Reflection Essay
Reflection Essay
Over the last two years I have come into contact with many people from all walks of life - some of them have been positive, while others turned out more negative. Those diverse people I have met were patients, nurses, doctors, teachers, and my fellow students. In my opinion, all the positive people are those, whom I not only strive to be like, but who are real role models and leaders in my life.
Webster’s dictionary defines a leader as, “a person who leads: a guide” (Merriam & Webster). The person I am thinking about, in particular, has been a great leader in my life. I rely on her because she allows a person to have freedom when you prove you are trustworthy enough, and she is gentle and kind, even when you make a mistake. She shows you what you did wrong and in which direction you need to improve yourself, but she never uses intimidation as a teaching tool. She even gets down to your level and persistently teaches you in a way you can understand and learn best from your mistakes. Her knowledge is vast, and she knows about different subjects, as she is constantly educating herself. In case she does not know the answer, she will look it up with you.
Without any doubt, she is well respected not just from her patients, but her co-workers and students as well. Everyone she comes into contact with loves her, and the way she works with people and is passionate about her career, can be contagious. Many seek to learn from her, and she is definitely the type of person people can look up to and say - she is a natural leader. People look to her in tense situations and often take cues from her. Many times I think that this is just a natural response for her, and I also feel that she is the type of person, who expects the best from her colleagues. Surely, her standards are high and she welcomes excellence, but at the same time she is willing to do everything to help you succeed. As long as you are willing to work hard and put in your best effort, she will go the mile to make sure your goals are achieved.
The type of leader I passionately want to become is very similar to this person, whom I have been referring to. Although I am a very quiet type, I do not regard it as a real drawback. Being quiet and sometimes solitary, I often notice more of the little things, and tend to be more observant in people’s behavior and their feelings. But I am not afraid to ask for help when I am unsure of something, and I enjoy talking to my patients and telling them gentle jokes to bring them a bit of laughter. I have grown a lot over these last few years and learned who I am and who I want to be. Having such amazing people to look up to has been a huge help in shaping who I will be not only as a nurse, but as a personality. I am determined to become the type of person, whom people can rely on and look up to, and whom they regard as trustworthy and a great co-worker. I want to be the type of leader that people respect, the one who is ready to encourage them not just for themselves, but for the wellbeing of their patients.
As a practical nursing student, I have met nurses from all walks of life – from those who are months away from their retirement, up to those who are still waiting to hear if they have passed their national exam in order to call themselves a licensed practical nurse. I also have seen different attitudes from both sides of the spectrum, and I admit that some of the older nurses can be rough, but most of them love what they do - caring for people and doing their best to make the lives of their patients fulfilling. On the other hand, it is not just the older nurses, who sometimes tend to have bad attitudes, these days young people feel that they are entitled to privileges without working hard for them. While some nurses get into the field just for the money, I am determined to be the type of nurse who performs utmost well to improve her patients’ physical and emotional health and make a difference in their lives.
The concept being with, when I first learned about it, seemed rather ridiculous, but later I understood how important it is to make the difference and spend a few minutes to talk to your patient, or just to be with your patient. It can also come into play when people are going through the stages of grief, and at those times you are a safe harbor for patients to let out their fears of the experience they are going through. By learning to recognize the different stages, I can adapt the way how to approach my patients and how to handle their care daily.
