| Determining where someone would like to be, and | | | | With any growth, there will be challenges and barriers. |
| how to get there in five to 10 years, takes much | | | | Choosing strong mentors is a very important step in |
| conscious effort, however, identifying goals that will | | | | reaching goals. Victor Ghebre (Dec, 2008), instructs |
| help someone grow, whether it be educational, | | | | us to "find a mentor or someone who can inspire you |
| professional or personal is very important. Several | | | | in the area of personal development, and try to |
| steps are involved in order to be successful, such as, | | | | associate yourself with other people who are on the |
| defining the goals, determining the optimum time | | | | path to self growth." During the education |
| frame and putting the plan into action. Combining | | | | experience, academic advisors or facilitators are |
| personal beliefs and values into defined goals and | | | | wonderful mentors, and during the professional |
| refusing to turn away from these beliefs during | | | | career experience, introducing yourself to staff |
| difficult times will lead to feelings of true achievement | | | | development coordinators, physicians and |
| once the goals are attained. With any serious goal, | | | | management staff can facilitate introductions to such |
| support systems and mentors must be determined | | | | mentors. Having a strong support system within the |
| and utilized, to avoid becoming overwhelmed when | | | | personal relationships of our daily lives is also |
| challenges arise. Chitty and Black (2007) states "Make | | | | important. With growth, growing pains will happen, |
| sure your goals and expectations are realistic. | | | | and having support during difficult times will |
| Unrealistic goals are self-defeating. Make sure the | | | | encourage the growth to continue. Having a healthy |
| goals are measurable, manageable, and meaningful to | | | | expectation of the challenges that may be present |
| you, not to please somebody else." (Chapter 10, p. | | | | and a plan of action will lessen the effect when these |
| 266). | | | | challenges occur. Family, and the responsibilities that |
| Nursing philosophy is clearly understanding your | | | | family involves, is a large challenge to overcome |
| personal truths, thoughts and goals and determining | | | | when attempting to grow in a professional aspect. |
| how they relate to your professional career as a | | | | Learning to meet these responsibilities satisfactorily, |
| nurse. Each nurse has unique experiences that | | | | while working toward professional goals is possible. |
| influence his or her personal choice of profession, but | | | | Identifying goals and becoming committed to |
| in general, nurses are drawn to the profession | | | | achieving these goals lead to life changing events, |
| because of the nurturing characteristics that the | | | | bringing satisfaction and personal fulfillment. People |
| profession embraces. My philosophy of nursing may | | | | are surrounded by goals from birth, learning to walk |
| vary from other nurses depending on their culture, | | | | and talk, to planning for life after retirement or even |
| religion or ethnicity, but the combination of the | | | | death. Continually setting new goals and attempting |
| diversities makes nursing special. In my personal view, | | | | to achieve them is what prevents complacence. For |
| the nursing profession is a highly respectable | | | | some, complacence may be the goal, but for others, |
| profession, which should always place the holistic care | | | | setting new goals is a means of growth, and growth |
| and concern of the patient as the top priority. | | | | is necessary in embracing life. Goals do not have to |
| Continuing education is mandatory for nurses to be | | | | be anything as important as a new profession. Goals |
| able to provide high quality of care and to provide | | | | can be as simple as deciding to start walking daily, |
| the latest improved treatment techniques. Whether | | | | and planning where to walk, or making a goal to learn |
| through treating, teaching, advocating or supporting, | | | | to sew. Making realistic goals and attempting to attain |
| patient care is directly impacted through nursing care | | | | these goals while abiding within certain beliefs and |
| on a daily basis. Nurses also must accept the | | | | values introduces several areas that continue to add |
| responsibility of leading others in the care of patients | | | | value to life, such as special friends, strong support |
| in order to maintain a high quality continuity of care. | | | | systems and learning to overcome challenges. Goals |
| Baccalaureate prepared nurses are better prepared | | | | are an important part in life in that it promotes |
| to accept positions that require more leadership skills. | | | | growth, and combining professional goals with |
| Obtaining the Baccalaureate degree also shows | | | | personal goals can create holistic peace within self |
| commitment to the profession, which shows strength | | | | and family. |
| to the employer. As stated by Cynthia O'Neal (2004), | | | | References: |
| "In today's health care environment, baccalaureate | | | | Chitty, K. K., Black, B. P. (2007). Professional nursing |
| nurses must be prepared to use essential leadership | | | | concepts and challenges. [University of Phoenix |
| skills to manage and coordinate teams of care." The | | | | Custom Edition e-text]. St. Louis, MO: Saunders, Inc. |
| increased amount of training that is focused on | | | | Retrieved March 17, 2009, from University of |
| nursing ethics, nursing foundations and history, and | | | | Phoenix, rEsource, NUR391- Professional Nursing |
| nursing professionalism promotes the knowledge to | | | | Practice website. |
| organize the responsibilities of several team members | | | | Ghebre, Victor (December 1, 2008) How to obtain |
| successfully, without appearing overbearing. Providing | | | | important life goals to help you grow. Retrieved |
| this leadership may not be overly accepted by | | | | March 17, 2009 from |
| everyone on the team, and may in turn cause | | | | O'Neal, Cynthia. (November 2004). Creating |
| temporary conflict, however, in order for the team | | | | Leadership Skills in Fundamental Courses. Journal of |
| to function in an efficient and organized manner, and | | | | Nursing Education 43(11), 524. Retrieved March 19, |
| provide the practice with a productive department, | | | | 2009, from Career and Technical Education database. |
| and the patient with high quality of care, this is a | | | | (Document ID: 739662121). |
| change that must take place. | | | | |