My BSN to RN experience
My journey into the BSN-RN program started on the 11th of August, 2015 at UTA. Looking back, I always find myself wondering why I took so long to complete the program. Although I took longer than the 2 years most people take to complete the program, the challenges that I have had to overcome, combined with the things I have learnt during this duration of time will be a boost in my career. When I first started, my first classes were Health policy and legal aspect as well as Transition to professional nursing. Despite the demanding nature of the program, I also took it upon myself to take extra classes whenever I could because multiple classes would enable me to accomplish my goals within a shorter duration of time. The time I started the BSN-RN program was also the time during which my two daughters were born and this only meant more work for me when I got home. Although having to juggle family life and academics was challenging, I choose to see it as an example of the various challenges I would have to overcome during the duration of my career.
I spent most of my time before the BSN-RN program as a nurse in the emergency department for a duration of 6 years. When I first started, I was rather enthusiastic as I saw it as a positive step towards promoting my future career. The enthusiasm saw me attend various seminars, conferences and would even enroll for classes that would enable me to qualify for advanced certifications. Over time however, the demanding nature of my tasks combined with the pressure from school watered down the enthusiasm and I lacked the drive I had on the onset of my journey into nursing. Although I was still determined to further my career progress, my ambition was limited as the weight of all that was required of me started to become too much to bear.
The positive attitude I had towards nursing was however renewed when I enrolled at UTA for the transition to professional nursing program. The idea that I was in a position to embark on something that I had set out to start 6 years prior combined to the vast information in the field of nursing, ethics and other information covered in the curriculum was enough to trigger the passion I once had for nursing. I started by re-enrolling for relief charge nursing shifts where I would help with ED specific committees. I also joined various nursing associations as they were an excellent source for information on nursing that I could access at home for further reading. Other than my personal research, I would engage with the MD to try and gain a better insight of what happens in the medical field and what it takes to be the best at my field. Most were more than willing to share and their guidance really boosted my career development and it was a boost to my critical thinking skills and the knowledge I possess.
Experience as a lifelong learner
I believe that the program will help me to reach both my professional and personal goals. On a personal level, the program has helped me to bring out the best in people by not only influencing them positively, but also engaging in ways that will make it easier for them to open up. Working with other members enrolled in the program and engaging with people in top positions has taught me how to be an attentive listener and also interact with people in top positions. Pursuing my goals has also helped me to become a better career planner and more organized in life. The experience has led to my decision to complete my bachelor’s program and continue to pursue a masters and doctorate course in the field. The interaction with those in leadership position has helped me to discover my passion and ability to influence others and mentor people to take up nursing by equipping them with the information, motivation and guidance they need to be better at their careers.
The program has helped me to further my journey towards better decision making. This was greatly influenced by a topic covered in the program on how to make SMART goals. The SMART approach has become something that I implement daily, not just in my field of study but also on activities I engage in during my personal time. I have learnt that the skills and information I pick up can be used not just in pursuit of a career but also when performing daily activities and interacting with people. Doing so not only keeps the information fresh in my mind, it also creates a platform where I can put what information I learn into practice.
The continuum of novice to expert in the professional nursing role
The one thing that has helped me to remain positive throughout the experience is my philosophy towards life and the unwavering conviction that I will make it through. The program has taught me the importance of sticking to one’s philosophy as it is the best way to remain focused towards the goal at hand. I have learnt to treat my learning as my personal philosophy and when times get hard, this belief has been the constant reminder I deed to know that everything will work out in the end. Although my approach and beliefs may change from time to time, they keep reverting back to one common base and this is where I determine the things I need to achieve and those that can wait.
My role transition to a professional nurse and an evaluation program.
While pursuing the program, I enrolled to join the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society whose main focus is to promote outstanding leadership and commitment to excellence while ensuring that one attains their scholarly achievements (SIGMA, 2020). The members of SIGMA enjoy a lot of benefits, one of which is access to a wide range of tools and resources that are designed to offer support and guidelines to its members at different stages of their careers. The academic goals set through the program have also pushed me to be better as they acted as the tool that I used to assess my progress. Every experience has been educational and while I have faced a great deal of challenges, every obstacle that I have overcome has only prepared me for the difficulties that I’m likely to face. The program has however reinstated my belief in my chosen career and taught me to not only anticipate challenges, but also ensure that every obstacle is a teaching moment.
Reference
SIGMA, (2020) “About SIGMA” retrieved from, https://www.sigmanursing.org/
