Nay's Note by Naomi James, MSN RN CPAN CNEcl
February 2022
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Becoming a Nurse is a journey that requires commitment, perseverance, and guidance. The assumption has always been that people are born nurses or they were very caring and loving to begin with. However, there are people who have chosen nursing as a second career or completely ventured into nursing for "non-traditional" reasons. Whatever the reason behind an individual becoming a nurse. I felt it was necessary to narrate that there are simple steps to becoming a nurse. The nursing profession is in need and is experiencing a shortage. Therefore, nurses are an integral commodity at the moment and I want to explain how you go about becoming a nurse. Think of this post as an informative step-by-step guide that you can reflect on and consider how you can become a nurse.
Let's Dive Right in...
1. Acknowledgement of Self: Are you a caring and compassionate person? Do you enjoy helping others?
The truth is that caring and compassion are a part of the provisions for what's called the "Code of Ethics" in the nursing profession. These ethical standards shape what the state boards and national nursing associations believe a nurse should possess as part of their core professional identity. Helping others is also part of the oath that you take when you receive nursing licensure. Therefore, you shouldn't feel judged about being a less compassionate person or even an apathetic one. However, you should take into consideration this very very simple truth.....sick people NEED Help, Care, and Compassion. Hence why the professional practice of nurses is called PATIENT CARE. It is imperative that you examine your core identity and determine if being caring and compassionate can be a part of your daily nursing practice.
2. Find your WHY: Why do you want to become a Nurse?
You have to find time to define your why. Why did Nursing appeal to you? What was it about the nursing profession that intrigued you and created a desire for you seek a way into nursing? Nursing is a vast profession and full of many possibilities. Nursing is lucrative, fun, and challenging. Nursing can be a lifelong committment and requires a very deep sense of self. Therefore, in your pre-nursing journey, think of your WHY. It could be your family and the fact that you want to support them better than ever before. It could be to fulfill a lifelong dream or family legacy of becoming a nurse. It could be because you used to be a corportate banker, and you needed a drastic change, and the first thing your Google search returned for a top career change was "Registered Nurse". Whatever your reason is-harness it. Define your why and possibly go a step further and think about what type of nurse you want to be. What type of hosptial do you like or want to work in? What kind of patient would you love to care for? Maybe babies? Maybe people experiences a life crisis? All of these questions and structured reflection can help you decide Why you want to be a Nurse.
3. Be KIND: Do you practice and harness kindness?
Kindness would be thought of, by many, to be a characteristic that is easily adaptable and everyone shows. However, kindness has been stiffed away due to the age of "unapologetic" truth and heightened sense of self-actualization. The truth is that everyone should stand in their truth and express themselves freely. Yet, we cannot forget to be kind, tender, and warm hearted to others. Kindness, in patient care, helps the client feel welcomed, safe, and connected with the person caring for them. Additionally, kindness sets the tone of the environment and breeds positivity between all members involved.
4. Develop TEAM building skills: How do you work with other people?
Nurses work with various disciplines everyday and teamwork is an integral part of healthcare. Nurses have to know how to work with others, how to differentiate the roles of other people, and how to utilize team members to help the patient. Before deciding to become a nurse, you may want to reflect on how you perform in group work. Ask yourself if you enjoy being in a supervisory role and a subordinate role within the same day. Because how you participate in teamwork with develop and shape your ability to work as a nurse.
5. COMMUNICATION: How well do you communicate and perceive communication from others?
Communication is an essential key of connection with your patients and your team members. How you communicate provides insight to your thoughts, feelings, and understanding of the verbal exchange that you are encountering with your client. Remember that communication is a vast tactic in our current day and age. But, communication, in nursing, is up close and personal. You will be directly engaged with your client. Where the conversation will be face to face and present with body language and non-verbal cues. Remember that communication is extremely relative to the person on the receiving end. Before you become a nurse, you should reflect on how you express yourself, how you deliver direct communication, and how you can simplify your vocabulary to reach more audience.
6. Look up NURSING SCHOOLS: Specifically schools in your state - admission requirements - and application deadlines
There is no such thing as starting "too soon" with the nursing school admission process. Unfortunately, the application and admission process is a long and tedious one. Additionally, many nursing schools have wait list with applicants waiting as long as up to a year before their application is considered for admission into the program. There are courses (prerequisite) that must be completed prior to admission into nursing programs. There are also formal entrance exams that must be passed with qualifying scores to enter into the nursing program. So, NOW, is always a good time to start doing your research on the nursing schools that you qualify for entry into....don't get discouraged....just meet the standards.
7. VOLUNTEER or WORK at a Hospital, healthcare facility, or daycare center: Working in these settings are known to help enhance your caregiver skills
Becoming a nurse doesn't necessarily require any form of healthcare experience. However, the concepts taught in Nursing school are similar to any other advanced healthcare career and it is wise to have some form of knowledge of healthcare or patient care. At the least, volunteering or working in a healthcare or even a childcare setting can give you more confidence around patients and help to ease the anxiety around caring for people. Almost every hospital has needs for volunteers. A task a simple as escorting a patient to the car in a wheelchair is very beneficial to improving your safety, communication, and patience skills.
8. Consider your ETHICAL compass: Do you practice integrity, veracity, & honesty? How much does morality and doing the right thing mean to you?
I know we discussed some of the ethical considerations of caring and compassion earlier in the text. But veracity, integrity, and honesty are a bit deeper. Your morality is going to feel questioned and challenged at times in the nursing profession. There will be times when you are caring for very difficult, self destructive, negative patients and you will still HAVE to give them the best care possible. Self examination is key and you need to start with integrity-meaning that you will be fair and honest to every patient regardless of their circumstance, past, or attitude. It's time for you to start thinking about how honest you are when you make mistakes. Or better yet, do you make good judgement calls about important decisions. Last, are you willing to make a conscious effort to improve in this area? Morality is a major part of nursing. I cannot stress enough how much you need to be in tune with your ethical standards prior to becoming a nurse.
9. Take ACCOUNTABILITY: Be your own accountability coach and start holding up the responsibilities that are attached to the actions that you take.
Accountability is all about being responsible for your actions. Nurses are provided with a license from the state that they practice nursing care in-and that state governs the nurses holding licenses with something called a "Nurse Practice Act." The Nurse Practice Act has guidelines, by-laws, and provisions that nurses attest to being responsible for abiding by. In a nutshell, your license is dependent upon your ability to be accountable for the rules that you must follow when caring for patients. Nursing practice, like any form of medical practice, can be risky for the patient. Therefore, you must know the rules, standards, and limitations of your ability to care for patients. And everything that you do, in patient care, requires you to be held accountable for admitting and owning your actions. Needless to say, if taking responsibility or being accountable for things that you have done during your interactions with patients is something that doesn't seem appealing to you - then you may want to consider how you can be a more responsible and accountable person ....prior to entering the Nursing profession.
10. BE SAFE: Think about and incorporate safety in everything that you do
Safety First is a valid, tried & true statement of the Nursing profession. Everything that you do is predicated on your ability to provide a safe experience for your patient. Start now thinking about ways you can be more safe and sensitive to safety precautions now. It could be as simple as making sure that you have fire extinguisher in the home and knowing how to use it. Or ensuring that your children use approved care seats when in the vehicle...oh and of course not texting while driving. There are so many small and large ways that you can be more safe and think about safety in your day to day life. And safety may seem very trivial prior to becoming a Nurse. Yet, once you become a nurse, safety will be incorporated in almost every single aspect of your daily care routine. You will need to think of safety first before you think of anything else.
Listen, Becoming a Nurse is going to be a life changing step. You really need to talk with a nurse who has successfully become a professional registered nurse and understand the committments. My Mentoring skills are designed to help you improve in your nursing career and reach your fullest professional potential.
Let me help you be a better Nurse! CLICK the link below to schedule your FREE Mentoring consultation with me today!
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