Running head: FINAL ANALYSIS

Final Analysis
Aubrey Moore
Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing
Synthesis for Nursing Practice
NUR 4142

Final Analysis
I entered the Bon Secours BSN program with a vague, simplified concept of what I
wanted to accomplish and what a nurse should be. I came with a desire to learn and acquire the
skills and means by which to make good use of what I considered to be valuable traits a strong
work ethic, the ability to listen first and respond with compassion, meticulous attention to detail,
an inherent sense of empathy, and above all, a drive to change peoples lives and the
surroundings which effected them for the better. I also knew that acquiring a nursing degree
would provide me with a versatile skillset, clearing multiple paths to varied careers between
which I could move with fluidity. In my future I saw myself as a compassionate problem solver

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with solid base of knowledge from which to draw effective solutions, as well as a healer and an
agent for change, although I had only a basic idea what it meant or required to fulfill those roles.
Foundations NUR 1100 was an introduction to the intelligent and driven women who
demonstrated the dedication and effort it takes to affect change and the importance of relying on
science to persuade implementation and provide effective care. As the program progressed, the
astounding amount of science both available and necessary to plant the foundation became
rapidly apparent. Tasks as basic as taking blood pressure and listening to a heartbeat in our
competencies course were new challenges, and I was further challenged by the necessity to
comprehend the concepts presented in ANS which lent meaning to those basic skills. Nursing no
longer seemed to be based solely on compassion and drive, but on the necessary ability to form
connections between large blocks of information and comprehend broad and difficult concepts.
The pace was also slightly more frantic than I had been used to or expected, and by the time
Practicum rolled around I had a renewed concept of what it meant to be disciplined and had
developed a life-saving talent for planning, time management, and organization, skills which
were not second nature to me but would be necessary to perform adequately in a clinical setting.
It was in clinical where I first began to integrate new concepts and basic skills with my
inherent traits, a terrifying and baffling stage of professional growth. Overseen by skilled
nursing professors I learned to listen and notice meaningfully, think critically, communicate and
collaborate, and prioritize. Carefully constructed concept maps, of which I was very proud,
helped to synthesize prior knowledge with daily experience. I had the chance to learn and
practice the development of trusting relationships with patients as I learned to ask the right
questions, be present to listen, ascribe meaning to objective and subjective information, express

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genuine concern, and continually seek resources and answers both for myself and my patients. I
also began to take note of the importance of communicating with and including the family as a
part of total care, and this led to thoughts and reflections on what total care entailed. The term
holistic had been mentioned briefly in 1100, but the clinical experience was the key to
developing a full concept of the term. This idea was further explored and solidified in Mental
Health, Nursing Informatics, and Metaphysical Nursing, where the concept was expanded to
include the need to address spiritual, psychological, and socioeconomic needs.
Outside experiences like The Daily Planet in Vulnerable Populations, HUF in Mental
Health Practicum, Home Care, Little Sisters, and Jewish Family services provided insight into
both the sheer variety of populations in diverse settings who needed care and vulnerability of
certain subsets, clearly in need of empathy, understanding, and holistic care. This furthered the
idea that nursing is not just about providing holistic care for an individual, but utilizing skill sets
to expand and provide for the community as a whole, holistically. OB and pediatrics also
emphasized the diversity of patients and settings, and required a revisit to observational,
listening, and empathic skills to match my mindset and practice to the younger patient. Working
with children was also a throwback to basic developmental psychology. Indeed, as I expected,
nursing is a diverse and versatile way of life. In addition to synthesizing all of the knowledge
and skills acquired prior to practicum, the clinical experience exposed the full spectrum of
intellectual and emotional situations which nurses must be ready and able to take in stride. Some
will be joyous, others depressing, some easier, some trying, and all full of complexity.
Between introductory courses and Immersion, my initial vision of what practicing as a
nurse truly means expanded dramatically in ways I never expected. I came to be a problem

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solver and a healer, but have progressed towards becoming much more than that. As a new

nurse, I will be a critical thinker, sorting a plethora of information to form a full picture of a
patients situation and basing every step on what that image tells me. I will be a holistic healer,
attending to all of the aspects mind, spirit, body, surroundings, and lifestyle that mold and
make a whole person. I will be an advocate, noticing, supporting, and defending those who are
vulnerable. I will be a counselor, taking heed of and giving consideration to ideas, input, and
expressed needs from patients and those close to them. Ill be a scientist, continually searching
for and relying on information which is in a permanent state of flux to perform best practices; a
technician, relying on procedural knowledge and skills to enhance care; a permanent student,
actively expanding my knowledge base; an active member of the community, involving myself
in collaborative activities to improve nursing culture and standards of care. I will be servant
leader, providing encouragement and engaging in cooperation with colleges to foster change and
growth. Most importantly, I will be a critical part of a healing environment, integrating all of
these roles to realize a culmination of professional care.
As stated in From Novice to Expert, becoming a full-fledged nurse will take time and
experience as I learn to move from task oriented practice to complete competency (Benner,
2001). This will require an effort on my part to hone the organizational skills which were never
a strong suit to begin with. I have been relying on nurses who serve as wonderful role models to
clue me in to what it takes to balance and prioritize a world of tasks and information.
Additionally, as much as Ive learned over the past few years, Im still no expert when it comes
to recognizing certain situations and responding appropriately, and have even less experience
with navigating the complex waters of the nursing culture. To improve and grow I must maintain
a willingness to ask questions, seek information from the experienced, advocate for my own

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growth by continuing my education and, most importantly, actively seek new experiences from
which to learn. In five years Ive come a long way. In the next five, I feel sure that my growth
will double, and Im excited about that. Yet, even as I look forward to impending graduation to a
professional practitioner, Ill not forget to forever remain a student in heart and mind, being open
and continuing to grow to become the nurse I imagined when I first began.

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References

Benner, P. (2001). From novice to expert. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc.