Personal Statement

As I reflect on my nursing journey, spending my youth below the average line and its difficulties. I am grateful of the experience because it instilled in me the virtues that drive my ambition today. I remember that my parents couldn’t afford a lot but with the moral guidance they bestowed is more than anything money could buy. My decision to become a nurse did not come up in a moment, a day, or an experience. However, my decision to become a nurse resulted from various experiences and from the relationships developed by helping others. After few years in nursing, I realize that a nurse not only treat patient’s illness but also their quality of life. To me, nursing is caring. It is sharing the most intimate moments with strangers. We get to

I believe all nurses have a duty to provide safe and quality care, pursue continuing education and provide unprejudiced patient-centered care to all patients. I must refer to my patients by their names and not their room numbers or medical conditions and provide individualized quality care and attention needed. Nurses should use critical thinking skills and clinical judgement to help meet various needs of their patients. As Patient advocate, we have individual responsibility to speak on behalf of a patient or cause. By being an advocate, we can help patients understand their diagnosis and make the best decisions about their health. Since every patient has different circumstances, beliefs, and preferences, it is not uncommon for their wishes to conflict with doctor’s orders. As a Nurse Advocate, we are to work with doctors to offer our patients alternative treatment solutions. It is my belief that to keep a steady pace with my philosophy, education should play a very significant role. Nurses have a commitment to pursue a lifelong continuing education in acquiring knowledge and skills. Through continuing education, we would not remain stagnant but evolve professionally through evidenced-based practice. It is paramount we acquire more knowledge to educate our patients and family members on diseases, treatments, and healthy

To quote Carolyn Jarvis “The character of the nurse is as important as the knowledge she possesses.” I use these values to make decisions and live my everyday life. The focus of our nursing care should be patient-centered and should focus on patient safety and healing. Nurses have always been held to very high professional standards. As nurses, we need to show we have the knowledge it takes to take the lives of others into their own hands. we need to show we have self-control and can function to the best of our abilities always while working with a care team. We need to act in accordance with an appropriate code of ethics and accepted standards of practice. We need to be honest and provide care based on an ethical framework that is accepted within the profession as identified by AACN (2008). I must remember that I need to render individualized quality care based on patients’ spiritual and cultural beliefs. I must also remember that my colleagues can be great resources. They deserve respect and recognition of their hard work, knowledge, and reliability. Supporting this, AACN (2008) stated that altruism is a concern for the welfare of others, including willingness to help others. In my nursing practice altruism is reflected in my capability to help my colleagues when they are unable to get their assignment completed to ensure that patients receive high quality care. As a nurse, I’m able to care for