School of Nursing Application ESSAY

School of Nursing Application ESSAY

In the report titled “The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health” the Institute of Medicine (IOM) in collaboration with Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) developed four key recommendations.  One of the recommendations was that nurses should be empowered to practice to their full capacity of their educational and training achievements.  Secondly, nurses should attain higher levels of education and training in an enhanced education system, which encourages scholarly progress. The goal of the IOM recommendations is to build the capacity of the nursing profession to address   the emerging challenges and demands of the American healthcare system (IOM, 2011).

Some of the challenges evident in the current and in the foreseeable future of the healthcare system include high demand for primary healthcare services due to increasing number of the aging population, the demand to provide high quality care at an affordable cost and application of evidence based practice (Xue & Orna, 2016). These challenges are exacerbated by the persistent shortage of healthcare professionals, especially primary care providers and registered nurses.

In view of the aforementioned dynamics in the American healthcare system and desire to promote my professional development in nursing practice, I apply for an opportunity to study for my graduate studies in nursing at the University of Alabama in Birmingham (UAB) School of Nursing.   In particular I want to pursue MSN program that is specifically designed for registered nurses wishing to become family nurse practitioners (FNP). Completion of my graduate studies will empower me with advanced skills and knowledge that would enhance my professional development as an emergency family nurse practitioner. I plan to join the American Air force after completion of my graduate studies as a family nurse practitioner.

I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) from Nova Southeastern University (NSU) in 2017.   I am registered nurse, certified paramedic technician and emergency medical technician.  Other certifications include BLS, ACLS and PALS.  My professional background as a registered nurse is in emergency department, where I have worked for over 5 years. During the period, I have worked in various capacities in the emergency department, including a critical and specialty surgery nurse in Coral Springs Animal hospital and a critical nurse in Pet Express Animal hospital, where I also head the emergency department. Currently, I am an emergency nurse at University of Alabama at Birmingham.

My goal to become a Family Nurse Practitioner is inspired by a strong desire to advance my education and career as a registered nurse.  Over the course of my work experience as a registered nurse, I have become more informed about the challenges facing the American healthcare system and the expanded opportunities resulting from being a nurse practitioner.  Currently, the American healthcare system faces a severe shortage of primary healthcare providers, a trend expected to continue into the distant future (Xue & Orna, 2016).

Secondly, the healthcare reforms in the American healthcare system are putting more emphasis on health promotion, prevention of diseases and management of chronic disorders than before. The enactment of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has also increased the demand for healthcare services in the country, which has opened more opportunities for nurse practitioners.  Additionally, there is need to provide high quality patient centered care, at an affordable cost across the country’s population as envisaged in the ACA (Poghosyan ,  Liu & Norful, 2017).

Nurse practitioners provide advanced healthcare services compared to registered nurse with BSN qualifications. These include diagnosing and managing acute conditions, prescribing pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions, in addition to ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests. Nurse practitioners are also evolving to fulfill the roles of primary care providers, following recommendations to remove barriers that limit NP from practicing to the full extent of their education and training. The shortage of primary care physicians and increased demand for primary healthcare services has also played   a major role in expanding the role of nurse practitioners in the healthcare system (Xue & Orna, 2016).

Studying in the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing offers unique opportunities and privileges in my quest to become a nurse practitioner.  First, the school’s MSN program is certified and approved by relevant professional bodies. This implies that undertaking the program will impart relevant skills and knowledge required of a nurse practitioner in the United States. 

Secondly, the school offers rigorous practicum experience, which prepares nurses in their future roles as nurse practitioners in diverse clinical settings. Additionally, the school of nursing provides learners with the option of undertaking the MSN program online, which saves the cost and also provides convenience especially to part time learners. Studying in the school’s multicultural environment would also expose me to diverse cultures in the work environment, which would not only enrich my learning experience, but also prepare me to work with different communities as a family nurse practitioner. 

References

IOM (Institute of Medicine). (2011). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing  Health. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

Poghosyan , L.,  Liu, J.,  & Norful , A.(2017). Nurse practitioners as primary care providers with their own patient panels and organizational structures: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Nursing Studies,74:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.05.004

Xue, Y., & Orna, I.(2016). Cultivating the role of nurse practitioners in providing primary care to vulnerable populations in an era of health-care reform. Sage Journals, 17(1): 24-31.

School of Nursing Application ESSAY