Every state has its own licensing board that is responsible for developing its set of requirements which nursing students are required to abide by in order to be BSN graduates from their respective institutions. The establishment of these requirements is a means of ensuring nursing students are endowed with the ideal and recommended set of qualities and qualifications required to undertake their roles as Registered Nurses in the best way possible.
As a Chamberlain College of Nursing student, I am bound by certain requirements established by the institution as discussed below, which I am required to fulfill in order to successfully transition from a student to BSN student:
Successful completion of credit hours as stipulated by the school
Ensure I achieve a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
Ensure I complete the required number of hours in residency
A recommendation and approval by the faculty of the School of Nursing
In order to receive a license as an RN, one is required to fulfill certain requirements as established by the Florida Board of Nursing as indicated below (Florida Board of Nursing, 2017):
One should have graduated from a nursing program that is recognized and/or accredited by the Board
Once one has satisfied the educational requirements as stipulated by their respective program, he/she is required to take a licensing exam, NCLEX-RN
An individual should submit his/her fingerprints online using an Originating Agency Identification as required by the Board
After conducting a BSN job search within a 30-mile radius of my location, 33143, South Miami Florida, the following are the two top employment choices as well as their respective requirements:
Miami Jewish Health Systems
A current RN license by the Florida State Board of Nursing
A graduate from an approved and accredited nursing school
Knowledge of recommended practices in nursing for geriatric, rehabilitation, and dementia patients
acute or long-term care
Miami Children’s Health System
A current RN license by the Florida State Board of Nursing
One is required to complete a competency assessment tool within a period of 6 months after getting hired
One is required to have an NRP certification within one year as per the respective department
Holistic Life Balance
The choice of pursuing a nursing profession requires an individual to be fully committed and dedicated to their work. This should be based on their willingness to care for people, and one only becomes successful is they are passionate about their work. This is because nursing is an intense field as it is characterized by long and tiring hours taking care of other people. In most instances, if one does not maintain a healthy work-life balance, they are bound to experience burnout, leading to decreased job satisfaction. For this reason, it is required for nurses to devise their own holistic life balance plan so they can attend to other facets of their lives that are also important and which should be taken into consideration in equal measure.
In my case, since I am not married and have no children, I plan on achieving a holistic balance in my profession. This will be achieved by maintaining a healthy regimen that is comprised of healthy eating and undertaking fun fitness activities during my leave days. This will give me an opportunity to maintain a healthy body, while also creating time I can spend with loved ones at the same time. This concept is advanced by Brooker and Waugh (2013), who indicate that nurses should create a healing environment that allows them to let go of self-destructive behaviors, and instead adopt stress management techniques.
Also, I plan on setting aside time for self-reflection and meditation. This approach will allow me to center my thoughts and develop clarity with my goals of progressing in my workplace and personal life. This technique allows one to develop intellectual skills, enhance one’s spirituality, body energy as well as increase self-awareness. These abilities will enhance my capabilities as a nurse, hence reflect in my performance.
Stressors and Challenges
As explained above, nursing as a profession is quite challenging as it is physically, psychologically, and emotionally draining. For this reason, stress is a common response to this environment, as individuals try to cope with new challenges that occur almost every day. For those who are not able to cope with their stress levels, they often result in being frustrated and anxious, ultimately leading to them quitting their work.
According to Singh, Sharma, and Shama (2011), newly graduated nursing students within their first year tend to develop stress as a result of the gap between their lack of adequate preparation, mostly in a mental capacity, and the actual working environment. This situation can be alleviated by self-reflection and increased exposure in these environments to ensure familiarity.
The most common challenge affecting nurses who have been in the field for a considerably longer period of time is that they find it difficult to maintain a holistic life balance, as they have to consider spending time with their family and friends, and also perform as a nursing professional. This can be effectively managed by developing a holistic life balance plan that is based on proper time management practices.
Life-long Learning
On a personal capacity, I am focused on pursuing an Ambulatory Care Nursing course, as part of my professional development. As such, I will be required to take an examination as provided by the Ambulatory Nursing Board. After successfully passing the exam, I will be awarded a Registered Nurse-Board Certified (RN-BC), a credential that is valid for a period of five years. Receiving this credential means that I will be equipped with valuable knowledge and skills required in ambulatory care (AACN, 2016). In addition, I also plan on pursuing a Master’s nursing degree course. This is based on the need to complement my BSN with requisite skills and knowledge required to become a nurse leader.
Professional Contributions
I believe in the important role of mentors. The nursing field is no different from other practices where mentorship is considered imperative for successful professional development. In this regard, within the first two years, I will seek a mentor in the facility, who will guide me through what will be expected of me as a nurse, and how I can best provide services to my patients.
In order to also advance the general student nursing population, I aim to advocate for the development of a nursing mentorship program that will provide an opportunity for newly graduated nursing students to be paired up with experienced nurses. This will enhance their confidence and competency levels, thereby increasing job satisfaction rates and consequently, reduce the turnover rate. As a firm believer of nurses being advocates of their patients, I am to pursue this direction as a means to improve patient outcomes, ensure delivery of high-quality care as well as enhance my leadership skills.
Also, I will ensure I prepare adequately and be conversant with the latest trends in the nursing practice and issues such as ethical practices. Understanding the implications and manifestations of ethical dilemmas will allow me to stay clear from potentially challenging and compromising situations.
References
AACN. (2016). Your Guide to Nursing Programs Graduate. Retrieved from http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/brochures/GradStudentsBrochure.pdf
Brooker, C., & Waugh, A. (2013). Foundations of nursing practice: Fundamentals of holistic care. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Florida Board of Nursing (2017). Licensing and registration. Retrieved from http://floridasnursing.gov/licensing/
Singh, C., Sharma, S., & Shama, R. K. (2011). Level of stress and coping strategies used by nursing interns. Nursing and Midwifery Research Journal, 7 (4): 152, 160.
