Impactful Practice: A Registered Nurse's Perspective

Working as a registered nurse for over six years has given me the opportunity to experience firsthand and understand the huge impact, either negative or positive, that health care providers can have in their patients’ wellbeing.

I have had the opportunity to work alongside a diverse and extensive number of doctors and nurse practitioners, among other health professionals, which has exposed me to different ways of practicing, different work ethics, skills, and abilities. I know what patients typically consider to be desirable and undesirable traits of health professionals.

Therefore, I strive every day to be that professional, that health care provider that has a positive and long lasting impact on patient’s health and wellbeing. I always strive to be that professional that my patients and colleagues trust, respect and admire. As a registered nurse, I have accomplished that. I know it because I am asked to precept new nurses and students, because my colleagues come to me frequently to ask me questions when they are in doubt, because when there is a difficult or complicated patient, my supervisor trust me with his care, because at the end of a long busy shift with seven to eight patients under my care, my patients praise me and thank me for the great and unique care I provided them.

However, as a Registered nurse, my scope of practice limits me on what I can do for my patients. I want to be a nurse practitioner because I want to do more for my patients across the continuum of care, from wellness to