NR452 Assignment: Transition into Professional Nursing Role

Career Planning
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Date of submission
Career Planning
Transition into Professional Nursing Role
Planning my professional nursing career role has been quite challenging and hectic. However, through a proper mentorship, I have been able to get most of the didactic information and clinical exposure for the beginning-level practitioner during first years of my studies. In addition, the guidance and support that I have given in the early years have nurtured my skills to be an expert clinical practitioner that I have realized at the end of the fifth year. Thus, I have to appreciate my mentors for using this kind of strategies for my optimal transitioning into the professional nursing role (Nursing Licensure, 2017).
I’m currently seeking employment in Maryland State as a registered nurse upon the approval by the Maryland Board of Nursing that issues the RN license for the qualified nurses. The board regulates both the issuance of a license to the registered nurses and the practical nurses. Maryland Board of Nursing has criteria that all the RN nurses must meet to be issued with the RN license and such criteria are as follows; a prospective RN student should enroll in only the approved programs that are located within the borders of the state at both the ADN and BSN levels. However, the out of state programs are usually accepted so long as such programs are equivalent to the programs offered within the state. To those who are from out of state programs that are not equivalent are required to follow through a preceptorship (Nursing Licensure, 2017).
On a separate note, students who enroll in the clinical programs in Maryland are supposed to be certified by the CNAs as they complete the requirements besides having gone through a background check. Nurses who are already licensed as LPN usually opt for an LPN to RN program. Maryland Board of Nursing has only two online LPN to RN programs such as the Indiana State University, which is a baccalaureate level and Chamberlain College of Nursing that confers an associate’s degree (Nursing Licensure, 2017). RN licensed can also be issued to endorsement candidates. This is usually applied online, where an application fee of $ 100 is required plus $ 40 that is assessed whenever the applicant wishes to work under a temporary license. Other details include doing fingerprints for eligibility of the temporary license (Nursing Licensure, 2017).
International students are also accepted by the Maryland Board of Nursing. These students should have in addition to the normal criteria, make the application at the beginning of the process, $ 100 application fee, apply for a CES Professional Report, take an oral proficiency examination then register for the NCLEX. Besides, English examinations that are normally accepted include TOEFL, IELTS, and ILA. Lastly, the international candidate at the later licensing stages is able to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant (Nursing Licensure, 2017).
Holistic Life Balance
Achieving work-life balance is essential for professional nurses. This is because the absence of a proper work-life balance has long-term negative effects on mental and physical health, relationships as well as work performance. However, it is usually stressful to have a better balance between work and life due to issues of job demands, inability to resist assistance when people ask for help and the tight work schedules (Thomka, 2001). In the first year of determining the holistic balance between the personal and professional life, it is essential to integrate exercise in the daily activities such as scheduling for a 10-minute walk, improvement of nutrition as well as taking care of mental and emotional needs. In addition, a prior development of an action plan is necessary as well as setting realistic goals for holistic life balance among others (Thomka, 2001).
Acceptance to combat stress is important. In the first year, it is essential to acknowledge the aspects of life that cannot be changed followed by the development of coping strategies to address the different feelings and remove them before they transform to barriers in order to find the holistic life balance. Control of attitude and feelings is usually the first step towards ensuring better personal life. It is better to control the perfectionism. Perfection is normally required in patient care. Learning from mistakes, enhances perfection and which is critical when caring for a patient. Secondly, it is wise to develop empathy for others instead of judging people, which lead to stress besides practicing time management (Thomka, 2001).
On a separate note, it is essential to develop a positive relationship within the first year to curb the problems of relationships that lead to time wastages and emotional energy. This is accomplished through engaging in conversations on conflicts, setting a regular time for a get together with friends and families as well as giving people benefit of the doubt without jumping to conclusions which lead to the development of trust. In addition, it is necessary to seek for assistance and delegate responsibilities and duties when necessary. Lastly, taking a time out is necessary, especially when things are overwhelming. A practice of meditation is important during the first year, which grounds a person’s mind to focus, concentrate and stay at peace (Gambles, Lewis &Rapoport, 2006).
In five years, holistic life balance is better achieved by having a clear overarching purpose in life. Besides, develop a lifelong career as well as simplifying life. It is critical to address the major stressors and focusing only on the envisioning possibilities as well as having more engagement in life. At the same time strive to live a happier life by finding time with your family or develop a lifelong relationship with your partner as well as starting a ...