Development of a Strong Professional Identity at Nursing School

As a nursing student in my final semester of nursing school, I often wonder how I will progress as a nurse, from new grad RN and completing year one to be a few years in the nursing profession and possibly enrolling into a Master’s or Doctorate program. There are many ways to sustain a professional career as a nurse. My strategies include developing a strong professional identity, build relationships with fellow medical professionals and practicing self-care. This is my personal essay for nursing school where I want share how it support and provide professional growth and development for future nurses. 

Development of a strong professional identity is one of the qualities needed to sustain a professional career in nursing. Professional identity is defined as one’s professional and personal self-concept based on attributes, beliefs, values, motives and experiences. Positive professional identity can lead to personal, social and professional fulfillment. Professional identity is always constantly evolving throughout a nurse’s career. 

One way I will develop a strong professional identity for a sustained professional life is to build relationships with those around me. According to Giddens, building relationships is about understanding the importance to engage in the learning environment and following through so that these relationships become stronger and more meaningful. Relationship building and engaging with others is an important part of identity formation.

I will also develop personal self-care habits. The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code for Nurses addresses the importance of nurses’ self-care as part of nurses’ ethical code. Caring for oneself is a key component of solidly developing a professional identity. Caring for myself allows me to care for others.

Being a nurse is one of the most mentally and physically demanding professions, therefore it is important that nursing develop and maintain healthy behaviors. While nurses know the importance of healthy behaviors, factors such as stress, long shifts, short turn arounds and sleep deprivation play a role in unhealthy behaviors of nurses. This can lead to obesity, sleep disturbances, poor digestion, and negative moods. Nurses have high levels of overweight and obesity and may not be engaging in health-promoting self-care. 

Also, the level of difficulty in getting into nursing school can vary depending on various factors such as the specific program, the competitiveness of the applicant pool, and the requirements set by the institution. Generally, nursing programs can be competitive due to the high demand for nursing education and the rigorous nature of the curriculum. Admission criteria often include a combination of academic prerequisites, standardized test scores, clinical experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. Additionally, some nursing schools have limited capacity, which can further increase the competition for admission. However, with careful preparation, a strong academic record, relevant experience, and a compelling application, it is certainly possible to successfully gain admission to nursing school.

In conclusion, nursing school has taught me to develop relationships, both in the classroom setting and during clinical experiences. Building relationships with fellow nurses and those in the healthcare profession has helped foster an environment of learning for myself. Having positive relationships with other professionals makes it easier to ask questions, seek advice, and promote the willingness to seek out information. The combination of a positive learning environment and positive professional relationships gives me the ability to provide high-quality care to patients.