Betsy Douglas

10/11/2016

Reflection Paper

As a nursing major with a human service minor I have come to appreciate the courses I

am taking for human services. A lot of the courses and materials covered in human services

have really helped me in my nursing major. When I first came to college I did not even think

that I would have a minor. I came to the University of South Carolina Beaufort to study only

nursing. I was already feeling overwhelmed with all the classes I had to take for nursing so I did

not even consider it. But in the fall of 2015, I was told that if I wanted to maintain my Life

Scholarship I had to take 15 credit courses a semester. My nursing advisor suggested that I

minor in Human Services. I took the Intro to Human Services 190 and really enjoyed and

learned a great deal, so I decided to continue making Human Services my minor. In the 190

class it taught me how different cultures interpret medical treatment and how they to respond

to people with different cultures.

After reading the 190 course I learned that the population that I would feel the most

comfortable working with would be older persons. I would like to say individuals with diverse

cultures/racial groups because I have always been fascinated with the diverse cultures I have

been in contact with. But I have had a lot more experience with older persons and I love being

around them. The nursing program has allowed us to go to a nursing home and work with many

patients throughout the semester.

This semester has been just as informative as my last Human Services class. The things

that really stuck to me are the chapters on Erikson Developmental stages, and the responses

that people made to all the discussion question. I really liked the diverse responses that people

made to the same questions. It really shows me that as a future nurse, I need to be aware that

everyone has a unique history that makes them respond to things in different ways. Erikson

Developmental stages helped me realize that many of us go through the emotional, intellectual

and physical changes. Overall I am really glad that Human Services is helping me to become a

better and more empathic nurse.