Entrance Essay for Masters Degree Program

When I started the RN-BSN journey I believed the core of nursing was altruism that has not changed. The care delivered to the patient should be with an attitude of unselfish concern for that patient. Serving as an advocate for all patients should be of high priority. All healthcare workers must maintain competence in their scope of practice. It is the responsibility of the nurse to “safeguard the patient from incompetent, unethical, or illegal practice of any person” I believe that acting for the benefit of others is right and good” (Killen, & Saewert, 2007). Patients should be incorporated into their plan of care. The plan of care should include family, income, and environment, as these areas will affect the patient outcome. The discharge plan along with the plan of care should include all aspects of the patient’s life. “Patients are entitled to considerate and dignity of care” (Black, 2007). Nursing once used a systematic body of knowledge and currently utilizes a well defined and well organized body of knowledge that is intellectual and describes phenomena of concern as written in the table of characteristics of a profession. There are many organizations of nursing. The Center for Nursing Advocacy is quite impressive and “seeks to increase public awareness of the role nurses play in the health care” (Black, 2007). There is also “The American Association of Colleges of Nursing “which maintains government relations focusing on advancing public policy in nursing education, research, and practice” (Killen & Stewart 2007). The RN-BSN program has allowed me to grow as a nurse and a person. My communication skills with peers has improved, this was accomplished through the group project in the nursing research course. This course forced me to work as a team.
Before this course no one could have convince me working as a team to complete a project would improve patient outcome. I now believe team work and evidence based practice is the only way to improve the patients over all outcome. I did not believe furthering my education was key to growing as a nurse or a person, however it has. In the past I believed a BSN nurse was one who completed a degree in name only, however was unable to work as a floor nurse or perform “the real duties of a nurse”. My self- image is one of self confidence in my knowledge base as a nurse, and I have self-assurance in my ability to facilitate change. I now understand that knowledge and education gives you the necessary skills to facilitate change which improves patient outcomes. I no longer see myself as a “we have always done it this way nurse”. My goal has always been to provide patients with excellent care, however now I ask myself, how I can provide the best care for my patients without using evidenced based practice. This course has improved my skills, philosophies, and practice of nursing.
Two Year Goals I have learned from this course that to be an effective team member you must share in the commitment of a common goal or purpose. There must be effective communication with the other team members. Hopefully, team members have skills that will work well together to achieve the common goal. The nursing research class gave me the opportunity to experience firsthand the effectiveness of a team. The knowledge of my characteristics enable me to be an effective team member. The most effective characteristic is my new sense of valuing individual team member roles. I did not believe working in a team was effective before this class. I now realize without a team it very difficult to accomplish the common goal. My goals for the next two years will be complete one half of my MSN degree at the University of Texas at Arlington and establishing effective teams in the hospital emergency department. The delivery of care at my hospital must be based on evidenced based practice, and I plan to be a large part of establishing teams that can make recommendations to change practice. Anything is possible with a common goal set, and support of the other team members. This course changes your mind-set. There is an old saying “man is not an island unto himself”. This saying is so true, alone it is hard to move a large rock, but with a team you can move a mountain. I do look in the mirror to make certain it’s me making these statements.

Lifelong Learning

This program has proven to me learning is lifelong goal. Can you image my auto mechanic not learning how to work on the new engines? He would not stay in business very long. I have gained a great respect for the educators of this world of nursing, the dedication that’s required to perform research. My hats off to the educator who strives to educate us who believed in “that’s the way we have always done it nurses’. You educators have changed our minds with your teaching, as nurses we are always won over with those words “improved patient outcomes”. My mind set has changed from being quick to judge, to how can I research this process or procedure to assure the best care is being delivered. Is this really me talking, making statements concerning evidence based practice is the only way. I now understand evidence practice is the best way to improve patient outcome. There is a saying “why would anyone continue the same behavior and expect a different outcome”? As nurses why would we continue with the same old way? This program has changed my mind concerning evidenced based practice and the way nursing care is delivered based on research. The nursing research course I completed we chose “Pain Management in long term care facilities”, this concerned me as we discovered pain was not being managed. As I look down the road at my practice, I am hopeful there will be researchers who continue to find better ways to treat elderly patient’s pain more effectively. Our team found it was not treated effectively in long term facilities. It saddens me; however it also humbles me to know that’s my profession who has not treated the patient’s pain effectively. I am committed to provide my patients with the best evidence based care possible. I view nursing as a never ending learning experience, however I did not always have this opinion. I thought nursing education stopped after I obtained my RN degree, however to my surprise it only started there.

Novice to Expert

I researched the topic of age related resources in the emergency room and discovered there where very limited resources. Before this program it is highly unlikely I would have researched an area of nursing or thought about deficiencies in the emergency room. I am concerned for every nursing department in the hospital. I do not know if they are utilizing evidence based practice. After researching I found we did not have equipped pediatric treatment rooms; limited supplies and almost no pediatric equipment. I presented the PowerPoint regarding appropriate age related resources in the emergency room to my hospital. The PowerPoint was presented to every member of the foundation, CEO, CNO, to the aides in the emergency department. After presenting the CNO requested a meeting with the CEO, foundation president, director of emergency room(ER) and me. They were very impressed with the finding of my research. The ER director will initiate the ER competences with all staff, treatment rooms will be set up with a team including physicians, nurses and respiratory therapy. The nurse educators will in-service staff on the color coded crash cart regarding size as soon as it is stocked. Our goal is to run an age related emergency room in a six month period. Before this program I would have been concerned about my small world, but now I can see the world.

Perceptions and Long Range Goals

This journey has increased my confidence and improved my self imagine as a nurse and a person. I now view nursing as a never ending learning experience, I did not always feel this way. I was stuck in my on small world on my unit, balking at having to float to an unknown territory; as “they may not do things as l would”. As I have eluded, in other areas of this paper I thought education stopped after I obtained my RN degree; however to my surprise it just started there. My goal for the next five years will be to complete my Masters degree at the University of Texas at Arlington. I will start my search for higher a level of nursing, maybe a Division Director within the next five years. In the next ten years I hope to hold a Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) position in an acute care hospital. Through this position, I will be given the opportunity to improve outcome of patients by utilizing evidence based practice and research. Through the RN-BSN program I have learned I can accomplish my goals through hard work and can move forward while I expand my education. The barrier for me to accomplish my MSN degree is financial, as the Masters program is costly. I will overcome my barriers of attending the Masters program, by working an extra job on the weekends to make money for tuition. I will also complete a class every ten weeks instead of every five weeks if I need to. Another barrier I have is seeing ME a CNO. I will overcome this barrier by completing the Masters program. Through completion of the Masters program I will have gained the confidence in my abilities to pursue this goal. The RN-BSN program has changed my mind concerning what it takes to make a real nurse. I now think all nurses are real nurses; however there are those who go over and beyond. The over and beyond nurses are the ones who teach, perform research and hold CNO positions. My goal for the next five-ten years is to complete the Masters program and hold a position of Chief Nursing Officer. I now believe through education you can change the world one person at a time.