My Concept Of Nursing Essay

What is your concept of nursing?

My concept of nursing revolves around simply one word: compassion. By being sensitive to others’ needs and recognizing their situational plight, nursing provides the essential compassion required for patient care. Throughout all the specialties in healthcare, “the nurse” is recognized as the ultimate caregiver above all others due to the inordinate supply of compassion that is incumbent upon the profession. From a patient’s perspective, compassion can be perceived in various forms; such as when a nurse warms a stethoscope before applying it to bare skin, or when a friendly smile and soothing words can ease a patient’s trepidation. It is these acts of compassion that embody the concept of nursing.

Why

It was during my Naval service that I was first exposed to populations that lack any sort of healthcare infrastructure for the most basic of needs. While on military deployment, we provided humanitarian aid to the people of Eritrea, Africa where I witnessed the most fundamental healthcare needs. Seeing individuals who had walked ten miles to “The American Ship” to be prescribed simple antibiotics was eye-opening. Ever since, my antibiotic prescriptions have not been taken lightly. Shortly upon my return, the massive Haiti earthquake had devastated the country, and volunteers were called upon. Though my military obligations prevented my volunteering, the stories I heard from others upon their return reinforced my desire to help those in dire

I had initially been contemplating the Adult Acute Care specialty, but I met a couple individuals who sparked the reflection needed to choose the FNP specialty. Years ago, having disregarded the possibility of any foreign humanitarian opportunities as nothing more than a pipe-dream, I became focused on the Acute Care specialty that I believed would best build on my firefighter experience. Consequently, I was reminded from a former first responder at the open house just how valuable the FNP breadth of knowledge is regarded in the ER. Shortly after that meeting, I met Dr. Carol Ziegler who informed us of Vanderbilt’s Global Health Certificate and the overseas opportunities that accompany it. This radically changed my outlook of future possibilities; including pursuit of Vanderbilt’s DNP/MPH joint program. Upon further research, I concluded that the FNP specialty would indeed be the most beneficial match for my skills and