This essay will analyze the importance and purpose of a professional biography, as well as delve into my personal nursing experience and its connection to the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Competency Framework. Additionally, I will outline my strategy for professional development, identify areas where I can improve in my current role, and highlight the valuable knowledge acquired from the Critically Exploring Professional Practice module.
My entry into the field of nursing, career pathway/trajectory, and my professional development plan include self-assessment/reflection (SWOT Analysis), career goals, and current preparation. Additionally, I have learned valuable lessons from critically exploring professional practice. All of these aspects are important in shaping my professional biography, which is a clear and brief story of my career, training, career accomplishments, goals/expectations, plans, and development (Wheatman,2012).
The purpose of my professional biography is to allow me to reflect on and analyze my professional practice, as well as showcase my career progression and goals. It serves as an assessment tool, providing an overview of my achievements and successes in accordance with Wheatman (2011). In addition, I plan to utilize this biography as a foundation for future personal and professional growth and planning.
When I graduated from High School in 2012, my original plan was to pursue Medicine and Surgery because of my strong desire to assist others who are ill and make a positive impact by saving lives. However, my journey into the nursing field turned out to be unexpected, similar to a thirsty man going into a shop to buy water but ending up with a bottle of beer.
According to Woolley (2011), medical doctors have the responsibility of providing support, care, and treatment for illnesses and physical ailments while also working towards restoring health.
Due to bureaucratic bottlenecks involved in the admission processes in Nigerian Universities, I lost several opportunities to gain admission at the record time. These challenges include inadequate carrying capacity, insufficient facilities, limited funding, shortage of academic staff, and a flawed education curriculum (Aluede, 2012). Despite my initial reluctance, I eventually accepted a place in the university to study nursing due to the influence of my parents and family.
I never considered studying nursing because I previously believed it was a profession exclusively for women. However, I was surprised to learn that the first nurses during the Hippocratic period in ancient Greece were actually men, who were supervised by male physicians (Christman, 1998; Davis & Bartfay, 2001). After realizing that nursing involved caring for the sick and assisting them in leading independent lives, I decided to accept the opportunity to study nursing.
Nursing involves the diagnosis and treatment of human responses, as well as safeguarding health, preventing injuries and illness (ANA, 2013). It also includes advocating for the well-being of individuals, families, communities, and populations – which aligns with my passion. In Nigeria, the Bachelors of Nursing program takes five years for college graduates or four years for direct entry students with a Registered Nurse Certificate.
Even though I spent seven years studying for my Bachelors of Nursing, the programme I signed up for was not approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). The NMCN has set certain guidelines and criteria that universities need to follow in order to train competent nurses (NMCN, 2004). Regrettably, the university I attended did not meet these standards within the given timeframe. As a result, my study period was extended until 2009 instead of ending in 2008.
In November 2009, I took the NMCN qualification examination and did not pass all the courses in one attempt due to failing paper II. However, in the following year, I passed paper II and became registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. In May 2010, after becoming a Registered Nurse, I started working as a Nursing Officer II at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Abakaliki from February 2010 to January 2011.
In February 2011, I was called up to serve in the National Youth Service Corp Scheme in Nigeria. This required me to resign from the hospital where I was working and I was then assigned to the Federal Medical Centre in Owo. I served as a Nursing Officer I from February 2011 to February 2012. After completing my service at the hospital, I decided to pursue a career in academia. In April 2012, I was hired as a Graduate Assistant Lecturer at Ebonyi State University in Abakaliki.
Before starting my masters program, I helped senior colleagues with classroom and clinical instruction for nursing modules. As a nurse in different clinical settings, I followed the Nursing and Midwifery Council Competency Framework. This framework includes professional values, communication and interpersonal skills, nursing practice and decision-making abilities, as well as leadership, management, and teamwork capabilities. It’s important to note that I am registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
The Professional Code of Conduct of the Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) aligns with the four domains of the Competency Framework outlined by the NMC (NMCN, 2004). Domain 1, which emphasizes professional values, is crucial for nurses as it directs their decisions and behaviors while providing patient care. This encompasses assuming responsibility for patients during various stages such as birth, illness, and death. Without a clear comprehension of the necessary choices and actions, delivering outstanding care to our patients would be difficult.
In my practice, I upheld the professional values of nursing, including dignity, autonomy, informed consent, patients’ rights, and altruism. I displayed confidence in my practice according to the Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics for Nurses and Midwives (NMC, 2008), as well as within the legal frameworks of my organization. I delivered care with a non-judgmental and sensitive approach, promoting equality and preventing discrimination against any patient.
In my practice, I prioritized the wellbeing of my patients, clients, and their families, communities, and the entire population. I emphasized the importance of respecting the individual choices and rights of my patients and clients. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills were key in providing care and managing patients and clients. I made sure to effectively communicate with my patients by utilizing different strategies.
During my experience working with individuals with disabilities, I worked closely with other healthcare professionals to gather essential information required to ensure optimal healthcare and equal access to rehabilitative services. As a nurse in the adult Medical-Surgical Ward, I deeply understand and value the challenges individuals face when they are moved away from their familiar surroundings or homes due to illness or incapacitation.
Entering a hospital is always a negative experience for patients and their families. While working in this ward, I learned to identify and respond to anxiety and distress using therapeutic communication methods such as interviewing, advising, supporting, guiding, teaching, and counseling (Barry, 1996). I made sure to listen to them carefully and empathetically while maintaining professional boundaries. Additionally, I provided warm responses to help alleviate their anxiety and distress.
By encouraging patients to express their fears and anxiety, their recovery was enhanced. I prioritized the confidentiality of patient information, in accordance with legal and ethical guidelines. Engaging in direct patient care and assessing disruptions in their lives, nurses are often trusted with confidential information by patients. As a result, nurses bear the responsibility of safeguarding this sensitive information.
According to ANA (1976), nurses have a responsibility to safeguard the patient’s privacy by securely maintaining any confidential information obtained from the patient. However, in situations where safety and protection take precedence over confidentiality, nurses may disclose personal information about the patient to their professional colleagues (NMC, 2008). Domain 3 of Nursing Practice and Decision-Making emphasizes the importance of nurses practicing autonomously, with skill and safety, and promoting dignity, health, and well-being (NMC, 2008).
The domain stresses the significance of nurses utilizing current knowledge and evidence to assess, plan, deliver, and evaluate care. It also emphasizes the importance of nurses sharing their discoveries, instigating change, and advocating for health and optimal practice. Additionally, nurses must work together with other individuals involved in the care process to make judgments and decisions that prioritize the individual’s needs based on evidence. In my position as a nurse in the Medical-Surgical Ward, I provided care that was grounded in evidence and conformed to hospital policy.
During my nursing practice, I prioritized the application of current knowledge to enhance patient health and well-being. To accomplish this objective, I participated in various training programs that included Basic Life Support Training in 2010, Prevention from Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV Training Course in 2010, Mandatory Continuing Professional Development for Nurses in 2011, and National Youth Service Corp Red Cross First Aid Training in 2011. These courses not only ensured that I stayed updated but also enabled me to acquire additional skills, ultimately improving my abilities as a nurse.
According to Hodges et al(1988), staff nurses can enhance their technical skills and further their education by attending conferences, workshops, and trainings, thus becoming experts in bedside care. The administration of nursing care is an ongoing process that requires collaboration with others involved in order to maintain high quality.
When I reflect on my practice, I encountered a significant challenge in the Maternity / Labour Ward at Saint Vincent’s Hospital. My female senior colleagues discriminated against me, labeling me as a “novice” and “inexperienced” due to my one-year clinical experience. This discrimination was disheartening, especially considering that I believed I possessed more clinical experience and skills than some of them.
I endured this situation for approximately three months before reaching a breaking point. The toll it had taken on me became unbearable, leading me to request a transfer to the Medical-Surgical Ward. Although I understood that my experience was limited at that time, I hoped that my senior colleagues would actively involve me in the various procedures conducted in the ward and include me in the clinical decision-making process, adhering to the guidelines set by the NMC (2008).
The Dreyfus Model proposes that skill acquisition involves progressing through five levels of proficiency: novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert (Dreyfus & Dreyfus, 1980; Dreyfus, 1981). These levels represent changes in three aspects of skilled performance: transitioning from abstract principles to past concrete experience as models, evolving perception of the demand situation, and transforming from detached observer to engaged performer. According to Dreyfus (1981), novices in the clinical setting need instruction and tasks for skill development (Benner, 2001). Additionally, competence is achieved after approximately two or three years on a similar job according to Dreyfus (1981).
Despite this, it is important to note that the number of years a nurse has worked in a specific unit does not always reflect their level of experience or competence in that area of nursing. According to Cronenwett et al (2007), competence is actually acquired through knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Furthermore, Domain 4: Leadership, management, and teamwork highlights the significance of nurses showcasing leadership in patient care delivery and effectively communicating with other healthcare team members to ensure optimal care for patients.
After working in the Medical-Surgical Ward for approximately six months, I was elevated to the role of head of the ward. This promotion required me to oversee both the male and female units within the ward. In this position, I made a conscious effort to provide effective leadership in managing the day-to-day operations of the ward. My leadership style was democratic, as I believed in involving all nursing staff in clinical decision-making to foster improved performance and job satisfaction.
