My Reason for Becoming a Nurse - Essay Example

A quote from Florence Nightingale expresses what nursing means to me. In 1859, she said "the goal of nursing is to put the patient in the best condition for nature to act upon him primarily by altering the environment". As a nurse, my aim is to promote health, prevent disease and help patients cope with illnesses. Both persistence and determination have driven me in this profession. I love nursing, and educating my patients and their families in taking charge of their health. This is the main reason why I became a Public Health nurse and obtained my certification in home health.

Caring for patients in their own environments is both rewarding and challenging. The many dynamics present in a home environment often require an interdisciplinary approach to issues and concerns. As I review my career, I realize my focus has been on teaching others - another reason I love nursing is that it allows me to do this. I get a great deal of personal satisfaction from helping patients, and from helping families care for their loved ones. This involves teaching them about disease processes, medication, and signs and symptoms of complications from terminal illness.

Most important of all to me is to give my patients the best quality of life possible, and to show their families how they can help their loved ones.I am presently working as an Admission Nurse in a hospice. This work is unlike any I have previously experienced. Having now worked in the hospice for 18 months I have realized that you truly must have a calling to help others during such a crucial period in their lives. Many people are so overwhelmed that it is necessary to approach the patient from a holistic approach.

I truly endorse the hospice philosophy because I feel that an interdisciplinary approach to health care is very important. This role is very challenging, and flexibility is essential in providing good care. I must be proficient in diverse areas such as wound care, use of port catheters, and administration of IV fluids. I also rely heavily on my assessment skills when developing the Plan of Care, making good documentation of patient care essential. I have functioned as a leader in the past, as Director of a Home Health Company and as Assistant Chief Nurse in the Air National Guard.

However, I have found that I get a much higher level of satisfaction when I am directly involved in caring for patients and their families as a unit, rather than indirectly through managing other staff.The diversified field of nursing has allowed me to experience the many options in the industry without changing careers. I haven't experienced 'burn out' because my role as a nurse is so flexible. I am always ready to take the opportunity to challenge my abilities, and to learn and remain current in the healthcare industry.

In 1999, I returned to school and enrolled in graduate school. I worked full-time, and remained an Air National Guardsman, attending monthly drills. I obtained a Master of Science in Administration in 2001. The ultimate goal of my 30-year journey in nursing has always been to use my knowledge and skills to help my patients and their families. This is why I am very excited about entering the Nurse Practitioner program. I often think of Orem's theory in relation to my philosophy of nursing: People are independent when they are able to do what they can to maintain life, health and well-being.

The guidance, direction and support received from a nurse enables people to retain their independence. Nursing reminds me of the saying: "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime". The nurse compensates for what the patients cannot do, while teaching them how to care for themselves.