Over the last three and a half years, I have been working as a bedside nurse on a medical surgical unit. With the dream of gaining valuable experience and confidence as a nurse before going to graduate school to begin my journey in becoming a nurse practitioner. Being accepted into the graduate program will allow me to gain the knowledge to further contribute to the nursing profession; outside of the contributions I have made thus far. I am ready and prepared to do what is necessary to be successful in the master’s program.
I have been developing myself into a valuable member of the nursing profession through different contributions. Mainly working to be a leader and resource for others. I utilize my leadership skills while working as a charge nurse on my unit. I am responsible for a 25 bed unit, four to five nurses, and two to three patient care technicians during my shift. My duties include coordinating staffing during the shift, being a resource to my fellow staff, and maintaining quality care and patient satisfaction on the unit. I enjoy doing rounds on the unit because it allows me to engage with patients. Opening up an opportunity to either celebrate their care or help find a solution for something that they are unsatisfied with.
My leadership skills are also shown while being a preceptor when needed. I tend to work with many new nurses, so I am also there for advice, techniques, and/ or to help with tasks they are unsure about. I especially enjoy helping newly licensed nurses during their orientation by being a preceptor. I am a resource for them as they become comfortable with their skills and transition into being an independent nurse.
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I get the same enjoyment when working with student nurses on the floor. I remember when I was in nursing school, how helpful it was to have a knowledgeable and understanding nurse during clinical. I try to be that for students whether it is by finding learning opportunities or just by answering questions and being a resource for them.
Lastly, I contribute by being a member of my hospital committee, the Service Excellence Committee. The committee is geared to help maintain excellent care and build teamwork on the unit. It helps nurses feel more like a team, to get know each other, and also provide resources to help improve care and ultimately improving Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores. We have noticed by doing this our team morale is higher, coworkers feel more organized, and are able to depend on each other as team.
I am also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International. Even though I am not able to actively participate at this time, I still utilize it as a resource until I am able to participate fully. I frequently download articles on best practices and read the nursing journal articles because I am always looking for ways to stay current and enhance my knowledge in this always changing profession. That is why I know I can be successful in the graduate program.
By being accepted into the master’s program, I will have an opportunity to expand my knowledge and skills to better care for patients in a holistic way. In order to be successful in this graduate program, I will need to be dedicated and focused. My success is hinged on staying organized, utilizing my resources, not procrastinating, and being engaged during classes. This program will be demanding and hard work but I know I can be successful.
In conclusion, I have contributed to the profession of nursing by using my leadership skills and working to enhance my knowledge. By being a charge nurse, preceptor, and participant in my committee, I continue to be a resource for others. I also continue to utilize resources available to me to stay up to date with evidence based practices. I am ready and looking forward to putting in the work to be successful in the master’s program as I pursue my license. Which will enable me to make more contributions to this profession.
