My interest in nursing began early on in life. As soon as I was old enough to understand, I knew I wanted to help people recover from illnesses and injuries. Currently, I am proud of the achievements that I have made so far since I have gained experience in various areas, including critical care and Labor and delivery (Iheduru-Anderson, 2021). In addition, I have continued to develop my skills in patient care and education. Earlier this year, I enrolled in an RN-BSN program to further my education and career and I am confident that obtaining my BSN will allow me to provide even better-quality care to my patients. As the nursing profession is driven by a deep commitment to serve humanity in its most vulnerable moments, it is essential for me, as a future of nursing that this desire to care for others remains at the core of my personal and professional values.
Before RN-BSN program
Before joining the RN-BSN program, I worked in various clinical settings, including a medical-surgical unit, an intensive care unit, and a rehabilitation facility. In each of these roles, I gained valuable experience caring for patients with a wide range of needs. I did take one course at a time. It has been an exciting year of the RN-BSN program and one year of being a Registered Nurse (RN). I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know so many fantastic people in the medical field. The RN-BSN program has been a great challenge, and I have learned so much. I am looking forward to continuing my education and becoming a nurse practitioner (Suliman et al., 2021). Being an RN has been a wonderful experience. I have had the opportunity to work with some amazing nurses and doctors. I have also had the opportunity to work with some great patients. I believed that taking one course at a time would give me time to focus and excel in that course instead of focusing on two courses at the same time, which would be demanding and burdensome.
Lifelong Learning
My residency in Labor and delivery was very interesting and fulfilling. I cared for patients who were in Labor and delivery, as well as post-partum. I was also able to assist with C-sections when necessary (Srinivasan, 2020). This experience was extremely valuable, as it gave me the opportunity to learn firsthand about the various stages of Labor and delivery. When I was completing my residency, I knew that I wanted to specialize in Labor and delivery.
I have always found the aspect of medicine the most fascinating and gratifying. Unfortunately, I was unable to pursue this line of work due to cultural, professional, and personal differences that conflicted with those of my colleagues. In my culture, it is believed that women should be surrounded by their families during childbirth. However, in many hospitals, women are typically only allowed one support person. This would have made it difficult for me to provide the level of care that I felt was necessary (Srinivasan, 2020). This conflicts with the medical model of childbirth prevalent in most hospitals, which often relies heavily on interventions such as induction and epidurals.
Novice to Expert
I was not fully aware of what I was getting myself into when I decided to become a Registered Nurse (RN). I had no clinical experience and very little understanding of what it would take to be a competent nurse. I was determined to succeed, so I studied hard and did my best to apply what I was learning in the classroom to my clinical experiences. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help nurses continue their education and development. Through online courses, conferences, and journals, nurses can keep up with the latest research and developments in their field (Tolouian et al., 2022). As a result, I now feel confident that I am providing the best possible care for my patients.
Role of Transition to Professional Nursing
One of the most interesting experiences in the RN-BSN program is that it shaped my attitude and behavior. The program challenged me to think critically in a number of ways. One way was by presenting new material I was unfamiliar with (Macario, 2019). This required me to read and research more information in order to gain a better understanding. Additionally, the program pushed me to critically examine my own nursing practice. Through reflection and discussion, I was able to identify areas where I could improve and make changes in my practice. Overall, the RN-BSN program helped me to grow as a nurse and thinker.
Furthermore, the RN-BSN program challenged me to appreciate diversity and inclusivity in healthcare. As a registered nurse, I was already familiar with the importance of providing care for all patients, regardless of their background or beliefs. However, the RN-BSN program helped me to understand the unique needs of different patient populations. I also became aware of the disparities in healthcare that exist between different racial and ethnic groups (Iheduru-Anderson, 2021). The RN-BSN program helped me to understand the importance of meeting the needs of all patients, and I am now better prepared to provide culturally competent care.
Evaluation
Among the many benefits of the RN-BSN program, I found the focus on evidence-based practice the most helpful. The RN-BSN program provided me with a structured way to explore new findings and incorporate them into my practice (Smith & Kennedy, 2020). The program also helped me to develop my critical thinking skills and to become familiar with different research methodologies. As a result, I am now better able to critically evaluate new studies and determine how they can be applied to my patients’ care. Overall, the focus on evidence-based practice has been a key aspect of the RN-BSN program that has helped me to improve my nursing practice.
There are a few areas where the program could be improved. For nurses, caring for people not only begins with providing compassionate care and expert medical knowledge, it also involves recognizing and respecting the dignity and autonomy of each person being cared for. First, the program should offer more clinical experiences. While classroom instruction is important, it is also essential for students to get hands-on experience in a clinical setting. Second, the program should provide more guidance on career planning (Smith & Kennedy, 2020). Many RN-BSN students are unsure of what they want to do after graduation, and the program should help them explore their options and make a plan for their future. I would recommend RN-BSN to others as the program helps nurses to develop important critical thinking and problem-solving skills. In addition, the RN-BSN program allows nurses to network with other professionals and learn from experienced faculty members.
References
Iheduru-Anderson, K. C. (2021). Students’ perspectives of factors related to delayed completion of online RN-BSN programs. BMC nursing, 20(1), 1-13.
Macario, K. C. (2019). Generational Differences in Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Faculty Caring Behaviors and Presence in Online RN-BSN Programs. Southern Connecticut State University.
Smith, S. B., & Kennedy, S. (2020). Authentic teaching to promote active learning: Redesign of an online RN to BSN evidence-based practice nursing course. Journal of Professional Nursing, 36(2), 56–61.
Srinivasan, T. (2020). Who Forced the C-Section? Maternal-Fetal Conflict and Different Objectives of Care. Penn Bioethics Journal, 15(2).
Suliman, W. A., Abu-Moghli, F. A., Khalaf, I., Zumot, A. F., & Nabolsi, M. (2021). Experiences of nursing students under the unprecedented abrupt online learning format forced by the national curfew due to COVID-19: A qualitative research study. Nurse education today, p. 100, 104829.
Tolouian, A. C., Wholeben, M., & Rankin, D. (2022). Student Retention and Success in an RN-BSN Program: Determining Variables and Methods. European Journal of Educational Sciences, 9(2).