The movie If Florence Could See Us Now was incredibly insightful and inspiring as a nursing student. This film provides an accurate depiction of nursing today through the lens of more than one hundred nurses interviewed. These nurses and their stories were very moving and I learned a lot from each of their experiences. More importantly, though, I noticed various skills exemplified by the nurses in this film that I do not feel I currently possess. Every one of the nurses in this film demonstrated innovation. They are persistent, creative, flexible, and carry exceptional teamwork skills. While I believe various life experiences have shaped me into a determined and resilient individual, I know my qualities of creativity and teamwork are lacking. I believe these are both difficult skills to possess as a new student nurse as I have been so focused on perfecting the didactic and experiential learning thus far that I have not felt competent enough or comfortable enough to “think outside of the box.” However, as this last semester approached, I have begun to utilize this way of creative and more innovative thinking because I do possess the concrete foundational nursing knowledge. Teamwork, on the other hand, is a skill nursing school has concentrated on since the first class. Although, yes, I do feel that I am a good communicator with my peers, this is something that could always be improved and I will continue to enhance through both school and on the floor as a registered nurse.
As the daughter of a fallen veteran who struggled with substance abuse issues, the nurses caring for patients at Glide Church Services in this film immediately had my attention. These nurses cared for various individuals, but predominantly focused on those struggling with addiction issues and who were homeless. There are an abundance of barriers to treatment for this patient population, some of which include a lack of financial stability, lack of resources, and lack of support system. These patients are often so underprivileged that their main focus is not their future or their health, but rather what they are going to eat for dinner or whether they will have a warm place to sleep for the night. I was brought to tears by the way these nurses practiced humility and appreciation for this patient population. As one nurse stated, “We are all bricks on the same wall.” These nurses understood that every patient they encountered is human and has every right to be supported and guided toward recovery. As a future registered nurse, I strive for this same equity of care for all patients. While I believe I possess cultural humility for many diverse populations, I know there is always room for improvement. I hope to strengthen my awareness of diverse patient populations in school, but I believe this is something that I will learn further working with such populations as a registered nurse.
Reflecting on this past week’s Career Services presentation, I have considered a variety of methods to prepare for interviews as I begin to apply for registered nurse positions. I know that as a student nurse with a degree I will carry the same skills and credentials as all of the other applicants. Therefore, I must present myself in a way that sets me apart from everyone else. I will do this by closely researching the organization’s mission, priorities, and practice model. This will show the employer that I am truly interested in their company but will also ensure that I personally agree with their values and aim. Additionally, I will be honest and forthcoming with my strengths and weaknesses as an individual and nurse. As a military child, relocating to a new environment and school every couple of years was very normal and this upbringing allowed me to become adaptable, resilient, and a good communicator. These are beneficial attributes as nurses must have excellent communication skills and are incredible agents of change and problem solving. However, I do have weaknesses that I need to strengthen. As I have not yet practiced as a registered nurse, I do not feel that I possess adequate time management skills when caring for a variety of patients. This is something that I will take every measure to establish when I begin working as a registered nurse. This past week’s content, between the film and the presentation, has made me very perceptive about my current strengths and weaknesses and has given me a better understanding of what it truly means to be a nurse.
References
Nurses: If Florence Could See Us Now. . ().[Video/DVD] The Video Project.
https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/nurses-if-florence-could-see-us-now
