Graduate Study Challenges and Strategies for Success In my current role as a nurse educator I feel the desire to pursue my dream of obtaining a master’s degree, specializing in nursing education. It has been 27 years since I have sat in the student chair in a classroom; therefore, I anticipate a number of challenges and barriers to overcome. In this paper I will present and describe three challenges that I expect to be faced with over the next two years. I will also discuss the strategies I plan to use to address these challenges. Challenges and Strategies One of the biggest challenges I am confronting is managing and balancing my school with my work, family, and church responsibilities. Although multiple roles create stress in my life, each of my roles and responsibilities is very important to me. Research has shown that nursing students can manage the stressful effects of balancing multiple roles by having the help of a strong social support system (Seyedfatemi, Tafrechi, Hagan, 2007). I will have to learn how to manage, delegate, and organize tasks more efficiently to balance my multiple roles. I plan to involve my family by delegating tasks that I have usually done, but I can share. Learning to ask for and receive help will be a learning experience as well as for my family. A second challenge that I am already experiencing is stress and anxiety. Many times I find myself frustrated, unable to sleep, concentrate, or think properly because I am confronting the unknown or unfamiliar. I was born and raised in a Hispanic Country, and all my life I was exposed only to Spanish language and grammar. My experience with the English language was minimal until I came to the United States. I have never attended schoo... ... middle of paper ... ...ute time on the train I read and work on my assignments. As a full-time student of University of Phoenix, I try to work on my assignments and project every day to accomplish deadlines while balancing my job and responsibilities to the church. The three challenges I have described will definitely present some barriers in my journey to obtain a master’s degree. I belive that I also have strengths to overcome them. My level of maturity, motivation, and desire to be a successful student will more than compensate for the challenges that lie ahead. I know that a graduate degree will enable me to be progress within my profession of nursing. In my profession I am dedicated to service of other human beings and in the words of a wise man; “for anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love and self-sacrifice” (J. Burroughs).
This is a great opportunity for students to evaluate themselves and acknowledge their weaknesses and strengths. This paper will discuss my success plan in nursing program.
Lord, M. (14/5/2002). Making a difference: The implcations for nurse education. Available: http://www.nursingtimes.net/making-a-difference-the-implications-for-nurse-education/206457.article. Last accessed 17/12/2013.
Heller, B. R. , Oros, M. T., & Durney-Crowley, J. (2000). The future of nursing education: 10 trends to watch. Nursing and Health Care Perspectives, 21(1), 9-13.
Our course, Transition to Professional Nursing, is barely two weeks old and already I am being enlightened and challenged to expand my experience of nursing. I will attempt to explain my personal journey and experience thus far including how and why I got here, my beliefs about nursing and related values, and my visions for the future.
In 1965, the American Nurses Association shared its vision for the future of nursing education. A primary goal in its message was that a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) becomes the minimum requirement for entry into nursing practice (Nelson, 2002). Fifty years later, debates on this issue continue. In its report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change and Advancing Healthcare, the Institute of Medicine shared its recommendation that 80% of nurses possess a bachelor’s degree by the year 2020. A significant number of health care facilities have adopted the practice of hiring nurses with BSN over those with two year Associate’s Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a three-year hospital based diploma program. Stakeholders in the Registered Nurse (RN)
In this paper I will be discussing the three questions: what does nursing mean to me? What are some of the challenges you will face as a new nurse after graduation? As a nursing professional, where do you see yourself in five years?
Scheduling and planning are necessary to be successful as a working student. Setting time aside for school assignments is a priority, but it is also important to build in personal time for you, your family, and friends (Blais & Hayes, 2011). S...
When I began this journey I knew that Nursing was all I wanted to do and in order to succeed and do well in nursing school, it was going to require a ton of devotion and sacrifice. Nursing school did not come without its challenges, not only did we have to deal with going to class, clinicals, studying for exams, but we also had to add in the factors of jobs, family, marriages, children, sickness and our daily life. But our instructors encouraged us and pushed us to keep going, and for that we are grateful because we all made a decision to stick with it, and here we are today. It seems unimaginable that just a year ago this journey was just beginning, but here we are today a year later,
My courses and experience has empowered, and has reinforced my determination to pursue a career as a nurse. I am eager and excited about starting nursing school, and having my dream which started as a young girl to come full circle. I am convinced I am a good candidate because I have the innate drive to complete the program. I am willing to learn and use those skills and knowledge acquired to provide something meaningful to the society and humanity. I have the personal determination to face the challenges and rigors of nursing school. With hard work, perseverance, and determination I believe I have the essential character to be successful as a nursing student and an excellent quality nurse in the near future. A degree in nursing paves ways for other degrees to emerge especially for those interested in furthering their education in health care. I am committed to continue to pursed advanced degree in nursing ultimately becoming a nurse practitioner. . In the next five to ten years from now, I want to write articles and books about nursing and healthcare related. Therefore, I believe that if I improve myself further positively, I will grow from strength to strength and one day my paper will be read in one of the prestigious newsletters, journals, and textbooks. I know the sky is my starting
Nurses have always been an undervalued asset to the health care industry; however, there is always a great need for them. With more uninsured Americans requiring safe, affordable medical care, the pressing issue of nursing education is not a priority (Aiken, 2011). Recently, there have been modifications taken place toward the current nursing shortage, the decrease of nursing graduates, a workforce that is becoming older, and other factors that influence nurse educator shortage (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011). Nurse educators are required to advise students, complete research, and perform committee work all while teaching (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011). They also have multiple jobs outside of practicing nursing and teaching. Nurse educators have stressful roles that hold many expectations, yet there is no independence in making their own decisions concerning things. Aiken (2011) suggests that the best way to begin combatting this shortage should include increasing the number of nurses who hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing from 50% to 80% by 2020 (p. 196). Forty-eight percent of nurse instructors are expected to be aged 55 and older and are predicted to retire by this time. (Baker, Fitzpatrick, & Griffin, 2011).
Working with new graduate nurses has instilled in me the goal to share my knowledge and expertise with others and to teach others the art of nursing. My short-term goals are to complete the Master’s program by the summer of 2014. My second goal is to secure a job as a nurse educator at a hospital and work with my nurse manager to provide program like in-service to the hospital staff and students. I would like to incorporate my education from State University’s master’s program to assist hospital staff and patients in their learning process, with the use of new technology to facilitate the learning and understanding.
As I made my way through the nursing program, I witnessed my ideas and perceptions of the nursing practice and what nursing means to me change over time. By examining my Philosophy of Nursing assignment from first year, I can see that my current perspective on the nursing practice is similar to what it was yet has expanded as a result of being able to work alongside various Registered Nurses over the past four years. My philosophy of nursing has also slightly changed. Although my philosophy is still based on the nursing metaparadigm, that is nursing, health, the person, and the environment, I believe that my understanding of each one has evolved. Therefore, I believe it is crucial for me to further explore my current perspective on the nursing
Adult Nursing is a very rewarding career which provides endless opportunities. I would describe myself as a caring and compassionate person. I believe I possess these qualities naturally. I am compelled to put other people’s needs before my own. I can contribute my personal qualities to this course of being dedicated and determined into committing myself to this 3 year course and excelling academically. Personally, caring for my mother with high blood pressure made me interested in the world of medicine. This long term sickness inspired me to gain more experience outside of the home and volunteer which confirmed that this was the right course for me. I am fascinated by the practical aspect that the course involves as well as the theoretical
Due to working with people around in the university Colorado hospital, I believe I am equipped, ready, and determined to dedicate my life to this high level of responsibility. The leadership opportunities allowed me to develop and practice certain characteristics required for nursing. In the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit it has trained me to overcome emotional discouragement, be patient, be attentive to others’ needs before my own, be available for others, build and maintain relationships, organize events, and manage my time under a busy schedule. Moreover, knowing the competitiveness and rigor of nursing school, it has motivated me to maintain disciplined study habits to precede my goal to become a nurse. While working in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit for two years, my experience at this hospital became the most rewarding and enjoyable. The level of complexity and the demand of taking care of the patients in the hospital contributed to my strong passion and urgency to continue to grow my knowledge and help patients. I am fortunate enough to say that all my hardships, triumphs, and various experiences have contributed to my desire and determination to meet the demands of the nursing
A career in nursing has always sounded like an extremely rewarding and beneficial profession. Nurses have the great opportunity to care for patients on a daily basis, nurses are responsible for helping patients maintain a long, healthy life. In this paper, I will discuss how I became interested in nursing, how my values relate to those of a nurse, and my goals pertaining to the nursing program.