Nursing Tapestry Essay

Nursing is much like a tapestry, though equally an art and science, it is a profession of the heart. Nurses embark on individualized journeys. Nurses create unique story maps, that help define the nursing profession. A collection of “stitches” that form a complex masterpiece, created through daily acts of a nurse’s empathy, kindness and compassion. The beneficent acts of nursing become intertwined with theoretical science, critical thinking, knowledge and skill. A combination of art and science that forms our ever-expanding, professional scope of practice and future nursing roles. Nursing is like a tapestry that is best defined when collective consideration of the profession is applied, a vast collection of beauty, precision, richness, depth

As nurses we need to continually expand our skill levels, gain new knowledge and expand our technological and scientific practice potentials. Nurses need to be willing to commit time to research, seeking out evidence based practices and become change agents within their communities, organizations, local, state and federal governments. I believe it is a nurse’s responsibility to inform and educate patients. In my opinion, this is an example of translating research into practice, which I believe to be an important nursing role, in healthcare

I have had the opportunity to care for wonderful individuals, each of whom have contributed the fabric of my personal nursing career. Nursing is a profession of both joy and sadness combined. My career has provided me the opportunity to care for those I need. In retrospect I can say that my personal nursing tapestry is comprised of patients who were grateful to a care team, after being revived from suffering a sudden cardiac event, the smile of a trusting child, a hand to be held while working with hospice patients and their families. My current role is a case manager. I seldom have direct contact with patients who have chronic illnesses, yet I am gifted with their trust. I have been given an opportunity to support, care, respect, educate, collaborate and research practice improvement initiatives. I continue to formulate my own nursing philosophy daily. While I experience daily encounters that allow my tapestry to become more colorful and detailed, I allow myself to set new goals. My final nursing goal, is to become a nurse practitioner. I can see myself in the next year working in an academic capacity in becoming a leader in rural health improvement and proficient at educating patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions, speaking at national events, advocating for patients and playing an active role in health policy. In five years I can see myself being ready to embark on another