The initiative in creating change has always been an integral aspect of man. Equipped with their relative skills and competencies, they engage in various efforts to create opportunities that will improve their capabilities and cater to the service of individuals. Amidst the trials and difficulties in the process, hard work and determination remains to be a vital factor in attaining their desired objectives and purpose in life. With this mindset, I wish to present my intention to apply for nursing school with this prestigious learning institution.
The pursuit of one’s goals and dreams are journeys that oftentimes take a lifetime to accomplish. There are those who reach the end of their lives not accomplishing what they wanted to do because they were either too intimidated by the prospect of even embarking on such a quest or they did not have the right opportunities in life (Breckinridge 181). I have been working for a number of years and during that time I have had plenty of time to see my career develop as my life passed by. Yet, there comes a certain point in one’s life when one must make a firm decision, a commitment to something much more than one’s own personal goals. Oftentimes, this means sacrificing one for the other. There are those, however, who are lucky enough to have their own personal goals and that pursuit for higher objectives converge. For me, this is the pursuit of a career in nursing.
I have always wanted to help change the world. As a child, I believed that if everyone did their own little part in taking that extra step to help others, the world would be a much better place for everyone. The stark reality of it all hit me not long after that but it did not lessen my resolve. I figured that if so many people I knew did not want to do their part in changing the world then I would probably have to do their share. This is where my motivation to pursue nursing comes from; the drive to go the extra mile just to make a difference in this world.
The decision to pursue a career in nursing is not something that just occurred overnight. Instead, it is the result of an active commitment to being able to carry out my passions in life (Marquis and Huston 192). The human involvement that is critical in nursing makes it the ideal profession for me. The remunerations that one can receive from being a nurse are only secondary to the feeling of fulfillment from knowing that one was able to provide support to those in need (Bach and Sisson 17). These experiences that I took with me during my time in the hospital shaped my future and opened my eyes to the benefits that a career in nursing can provide.
As the world continues to change and the workplace becomes more and more challenging and competitive, it becomes imperative for anyone looking for a successful career to not only have the drive to succeed but also the training and expertise to do so (Bach and Sisson 17). I am not saying that I do not have the training and expertise at the moment but I do believe that there is still room for more. That is why I strongly feel that nursing is the profession for me because it not only allows me to become what I want to be but it also allows me to become who I want to be in life.
My previous experiences have served well to prepare me for what lies ahead. It has made me realize that what I really want to do in life is to help other people and become an excellent nurse. I know that I can do more to further this goal by entering a registered nurse program and by getting the training that I need. However, I feel that this is the crucial step that will herald my success in this profession.
With all of the technological advancements in health care that have indeed raised the standard of health care being provided in the United States, there are a few intangible factors that can never be replaced (Benson 318). I see my future role, as a member of the nursing profession, as being able to develop these intangibles. One important example is the special type of manner by which a nurse must conduct herself in order to be effective in performing her task (Benson 318). The bedside manners are very important and it is something that just cannot be taught in classrooms. Nurses need to be more than just machines that come in and punch in their time cards but rather professional registered nurses who show their passion and dedication to the profession through their approach and practice (Benson 318). With this role in mind, I feel that I am not only prepared to take on the challenges of pursuing a career in nursing but that I also have the proper mindset for this type of career.
Pursuing my career in nursing is just the first step in my plan. Much like Nurse Leader Mary Breckenridge has done, I too want to be just more than a nurse (Collins 171). I would like to have the opportunity to take a bigger role in making the world a better place to live. My main philosophy in life is to lead by setting an example. I cannot expect others to do what I myself would be willing to do but that does not mean that I cannot hope that others will see the example that I have shown them. This philosophy is one of the many forces that drive me to pursue my dream of pursuing a career in nursing and of becoming so much more in life. The chance to help those who are less fortunate in life, the chance to help others, the opportunity to be of service to humanity; these are the reasons why I have selected nursing as the profession that I will pursue; for, as Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams…”
References:
Benson, Suzanne, G. and Dundis, Stephen, P. (2003), Understanding and motivating health care employees: integrating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, training and technology. Journal of Nursing Management 11, 315-320.
Bach, S., and Sisson, K.2000. Personnel Management: A Comprehensive Guide to Theory and Practice. Blackwell Publishing.
Marquis and Huston (1992) Leadership Roles and Management Functions in Nursing Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; Fourth Edition (September 15, 2002)
Breckinridge, Mary. Wide Neighborhoods: A Story of the Frontier Nursing Service. Lexington: University Press of Kentucky 1981.
Collins, David R. “Mary Breckinridge: Nurse on Horseback,” in Great American Nurses. New York: Julian Messner, 1971.