n the article Stress Management Techniques: Evidence-Based Procedures that Reduce Stress and Promote Health published in the Health Science Journal in 2011, Varvogli & Darviri (2011) examine techniques for reducing stress. The article generally examines the aspect of stress, stress coping methods and stress management techniques. It draws its definition from WHO’s description that, stress is the situation whereby the homeostasis of an organism is threatened or the organism perceives a situation as threatening. As such, stress affects both the mental and physical health of people. It is a qualitative research article that draws its conclusions from the review of literature of major databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect and MEDLINE. The article examines evidence-based techniques for stress management which include autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation, relaxation response, transcendental meditation, mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotional freedom technique, biofeedback, diaphragmatic breathing and guided imagery. The authors conclude that evidence-based stress management techniques are easy to learn and practice, and have good results in persons with stress problems.
My career goal is to become a nurse practitioner. As a practitioner, I have so much to offer to the profession considering the importance of nursing in the delivery of healthcare to the masses. I would wish to particularly specialize in hospice nursing and in five years, I see myself as a nurse practitioner doing hospice. It is true that hospice nursing is a tough job because nurses are aware that the patients they care for are terminally ill. However, I see it as an unique opportunity of sharing in the last moments of a patient by showing empathy and compassion. Recently, I took a position with Solari Hospice whereby I am carrying out duties such as observation, assessment and recording of symptoms while working closely with physicians as well as administering medications and providing emotional support.
Profession Organization
Currently, I do not belong to a professional organization. However, I would love to join the Black Nursing Association in the future. They are present all over the nation and stand for ideals that I believe in. Their philosophy is that nursing is a duty, a moral art and an autonomous profession. This translates to the provision of a forum for collective action by nurses in investigating, defining and advocating for healthcare needs of all people, and implementing strategies that guarantee healthcare access for all. It is important for a nursing practitioner to join a professional nursing organization because it has a number of advantages. They include education, annual conventions, networking, certification, targeted products and resources and career assistance (Doris, 2005). In general, belonging to a professional nursing organization helps one to develop his or her career as well as establish networks.
Future of Nursing
Despite advances in technology, nurses will continue to play a major role in advancing health. In 10 to 50 years to come, nurses will be better educated and trained and will take up a collaborative role with physicians. While the notion in the current system is that it is only physicians who can or should lead changes in the health care system, the future will be characterized by innovative nursing-led services since nurses are closer and have much more contact with the patients (Chen, 2010). In the next 100 years, nursing will be a huge profession that embrace latest technologies in the delivery of health care services, and will have more involvement in health care provision.
References
Chen, P.W. (2010, November 18) Nurses Role in the Future of Health Care. The New York Times, 2010. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/18/health/views/18chen.html?_r=2&ref=health &
Doris, G.M. (2005) Why Join a Professional Nursing Organization? Nursing, Fall 2005, Vol. 35, Issue 1, p 19.
Varvogli, L. & Darviri, C. (2011) Stress management Techniques: Evidence-Based Procedures that Reduce Stress and Promote Health. Health Science Journal, 2011; 5(2): 74-89.
