Reflections on Nursing: Healthcare, Education, and Community Health

This essay presents a student's reflection on their initial experiences in an introductory nursing course. The student expresses initial nervousness and reservations about the course, stemming from stories of previous students. However, the student found the course engaging and participatory, learning about the diverse roles nurses play beyond hospital settings. The reflection emphasizes the importance of nurses in primary healthcare, community health, and maintaining cutting-edge healthcare systems. The student's perspective highlights the critical role of nurses in healthcare service delivery, education, and community well-being in the United States.

Running Head: INTRODUCTION TO NURSING
Introduction to Nursing
Students Name
University Affiliation
Date

INTRODUCTION TO NURSING 2
Introduction to Nursing
Part one
Professional nursing has been found to hold a special place not only in the American
health care system but also in the global healthcare system. Considered as members of one of the
largest professions in the healthcare system, the United States of America’s 3.2 million nurses
operate in varied environments as well as fields and are fundamental healthcare service
providers. Before joining nursing class, I was nervous and did know what would come out of the
classes were I to attend them. I heard stories from the previous students of the nursing class and
those who had graduated from the same course how nursing was fascinating and intriguing at the
same time. I had serious reservation about taking the course even though it was my dream from
childhood to help the patients in various healthcare facilities especially the elder members of the
population. With these feelings and reservation, however, I decided to pursue my dreams and
joined the course. It later turned out that I did not make mistake of join this participatory and
student-centered course.
I was very much thrilled by the way in which our lecturers engaged us during the learning
sessions. I learnt that even though most nurses operate in acute care environment like hospitals,
their expertise as well as skills go beyond the hospital walls. For instance, operating
independently and with other professionals in the healthcare sector, nurses usually enhance the
health of communities, families and individuals. Moreover, I learnt that many people usually turn
to nurses for efficient delivery of primary healthcare services, healthcare counselling and advice
as well as healthcare education. Nurses are also vital links in maintaining a cutting-edge systems
of healthcare, thus, nursing continues to be a critical services to the people of the U.S.