NHS FPX 5004 Assessment 2 Professional Identity Reflection

Student name

Capella University

Professor’s Name

Submission Date

What motivated you to pursue your chosen field of study? 

I had a very firm desire to make a difference in the provision of nursing care and in health equity, which was the reason for my getting my Master’s degree in nursing. I’ve experienced the disproportionate effects of systemic gaps in health care with vulnerable populations in a variety of different clinical settings. The discovery of this encouraged them to explore a deeper connection with these than bedside care, to a place where policy, education, and systemic change could be made.

The nurses that I particularly found to be motivating are those who serve someone or something else; I found that to be the most motivating. The ways they were able to integrate their caring with a strategic approach were a big eye-opener for me, as they proved the transforming power of advanced nursing practice. This was the path I chose, as I also wished to gain the skills of leadership necessary to tackle complex health problems; to be a change agent of ‘Inclusive and Quality Healthcare’ in various communities.

How do you define your professional identity? What are the core values, beliefs, and goals that guide your work? 

Empathy, Integrity, Lifelong learning, and social justice are values reflecting my identity as a nurse. I believe everyone should be treated in a compassionate way, be culturally competent, and have an evidence-based practice. I believe nursing is a calling that must be based on humility, critical thinking, and strength as well as a profession. Respect for human dignity, accountability, and advocacy are my main values, which impact my patient/family and fellow staff interactions.

How do you think DEI influences your attitudes, beliefs, or actions as a professional? When I embraced DEI, I was forced to examine my own preconceived notions and biases, as well as others, and have an interaction with the person that is culturally responsible. It challenges my beliefs: that an equal approach to health care is not the only need to be met but that each person’s social, cultural, and historical contexts should be considered and addressed in order to understand and meet their health needs.

As a professional, DEI guides me to be vocal and to challenge inequitable systems in healthcare systems – every aspect of my communication style, care planning, and advocacy work involves me speaking up for the marginalized, which is consistent with the work of Marjadi. It also impacts my interactions with other team members to ensure that working environments are inclusive and that a diversity of views is welcomed. Last but not least, I have three lenses I use in my practice, teaching, and learning that I do not consider to be an add-on but rather essential lenses in my learning glasses: DEI.

What are some of the challenges or expectations that you anticipate in this program?

Challenges that I look forward to in this master’s program are being able to balance the rigors of the academic and personal/professional commitments. Clinical practice to advanced academic will require a sense of discipline, time management, and the ability to embrace discomfort along the journey, through numerous theories and concepts of leadership. I hope the programme will also re-examine my beliefs towards a healthcare system and my role within it and encourage me to think more deeply and become more confident in what I do. But I do still consider those challenges to be part and parcel of me as I’m developing. I believe working collaboratively with other people will be the “scaffolding” I will need to become successful when learning with others and in the presence of the faculty.

What are the personal, academic, or professional goals you hope to achieve through this program?

In this program, I will learn to be a transformational nurse leader who is able to lead change in challenging health care environments. Professionally, I would want to further build my research and policy analysis/eBP skills. My career aspirations include a more interdisciplinary role that is integrated with both caring for others and system-level advocacy, as I want to make an impact on health disparities on a larger scale, be it through a career in public health nursing, policy development, and/or nursing education.

Personally, I am very interested in building awareness, emotional skills, and resistance to challenges (including ethical challenges) as described by the research conducted by Rao with various groups. I’m also looking forward to continuing to work on my commitment to DEI and working to include it in every aspect of my practice. Last but not least, this program is a stepping stone towards becoming a caring, qualified, and fearless leader who will positively impact patients as well as nursing in general.