Topic: Critical Reflection Of The Role Of Nurses In Modern Society
This is a reflective essay where I will explain how my thinking process and approach toward the role of nurses have changed in this contemporary society. I will highlight the skills of nurses and their services in this society. In order to explain my new thoughts, an image has been selected to convey my understanding of the working process of the nurses. I have thought that nurses have to give the medications and have to listen to the instructions of the doctors. I came to know that the nurses are not only accountable for clinical tasks they are also responsible for giving emotional support to families and nurses. Nurses are in the role of leadership, patient advocacy, and mentor counsellor where a nurse needs to prioritise the needs of the patients.
When I commenced studying the nursing course, I had the perception that as a nurse, we need to follow physicians and their instructions. I believed that nurses are only responsible for monitoring the health condition of the patients and providing daily prescribed medications. I had an idea about nursing is only listening to the instructions of the physician to take care of the patient such as giving medication or surgery. I just know that the nurses need to report each health observation to the health expert and need to follow the surgeon or physician. Importance Of Nursing Leadership In Contemporary Society Example Paper I have no idea about the non-clinical roles that have to be carried out by the nurses. I had a wrong concept that the nurses had not taken any decision on the treatment in fact I was not introduced to that leadership in nursing is necessary. After evaluating Nursing standards I have gained knowledge about the nursing role and responsibilities. The importance of leadership in nursing I have realised. After analysing the Code of Conduct for Nurses, understood that the RN has different roles such as governance, advocate, administration, leadership, research, education and others (nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au, 2022). However, I have understood that the nurses are needed to try to help the patient and their families to understand the information about medicines. Nurses help the patients to use different medical devices such as glucometer, weight measurement and others (Biswas, D., Karabin and Turner 2019). Registered nurses have to help and guide the patient, family and the student or intern nursing practitioners. A nurse has different roles in giving support to the family, providing education to the patient and family, and advocating for a patient as the patient requires the priority of the nurse (Choi et al. 2018). They are administrators of the new trainees and they need to supervise those nurses and other healthcare staff. As registered nurses, they have to assess and recognize the needs of the patients and then implement the medical plan and treatment. In fact, now I have realized that in absence of a surgeon or physician, nurses are the ones who are able to treat or take care of patients in a critical situation. It means to be that they require a critical thinking process to handle this kind of critical situation.
In order to work in the 21st century, nurses need to be leaders and decision-makers. Leader registered nurses need to be strong and effective communicators who can convey the concerns of the doctor to the patient and his family members (Huisman et al. 2020). The nurses have to be the mentor of the other staff and patients to guide them on how they can take medicines and helps to understand the schedule of medications. In a supporting or communicator role, the nurses can tell the patient about the proposed surgery and the side effects of the surgery. On the other hand, the nurses need to take strong decisions by following the code of ethics. They are the decision-makers also in order to treat the patients. As per the Code of Ethics, nurses have to maintain justice, beneficence, nonmaleficence and autonomy in nursing. Sometimes taking decisions are quite difficult which nurses need to take (Nmc.org.uk, 2022). They need to think critically as they have to handle everyday critical and challenging situations (Maziero et al. 2020). In the 21st century, nurses can face the increasing complexity of clinical practice and the continuous changing delivery of the systems (Ró?yk?Myrta Brodziak and Ko?at 2021). In order to manage these changes and to corporate with the new clinical practice leadership is needed.
Discipline is the collection of knowledge learned at the university level, whereas the profession refers to the particular skills or special kind of training to perform (Daly et al. 2020). In nursing, discipline refers to exploring knowledge about human experiences via creative research and conceptualisation (Waller and Friganovi? 2020). This discipline of nursing has encompassed the extent frameworks and theories that help to embed in the simultaneity paradigms. On the other hand profession of nursing contains persons who are educated in the specific discipline as per monitored standards, regulations and definitions (Barratt 2018). In the profession, the disciplines and education of nursing, standards of practice can be encompassed. The regulations and standards preserve the standards and regulations of nursing which are specified in medical terms. Transition to the profession is the way where the discipline changes the profession. In this transition to the profession, leadership is required. The discipline-specific idea is originated and fostered in the settings of academics where education and research move from knowledge to understanding. However, the discipline and profession of nursing have different goals. The nurse leaders in the healthcare systems have changed and developed new standards and regulations.
I have gained knowledge about the discipline and profession of nursing. NMC states that leadership in nursing can ensure the well-being of the patient. I came to know that discipline is the knowledge development process toward sustaining caring, humanity and health for all. In the discipline gaining knowledge is the may area and in the professional application of the knowledge. In modern times by applying for leadership roles nurses can make transmission of discipline to the profession. I have understood that the leadership role of nurses in the current scenario can reduce the errors of medical devices and make them flexible to implement rapid changes. Nursing advocacy can promote health and helps patient with education on how they can use medical devices and medications. The nurses can guide the nurses that how they can prevent the injury or illness and assist in the curing process. In a leadership role, the nurses can help the patient participate in rehabilitation procedures.
At the initial stage, I have known that the nurses are only doing what the health experts or physicians have told them. They have no other role excluding monitoring patients and giving medications. After the doctor or physician, the nurse is the one who has the responsibility to treat a patient. The nurses have the skills that make him or them all-rounders. As a nurse, I need to understand the proper role of nursing with the areas that the nurses have covered.
Conclusion
This paper has presented my understanding of the role of nurses in the 21st century. From my first belief about nursing that only prescribers or communicators, now I know that nurses work in different areas except the clinical settings. Without nurses, healthcare cannot be delivered to the patient by maintaining safety. High-quality care can be given to the patient through the nurses. Now I can be a registered nurse although I need to learn more about the nursing role. As a nurse, I have to be proficient in each role such as governance, patient advocate, counsellor, leader, mentor, decision-maker, manager and supportive role. After fulfilling these roles, I can manage both clinical and non-clinical works.
References
Barratt, C., 2018. Developing resilience: the role of nurses, healthcare teams and organisations. Nursing Standard, 33(7), pp.43-49.
Biswas, D., Karabin, B. and Turner, D., 2019. Role of nurses and nurse practitioners in the recognition, diagnosis, and management of neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a narrative review. International Journal of General Medicine, 12, p.173.
Choi, E.H., Kim, E.K. and Kim, P.B., 2018. Effects of the educational leadership of nursing unit managers on team effectiveness: Mediating effects of organizational communication. Asian nursing research, 12(2), pp.99-105.
Daly, J., Jackson, D., Anders, R. and Davidson, P.M., 2020. Who speaks for nursing? COVID?19 highlighting gaps in leadership. Journal of clinical nursing.
Huisman, B.A., Geijteman, E.C., Dees, M.K., Schonewille, N.N., Wieles, M., van Zuylen, L., Szadek, K.M. and van der Heide, A., 2020. Role of nurses in medication management at the end of life: a qualitative interview study. BMC Palliative Care, 19(1), pp.1-11.
Maziero, V.G., Bernardes, A., Righetti, E.A.V., Spiri, W.C. and Gabriel, C.S., 2020. Positive aspects of authentic leadership in nursing work: integrative review. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 73.
Importance Of Nursing Leadership In Contemporary Society Example Paper