NRS 440 Reflection Paper

Grand Canyon University NRS 440 Reflection Paper– Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Grand Canyon University  NRS 440 Reflection Paper  assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

How to Research and Prepare for NRS 440 Reflection Paper                        

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Grand Canyon University  NRS 440 Reflection Paper  depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for NRS 440 Reflection Paper                        

The introduction for the Grand Canyon University  NRS 440 Reflection Paper is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

How to Write the Body for NRS 440 Reflection Paper                        

After the introduction, move into the main part of the NRS 440 Reflection Paper assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for NRS 440 Reflection Paper                        

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for NRS 440 Reflection Paper                        

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Sample Answer for NRS 440 Reflection Paper

Nurses are a critical part of the healthcare sector with advanced education and competencies to practice alongside other healthcare professionals like physicians. The National Academy of Medicine Committee on the Future of Nursing 2020-2030 asserts that the decade ahead will provide a challenging environment for close to 4 million nurses due to their critical role in care delivery. The report, “The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity,” opines that nurses will work in different settings and practices to help the health system reduce health disparities and enhance equity for all people in the United States (Wakefield et al., 2022). The purpose of this reflection paper is to assess the significance of nursing education and my overall educational progress based on the report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Options in the Job Market based on Educational Level

Associate degree in nursing (ADN) graduates are entry-level registered nurses (RNs) who work in different care settings primarily as caregivers and under close supervision of physicians. The outlook for registered nurses (RNs) based on the Occupational Handbook (2020) illustrates that the demand for this cadre of healthcare providers will rise by 7% by 2029 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023). Many facilities hire RNs with a bachelor’s degree (BSN) in nursing. The job market for RNs with an associate degree in nursing continues to drop, implying that my options in the market are few.  I can work in many settings and facilities based on my qualifications. Organizations can hire me based on my experience and not my education level. Registered nurses (RNs) with ADN qualifications can work as school nurses, hospice and palliative care nurses, and critical care nurses. They also work as occupational health nurses, certified nurse midwifes, and travel nurses. As such, my educational level as an RN allows me to work in several settings with limited specialization based on organizational demands.

Advancing my Education and Professional Certification

According to the recommendations by the NAM report, nurses can only help the U.S. healthcare system reduce and prevent health disparities through advancing their education and professional certification. Advanced degrees like Master of Science in Nursing (MS) and Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) will help nurses better their competencies and skills to enhance patient care. Professional certification through training will ensure that nurses get relevant knowledge and expertise in certain healthcare areas to enhance patient outcomes (Booth et al., 2021). Current evidence-based practice and integration of health technologies implore nurses to advance their education and be better positioned to offer better care for positive patient outcomes.

Advancing my education is crucial to attaining improved competencies and skills for healthcare delivery. As such, my enrollment in the RN to BSN program at Grand Canyon University will help to attain better skills and continue with advanced education at the MSN level and later on, a DNP qualification. I intend to complete the BSN and enroll for the MSN within one year. Upon completion of the MSN in 2027, I will enroll in the DNP program with increased specialty in clinical practice as an advanced clinical nurse practitioner who can practice independently. The professional certification I intend to get includes a certificate in executive nurse practitioner and leader, managerial competencies, getting better clinical outcomes for patients. Higher education is necessary for nurses, especially in clinical settings, to implement the best practices, and adhere to the standards of practice and code of ethics (Mlambo et al., 2021). Therefore, the pursuit of both professional certification and advanced education is aimed at enhancing my job options in the market and improving care quality.

Effects of Level of Education on Competitiveness in the Job Market

The increasing demand for care and diversity in the nursing workforce and patients implores healthcare organizations to demand nurses with advanced education and qualifications. As such, the demand for BSN-prepared nurses continues to rise with more care demands from the population (Bulto et al., 2024). Increasing my level of education means that I will have a BSN qualification and can work in more facilities across the healthcare industry. The expected shortage of nurses and even physicians as projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics means that by getting a higher education, I will be competitive in the job market, including independent practice in states that allow nurse practitioners (NPs) to practice to the full level of their education and training. Therefore, getting an advanced education like a post-graduate degree and specializing in certain areas like critical care will enhance my job options and opportunities. Through these opportunities, I will meet the care demands of many patients, health populations, and vulnerable and marginalized groups.

My future role in nursing is to help reduce the current health disparities by expanding access to care for different populations. Through these efforts and collaborative work, the health system will attain equity for patients and health populations. Nurse practitioners working as independent providers will enhance access to care, help integrate primary healthcare, and work alongside other providers to attain quality care among the population. As noted by the NAM report (2022), nurses will advance health equity and enhance health outcomes by helping people navigate the healthcare system. They will also advance health by offering close monitoring and follow-up, offering holistic care, and providing culturally sensitive care based on patients’ cultural practices and needs.  

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Competency, Attitudes, Knowledge and Scope and Standards for Practice & Code of Ethics

Continuing nursing education (CNE) plays an essential role in maintaining and improving competency, attitudes, and knowledge among nurses. Continuing education also helps nurses to meet and adhere to the Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics developed by the American Nurses Association (ANA). Firstly, through continuing nursing education, nurses maintain their competency as they get up-to-date skills and knowledge on care delivery. Through CNE, nurses become aware of the latest developments in the profession, and this improves patient outcomes. Through continuing education, nurses get opportunities to specialize in certain areas leading to better competencies.

Continuing education improves nurses’ attitudes toward the profession, colleagues, and patients. For instance, it affords the nurse more knowledge of cultural diversity and its effects on nursing and patient care delivery. Nurses get to nurture a learning culture, especially lifelong learning, to maintain professionalism (Mlambo et al., 2021). They also improve their attitudes towards patients based on the teaching of aspects like culturally competent care, patient-centered care, and evidence-based practice (EBP).

Learning is a source of knowledge and continuing nursing education will offer nurses new knowledge and approaches to disease and care situations by providing the latest information. Through advanced education, nurses will get new theoretical foundations for their practice and enhance their clinical decision-making attributes or skills. Nurses also leverage higher education to align their practice with the Scope of Standards for Practice by ANA (ANA, 2022). Through continuing education, they get the knowledge and skills they require to meet practice standards (Harper et al., 2022). Through better education, nurses also adhere to the code of ethics as they learn critical ethical principles and make decisions in dilemma situations (Bulto et al., 2024). The implication is that will lifelong learning and education, nurses should be permitted to practice to the full level of their education and competency.

Continuing Nursing Education

Continuing nursing education is an important part of enhancing better quality patient care. Nurses can only enhance their competencies when they focus on lifelong learning to acquire better skills, knowledge, and competencies. The current health environment requires nurses who are prepared and can practice independently to reduce health disparities. The demand for BSN-prepared nurses and advanced practice nurses (APNs) continues due to the expanding healthcare needs as a result of an aging population and diversity (Uchendu et al., 2021). Despite these factors, continuing nursing education should be the standard for better practice. However, it should not be mandatory since all nurses have different professional and career development priorities. Nursing credentialing bodies, state Boards of nursing, and professional entities like ANA should develop policies on minimal and entry levels so that nurses acquire the requirements that include advanced nursing education, including continuing nursing education.

Conclusion

Nurses play a critical role in healthcare delivery, including being primary care providers in certain areas. The job market and options for nurses based on their level of education will continue to expand or decline due to the demand for qualifications. Therefore, continuing nursing education (CNE) is important for improving competencies and effective care delivery. Nurses should enhance their competencies by getting advanced education and training based on their specialties.

References

American Nurses Association (ANA) (2022). Nursing scope and standards of practice. (4th

            ed.). ANA.

Booth, R. G., Strudwick, G., McBride, S., O’Connor, S., & López, A. L. S. (2021). How the

            The nursing profession should adapt to a digital future. BMJ, 373. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n1190

Bulto, L. N., & Hendriks, J. M. (2024). The role of nurse-led interventions to empower patients

in cardiovascular care. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 23(2), e17-e19. DOI: 10.1093/eurjcn/zvad095.

Bureau of Labor Statistics (2023). Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Harper, M. G., & Maloney, P. (Eds.). (2022). Nursing professional development: Scope and

            standards of practice (4th ed.). Association for Nursing Professional Development.

Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong Learning and Nurses’ Continuing

Professional Development, a Meta-synthesis of the Literature. BMC Nursing, 20(1).

National Academies of Science, Engineering, & Medicine. (2021). The future of nursing 2020-

2030: Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academies Press. https://doi.org.10.17226/25982.

Uchendu, B., Nurse, J. R., Bada, M., & Furnell, S. (2021). Developing a cyber-security culture:

Current practices and future needs. Computers & Security, 109, 102387. DOI:10.1016/j.cose.2021.102387

Wakefield, M., Williams, D. R., & Le Menestrel, S. (2022). The future of nursing 2020-2030:

            Charting a path to achieve health equity. National Academy of Sciences.

DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n1190

Sample Answer 2 for NRS 440 Reflection Paper

Nurses join the demanding profession looking forward to achieving many career and personal goals. Besides individual satisfaction, nurses are motivated to join a rewarding career that plays an instrumental role in society’s transformation. To excel in this practice, nurses are advised to advance their skills since it helps them to understand patient care issues and practice challenges. Advanced skills also help nurses to perform as nursing essentials obligate (Mlambo et al., 2021). They also increase nurses’ competency, which makes them more employable in the competitive market. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the importance of nursing education and my overall educational goals.

Options in the Job Market Based on the Current Educational Level

Different states allow nurses to practice differently depending on their educational levels. Some allow nurse practitioners to practice independently, while others require career-long supervision (DePriest et al., 2020). My current education allows me to work independently in many states and engage in patient care directly. As a result, advancing education will allow me to be a more experienced nurse practitioner who handles patient issues competently. Besides handling routine roles assigned by nurse leaders, I can work as a care coordinator, clinical nurse liaison, or patient coordinator. Broadly, these opportunities do not require advanced nursing skills, and I can handle them individually or as a team member. Patient and care coordination is critical to effective, efficient, and satisfactory care since they ensure health care professionals coordinate to formulate treatment and illness management plans that address patient needs comprehensively (Harkness, 2020). They also ensure that patients understand their health conditions and are actively involved in the management of their conditions.

 Advanced Degree, Reasons, and Timeline

Nurses should be passionate about acquiring advanced skills and work hard to be more experienced professionals as time advances. Besides improving practice experience, continuous and advanced learning increases nurses’ confidence and ability to influence nursing practice through policy, leadership, and other interventions. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity” report spotlights the need for nurses to advance their education since it empowers them to improve health and well-being among individuals and groups, formulate innovative care models, and effectively respond to disasters (National Academies of Medicine, 2021). Such knowledge will be instrumental in health care evolution as nursing practitioners, leaders, and health care stakeholders collaborate to reduce inequities and achieve cost-effective care.

Among the options for advanced degrees, I look forward to pursuing a Master of Science Nursing (MSN) in leadership. From a practice dimension, a master’s degree improves nurses’ practice experience and allows them to specialize in an area of interest (NurseJournal Staff, 2022). With patient care dynamics and workplace issues changing drastically, the nursing practice requires many nurse leaders committed to transforming the health care landscape. In response, the MSN in leadership degree will prepare me to engage actively in health care transformation through experience, leadership skills, and policymaking. Nurse leaders also engage in patient advocacy, which helps raise voices on patients’ behalf to ensure their needs are adequately addressed (Soklaridis et al., 2018). Typically, an MSN in leadership degree takes approximately two years to complete. As a result, it will take me two more years to complete the degree after I finish the current course.

Increasing Education Level, Competitiveness, and Role in the Future of Nursing

Like other professionals, nurses should be encouraged to attain the highest education possible to be more effective in their roles. Increasing my education level will impact my employability positively since most organizations put more emphasis on advanced skills when hiring. As Deering (2022) explained, most health care organizations prefer nurses with at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing since they associate nurses’ knowledge with patient outcomes. In this case, there is a basic assumption that highly educated nurses are better-prepared and highly skilled for the demanding profession. My role in the future of nursing will also be significantly affected by acquiring more skills and career experience. As a nursing professional looking forward to influencing the nursing practice through leadership, adequate preparation in leadership and management is critical. Broadly, the future of nursing will be characterized by a high demand for quality patient care, responding to issues such as nurse burnout and workplace incivility, and policymaking. As a nurse leader, I will be active in shaping the nursing practice in the future as it continues to cope with complex issues hampering patient care.

Nursing Education, Competency, Attitudes, Knowledge, and ANA Scope and Standards

Continuing nursing education leads to better outcomes for the nurse, patients, and the broader nursing practice. According to Fukada (2018), advancing education improves nurses’ skills and prepares them to address complex patient problems better. As a result, advanced nursing skills improves nurses’ competency as care practitioners and change implementers for quality patient care. Continuing education also helps nurses to better understand and engage more in patient advocacy, research translation to practice, and technology integration into patient care (Fulton & Holly, 2021). These competencies make them more confident professionals who perceive their role positively. Such perception improves nurses’ attitudes toward their professional mandate despite its complex challenges.

Nurses’ overall knowledge increases as their skills advance. For instance, a master’s prepared nurse gains more knowledge on informatics and health care technologies, health policy, and organizational and systems leadership (Fulton & Holly, 2021). This knowledge influences patient care positively since it improves care effectiveness and efficiency. As health dynamics change, nurses’ vulnerability to engaging in illegal and unethical practices increases. The ANA Scope and Standards for Practice and Code of Ethics dictate the practice requirements for nursing professionals and the fundamentals of ethical conduct. Continuing education improves nurses’ skills in these critical areas to ensure they engage in ethical practice and provide care that adheres to the generally accepted ethical principles.

Analyzing Whether Continuing Nursing Education Should Be Mandatory

Continuous education typifies the progressive improvement of skills, which is essential for all professionals. Mlambo et al. (2021) emphasized the same by underlining that continuous learning is crucial in careers where continuous professional development is necessary. Despite its role in the professional development of nurses, continuous education cannot be mandatory. It can only be encouraged and institutions supported with adequate resources for continuous education. Nurses should also be supported financially through subsidized education, grants, and scholarship to motivate them to continue their education. In this case, mandatory education cannot be practical, considering that basic education is already expensive.

Conclusion

Nurses’ professional skills vary with their quality of education. Typically, continuous education is associated with positive health outcomes since it enables nurses to understand patient care issues in-depth and provide innovative solutions. Due to the positive link between high competency and patient care outcomes, nurses should advance their education and embrace continuous professional development through lifelong learning. As further discussed in this paper, continuous education should not be mandatory due to the expensive nature of nursing education. Instead, it should be encouraged and nurses offered the appropriate support and motivation to advance their skills.

References

Deering, M. (2022). Top 10 advantages of a BSN degree. NurseJournal. https://nursejournal.org/degrees/bsn/top-advantages-of-a-bsn-degree/

DePriest, K., D’Aoust, R., Samuel, L., Commodore-Mensah, Y., Hanson, G., & Slade, E. P. (2020). Nurse practitioners’ workforce outcomes under implementation of full practice authority. Nursing Outlook, 68(4), 459–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2020.05.008

Fulton, J. S., & Holly, V. W. (2021). Clinical nurse specialist role and practice. Springer International Publishing.

Fukada, M. (2018). Nursing competency: Definition, structure and development. Yonago Acta Medica, 61(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.33160/yam.2018.03.001

Harkness, T. L. (2020). Effective care coordination and transition management for older adults. Nursing made Incredibly Easy, 18(5), 26-32. doi: 10.1097/01.NME.0000694184.27758.b9

Mlambo, M., Silén, C., & McGrath, C. (2021). Lifelong learning and nurses’ continuing professional development, a metasynthesis of the literature. BMC Nursing, 20(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00579-2

National Academies of Medicine. (2021). The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/the-future-of-nursing-2020-2030

NurseJournal Staff. (2022). 25 reasons to get a master’s in nursing. NurseJournal. https://nursejournal.org/degrees/msn/reasons-to-get-a-msn-degree/

Soklaridis, S., Bernard, C., Ferguson, G., Andermann, L., Fefergrad, M., Fung, K., … & Whitehead, C. (2018). Understanding health advocacy in family medicine and psychiatry curricula and practice: a qualitative study. PLoS One, 13(5), e0197590. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0197590