Nursing Career Essay Sample
Growing up, health care jobs seemed out of reach for me. I’m a first generation student, and my family does not make much money. The lecture about health care disparities had an impact on me and is part of the reason I wanted to become a nurse. The story Dr. Sotos told in lecture about the hospital in Ocoee is actually where I go for health care. He described it as run down with lots of uninsured patients, and growing up, that’s really all I’ve ever seen from a hospital.
Health disparities are defined as “differences in the incidence, prevalence, mortality, and burden of diseases and other adverse health conditions that exist among specific population groups in the United States." (Whitaker, 2009) Health disparities are such a huge problem in America. They mainly impact low income areas and people of color, including hispanics and African Americans. As a nurse, it is important to provide equal care and advocate for each patient. Advocating for patients is one of the main philosophies I plan to carry with me as a nurse.
I wanted to become a nurse because I want to help people, but so does everyone else in this profession. I want to be able to make a difference in people’s lives. As a nurse, I strive to be an advocate for patients, especially if no one else will be. Tying health disparities into advocation, I hope to offer my time to organizations that help uninsured patients seeking health care. I believe every nurse should strive to build rapport with patients and want to make their day better, even if it’s by doing the little things for them. I’ve heard stories of ICU and ER nurses detangling patients’ hair and braiding it, and how much that little act of kindness meant to patients and families. I want to be able to make differences similar to what those nurses have done.
One nursing theory that really stuck out to me was Peplau’s Theory of Interprofessional Nursing. Peplau’s theory is made up of many different stages, ultimately described as “ a framework for patient teaching that emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship.” (Marchese, 2006) I believe nursing is a difficult career, filled with many highs and lows, and it takes a person with much compassion to do this job. Seeing patients excel in recovery and make progress partially due to my care gives me a sense of gratification, making the hard work worth it. Marchese also emphasizes the meaning of therapeutic relationships made between nurses and patients, explaining that these relationships “enables the nurse to provide the patient with the information needed to understand the diagnosis, cooperate in the treatment plan, facilitate postoperative recovery, and return to a state of independence with quality of life.”
I believe nursing is a difficult career, filled with many highs and lows, and it takes a person with much compassion to do this job. Seeing patients excel in recovery and make progress partially due to my care gives me a sense of gratification, making the hard work worth it. Nursing is so much more than just assessments and medication passing. It is about seeing patients recover, building relationships, being advocates, and collaborating, to name a few. With nurse burnout becoming more common, it is important to step back and look at the bigger picture. Although it is easier said than done, I will always remember why I wanted to become a nurse and apply my philosophies to care.
