cooperation with colleagues and patients. Moreover, the main aspects of nursing theories studied during the course can also be considered milestones of our practice as they outline the scope of activities, authorities, and responsibilities demanded from a specialist to become an efficient health worker and contribute to the improvement of the health of the nation.
At the same time, the theory can be considered a bridge that guarantees the connection between the information we acquire during our studies and practice that demand utilization of all skills and knowledge to achieve positive outcomes (Cody, 2013). Only combining all elements of this framework with effective skills and methods, a specialist can do his/her duties appropriately and help patients in complex cases. That is why theory is one of the factors that shape nursing practice and contribute to the emergence of alteration needed to promote the continuous improvement of care and introduce new methods to assist patients in their recovery.
During the course, we also had an opportunity to delve into the importance of the basic values that should be used as a model for practice and guide nurses in their work. For me, the health of the population and clients is the core value that should guide my decisions and activity. The advanced practice of a registered nurse presupposes multiple challenges and ethical situations that should be solved to guarantee the improvement of the patients states and their recovery.
The problem is that there are many options that can be selected; however, only those that do not contradict to the principles and values mentioned above should be chosen (Bronner, 2017). I believe that the health of patients should be appreciated as the core value, and during the course, we had multiple opportunities to prove this assumption.
I should also say that the information acquired during the courses can be considered regarding my nursing experience. Every health worker has his/her own philosophy of nursing that preconditions the way he/she communicates with individuals, engages in various collaborations, or makes decisions (Tyson, 2015). In other words, the given philosophy is a certain code that is created under the impact of multiple factors such as experience, skills, knowledge, and personal qualities. During the last course, my own nursing philosophy has experienced some significant changes. First of all, the improved understanding of the nursing theory and knowledge should be admitted.
Very often practical skills are emphasized, while factors are disregarded. However, I think that it is an erroneous approach. Only the combination of outstanding knowledge in the most important spheres of nursing along with the continuous improvement of skills and respect to the health of patients and their needs should be considered the guaranty of final success. This statement can be called my current philosophy of advanced practice nursing as I realize the need to provide care efficiently and take into account the basic elements of the nursing practice.
Altogether, I am sure that these courses became an important stage of my evolution as a nurse. They promoted the reconsideration of the role of theory in everyday activities and recovery process. Moreover, the improved understanding of the existing theoretical framework cultivated a new perspective on the practice which should rest on the basic assumptions of these concepts. Accepting the idea of the outstanding value of the health of people and its promotion, I also recognized the need to apply a special philosophy focused on the satisfaction of all patients demands to guarantee their recovery and improvement of the quality of lives.
These nine weeks were an important period in my becoming an outstanding specialist as they triggered the emergence of a new philosophy and perspective on the essentials of nursing and how they should be used in the modern practice.
References
Bronner, S. E. (2017). Critical theory: A very short introduction. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Cody, W. K. (2013). Philosophical and theoretical perspectives for advanced nursing practice. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Tyson, L. (2015). Critical theory today: A user-friendly guide. London, UK: Routledge.