Anticipation for the Future

As January is quickly approaching, clinical is soon to follow. My first semester is coming to a close, and I can feel the anticipation growing as the practicum setting is getting closer and closer. I believe that I have learnt enough empirical knowledge so that I can build on the experiential knowledge in the future. It is how I bring the knowledge to the clinical setting in order to build relationships and provide empathetic care to my clients. I still wonder who I am, and what I can offer to the hospitals and the clients.

I know that once I enter into the hospital and after a few shifts as a student nurse, I will grow and develop as a nurse and as a person. Each day I will expand my knowledge and work towards the goal of becoming a successful nurse who is remembered by the clients.

Culture Care in Nursing

As a future nurse, I believe the importance of knowledge in nursing is crucial, especially the knowledge of culture care and diversity. Madeleine Leininger, a nursing theorist, acknowledged that the understanding of the patient’s culture in nursing is most important. As the country is becoming more and more diverse, nurses must be aware that the patients are too. It is the responsibility of the nurse to understand that each client may be culturally unique, and that the care be brought as equally between each client’s beliefs.

It is through Leininger’s ideas that I can incorporate into my practice. I want to be a nurse who can understand and become knowledgeable to my clients specific culture in order to provide effective care to each individual in the future.

Leininger, M. (2002). Culture care theory: a major contribution to advance transcultural nursing knowledge and practices. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 13(3), 189-192.

Shortages in Nursing

Nursing shortages are becoming more and more pronounced throughout the country. The numbers of nurses in the hospitals are slowly decreasing. Such decreases disrupt the effectiveness of client-centered care and interrupt the standards of nursing. There are not enough nurses to provide kind and quality care that is always expected. The consequences of the shortages are affecting both the nurses and the patients. Nursing shortages may lead to future ‘burn-out’ of nurses. The emotional exhaustion of nurses may lead to inadequate number of nurses, decline of quality of patient care, and an increase in workload. Overall, with a nursing shortage, more pressure would be put on healthcare professionals, outlining that the stress may affect the nurses behaviour as well as the patient and their needs.

I believe it is my job as a nurse to effectively contribute my hard work and dedication to my colleagues and my patients. I want to help as much as possible to alleviate the nursing shortages. With me and other nursing students, the shortages will hopefully improve just one nurse at a time!