Preparing Your Reflection

The BSN Essentials (AACN, 2008) outline a number of healthcare policy and advocacy competencies for the BSN-prepared nurse. Reflect on the course readings, discussion threads, and applications you have completed across this course and write a reflective essay regarding the extent to which you feel you are now prepared to (choose 4):

1.“Demonstrate the professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct.

• Assume accountability for personal and professional behaviors.
• Promote the image of nursing by modeling the values and articulating the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of the nursing profession.
• Demonstrate professionalism, including attention to appearance, demeanor, respect for self and others, and attention to professional boundaries with patients and families as well as among caregivers.
• Demonstrate an appreciation of the history of and contemporary issues in nursing and their impact on current nursing practice.
• Reflect on one’s own beliefs and values as they relate to professional practice.
• Identify personal, professional, and environmental risks that impact personal and professional choices, and behaviors.
• Communicate to the healthcare team one’s personal bias on difficult healthcare decisions that impact one’s ability to provide care.
• Recognize the impact of attitudes, values, and expectations on the care of the very young, frail older adults, and other vulnerable populations.
• Protect patient privacy and confidentiality of patient records and other privileged communications.
• Access interprofessional and intra-professional resources to resolve ethical and other practice dilemmas.
• Act to prevent unsafe, illegal, or unethical care practices.
• Articulate the value of pursuing practice excellence, lifelong learning, and professional engagement to foster professional growth and development.
• Recognize the relationship between personal health, self-renewal, and the ability to deliver sustained quality care.” (p. 28).

Reference:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN]. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. Washington, DC: Author.