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8/9/2019 Metacognitive Journal #4 Professionood
1/2
Nsg 324
Introduction to Professional Nursing
Maureen Hammond
Metacognitive Journal: Professionhood
In this paper I will be looking at my own professional practice as well as my
thoughts and feelings on nursing as a profession. I will evaluate data that I have retrieved
from our textbook, an internet source, and the AORN manual of standards and practices.
I will also some of the implications those finding had on my feelings about my
profession.
When I think about my profession and personal practice I am struck by the variety
of thought and feelings that come to mind. There are times when I find myself very
grateful to have found a profession that I am proud to be a part of. However there are
other times when I find my self feeling like Cinderella. There are days when I feel that
I truly am making a difference in a patients experience. At other times I feel like a cog in
a large machine.
Prior to this assignment I found myself somewhat on the fence regarding my
thought s on nursing as a profession especially as described by our text Nunnery R. K
{2005}. After reviewing the Code of Ethics for Nurses in Nunnerys text I was struck by
how applicable these statements are to my individual practice as well as to my personal
beliefs. I also glanced through my AORN Standards and Recommended Practices for
Perioperative Nursing prior to formulating an outline for this paper. In doing so I realized
how much I adhere to these practices and teach other orientees and nursing students about
8/9/2019 Metacognitive Journal #4 Professionood
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their importance in patient care. I did find a number of articles which mentioned patient
safety and the Nursing profession. One in particular pointed out that even though lower
nurse to patient ratios was highly beneficial to better outcomes many facilities continued
practices of staffing that put both patients and nurses at risk (Texas Nursing, 2003). The
previous article went on to mention nursings lack of input into many instances of
restructuring that have occurred over the last 15 to 20 years. Many of us who have
worked on the larger hospitals and especially the smaller institutions have definitely
experienced frustration with middle and upper management. We have not had a say in
major decisions made within this time period which has not only affected us but our ability to deliver optimal patient care. If we are truly members of a profession why we
dont have a voice? We are the backbone of the patient care delivery system at these
facilities.
In conclusion, I find myself somewhat perplexed by the myriad of conflicting
thoughts I have about our profession. On one hand, I consider myself lucky to have found
a profession that I am proud to be part of. It is rewarding to feel that you have made a
difference in someones care. I am concerned about what the future holds for nursing and
health care in general. Given the present economy and peoples lack of access to
adequate health care I wonder what this environment will be like when I get ready to
retire in twenty years.