Nursing Autobiography
I graduated as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) in 2009. I used to work as a technician in a pharmacy. I also worked as a Hemodialysis Nurse (HN) after graduating in 2009. I took extra classes a year later to become a registered nurse (RN). I also earned an associate nursing degree in 2010. I continued to work in my specialty whereby I provided the best care to my patients. Most of these patients suffered from end stage Renal Disease. I took a bold step to advance my nursing career in 2012. I also wanted to earn my BSN in order to work as a Nurse Practitioner (NP). I am currently doing my Family Nurse Practitioner program. I am looking forward to work as a primary care provider in my community. My competencies and skills as a Family Nurse Practitioner will make me a qualified provider of specialized nursing care (Risjord, 2011). I am currently working as a Peritoneal Dialysis Nurse. I have always provided quality care to every patient with end stage renal disease.
The Four Meta-paradigms
I have always considered the four meta-paradigms in my nursing practice. Such meta-paradigms establish the best relationships and interactions within the wider nursing practice. The “first meta-paradigm is person” (Risjord, 2011, p. 23). This “paradigm identifies every sick person as a subject and not a patient” (Risjord, 2011, p. 24). The paradigm also includes social groups and communities. I have always treated this meta-paradigm as a subject. I understand why every individual is autonomous and unique. The approach has made it easier for me to provide the best care to my patients. The second meta-paradigm is health. I have always worked hard to become a medical professional. My goal is to improve every health outcome. Health “exists within the context of the social issues and medical challenges encountered by several individuals” (Meta-paradigm Concepts, 2014, p. 2). I believe my patients can have better lives while dealing with their health challenges and conditions.
According to Risjord (2011), the environment is another critical element of nursing. Our surrounding environment deals with “every aspect affecting the health conditions and recovery of patients” (Risjord, 2011, p. 24). I have always analyzed the cultural and social issues affecting my patients. This meta-paradigm also encourages nurses and caregivers to analyze the cultural, social, and economic issues affecting their patients. I also consider my patients’ attitudes towards suffering and human death. The other critical meta-paradigm is nursing. The above meta-paradigm does not make nursing complete. I have always embraced my goals as a nurse. My mission is to “ease human suffering and help every patient” (Risjord, 2011, p. 48). I always embrace emotional, ethical, and moral idea as a Family Nurse Practitioner. This paradigm defines me as a nurse. The paradigm also contributes a lot to my nursing philosophy. I will always use these four meta-paradigms of nursing to support the health needs of my patients. I am planning to consider the best ideas and concepts in order to realize my future goals as a nurse practitioner (NP).
Two Practice-Specific Concepts
Kim and Kollak (2006) encourage nurses to use different practice-specific concepts in order to provide the best support to their patients. Nursing theories explains why medical practitioners should appreciate knowledge to promote the best healthcare practices. The approach will ensure every nurse promotes respect and commitment. The first useful practice-specific concept in nursing is community learning. According to Kim and Kollak (2006, p. 104) “community learning is a self-initiated, dynamic, and essential process”. The practice will improve a person’s ability to engage in critical thinking (Meta-paradigm Concepts, 2014). I have enrolled for new programs and courses in order to improve my skills.
I have engaged in new discussions and analyses with my workmates. I have also been applying my new concepts in every nursing practice. My educational process has supported my skills as a competent provider of quality care. I want to become a liberally educated Family Nurse Practitioner who can make informed medical decisions. The approach will also make me a responsible and ethical caregiver. This practice-specific concept will reshape the future of nursing in many societies. I will also apply for a master’s degree in nursing. This course will make me competent and improve my skills. I will “acquire new concepts such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership skills” (Kim & Kollak, 2006, p. 48).
The second important practice-specific concept is nursing. Some “powerful values such as freedom, responsibility, human choice, and freedom are critical in nursing” (Kim & Kollak, 2006, p. 83). Nursing theories offer the best ideas towards guiding medical practice and healthcare delivery. According to Risjord (2011), medical practitioners should embrace the best theories in order to support the changing health expectations of their patients. Nurses should use the best skills and knowledge in order to improve the quality of care. Nurses and caregivers should use clinical reasoning to make the best nursing interventions and decisions.
Human caring and support is a critical aspect of nursing practice. Nurses should portray the best values such as empathy, commitment, dedication, and sensitivity. Nurses should be active players in the wider nursing practice. The approach will support every good value in order to improve the level of communication and treatment (Kim & Kollak, 2006). I have always empowered my workmates and patients through nursing partnerships and transactions. This practice has made me a competent provider of evidence-based support to my patients. Nurses should focus on the main goals of nursing. Some of these goals include “enhancing human welfare and caring for patients” (Meta-paradigm Concepts, 2014, p. 2). I will always commit myself to provide the best care to every vulnerable population. I will also embrace critical thinking in order to increase my status as a nurse practitioner.
List of Propositions
My propositions that connect to the above practice-specific concepts are as follows:
- Nursing practice should focus on every aspect that affects the health conditions and experiences of communities, patients, and families.
- Nurses and caregivers should engage in lifelong learning in order to improve the quality of care.
- Medical practitioners should participate in the advancement and promotion of nursing.
- Caregivers should embrace the best changes and evidence-based practices in order to achieve every nursing objective.
- Nurses should embrace the best codes of practice and ethics whenever providing evidence-based care to vulnerable populations.
The above propositions are relevant towards improving my nursing competences and practices. I will always use various theories and principles to support my nursing philosophy. The first concept is Martha Rogers’ theory of Unitary Beings. This theory combines the four meta-paradigms of nursing in order to achieve the best goals. The other principle is the Role Theory. This theory calls for the best practice and ability to achieve every targeted goal. The concepts of role theory encourage nurses to focus on their duties in order to support the changing needs of their patients. My philosophy of nursing is incomplete without embracing the best trans-cultural aspects of medical practice. Nurses should be ready “to examine every issue that might affect the nature and quality of care availed to their patients” (Risjord, 2011, p. 84). The change theory focuses on new ideas and evidence-based approaches to improve the quality of health outcomes. Healthcare professionals should focus on new changes to improve the quality and nature of nursing care.
My future goal is to embrace nursing as “the art and science of patient support and care” (Kim & Kollak, 2006, p. 89). Nurse practitioners should always consider the best ideas and concepts in order to achieve the best nursing goals. I will also embrace every nursing skill in order to support the changing needs and expectations of my patients. My past nursing experience has equipped me with better skills that have made me a competent provider of evidence-based nursing support. I am undertaking new studies to improve my competencies. I will always embrace teamwork and address most of the challenges encountered in my nursing organization. I will also embrace every good practice as a family nurse practitioner. I will use the above propositions to develop the best nursing philosophy (Risjord, 2011). My nursing philosophy will make me a leading provider of evidence-based care. My commitment to nursing will play a critical role towards improving the quality of care availed to different vulnerable populations.
Reference List
Kim, H., & Kollak, I. (2006). Nursing Theories: Conceptual and Philosophical Foundations, Second Edition. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Meta-paradigm Concepts. (2014). Web.
Risjord, M. (2011). Nursing Knowledge: Science, Practice, and Philosophy. New York: Wiley.