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How to Write a Nursing Reflective Essay as a BSN Nursing Student

• Author Jermaine Huey
• Published November 29, 2023

Welcome to NursingWriters.net, your go-to resource for expert information and guidance on writing nursing essays. In this article, we will provide you, as a BSN nursing student , with a comprehensive guide on how to write a compelling nursing reflective essay. Reflective essays are a personal reflection on your experiences in the nursing profession, and we are here to help you navigate this writing challenge.

As a busy nursing student, we understand that you may have limited time to spare. That’s where NursingWriters.net comes in, empowering you to excel in your BSN program by providing expert guidance on different writing and comprehension challenges you may face. Let’s dive into the world of nursing reflective essays and discover how you can effectively express your thoughts and insights.

Key Takeaways:

• Reflective essays allow nursing students to reflect on their experiences and personal growth in the profession.
• A nursing reflective essay is different from a personal statement, focusing on self-reflection rather than academic achievements.
• Key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay are the inciting incident, personal reflections, vivid details, and actions taken.
• The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide a clear thesis statement.
• The body paragraphs should delve into the writer’s reflections and emotions with specific examples and anecdotes.

What Is a Reflective Essay in Nursing?

A reflective essay in nursing is a powerful tool that allows nursing students to analyze their experiences, emotions, and actions related to their nursing practice. It provides an opportunity for self-reflection, critical thinking, and personal growth. Reflective writing can help nurses develop a deeper understanding of their own practice, improve patient care, and enhance their professional development.

Reflective essays in nursing differ from personal statements in that they focus on specific experiences and their impact on the writer’s growth and development. These essays require the writer to critically reflect on their actions, emotions, and thoughts, and identify ways to improve their practice. By examining their experiences and applying reflective frameworks, nursing students can gain valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth.

When writing a reflective essay in nursing , it is important to follow a structured approach. This includes describing the incident or experience, analyzing personal thoughts and feelings, exploring the actions taken, and reflecting on the outcomes and implications. By structuring the essay effectively, nursing students can communicate their reflections in a clear and organized manner.

Key Elements to Include in a Nursing Reflective Essay

When writing a nursing reflective essay, it is important to include key elements that will make your essay comprehensive and impactful. These elements will help you convey your thoughts and experiences clearly, allowing the reader to gain a deeper understanding of your reflections on nursing practice.

Inciting Incident or Event

The first key element to include in your nursing reflective essay is the inciting incident or event. This is the moment or experience that triggered your reflection and made a significant impact on your practice. It could be a challenging patient encounter, an ethical dilemma, or a personal realization. By describing this event in detail, you set the stage for your reflective journey.

Personal Reflections

Your nursing reflective essay should also include personal reflections on the experience. This is where you delve into your thoughts, feelings, and emotions related to the inciting incident. Reflect on how the event made you feel, what you learned from it, and how it has influenced your growth as a nursing professional. Be honest and vulnerable in your reflections, as this will allow the reader to connect with your experience on a deeper level.

Vivid Setting and Descriptive Details

To create a vivid and engaging narrative, include specific details that paint a picture of the setting and the people involved. Describe the physical environment, the interactions between healthcare professionals and patients, and any other relevant details that contribute to the overall context of the experience. This will help the reader visualize the situation and understand the complexities of the event.

Actions Taken

Finally, it is important to describe the actions you took in response to the inciting incident. Discuss how you applied your nursing knowledge and skills to address the challenges or opportunities presented by the event. Reflect on the effectiveness of your actions and whether there were any areas for improvement. This demonstrates your ability to critically analyze your own practice and make informed decisions.

By including these key elements in your nursing reflective essay, you can create a comprehensive and impactful piece of writing that showcases your growth and development as a nursing professional.

How to Write the Introduction of a Nursing Reflective Essay

The introduction of a nursing reflective essay plays a crucial role in capturing the reader’s attention and setting the tone for the entire essay. It should provide a concise overview of the main points that will be discussed and create a sense of curiosity and engagement. Here are some tips to help you write an effective introduction for your nursing reflective essay:

• Start with an intriguing opening line: Begin your introduction with a captivating statement or anecdote that relates to the topic of your essay. This will grab the reader’s attention and make them eager to continue reading.
• Provide context and background information: Give a brief overview of the event or experience that you will be reflecting on in your essay. This will help the reader understand the context and significance of your reflections.
• Present a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main purpose of your essay and the specific points or themes that you will be exploring. This will give the reader a preview of what to expect in the body of the essay.

By following these tips, you can craft an introduction that captivates the reader and sets the stage for a compelling nursing reflective essay.

“As I walked into the busy hospital ward on my first day of clinical rotation, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Little did I know that this experience would become a pivotal moment in my nursing journey, shaping my understanding of empathy, communication, and patient-centered care. In this reflective essay, I will delve into the details of this encounter and explore the personal and professional growth that resulted from it.”

With an attention-grabbing opening, providing context, and presenting a clear thesis statement, your introduction will set the stage for a compelling nursing reflective essay that captures the reader’s attention and lays the foundation for your reflections.

Nursing Reflection Essay Tips and Examples

Writing a nursing reflective essay requires careful consideration and thoughtful analysis. Here are some tips to help you craft an impactful and meaningful reflection essay as a BSN nursing student . Additionally, we will provide examples to illustrate how these tips can be applied.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflection Essay:

• Start by choosing a specific experience or event that had a significant impact on your nursing practice. This could be a challenging patient encounter, a critical incident, or a personal realization that transformed your perspective.
• Reflect on the experience and consider how it affected your emotions, thoughts, and actions. What did you learn from the experience? How has it shaped your growth as a nursing professional?
• Focus on the key aspects of the experience that were particularly impactful or meaningful to you. Avoid including unnecessary details or deviating from the main message of your reflection.
• Use specific examples, anecdotes, or patient scenarios to support your reflections. This will make your essay more engaging and relatable to the reader.
• Consider the ethical implications of the experience and reflect on how it has influenced your approach to patient care and decision-making.
• End your essay with a reflection on the implications of your learning for future nursing practice. How will you apply the lessons learned to provide better care and improve patient outcomes?

Now, let’s take a look at two examples of nursing reflective essays to further illustrate these tips:

“During my clinical rotation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), I encountered a complex patient case that challenged my critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities. The patient was a middle-aged woman who had undergone a complicated surgery and experienced numerous post-operative complications. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration within the healthcare team and the significance of advocating for the patient’s best interests…”

“One of the most significant experiences during my nursing education was my time spent in the pediatric oncology unit. Witnessing the resilience and bravery of children facing life-threatening illnesses had a profound impact on my perspective as a nurse. It taught me the importance of providing holistic care, not only addressing physical needs but also supporting emotional well-being and promoting a positive environment for healing…”

These examples demonstrate how personal reflections, specific details, and professional insights can be incorporated to create a compelling nursing reflective essay. Remember to structure your essay in a clear and organized manner, ensuring that your reflections flow logically and coherently.

By following these tips and utilizing examples, you can create a compelling nursing reflective essay that showcases your growth and development as a nursing professional.

How to Conclude a Nursing Reflective Essay

The conclusion of a nursing reflective essay serves as the final reflection on the writer’s growth and learning from the experience. It is an essential part of the essay that summarizes the main points discussed and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The reflective essay conclusion should bring closure to the essay by restating the thesis statement and highlighting the key takeaways from the essay.

To write a strong and impactful conclusion, start by restating the thesis statement in a clear and concise manner. This reminds the reader of the main focus of the essay and reinforces its significance. Next, summarize the key points discussed in the body paragraphs, highlighting the most important insights and reflections. This helps to reinforce the main ideas and ensures that they are not overlooked in the final reflection.

In addition to summarizing the main points, a thought-provoking statement or future outlook can be included to provide a sense of closure and leave the reader with something to ponder. This can be a reflection on how the experience has influenced the writer’s future practice or a call to action for continued personal and professional growth. By ending the essay on a strong and meaningful note, the conclusion enhances the overall impact of the nursing reflective essay.

A well-crafted conclusion is essential for a nursing reflective essay as it reinforces the main ideas, leaves a lasting impression on the reader, and provides a sense of closure. By following these tips, nursing students can create a powerful and impactful conclusion that enhances the overall effectiveness of their reflective essays.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay

Writing a nursing reflective essay can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can also be a rewarding experience. Here are some helpful tips and strategies to guide nursing students in their essay writing process:

• Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm ideas, reflect on your experiences, and write and revise your essay. Starting early will help you avoid last-minute stress and allow for a more thoughtful and polished essay.
• Conduct thorough self-reflection: Before you begin writing, take the time to reflect on your experiences and emotions related to your nursing practice. Consider how these experiences have shaped your growth and development as a nurse, and what lessons you have learned along the way.
• Organize your thoughts and ideas: Create an outline or a rough structure for your essay to ensure a logical flow of ideas. Group similar thoughts and reflections together to create cohesive paragraphs, and use headings or subheadings to further organize your essay.
• Seek feedback: Share your essay with trusted peers or instructors and ask for their feedback. They can offer valuable insights, provide constructive criticism, and help you refine your essay to make it stronger and more impactful.

Additionally, it is important to pay attention to the technical aspects of your essay:

• Grammar and spelling: Proofread your essay carefully to ensure it is free of any grammatical or spelling errors. Use grammar and spell-check tools, and consider asking someone else to review your essay for a fresh perspective.
• Coherent writing style: Use clear and concise language to convey your thoughts and reflections. Avoid excessive jargon or technical terms, and focus on communicating your ideas effectively.
• Formatting guidelines: Follow any formatting guidelines provided by your instructor or institution. Pay attention to font style, size, spacing, and citation style if required.

By following these tips and strategies, nursing students can approach their reflective essay writing with confidence and produce compelling and insightful essays that showcase their growth and development in the nursing profession.

Reflective Tools and Models for Nursing Reflective Essays

Reflective tools and models can provide structure and guidance for nursing students when writing reflective essays. These tools help organize thoughts and experiences, allowing for a more comprehensive and meaningful reflection. By utilizing reflection models , nursing students can enhance their reflective writing skills and deepen their understanding of their own growth and development as healthcare professionals.

Gibbs’ Reflective Model

“Reflective practice is both an art and a science that requires ongoing commitment and practice.” – Gibbs

Gibbs’ Reflective Model is a widely used reflection framework in nursing. It consists of six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. This model encourages a structured approach to reflection, allowing the writer to systematically explore their thoughts and emotions, analyze the situation, and identify areas for improvement or further development.

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model

“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” – Dewey

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model focuses on the importance of reflection as a tool for learning and growth. It emphasizes the need to actively engage with experiences, thoughts, and emotions, and to critically evaluate them in order to gain deeper insights and understanding. This model encourages nursing students to think analytically and develop a continuous learning mindset.

Kolb Reflective Model

“Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it.” – Kolb

The Kolb Reflective Model is based on the concept of experiential learning. It consists of four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This model encourages nursing students to engage in a cyclical process of learning, where they actively participate in experiences, reflect on them, conceptualize their insights, and apply their learning in real-life situations.

Schön Reflective Model

“Reflection-in-action is the heart of the learning process.” – Schön

Schön Reflective Model emphasizes the importance of reflection in the midst of action. It focuses on the ability to think and adapt in real-time, making decisions based on professional knowledge and experiences. This model encourages nursing students to develop a reflective mindset that allows them to learn and grow while actively engaging in their practice.

Benefits of Reflective Writing in Nursing

Reflective writing plays a crucial role in nursing practice, offering numerous benefits for nursing students and professionals alike. By engaging in reflective writing, nurses can enhance their self-awareness, develop their critical thinking skills, and gain a deeper understanding of patient experiences. This section will explore the advantages of reflective writing in nursing and its significance in healthcare.

Enhanced Self-Awareness

Reflective writing fosters self-reflection, allowing nurses to examine their thoughts, emotions, and actions in various clinical situations. Through this process, they gain a deeper understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This heightened self-awareness enables nurses to provide more effective and compassionate patient care, fostering a patient-centered approach.

Improved Critical Thinking

Reflective writing encourages nurses to think critically about their experiences and the impact of their actions. It requires them to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of their decision-making and problem-solving skills. By reflecting on past experiences, nurses can identify areas where they can enhance their clinical practice and make informed decisions based on evidence and best practices.

Increased Empathy and Understanding

Through reflective writing, nurses develop a deeper empathy and understanding of patient experiences. By reflecting on their interactions with patients, nurses can recognize the emotions, fears, and challenges faced by individuals in their care. This increased empathy enables nurses to provide more holistic and patient-centered care, improving the overall healthcare experience for patients.

Continuous Professional Development

Reflective writing is an essential tool for nurses’ continuous professional development. It allows them to document their growth, learning, and achievements throughout their nursing career. By regularly engaging in reflective writing, nurses can identify areas for further development, set goals for improvement, and ensure they are providing the best possible care to their patients.

Overall, reflective writing in nursing is a powerful tool that empowers nurses to enhance their self-awareness, critical thinking skills, and empathy. By engaging in this practice, nurses can continuously improve their clinical practice, provide high-quality patient care, and contribute to the ongoing development of the nursing profession.

Nursing Reflective Essay Examples

Looking for inspiration for your nursing reflective essay? Here are some examples that showcase different experiences, reflections, and growth in the nursing profession.

These examples demonstrate how nursing reflective essays can provide valuable insights into personal experiences, reflections, and professional growth. They serve as excellent references to help nursing students develop their own reflective writing skills and gain a deeper understanding of the nursing profession.

Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay for Nursing School Application

A nursing reflective essay can be a powerful tool for nursing school applications. It allows applicants to showcase their self-awareness, critical thinking skills, and passion for the nursing profession. When writing a nursing reflective essay for a nursing school application, there are a few key tips to keep in mind.

Reflect on your passion for nursing

Start by reflecting on what drew you to the nursing profession and why you are passionate about it. Consider your personal experiences, such as volunteering or shadowing healthcare professionals, and how they have shaped your desire to become a nurse. Highlight your commitment to providing compassionate and quality patient care.

Share personal experiences in healthcare settings

Provide specific examples of your experiences in healthcare settings, such as clinical rotations or internships. Reflect on the challenges you faced, the lessons you learned, and how those experiences have impacted your growth and development as a future nurse. Discuss any significant interactions with patients, healthcare teams, or mentors that have shaped your understanding of the nursing profession.

Align with the nursing school’s values and mission

Research the nursing school’s values, mission, and educational philosophy. Ensure that your reflective essay aligns with these principles and demonstrates your commitment to the school’s mission. Use the nursing school’s prompts or essay questions as a guide to structure your essay and address the specific criteria they are looking for in applicants.

By following these tips, you can write a compelling nursing reflective essay that effectively conveys your passion for nursing, showcases your experiences, and aligns with the nursing school’s values. Remember to proofread your essay carefully for grammar and spelling errors and seek feedback from mentors or trusted individuals in the nursing profession to ensure your essay is clear, concise, and impactful.

(Table) Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay for Nursing School Application

Writing a nursing reflective essay can be a transformative experience for BSN nursing students. It allows them to gain valuable insight into their own growth and development as future healthcare professionals. Throughout this comprehensive guide, we have provided expert information and guidance on how to write a compelling nursing reflective essay.

By understanding the purpose of a reflective essay and the key elements to include, nursing students can effectively showcase their personal experiences and reflections. Incorporating reflection models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Model or Kolb Reflective Model can also provide structure and depth to their essays.

At NursingWriters.net, we are dedicated to empowering busy nurses and providing them with the tools they need to excel in their BSN programs. Whether it’s writing a reflective essay or any other writing challenge, we are here to support and guide nursing students towards success.

What is a nursing reflective essay?

A nursing reflective essay is a personal essay where the writer reflects on their own experiences and how those experiences have shaped their growth and development in the nursing profession.

How is a reflective essay in nursing different from a personal statement?

While a reflective essay in nursing focuses on the writer’s personal experiences and reflections, a personal statement is more of a formal document that highlights the writer’s qualifications, achievements, and future goals in the nursing profession.

What are the key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay?

The key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay are the inciting incident or event, personal reflections on the experience, specific details to create a vivid setting, and a description of the actions taken by the writer. It is important to avoid including academic details and excessive focus on emotions.

How should I write the introduction of a nursing reflective essay?

To write an engaging and informative introduction for a nursing reflective essay, you can grab the reader’s attention with an intriguing opening line, provide context and background information, and present a clear thesis statement. Focus on the specific event or experience that will be the main focus of the essay.

How should I structure the body paragraphs of a nursing reflective essay?

The body paragraphs of a nursing reflective essay should have a clear structure. Use the first paragraph to present the thesis statement and provide background information on the event. Use subsequent paragraphs to explore your reflections, emotions, and actions taken. Use specific examples and anecdotes to make the essay more engaging.

How should I conclude a nursing reflective essay?

To write a strong conclusion for a nursing reflective essay, you can summarize the main points discussed in the essay, provide a final reflection on your growth and learning from the experience, restate the thesis statement, and leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement or future outlook.

What are some tips for writing a nursing reflective essay?

Some tips for writing a nursing reflective essay include starting early, conducting thorough self-reflection, organizing your thoughts and ideas, and seeking feedback from peers or instructors. Pay attention to proper grammar and spelling, coherent writing style, and adhere to any formatting guidelines provided.

How can reflective tools and models help with nursing reflective essays?

Reflective tools and models provide structure and guidance for nursing students when writing reflective essays. Models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Model, Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model, Kolb Reflective Model, and Schön Reflective Model can be used as frameworks for organizing thoughts and experiences in a nursing reflective essay.

What are the benefits of reflective writing in nursing?

Reflective writing in nursing offers benefits such as enhanced self-awareness, improved critical thinking skills, increased empathy and understanding of patient experiences, and continuous professional development. It promotes lifelong learning and helps improve patient care.

Where can I find nursing reflective essay examples?

You can find nursing reflective essay examples that showcase different experiences, reflections, and growth. These examples incorporate personal reflections, specific details, and professional insights into nursing practice. They demonstrate the diversity of topics and experiences that can be explored in nursing reflective essays.

How can I write a nursing reflective essay for nursing school applications?

To write a nursing reflective essay for nursing school applications, reflect on your passion for nursing, personal experiences in healthcare settings, and future goals in the nursing profession. Address specific prompts and align the content with the nursing school’s values and mission.

How can writing a nursing reflective essay benefit BSN nursing students?

Writing a nursing reflective essay allows BSN nursing students to gain insight into their own growth and development as future healthcare professionals. It helps improve critical thinking skills, self-awareness, and understanding of patient experiences. It also promotes continuous professional development.

Jermaine Huey

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Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay: Unveiling the 4 Biggest Success Tips for Nurses

Reflective practice is a cornerstone of the nursing profession, empowering nurses to enhance their skills, knowledge, and personal development. Nursing reflective essays serve as a powerful tool for nurses to explore their experiences, emotions, and thoughts surrounding specific incidents or situations encountered in their practice. In this blog post, we will delve into the significance of reflective essays in nursing, understand the reflective process, highlight the benefits of self-reflection for professional growth, and provide valuable tips for writing an impactful nursing reflective essay.

1. Understanding Reflective Practice

Reflective practice is a deliberate process that involves critically examining one’s experiences, actions, and responses in various clinical scenarios. It is a cyclical journey that incorporates observation, analysis, and evaluation to gain insights into personal strengths and areas for improvement. Reflective essays provide nurses with a structured platform to document and assess these experiences, enabling them to identify patterns, evaluate their performance, and enhance their practice.

By engaging in reflective practice, nurses are encouraged to think deeply about their actions, decisions, and the impact they have on patient care. It allows them to question their assumptions, biases, and preconceptions, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of healthcare delivery. Reflective practice promotes an ongoing process of learning and growth, ensuring that nurses continually strive for excellence in their profession.

2. The Reflective Process

A. description:.

In this initial stage of the reflective process, nurses provide a detailed account of the event or incident they wish to reflect upon. They describe the context, setting, and individuals involved, ensuring a clear understanding of the situation. This description sets the foundation for a thorough reflection.

b. Feelings and Thoughts:

Nurses delve into their emotional and cognitive responses to the event, expressing their initial feelings, thoughts, and reactions. They consider how their emotions may have influenced their actions and decision-making during the incident. This introspection allows nurses to recognize their own biases and explore alternative perspectives.

c. Evaluation:

This stage involves an objective evaluation of the event, considering the outcome, patient outcomes, and the nurse’s own performance. Nurses analyze their actions, identifying strengths and areas for improvement. They reflect on their communication skills, technical proficiency, and adherence to professional standards. This evaluation helps nurses acknowledge their achievements and recognize areas where further development is required.

d. Analysis:

Nurses engage in critical analysis of the event, seeking underlying factors, patterns, and relevant literature or guidelines. They explore the impact of personal beliefs, values, and ethical considerations on their decision-making. They may reference research, best practices, or theoretical frameworks to gain a broader understanding of the situation and identify potential areas for improvement.

e. Conclusion:

In this final stage, nurses summarize their learnings from the reflective process. They outline the key insights gained, identify changes in their understanding or practice, and explore strategies for future improvement. This conclusion serves as a roadmap for personal and professional growth, providing a clear direction for further development and enhancement of nursing practice.

3. Benefits of Nursing Reflective Essays

A. enhancing critical thinking:.

Reflective essays foster critical thinking skills by encouraging nurses to question their actions, assumptions, and the evidence behind their decisions. This process promotes a deeper understanding of the complexities of patient care and encourages evidence-based practice. Nurses develop the ability to analyze situations from multiple perspectives and make informed decisions that prioritize patient safety and well-being.

b. Personal Development:

Nursing reflective essays promote self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. Nurses gain a deeper understanding of their own values, beliefs, and biases, which allows them to provide more compassionate and patient-centered care. By reflecting on their experiences, nurses can identify their strengths and weaknesses, reflect on their interpersonal skills, and enhance their ability to empathize and connect with patients and their families.

c. Professional Growth:

Nursing reflective essays provide nurses with a platform to reflect on their professional development, identifying areas for improvement and formulating strategies for advancement. Through self-reflection, nurses can assess their competence in various aspects of nursing practice, such as clinical skills, leadership abilities, and communication. They can set goals for ongoing learning and development, ensuring they keep pace with evolving healthcare practices, technologies, and research.

d. Improved Patient Care:

By engaging in reflective practice, nurses can improve the quality of care provided to their patients. Nursjng reflective essays enable them to identify and rectify errors, enhance communication and teamwork, and ensure patient safety and satisfaction. Nurses gain valuable insights into their own performance, allowing them to make necessary adjustments to their practice to deliver optimal patient outcomes. Reflective practice encourages a proactive approach to addressing challenges and continuously improving the care provided.

4. Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay

A. select an appropriate incident:.

Choose an incident or situation that had a significant impact on your practice or personal growth. It should be relevant, recent, and conducive to deep reflection. Consider incidents that challenged your assumptions, presented ethical dilemmas, or highlighted areas for improvement.

b. Use a Structured Approach:

Follow a reflective framework, such as the Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle or the Johns Model of Reflection , to guide your nursing reflective essay. This structure will help ensure a comprehensive and organized reflection. Start by describing the incident, explore your feelings and thoughts, evaluate your actions, analyze the situation, and conclude with key learnings and action points.

c. Be Honest and Self-Critical:

Reflect on your actions and decisions with honesty and self-criticism. It is essential to acknowledge any mistakes or areas where you could have performed better. Nursing reflective essays are not meant to place blame but rather to promote growth and improvement. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses and explore strategies to build on them.

d. Connect Theory and Practice:

When researching your nursing reflective essay, explore relevant theories, guidelines, or evidence-based practices that relate to the incident. Consider how these resources could have influenced your actions or outcomes. Integrating theoretical knowledge with practical experience enhances your understanding and enables you to make informed decisions in future situations.

e. Focus on Learning and Growth:

Emphasize the lessons learned from the nursing reflective essay writing process. Identify specific actions or changes you will implement in your future practice to enhance your skills and improve patient care. Nursing reflective essays should demonstrate a commitment to ongoing learning and improvement. Share your plans for continuing professional development, such as attending relevant workshops, seeking mentorship, or engaging in further education.

Nursing reflective essays offer a valuable opportunity for self-reflection and professional growth. By engaging in the reflective process, nurses can gain insights into their actions, emotions, and thoughts, leading to improved critical thinking, personal development, and ultimately, enhanced patient care.

Embracing reflective practice allows nurses to continually evolve and adapt to the ever-changing healthcare landscape, ensuring the provision of high-quality, patient-centered nursing care. Through reflective essays, nurses can unlock their potential, foster empathy and compassion, and become lifelong learners committed to continuous improvement.

Nursing Assignment Help

At Nursing Research Help , we understand the challenges and demands that nursing students face in their academic journey. That’s why we are here to provide comprehensive assignment help services tailored specifically for nursing students. Our team of experienced and qualified professionals is equipped with in-depth knowledge of nursing principles, practices, and theories, ensuring that we deliver top-notch assistance for your assignments. Whether you need help with a nursing reflective essay, case studies, psychology assignments , research papers, or any other academic tasks, our experts are ready to provide you with the support you need.

We offer timely delivery, original and well-researched content, and a commitment to meeting your specific requirements. With our assignment help services, you can focus on honing your practical skills and gaining hands-on experience, knowing that your academic assignments are in capable hands. Trust us to help you achieve academic success and excel in your nursing studies. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you in your nursing assignments.

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How to Write “What Nursing Means to Me” Reflective Essay

The “what nursing means to me” reflective essay is something often asked of students entering an accelerated nursing program, a master’s level course for nursing, or some other specialized program. Unlike a nursing school letter of intent or nursing school application cover letter, the “what nursing means to me” reflective essay gives you a chance to state and defend an argument regarding something you feel deeply about, namely, being a nurse. It can detail professional setbacks or successes. It can be a venue to express opinions and criticism of the profession. You can also write about important personal events in the past, before you became a nurse, which had some impact on why you chose this profession. This article will explore the nature of the reflective essay, its essential elements, the structure of an excellent reflective essay and provide examples.

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Article Contents 11 min read

What is a reflective essay.

A reflective essay is like a regular essay, but the subject matter is you. You must state a thesis about yourself and choose a specific event from your past or something similar on which to build an argument supporting your thesis. The main impetus of a reflective essay is to get you to reveal growth and how a particular event in your life changed you, your perceptions, beliefs, and so on.

But there are other things a reflective essay can reveal about you. In the context of writing a reflective essay connected with a nursing school application resume, you can also use the essay to state your larger career goals and ambitions as a nurse and how you see the role changing and evolving.

How does the “what nursing means to me” reflective essay differ from a nursing school personal statement? Part of the answer is that a personal statement can include many different details from the past and does not have to take the form of a standard essay – introduction, thesis statement, supporting arguments. You can write a personal statement without including anything about your professional achievements or anything directly related to nursing. But a “what nursing means to me” reflective essay is the complete opposite. It is aimed at exploring how being a nurse or nursing student has directly impacted your worldview.

Depending on where and why you are asked to write a “what nursing means to me” reflective essay, there may be certain content and style guidelines you must follow, based on that program’s requirements. Some reflective essays use prompts or questions about nursing to give you a starting point for what to write. In these cases, how you write is up to you, but there are certain elements that are key to every outstanding reflective essay that you should incorporate into your writing. Here, we list elements you can include in the body of your essay to create a template of what your essay should look like.

The Inciting Incident 

In university, reflective essays tend to revolve around coursework and materials to show how you’ve interacted with them. But according to many nursing essay writing services , a “what nursing means to me” reflective essay can structure itself around a catalyzing event. A traumatic injury. A death in the family. Moving to a new country.

If you haven’t been given instructions on what to write about in your “what nursing means to me” reflective essay, then you can choose a specific, life-altering event in your past that had and continues to have an impact on you. Many reflective essays take this path, but you do not have to, especially if you are asked to write about something else.

If you do write about a specific incident, be as specific as possible. Who did it involve? Where did it take place? What was the lead-up like? Of course, if you have word limits, then you can cut out unnecessary parts in your second draft, but for your first draft, you should be as detailed as possible and then make cuts later.

Personal Reflections 

The most obvious point of a reflective essay is to reflect. Nursing school admissions officers want to know how you interpreted, compartmentalized, and dealt with an extreme situation related to being a health care worker, since everyone knows that being a health care worker exposes you to things most people never see. You can talk openly about what you’ve experienced in the nursing profession or during your schooling and, finally, express emotions you were not able to at the time. However, those emotions must also connect with an action you took later on to show that they led to some deep-seated change in your personality or outlook.

Specific Details 

The topic of your essay should focus on a specific time, place, or incident and not stray into generalities. You want to place your readers in a setting they can understand, so that they can see the story as it unfolds. Remember: show, don’t tell. This is your personal story, so enrich it with specific details, like the time of year, the weather outside, some important event that happened at the same time, anything that makes the universal personal.

Your Actions 

After you set the scene with vivid descriptions and a concrete location, you can start to bring yourself into the narrative. Take a step-by-step approach to write about how the specific event unfolded – before/during/after – and make sure to detail as much as you can about each step.

You can write about what your expectations were beforehand and what happened afterward. What was the aftermath like? What did you feel, physically, emotionally? What did you do? Were you in any danger? You can talk both about your physical and emotional reactions but remember that a reflective essay should walk a fine line between being a subjective and objective retelling of a major event so do not go too far either way.

Academic Details/Achievements 

The reflective essay sits apart from other documentation like a nursing school recommendation letter and is not a place for you to recite your professional or academic CV. All the information about your academic achievements (GPA, transcripts) has already been reviewed, so the audience is not interested in hearing about it again.

Your reflective essay is a space for you to encapsulate something about yourself in a calm, measured tone. Of course, you can mention things about school that impacted you personally or an event that took place during your education, but reciting your CV looks boastful and misses the point of the reflective essay.

Too Many Emotions 

The “what nursing means to me” reflective essay can contain many powerful emotions, but the language should always remain coherent and precise. You do not want to dwell on positive or negative emotions but instead, use them to push along your overall narrative. You can explain about how something made you feel, but then transition to what actions those emotions made you take.

Introduction 

The introduction of any essay should present the topic about which you are going to write and hook the reader with an intriguing line. Afterward, you can briefly mention where you are in your career (registered nurse, nursing school applicant, grad school candidate) for context, but most of your introduction should be about the subject matter at hand, like the event you want to talk about or the general themes you want to explore.

You can also present your thesis in the introduction or keep it for a later paragraph if you want to structure your essay that way. After the introduction, you can begin to narrow your focus down to the inciting incident and move closer to finalizing your argument. You can also begin inserting background elements of your narrative like when and where it happened.

Thesis Statement/First Paragraph 

If you put your thesis in the introduction, you can begin positing your arguments supporting it in the first paragraph of the body section. But you can also put your thesis here and begin expounding on your arguments in the proceeding sections. If you are writing about a specific event, this is where you would set the stage for what happens next.

Build your narrative toward a climax by describing where you were, what you were doing, and what expectations you had. When you reveal what happened, use that as a springboard to talk about the aftermath – how the event affected you and what you began to understand about it – which is what will lead you to your second paragraph.

Second Paragraph 

The second paragraph can contain the “reflective” part of your essay, where you unpack the event and examine how it impacted you. You want to mention how you changed and how you began to see things differently while also expounding on the potential growth that this moment presented for you as a person and as a health care professional.

Conclusion 

The end of your essay should tie into the thesis and summarize the best argument supporting it. You can draw from the body section to make the connections between your thesis and the other sections and ultimately land on a conclusion. It should reveal something significant you learned or realized because of that event and how it continues to shape you.

“What Nursing Means to Me” Reflective Essay Samples

“what nursing means to me” reflective essay sample #1 .

Things came into focus when I started coughing up blood. Up until then I was sure things would get better and that the danger would pass. Even though a doctor had told me I needed to be hospitalized, I thought nothing was wrong and that I would be okay. I told him to give me some antibiotics and send me home. But from one minute to the next, in the space of a heartbeat, something gave way, and I would not be the same again.

I have been lucky most of my life. I had never been seriously ill or broken anything. I had family members succumb to illnesses, but I hadn’t so much as scraped an elbow. I never thought about my fragility and vulnerability until I was forced to reckon with them when I was hospitalized with pneumonia.

Going to the hospital in an ambulance for the first time was nerve-wracking. I lay in the gurney with an oxygen mask over my face as the paramedics looked at my vital signs. I was feverish, short of breath, and still coughing, so there was barely any time to think or reflect. Things had progressed so fast that I had left my house still in my pajamas.

One of the first things that happened when I got to the hospital was that the attending nurse took my hand and told me, “You’re in good hands now, darling.” It was such a small gesture. She must have done it for everyone who came in, terrified, scared, and lonely. She knew what they were feeling, which is why she said it to everyone.

I spent almost two weeks in the hospital recovering, but that nurse came to see me every day and spent time with me, even with her busy schedule. She made the time. It was after one of her visits that the thought of being like her one day came into my mind. I was in my first year of undergrad and still hadn’t thought about my future.

The experience of being seriously ill made me realize how much we depend on the strangers who have committed their lives to helping the infirm. It is a vital role that nurses play in helping the ill feel whole again, often more so than doctors, because nurses spend more time with patients than any other health care professional.

The nurse who greeted me at the hospital entrance also helped me bring things into focus. Seeing up close the damage an illness like pneumonia can cause was one wake-up call, but the nurse who comforted me when I felt like the world was ending also woke me up. She met my fear and anxiety with compassion and understanding. She created the mold that I now wish to fill with my career and advancement in the nursing profession.

It was bright and sunny the day my mother died. She died in the early morning, and when I looked out the window of her room – she died at home – I could see people waiting for the bus, going on their way to work, completely unaware that I had lost the most important person in my life.

I wanted to go outside, tears streaming down my face, and tell everyone my mother had died. I wanted to spread my grief. I wanted the world to stop and acknowledge my loss. Grief was something new, and I didn’t know how to manage it.

I went on anti-depressants and began to self-medicate as well because I couldn’t stand the pain. I was going down a self-destructive path, and no one in my immediate family knew what to do. It was only through circumstance that my path was corrected before it led farther into darkness.

One afternoon, months after my mother’s death, I was at her house, arranging and organizing her belongings, when the palliative care nurse who had treated my mother at home came by to collect the medical supplies that had been left behind. It was pure luck that I was at home when she came.

I answered the door and invited her in. I explained what I was doing, and she told me why she was there. We went to the kitchen because she said she had some papers for me to sign. I don’t know why exactly, but between putting the kettle on for some tea and signing the papers, I started to cry. It was something I had been doing regularly, breaking down in public or suddenly, without warning. But that day, I showed my vulnerability to the right person.

The nurse, named Sylvia, rose immediately and gave me a hug. She held me as I wept and then began to tell me that she still mourns her sister. Her sister had died from the same illness as my mother and, according to Sylvia, had suffered just as much. Sylvia told me that she had dealt with her sister’s passing by pushing herself through nursing school. She wanted to memorialize her sister’s memory through the work she does every day as a nurse. Instead of letting her sister’s death tear her apart, like my mother’s death was doing to me, Sylvia took motivation from it and committed to becoming a person who helps people transition from life to death.

Sylvia told me that the pain never goes away, but it does lessen and when you are helping save lives and taking care of the most vulnerable people, it lessens even more. That day, Sylvia showed me the heights nurses can reach through their empathy and knowledge, not just as nurses but as human beings. Sylvia’s strength was my scaffold during an unsteady time, in addition to being the light that inspired me to become a nurse myself.

The thoughts in a reflective essay are your own, so you should not shy away from saying as much as possible, like the fact that you were afraid or felt negative emotions like anger, hatred, or despair. This is what the reflective essay is all about. If your essay is about a specific event in your past, then you should write about it in detail. You can allude to it in your introduction and build up to it through your main paragraphs, or not mention it at all in your introduction and reveal it later.

Being any kind of health care worker is demanding and stressful, but it can also be rewarding and humbling. The “what nursing means to me” reflective essay is the perfect way to talk about a moving or troubling incident in the past if you hadn’t had the chance to explore it before. It is not always possible for nurses and other health care professionals to express the emotions that come with the job, and working with a nursing essay writing service can help you craft a truly impressive account of an event that marked you deeply. 

This essay is meant to help you express what is most important to you about being a nurse and reveal how you stay motivated. 

The purpose of the essay is to let nursing school admissions officers know how you understand and interpret the nursing profession and what aspects of it appeal to you the most.

You can structure your essay around a specific event and then describe what happened before, during, and after this event. You can also talk about why this event means so much to you or what about it reflects the best aspects of nursing.

You should think about the reasons you wanted to become a nurse and what about your character or personality will sustain you throughout your career.

The length of your essay depends on the requirements of your particular program or school, since they all have different requirements.

A personal statement is a general background story of why you want to pursue a degree or get into nursing school, but a reflective essay specifically asks you to pick a particular moment and think about how it affected your career. So, a reflective essay is the reverse of a personal statement: rather than relating how personal experiences have shaped your personality, you write about how being a nurse has changed you personally.

A letter of intent looks at how your education, work experience, and anything else related to the nursing profession has prepared you to become a nurse, and also asks what you plan to achieve. A reflective essay does not focus on academic achievements but asks you to interpret a moment in the past. 

Not all nursing schools or graduate programs will ask for a reflective essay. Admission requirements are different for every school, so make sure you know what they are before you apply. 

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Nursing Reflective Essay: Example Outline and Guide

Are you a nursing student? Then, you will definitely have an assignment to compose a nursing reflective essay. This task might be quite tough and challenging. But don’t stress out! Our professionals are willing to assist you.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

First and foremost, let’s figure out what’s reflective writing. In a few words, such essays are based on your experiences, feelings, views on something, etc. For nursing students, reflective papers help to practice their skills and expand their knowledge.

In case you are wondering how to master nursing essay writing, you are on the right page. This article will provide tips that will help you write an outstanding student nurse reflection: examples of what to include in it, what to avoid, and what reflection ideas to use.

• ✒️ Analytical Essay
• ✒️ Reflective Essay

⭕ Outline and Draft

• ⭕ Revise and Edit
• ❓ Reflecting
• ❗ Essential Parts
• ⚠️ Mistakes to Avoid
• 💡 Additional Tips

🔗 References

🆚 analytical vs. reflective nursing essay.

Basically, nursing essays can be divided into different types.

The most common ones are analytical and reflective essays. These two styles are the most suitable for nursing papers. They either argue a particular perspective (analytical) or base the narration on previous experiences (reflective).

This focus is what differentiates one type of essay from another, as both analytical and reflective nursing essays can be quite similar stylistically.

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✒️ Nursing: Analytical Essay

Speaking of structural parts, the basic outline for an analytical essay on nursing can look like this:

• Introduction. The introduction is your first paragraph, which usually consists of two parts. First, you have to capture the reader’s attention. Then, you aim to create a clear thesis statement to demonstrate your position.
• Providing evidence. Each of your arguments should have at least one piece of evidence. If you have more to share, it’s even better. However, you have to keep the word count in mind. So, make strong points to keep your essay concise.
• Practical use of evidence. There’s no point in providing evidence that wouldn’t have any real use in practice.
• The judgment of evidence. Here, you’ll demonstrate your critical thinking abilities. Prove that your evidence is indeed strong and valid.
• Conclusion. First, summarize what’s been said in your essay. Then give your own opinion on it.

✒️ Nursing: Reflective Essay

A reflective nursing essay usually consists of the following elements:

• Introduction. It explains the whole purpose of the essay and tells readers what to expect. The most crucial part of the introduction is the thesis statement. Usually, it’s the last sentence of the intro. Your thesis should be concise and clearly reflect your position.
• Description of the situation. Since a reflective essay is based on previous experiences, describing those events is the core part of the paper. Again, this section should contain only the most important and valuable details.
• Sharing of personal feelings. The section demonstrates how you react to situations and how you’re able to gain control over those emotions.
• Evaluation of experience. This part is a summary of what skills and knowledge did you get from experience.
• Reflection and opportunities for learning. The part is closely connected to the previous one. While previously you were just giving a summary, here you’ll describe what this situation made you understand. Also, elaborate on your future path of self-development.
• Conclusion. This one is simple. Just summarize all the information you discussed in your essay.

We’ll now tell you about the writing preparation process.

✍️ Reflective Nursing Essay Writing Guide

Creating a nursing reflection essay is a long and challenging journey that requires total concentration on a task. That’s why it is essential to turn your “study mode” on and devote yourself to the essay writing process.

No doubts, you might get too overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to get done. But don’t worry! We know how to avoid anxiety. Just follow out tips and write an outstanding nursing reflection paper!

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⭕ Remove the Distractions

Yes, it’s as simple as that. Ironically, most of the major problems usually happen at this initial stage. So, you just need to know how to overcome them right away.

• Turn all the gadgets off (yes, even your cell phone).
• Make sure to get rid of anything around you that could potentially catch your attention and distract you from writing.
• Get earplugs if necessary.

Then, get in your “ study mood .”

• Go through all your pre-game rituals — visit the bathroom, eat, drink, meditate, etc.
• Get fun out of the way. Dedicate some time for yourself so that you won’t have the temptation later.
• Prepare the essentials — open your notebook or create a Word document and make sure you have all the necessary notes and resources ready.

After you create perfect conditions, make another significant step to start writing. Research is an essential part of any academic work, even if you’re telling your personal story.

Here’s where you can start your search for brilliant ideas:

• your college library;
• your course readings;
• scholar.google.com ;
• online nursing journal articles;

And no matter what topic you’re going to discuss, don’t forget that most nursing essays use a similar pattern:

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You still need to remember what we talked about in the very beginning—your story has to be unique. Use these questions as a framework, and fill the essay with unique content. If you’ve answered most of these questions, you’re halfway to your excellent grade.

No wonder outlining is a vital part of the essay writing process. It helps to reach the logical flow of ideas and organize all the arguments and examples in the right order. Also, you can easily edit a well-developed structure if something seems wrong. It’s always better to change the part of an outline rather than rewriting the entire paragraph.

Your reflective essay outline should look approximately like this:

• Point 1 (evidence, examples, other supportive details)
• Point 2 (evidence, examples, other supportive details)
• Point 3 (evidence, examples, other supportive details)
• Restatement of thesis statement
• Final memorable statement

After creating an outline, it would be a great idea to write the rough draft of your nursing reflective essay. This step will help you to avoid all the possible mistakes before submitting the paper.

⭕ Proofread and Revise

Polishing your essay is the last but not the least step of the writing process. So, take it seriously and don’t waste your chance to submit a flawless work. Revise your rough draft, make sure your ideas are coherent and supporting evidence is logical, and then create a final version of the essay.

We created the checklist of what you should take into consideration while revising your nursing reflective essay. Don’t hesitate to use it!

• make sure you meet the writing style requirements;
• check whether all in-text citations have the corresponding reference list entry;
• make sure you followed the proper structure (introduction, three body paragraphs, conclusion);
• get rid of all grammar and punctuation mistakes;
• double-check whether your ideas are clear and the supporting details are logical.

📝 Reflective Essay: Nursing School Application

Although people say there is a lack of nurses in the United States and a high demand for good specialists with a stellar education, it is not that easy to pass a nursing school admission.

What’s the reason for this?

It seems like nursing schools are looking for outstanding students, who have made a firm decision to become a nurse and will contribute to the community of the school and the field of healthcare in general.

You need to showcase this capability in your nursing application essay, where you reflect on your goals or experience. In the following sections, we’ll explain how to write it.

❓ Reflecting on Your Goals

Here’s a question you should ask yourself.

“Why do I want to become a nurse?”

As curious as it may sound, some students do not have that answer. If you are one of them, you might want to reconsider your decision.

Being a nurse is stressful. It requires dedication, a strong philosophy, and stable mental health. And if you’re unsure about your choice — try to make up your mind as soon as possible. Getting a nursing education is a serious step in your life. So, be confident about your choice not to regret it later. The video below will give you an idea of what a day in the life of a nurse is like.

If your intentions are firm and you’re sure about your career goals, then we’re here to help you cope with all those “Why I chose nursing” essays.

• Know where to begin with your nursing essay. A good idea would be to find several nursing essay examples first. You will see that many students do not try to be creative. The same boring stories can be found in numerous essays. And it seems that those stories are taken from the same articles. This does not sound impressive at all. Repeating familiar stories is quite a critical mistake, and you should avoid it. We’ll talk more about common errors in nursing essay writing later, so keep on reading. Look through nursing paper examples and try to make your essay on nursing career different. Make it stand out from the crowd.
• Base your essay on a true story. Think about any situation from your clinical placement, which your reflective nursing essay will be based on. Describe what happened, who was involved in the case, why it impressed you, etc. By doing this, you’ll demonstrate a complete understanding of the situation. Your essay will show that you’re able to comprehend what’s happening and make the right decisions, even in critical cases. These are skills that every nurse should have.
• Write a personal essay. Now, proceed to describe your feelings. Follow these three questions: How did you feel in that situation? Why? What were your actions, actions of other personnel? Be sure to tell how much you care about what happened. It’s a great way to show how sympathetic you can be.
• Evaluate the event. Another stage of writing the reflective nursing essay is an evaluation of your experience. Why do you think it is a valuable experience for you? How did it contribute to your personal and professional development? Self-development is among the most important aspects of professionalism for a nurse. And you must not forget to show that you have this capability.
• Choose the right focus. It’s common for students to concentrate on a story that deals with the nursing profession. This is a strategy that you too can follow when writing your nursing essay. Make sure that the narrative focuses on you instead of other nurses or patients. It is your essay, so be sure to write about your personal experience. You have to tell the reader about all the lessons you have learned and explain how it helped you come up with a decision to become a nurse.
• Allow yourself to fantasize. There’s another critical subtopic you should cover in your nursing essay. Tell what other actions you could take and whether you would repeat them if you are to face the same situation.

Next, we’re going to talk about the parts that make up a well-written nursing essay. So, stay with us!

❗ Essential Application Essay Parts

You probably know that competition in nursing schools is especially severe compared to other educational institutions.

Your paper should be outstanding if you want to be accepted. Below, you’ll find a list of the most significant parts of any nursing admission essay. These parts contain all relevant info that the admission officers want to know about an applicant.

• Is there someone who influenced your decision?
• Was there an event that had an impact on your choice of a career?
• Do you know what particular kind of nursing you want to do?

These are essential questions to answer in the nursing school essay. You do double-duty by responding to these questions. Not only will you explain how you decided to become a nurse, but you’ll also make sure that your intentions are truly firm.

• Show what you’re worth. You need to tell about your experience in the nursing field. This is a job where you need at least some background experience. If you have never seen a syringe in your life, your nursing essay will hardly convince anybody. So, make a personal statement. And make it strong.
• Prove that you’re ready. You need to show that you are prepared to be a nurse and ready for all nursing hardships. Nursing is emotionally and physically exhausting. That’s why you need to demonstrate the best of your personal and professional values. Prove to the admission counselors that you are capable of completing the nursing job.

⚠️ Nursing Reflective Essay: Mistakes to Avoid

As we have mentioned before, the competition is going to be tough. It is not easy to enter a nursing school even with the best scores and a high GPA. So, your essay should be of the highest quality!

One of the best ways to ensure your works’ flawlessness is to learn the most common mistakes and avoid them in your paper. Below, you will find the list of the most critical errors for a nursing application essay. Investigate them here:

• Not including your own nursing story. Without a real-life story, a nursing application essay seems very weak. Listing personal qualities that a nurse should possess is not enough. Tell a story that will show the admission officers how helpful you were while providing care to somebody.
• Not sharing your experiences. Your nursing application essay will undoubtedly lose a couple of points if you do not mention some nursing-related experiences. A strong intention to become a nurse is great, of course. However, if you have no idea what nursing is all about, your essay will not be convincing.
• Not providing sufficient reasons to support your intentions. It is ridiculous to remind about that, but some students still fail to mention why they want to enter a certain school. Make sure to avoid this mistake in your nursing application essay.
• Plagiarizing. Plagiarism can cause you to fail your paper or be rejected by the schools you’re applying for. More importantly, plagiarizing isn’t ethical. To avoid any potential issues, make sure to cite all your sources and provide an authentic and unique story.
• Repeating yourself. This problem is widespread in the introduction and conclusion. If you need to connect the first and the last paragraphs, don’t just rewrite the info from the introduction into a conclusion. Rather synthesize your thoughts and finish your essay dynamically.

💡 Nursing Reflective Essay: Additional Tips

We’ve come to the point where you can go ahead and start writing your nursing essay. But there’s one more thing…

The process of writing a nursing essay has its own tips and tricks. So, we simply couldn’t let you go without sharing a few of them.

Hopefully, you’ll find these nursing school essay tips useful:

• Always start working on your student nurse essay with studying assignment instructions. It is the best way to find out what exactly will be assessed in your paper.
• Do not hesitate to ask your tutors for help and advice. Whether you believe it or not, but they do not want you to fail student nurse assignments and essays.
• To prepare a good student nurse essay, you will have to find and read quite a lot of nursing literature. Mind that it usually takes a lot of time. So, start researching early.
• Student nurse essays have a standard structure. Thus, make sure you have all the necessary paragraphs. Do not forget about specific terminology that should be used in your works. Also, remember about the proper formatting of your paper (e.g., MLA, Chicago, or APA format).
• How to summarize an article without plagiarizing ? Keep your text balanced. When looking through your draft, pay attention not only to the logic of your narration. Also, check how much of the paper consists of your own thoughts and what percentage is a review of other people’s work.

With these tips in mind, it’s now your time to shine!

Nursing Reflective Essay Topics

• Strengths and weaknesses of nursing professionals. 
• Analyze the methods clinical nurses use to deal with moral distress.  
• Examine the types of errors in nursing.  
• Describe the role of technology in nursing care.  
• The role of the nursing professional in patient advocacy. 
• Peculiarities and importance of nursing interventions in the pre-op period.  
• The crucial role of communication in nursing.  
• Is MSN course worth studying?  
• Examine the importance of cultural competency in nursing practice.  
• What is the best nursing recruitment strategy and why? 
• The critical role of QSEN competencies in becoming a better nurse.  
• Collaboration and communication issues in nursing practice . 
• Personal integrity and accountability in nursing practice.  
• Describe the aims and key concepts of nursing care delivery model. 
• Analyze the basic nursing theories.   
• Discuss the occupational health and safety risks of practicing nurses.  
• How to reduce the rate of workplace burnouts in nursing profession. 
• Advantages and disadvantages of becoming a clinical nurse leader.  
• Analyze the main reasons for nursing shortage .  
• Describe the challenges of family nurse practitioner and the ways to overcome them.  
• The importance of nurses providing care for elderly at home . 
• Examine the elements that the nurses should take into account to improve the care of diabetic patients. 
• Why knowledge and application of psychological theories are vital for nursing practice.  
• Why is it necessary to integrate cultural competence in nursing practice?  
• Do Christian values play an important role in nursing practice?  
• Discuss the significance of evidence-based practice to nursing.  
• Explain how a nurse can use a personal digital assistant to enhance performance. 
• The challenges of language barrier and cultural diversity in nursing practice. 
• Cultural sensitive approach in nursing and health care. 
• Describe ethical and moral dilemmas of nursing.  
• Why strategic management is important to a trained nurse.  
• Discuss the issues of combining a nursing job and Jewish traditions.  
• The issue of aging of the nursing population. 
• Analyze the peculiarities of Cuban-American culture and its influence on nursing practice.  
• The role of nurses in healthcare delivery.  
• The issue of applying theory to practice to manage stress in nursing.  
• Describe the advantages and disadvantages of different leadership styles in nursing.  
• Examine the specifics of women’s nursing.  
• The leadership role of nurses in the healthcare system. 
• Explain how a nurse can be a cultural broker of the community.  
• Why do people choose to become nurses?  
• The types and benefits of technologies used in nursing profession.  
• Analyze why a mandatory overtime in nursing profession is a controversial solution. 
• Describe the reasons of burnout in nursing profession.  
• How to resolve the nursing shortage problem.  
• Discuss the effective strategies to improve nursing ratios. 
• Psychological effects of COVID-19 that result in hospital nursing shortage.  
• Compare and analyze the specifics of the community virtual ward model with the inpatient nursing care model. 
• The importance of clear vision to nursing leaders.  
• Discuss whether the use of social media can violate ethical nursing practices.  

Writing a nursing essay doesn’t have to seem so difficult anymore. So, go forth and do it. Make it flawless because it’s your very first step on the way to success.

Also, don’t hesitate to share your thoughts! Did we miss something? Want to add more helpful info? Write about it in the comments below!

Further reading:

• How to Write an Expository Essay in Simple Steps
• Essay on Dengue Fever: How to Write + Free Examples
• Objective Essay Writing: How to Write, Topics and Examples
• French Essay Writing: How-to Guide and Examples

🤔 Reflective Essay in Nursing FAQ

A good essay of this kind is a reflection of personal feelings, impressions, and motivation. It should be based on a real-life example. Describe an unusual situation you’ve faced during the clinical placement program. Analyze the emotions it provoked, what could have been improved, etc.

Before you start writing, focus on your personal impressions provoked by a certain event or topic. Then put them down and organize cohesively. Do not forget about an appropriate introduction and a memorable conclusion.

If you are to write a good application essay to progress your career as a nurse, start with formulating your personal motivation to pursue this occupation. Draft the arguments and relevant examples, and then distill the right wording to make your paper persuasive and impressive.

It is a good idea to read some examples of reflective essay conclusions, but make sure that your own version is personal and sincere. A reflective essay is all about your own thoughts and perceptions, so you may simply paraphrase and summarize them.

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Nursing Reflective Models - Guide

As you undertake your nursing studies, you must reflect on your experiences, encounters, and practice in the workplace or the entire course. For this, you will use various reflective models. Models of reflection help you to systematically organize and critically reflect on your practice as a nursing student and are meant to guide your decision-making process. In addition, you will find them helpful in your personal and professional life as a nurse practitioner. You can apply these models in your nursing reflection essay.

Below, we explore some of the most common nursing reflective models in this guide to help you understand the different approaches to writing reflection essays. In addition, we offer such services if you need professional assistance writing your reflective essay. Check out our services section. But first, get solid with the specific reflective model, framework, or tool to adopt for your nursing reflective essay.

Gibbs' Reflective Cycle

The Gibbs' reflective cycle was developed by Graham Gibbs in 1988 to structure learning from experiences.  Gibb's model  is a cyclic process that allows a person to examine their experiences repeatedly to learn and plan from what went right and wrong.

The famous cyclical model of reflection has six stages that explore an experience: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. Let's look at each separately in brief.

• Description. Here, you should describe what happened without judging or concluding anything. When undertaking this step, you need to ask yourself:
• What happened?
• When and where did it happen?
• Who was present?
• What did you and the other people do?
• What was the outcome of the situation?
• Why were you there?
• What did you want to happen?
• Feelings. This step entails describing your reactions and emotions. Here are some guiding questions for this step:
• What were you feeling during the situation?
• What were you feeling before and after the situation?
• What do you think other people were feeling about the situation?
• What do you think other people feel about the situation now?
• What were you thinking during the situation?
• What do you think about the situation now?
• Evaluation. Here, you weigh in or make value judgments on what was good or bad about the experience. Here are some questions to guide you through this step:
• Analysis. Here, you have to analyze the situation to determine if there were similarities or differences in the experience. Then, you will make sense of the situation. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you draft this section:
• Conclusion. Here, you detail the conclusions you can draw from the experience and your analysis. Ensure to include the specific conclusions you can draw about the unique personal encounter or way of working.   Explain what you could have done differently and why. Ask yourself:
• Action Plan.  In this section of your essay, you must explain the steps you will take based on what you have learned. You should explain how you will approach the situation differently and provide a rationale. Questions to ask yourself:

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Dewey's Reflective Thinking Model

According to John Dewey, reflective thinking is an active, persistent, and careful consideration of a belief or supposed form of knowledge of the grounds that support that knowledge and further conclusions to which the knowledge leads. He believed that through active, reflective thinking, learners could assess what they know and need to know and how to bridge the knowledge gap.

Dewey's reflective thinking model has been a foundation for many models that are used today. Below are the steps for reflective thinking as per the model:

• Identifying and defining the problem
• Analyzing the problem.  You investigate the issue in-depth.
• Determining the criteria.  Come up with criteria to address the issues.
• Brainstorming on possible solutions.  Evaluating the potential solutions to solve the problem.
• Organizing ideas.  Selecting the best solution or a combination of solutions.
• Accepting the solution.  Testing, evaluating, and implementing the solution.

Kolb Reflective Model

David Kolb introduced the four-step Kolb's learning cycle, an approach to reflection. It is slightly different because it sites reflection as part of a wider set of processes where a learner (nurse student, nurse educator, nurse leader, or nurse practitioner) is on a journey of discovery to understand their working processes as they undertake different stages of engagement with events, occurrences, or training sessions. It is an experiential model of reflection that assigns higher value to the role of experience in learning.

Kolb's cycle has four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation.

• Concrete experience.  A person encounters a concrete experience, which is the basis of reflection. Therefore, you must describe the situation or experience when using this model. You can also describe a representation of existing experience given new concepts.
• Reflective observation.  Here you critically weigh in on the new experience given your knowledge or existing knowledge. You have to spot the inconsistencies between experience and understanding.
• Abstract conceptualization.  Here, you develop a new idea or modification of an existing abstract concept. You will share what you have learned from the experience. You generate ideas, steps, behaviors, or approaches to address the situation or experience.
• Active Experimentation.  You apply the new ideas and concepts to the world around you to see what changes occur. You test and experiment on the applicability of the new knowledge, steps, policies, behavior, or approaches.

Atkins and Murphy's Model of Reflection

Atkins and Murphy's reflection model was developed in 1993 specifically for nursing practice. The model is based on the premise that nurses face various challenging situations. Further, the model is based on the idea that people find it challenging to think about their uncomfortable experiences but can reflect on such events and find insights when faced with similar situations in the future. Finally, it is also a circular model that has 5 stages:

• In this step, a person gains knowledge or awareness about the triggers that have caused them discomfort. The step entails identifying one's thoughts and emotions that have resulted from the experience. You have to open up and express yourself to become vulnerable to identify the discomforts. When you analyze your personal feelings and thoughts, you can make improvements. At this stage, ask yourself:
• What affected your emotions?
• What were you thinking?
• What were your emotions after the situation occurred?
• What are you thinking now when you look back on the situation?
• Describe the situation.  In the second step, you then describe the situation. Critically describe the setting, the events, and the entire situation. You can use these questions to guide you:
• What was the event?
• Where did it occur?
• When did it occur?
• What was your involvement during the event?
• What did other people do?
• What were the key observations you made?
• Analyze feelings and knowledge.  In the third step of the Atkins and Murphy model, you analyze your assumptions. Next, you must assess your knowledge as an active reflective practice participant. Record your mindset, perspective, or attitudes before the event transpired. You also have to explore the alternatives, where you explain what you would have done differently given the circumstance. To do this step better, ask yourself:
• What did you know already about the situation?
• What were your assumptions or beliefs about the situation?
• How did the reality reflect your assumptions?
• What were the differences?
• How would you react if something else happened?
• In what types of scenarios would the discomfort not occur?
• Evaluate the relevance of knowledge.  This step entails a personal assessment of how the knowledge of the previous step is relevant in explaining the problem. First, you must assess how the problem could be solved or averted. Next, you should identify different scenarios and potential behavior that should be adopted in similar situations. Ask yourself:
• How does it help to explain the situation?
• How did analyzing the different scenarios influence your thoughts?
• How complete was your use of knowledge?
• How can knowledge be useful next time?
• Identify any learning.  The model assumes you have identified learning based on the last four steps. In this step, you integrate emotions, situations, assumptions, lessons learned, and knowledge gained. Ask yourself:
• What have you learned?
• How can you apply what you have learned to future situations?

CARL Framework for Reflection

You can write your reflective essay using the CARL framework for reflection, which entails four steps:

• Describe and contextualize the experience so your readers understand where it occurred and what occurred.
• Explain the actions that you took when the issue occurred.
• Detailing what your actions led to. What happened after you took some action? What went right, and what went wrong?
• Identify and explain the experience and knowledge you have gained from experience. How will you apply the lessons learned in the future? Is the information valuable in your future practice? How and why?

The 5R Framework for Reflection

You can also select the 5R framework when writing your nursing reflection essay. The steps entail five stages that address each aspect of your reflective process. When you systematically go through the stages, you can reflect on an experience or encounter and report the knowledge gained.

1. Here, you describe the scenario or situation. Record your insights on the situation. You can ask yourself:

• What do you think is happening?
• What works well and what does not?
• How do you feel about the experience?
• What specific thing about the experience makes you feel how you are feeling?

2. In this step, you must relate your perceptions of the situation to your professional and personal experiences.Record your perspectives and point of view of the experience. Finalize by evaluating whether you must pursue professional development to gain knowledge to address the situation.

3. In this step, you have to relate to someone else's point of view and how it affects how you react to the situation. Also, check the policies, steps, and guidelines that support your approach and consider the different approaches you could have used. Finally, reflect on how you understand the issue and if other points of view would suffice.

4. Weigh in on what you learned, the knowledge you gained, and how it will affect your future practice.

Driscoll Reflective Model

The Driscoll model of reflection entails three questions whose answers drive the reflective process in nursing. The questions are:

These three stem questions are connected to stages of experience learning cycles and have trigger questions that one answers to complete the reflection cycle. John Driscoll developed the model in 1994, 2000, and 2007. Answering the three questions enables an individual to analyze and learn from experiences.

In  Step 1 (What? ), you must recall and objectively describe what happened in plain and simple terms. You don't have to engage in any criticism yet. Next, you provide the context of the event or experience. The trigger questions for this step include:

• What exactly took place?
• What did you do? Or what was your reaction?
• Was there anyone else involved? If yes, who?
• Was it a good or bad experience? Explain briefly

In S tep 2 (So What?),  you need to look for patterns of meaningful moments. Here, you undertake a structured reflection. Some of the guiding questions for the second step include:

• How did you feel during the event, encounter, or experience?
• What was your reaction and why?
• Did you feel the same about the situation then as you currently do?
• Do you think the past occurrences influence your experience during the situation?
• Did you experience conflicts with your personal values?
• Who else was involved? What was their role, and how did they feel? What was their reaction and why?

In  Step 3 (now what?),  you need to complete your structured reflection by noting what you have learned and how that will help you in future and in other contexts. You must demonstrate knowledge transfer.

Some of the questions to trigger this step include:

• What did you learn from reflecting on the incident, encounter, or experience?
• Could you have done things differently to avert the negative consequences? How?
• What would you do differently if the situation reoccurs in the future?
• What could you have done to prepare for the situation?
• Where did things go last time, and what is your focus going forward?

This reflective framework is straightforward. You can use it to reflect on your leadership experiences, ethics class, MSN, BSN, DNP program, NCLEX examination, etc.

Bass's Holistic Reflection Model

The Bass model of Holistic Reflection is a highly effective and structured model of reflection. It helps learners to delve deeper into their experiences and derive meaningful insights.

The main rationale of the Holistic Reflection Model is that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge. Rather, it also entails internalizing and understanding lessons from personal experiences. It is a model mainly grounded on transformative learning that can be achieved through reflection, critical reflection, and reflexivity. The model has six main phases, as discussed below:

• Self-awareness. Here, the learner is encouraged to maintain an open mind and capture emotions, thoughts, or responses during the experience. You should also identify the present state, including the current thoughts and feelings, as they can influence your perception of events.
•  Description. In the description phase, you (the learner) should offer a detailed factual description of the experience that you are reflecting on. Here, you should describe the experience you are reflecting on without analyzing it.
•  Reflection. Here, you should explore the thoughts, feelings, assumptions, and actions of others and self in greater depth and breadth. To develop a critical reflection, you should also examine the underpinning beliefs, assumptions, and values related to the experience. You should reflect on personal influence during the experience to get a deeper connection and engagement that enables you to make sense of the experience.
•  Influences. In this phase, you draw on diverse ways of knowing to explore the experience holistically. You should use your current level of knowledge and experience to explore what happened and what factors contributed to the outcome through diverse lenses. You can use Davis-Floy’s holistic paradigm or Carper’s Patterns of Knowing. As your knowledge grows, you develop a capacity for critical reflection.
•  Evaluation. In this phase, you should engage in evaluating the process. Your focus should be on objectively stepping back from the event and critically analyzing the aspects of the experience that went well or those that resulted in undesired/unexpected outcomes. The information you get can be used to anticipate strategies to do things differently in the future by applying a solutions-focused approach. As you reflect critically, you draw from multiple ways of knowing by questioning assumptions, analyzing power, pursuing emancipation, and maintaining a social focus. You are now ready to integrate your experience holistically into solving future occurrences through reflexivity.
• Learning . In phase six, you undergo transformational learning. You have to synthesize and integrate the evidence reviewed during the reflective process. You should identify what you have learned about yourself and others from your in-depth reflection on the experience. You should identify and record the changes in perspective and perceptions you underwent as you reflected on the situation/experience. This stage deals more with identifying how you translate what you have learned to practice so that you become a reflective practitioner.

You can read more about this model here: Bass, J, Fenwick, J., & Sidebotham, M. (2017). Development of a model of holistic reflection to facilitate transformative learning in student midwives.  Women and Birth ,  30 (3), 227-235. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2017.02.010

Schon Reflective Model

Another critical framework for reflexive practice in nursing is the  Schön reflective model . The model was developed by Donald Schön, explaining how professionals can solve problems through reflection in action and reflection on action.

Reflecting in action means experiencing, thinking on your feet, thinking about what to do next, and acting immediately.

On the other hand, reflecting on action means thinking about something that has happened, thinking of what you would do differently next time it happens, and taking your time.

So, the model entails reflection during and after the event or experience. For example, if you are in a class, you might notice that you are distracted by thoughts of a weekend camping trip. Although you want to get the most out of the class session, you can only do so by finding a way to focus. You finally decide to take notes as your instructor teaches. This entire process is a reflection in action.

After the lecture, you notice that you cannot remember what was covered, so the most appropriate thing you do is to find the topic in advance, write questions you need answers and clarifications on, make notes during the lecture to maintain focus, arrange for a consultative meeting with the lecturer and talk to your peers about what was taught to help you form your opinions. You then file the notes and handouts. The second step is reflecting on the action.

Schon believes that professionals must think about their actions while at it, stressing that leaders should use their past experiences to address new conditions or scenarios.

Rolfe’s Reflective Model

Rolfe's reflective cycle is very similar to the Driscoll model of reflection. It is also based on three questions: What? So what? Now what?

The first step entails describing the event and defining your self-awareness. The second step of the Rolfe cycle analyzes the situation and evaluates the circumstances or issues being addressed. Finally, the last step entails a comprehensive synthesis of information and insights from the two steps so that you acknowledge learning and knowledge transfer in readiness for future occurrences of the same event.

Find out more about  Rolfe's reflective model ; an example includes (link to external website)

Brookfield's Reflective Model

Unlike other types of reflection models, Brookfield’s takes a different stance. It promotes the use of reflection in teaching. It proposes considering reflection from four different perspectives:

• Our standpoint (Autobiographies)
• Learners’ standpoint. (Students' eyes)
• That of our colleagues. (Colleagues’ experiences).
• Relationship to wider theory. (Theoretical lens)

Our Standpoint

This involves teachers looking at their own past life and current experiences and their reactions regarding them. This model calls for a thorough inventory and not just a re-assessment of the moment.

Learners’ Standpoint

When some insights might have been missed during self-reflection, Brookfield’s model calls for learners’ perspectives. It involves looking at learners' work, grades, and feedback to gain new insights. Other elements that might be considered include Survey and questionnaire data on the quality of teaching and classroom experience.

Colleagues’ Experiences

A further form of reflection involves going beyond the delf and learners' perspectives and looking at things from colleagues' or peers’ perspectives. Peers’ perspective can reveal a lot of things you might have missed, such as biases and assumptions in one’s teaching style.

Theoretical lens

This model calls for the need to consult literature to understand how to improve the quality of teaching and promote professional development.

Johns's Model of Reflection

This model emphasizes the importance of guided reflection. Johns's model of reflection was developed on the belief that reflection is essential in professional development and improving patient care. It consists of three main stages: description, reflection, influencing factors, what I could have done better, and action.

Description- In this stage, an individual goes into detail about the experience they are reflecting upon. It entails providing details such as what happened, who was involved, and any other relevant information that will provide context.

Reflection- this phase is about reflection itself. It involves asking questions to help you explore thoughts, feelings, and emotions about your experience. You must critically examine your actions, attitudes, assumptions, and other people’s perspectives to understand the situation more deeply.

Influencing factors- what factors led to the event occurring? Talk about factors that influenced your decision-making process, sources of the knowledge gained, and the sources you consulted.

What could I have done better- This is about identifying areas of improvement based on the particular experience.

Action- This last stage focuses on implementing the right actions for future improvement. It involves considering alternative approaches and developing strategies to address any new issues. Additionally, you also have to develop personal and professional development goals.

Tips for Choosing the Suitable Reflective Model or Framework

As you can see above, many reflective models are used for your reflective essay. We have not exhaustively listed and expounded on all of them. Other reflective models and frameworks you can also consider when writing a reflective essay in nursing include:

• Bouds Reflective Model
• The Johari window model

Note that most nursing instructors will often suggest the models they prefer for you to use in your essay. For example, in most nursing reflective essays. Whichever the case, readily available information expands on each model to make it easier to write a reflection essay on a specific aspect of nursing education or practice. Read the assignment rubric and instructions to understand the specific model. If it is unclear, ask for clarification from your instructor early enough.

Final Word on Models of Reflection in Nursing

Models of reflection in nursing are essential components of learning. They provide nurses with different approaches for analyzing and evaluating their experiences. These reflective practices not only enhance professional growth but also improve patient care. As a nursing student, it is important to understand and know how to apply the different models of reflection so that you can experience the key experiences that sparked your interest in nursing.

At NursingMyGrade.com , Our tutors can guide and help you understand these models. We also have a team of qualified writers who can help you tackle difficult nursing assignments. All you have to do is place an order , and we will get to work.

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Chapter 2 Therapeutic Communication and the Nurse-Client Relationship

2.1. introduction, learning objectives.

• Review basic concepts of client-centered communication
• Outline effective therapeutic communication techniques
• Describe barriers to effective therapeutic communication
• Explore guidelines for effective communication during teletherapy

Nurses engage in compassionate, supportive, professional relationships with their clients as part of the “art of nursing.” [ 1 ] This chapter will review the nurse-client relationship, therapeutic communication, and motivational interviewing. It will also introduce teletherapy and telehealth.

2.2. BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMMUNICATION

Communication standard of professional performance.

The Standard of Professional Performance for  Communication  established by the American Nurses Association (ANA) is defined as, “The registered nurse communicates effectively in all areas of professional practice.” [1] See the following box for the competencies associated with the  Communication  standard.

ANA’s Communication Competencies

The registered nurse:

• Assesses one’s own communication skills and effectiveness.
• Demonstrates cultural humility, professionalism, and respect when communicating.
• Assesses communication ability, health literacy, resources, and preferences of health care consumers to inform the interprofessional team and others.
• Uses language translation resources to ensure effective communication.
• Incorporates appropriate alternative strategies to communicate effectively with health care consumers who have visual, speech, language, or communication difficulties.
• Uses communication styles and methods that demonstrate caring, respect, active listening, authenticity, and trust.
• Conveys accurate information to health care consumers, families, community stakeholders, and members of the interprofessional team.
• Advocates for the health care consumer and their preferences and choices when care processes and decisions do not appear to be in the best interest of the health care consumer.
• Maintains communication with interprofessional team members and others to facilitate safe transitions and continuity in care delivery.
• Confirms with the recipient if the communication was heard and if the recipient understands the message.
• Contributes the nursing perspective in interactions and discussions with the interprofessional team and other stakeholders.
• Promotes safety in the care or practice environment by disclosing and reporting concerns related to potential or actual hazards or deviations from the standard of care.
• Demonstrates continuous improvement of communication skills.

Review basic communication concepts for nurses in the “ Communication ” chapter in Open RN  Nursing Fundamentals .

Nurse-client relationship.

Establishment of the therapeutic nurse-client relationship is vital in nursing care. Nurses engage in compassionate, supportive, professional relationships with their clients as part of the “art of nursing.” [2] This is especially true in psychiatric care, where the therapeutic relationship is considered to be the foundation of client care and healing. [3] The  nurse-client relationship  establishes trust and rapport with a specific purpose; it facilitates therapeutic communication and engages the client in decision-making regarding their plan of care.

Therapeutic nurse-client relationships vary in depth, length, and focus. Brief therapeutic encounters might last only a few minutes and focus on the client’s immediate needs, current feelings, or behaviors. For example, in the emergency department setting, a nurse may therapeutically communicate with a client in crisis who recently experienced a situational trauma. During longer periods of time, such as inpatient care, nurses work with clients in setting short-term goals and outcomes that are documented in the nursing care plan and evaluated regularly. In long-term care settings, such as residential facilities, the therapeutic nurse-client relationship may last several months and include frequent interactions focusing on behavior modification.

Read more about crisis and crisis intervention in the “ Stress, Coping, and Crisis Intervention ” chapter.

Phases of development of a therapeutic relationship.

The nurse-client relationship goes through three phases. A well-known nurse theorist named Hildegard Peplau described these three phases as orientation, working, and termination. [4]

Orientation Phase

During the brief orientation phase, clients may realize they need assistance as they adjust to their current status. Simultaneously, nurses introduce themselves and begin to obtain essential information about clients as individuals with unique needs, values, beliefs, and priorities. During this brief phase, trust is established, and rapport begins to develop between the client and the nurse. Nurses ensure privacy when talking with the client and providing care and respect the client’s values, beliefs, and personal boundaries.

A common framework used for introductions during patient care is AIDET, a mnemonic for Acknowledge, Introduce, Duration, Explanation, and Thank You.

• Acknowledge:  Greet the patient by the name documented in their medical record. Make eye contact, smile, and acknowledge any family or friends in the room. Ask the patient their preferred way of being addressed (for example, “Mr. Doe,” “Jonathon,” or “Johnny”) and their preferred pronouns (e.g., he/him, she/her, or they/them).
• Introduce:  Introduce yourself by your name and role. For example, “I’m John Doe, and I am a nursing student working with your nurse to take care of you today.”
• Duration:  Estimate a timeline for how long it will take to complete the task you are doing. For example, “I am here to perform an admission assessment. This should take about 15 minutes.”
• Explanation:  Explain step by step what to expect next and answer questions. For example, “I will be putting this blood pressure cuff on your arm and inflating it. It will feel as if it is squeezing your arm for a few moments.”
• Thank You:  At the end of the encounter, thank the patient and ask if anything is needed before you leave. In an acute or long-term care setting, ensure the call light is within reach and the patient knows how to use it. If family members are present, thank them for being there to support the patient as appropriate. For example, “Thank you for taking time to talk with me today. Is there anything I can get for you before I leave the room? Here is the call light (Place within reach). Press the red button if you would like to call the nurse.”

Working Phase

The majority of a nurse’s time with a client is in the working phase. During this phase, nurses use active listening and begin by asking the reason the client is seeking care to determine what is important to them. They use assessment findings to develop a nursing plan of care and plan patient education. If a care plan has already been established on admission, nurses use this time to implement interventions targeted to meet short-term outcomes and long-term goals. During the working phase, clients begin to accept nurses as health educators, counselors, and care providers. Nurses use therapeutic communication techniques to facilitate clients’ awareness of their thoughts and feelings and mutually develop goals and an individualized plan of care. Nurses provide reflective and nonjudgmental feedback to clients to help them clarify their thoughts, goals, and coping strategies. [5] Therapeutic communication techniques used during this phase, including motivational interviewing, are discussed later in this chapter.

Termination Phase

The final phase of a nurse-client relationship is the termination phase. This phase typically occurs at the end of a shift or on discharge from care. If the previous working phase has been successful, the client’s needs have been successfully met by collaboration among the client, nurses, and interprofessional health care team members. The nurse should be aware the client may try to return to the working phase to avoid termination of the relationship. During the termination phase, the nurse can encourage the client to reflect on progress they have made and review post-discharge goals. The nurse also makes community referrals for follow-up and continuation of support in meeting goals.

• American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). American Nurses Association.
• Ross C. A., Goldner E. M. Stigma, negative attitudes and discrimination towards mental illness within the nursing profession: A review of the literature. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. 2009; 16 (6):558–567. [ PubMed : 19594679 ] [ CrossRef ]
• Hagerty T. A., Samuels W., Norcini-Pala A., Gigliotti E. Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal Relations: An alternate factor structure for patient experience data? Nursing Science Quarterly. 2018; 30 (2):160–167. [ PMC free article : PMC5831243 ] [ PubMed : 28899257 ] [ CrossRef ]

2.3. THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION

Therapeutic communication has roots going back to Florence Nightingale, who insisted on the importance of building trusting relationships with patients. She taught that therapeutic healing resulted from nurses’ presence with patients. [ 1 ] Since then, several professional nursing associations have highlighted therapeutic communication as one of the most vital elements in nursing.  Therapeutic communication  is a type of professional communication defined as the purposeful, interpersonal, information-transmitting process that leads to client understanding and participation. [ 2 ] Read an example of a nursing student using therapeutic communication in the following box.

Example of Nurse Using Therapeutic Listening

Ms. Z. is a nursing student (as simulated in Figure 2.1 ) [ 3 ] who enjoys interacting with patients. When she goes to patients’ rooms, she greets them and introduces herself and her role in a calm tone. She kindly asks patients about their problems and notices their reactions. She provides information and answers their questions. Patients perceive that she wants to help them. She treats patients professionally by respecting boundaries and listening to them in a nonjudgmental manner. She addresses communication barriers and respects patients’ cultural beliefs. She notices patients’ health literacy and ensures they understand her messages and patient education. As a result, patients trust her and feel as if she cares about them, so they feel comfortable sharing their health care needs with her. [ 4 ]

Nursing Student Using Therapeutic Communication

Therapeutic communication is different from social interaction. Social interaction does not have a goal or purpose and includes casual sharing of information, whereas therapeutic communication has a goal or purpose for the conversation. An example of a nursing goal before using therapeutic communication is, “The client will share feelings or concerns about their treatment plan by the end of the conversation.”

Therapeutic communication includes active listening, professional touch, and a variety of therapeutic communication techniques.

Active Listening

Listening is an important part of communication. There are three main types of listening, including competitive, passive, and active listening. Competitive listening occurs when we are mostly focused on sharing our own point of view instead of listening to someone else. Passive listening occurs when we are not interested in listening to the other person, and we assume we understand what the person is communicating correctly without verifying their message. During  active listening , we communicate both verbally and nonverbally that we are interested in what the other person is saying while also actively verifying our understanding with them. For example, an active listening technique is to restate what the person said and then verify our understanding is correct. This feedback process is the major difference between passive listening and active listening. [ 5 ]

Nonverbal communication is an important component of active listening.  SOLER  is a mnemonic for establishing good nonverbal communication with clients. SOLER stands for the following [ 6 ]:

• S:   S itting and squarely facing the client
• O:  Using  o pen posture (i.e., avoid crossing arms)
• L:   L eaning towards the client to indicate interest in listening
• E:  Maintaining good  e ye contact
• R:  Maintaining a  r elaxed posture

Professional touch is a powerful way to communicate caring and empathy if done respectfully while also being aware of the client’s preferences, cultural beliefs, and personal boundaries. Nurses use professional touch when assessing, expressing concern, or comforting patients. For example, simply holding a patient’s hand during a painful procedure can effectively provide comfort.

For individuals with a history of trauma, touch can be negatively perceived, so it is important to ask permission before touching. Inform the person before engaging in medical procedures requiring touch such as, “I need to hold down your arm so I can draw blood.”

Nurses should avoid using touch with individuals who are becoming agitated or experiencing a manic or psychotic episode because it can cause escalation. It is also helpful to maintain a larger interpersonal distance when interacting with an individual who is experiencing paranoia or psychosis.

Therapeutic Communication Techniques

There are a variety of therapeutic techniques that nurses use to engage clients in verbalizing emotions, establishing goals, and discussing coping strategies. See Table 2.3a for definitions of various therapeutic communication techniques discussed in the  American Nurse , the official journal of the American Nurses Association.

Therapeutic Communication Techniques [7]

Nontherapeutic Responses

Nurses must be aware of potential barriers to communication and avoid nontherapeutic responses. Nonverbal communication such as looking at one’s watch, crossing arms across one’s chest, or not actively listening may be perceived as barriers to communication. Nontherapeutic verbal responses often block the client’s communication of feelings or ideas. See Table 2.3b for a description of nontherapeutic responses to avoid.

Nontherapeutic Responses [8],[9]

See the following box for a summary of tips for using therapeutic communication and avoiding common barriers to therapeutic communication.

Tips for Effective Therapeutic Communication

• Establish a goal for the conversation.
• Be self-aware of one’s nonverbal messages.
• Observe the client’s nonverbal behaviors and actions as ‘cues’ for assessments and planning interventions.
• Avoid self-disclosure of personal information and use professional boundaries. (Review boundary setting in the “ Boundaries ” section of Chapter 1.)
• Be patient-centered and actively listen to what the client is expressing (e.g., provide empathy, not sympathy; show respect; gain the client’s trust; and accept the person as who they are as an individual).
• Be sensitive to the values, cultural beliefs, attitudes, practices, and problem-solving strategies of the client.
• Effectively use therapeutic communication techniques.
• Recognize themes in a conversation (e.g., Is there a theme emerging of poor self-esteem, guilt, shame, loneliness, helplessness, hopelessness, or suicidal thoughts?).

Common Barriers to Therapeutic Communication

• Using a tone of voice that is distant, condescending, or disapproving.
• Using medical jargon or too many technical terms.
• Asking yes/no questions instead of open-ended questions.
• Continually asking “why,” causing the client to become defensive or feel challenged by your questions.
• Using too many probing questions, causing the client to feel you are interrogating them, resulting in defensiveness or refusal to talk with the nurse.
• Lacking awareness of one’s biases, fears, feelings, or insecurities.
• Causing sensory overload in the client with a high emotional level of the content.
• Giving advice.
• Blurring the nurse-client relationship boundaries (e.g., assuming control of the conversation, disclosing personal information, practicing outside one’s scope of practice).

Recognizing and Addressing Escalation

When communicating therapeutically with a client, it is important to recognize if the client is escalating with increased agitation and becoming a danger to themselves, staff, or other patients. When escalation occurs, providing safety becomes the nurse’s top priority, and the focus is no longer on therapeutic communication. Read more information in the “ Crisis and Crisis Intervention ” section of the “Stress, Coping, and Crisis Intervention” chapter.

Cultural Considerations

Recall the discussion from Chapter 1 on how cultural values and beliefs can impact a client’s mental health in many ways. Every culture has a different perspective on mental health. For many cultures, there is stigma surrounding mental health. Mental health challenges may be considered a weakness and something to hide, which can make it harder for those struggling to talk openly and ask for help. Culture can also influence how people describe and feel about their symptoms. It can affect whether someone chooses to recognize and talk openly about physical symptoms, emotional symptoms, or both. Cultural factors can determine how much support someone gets from their family and community when it comes to mental health. [ 10 ]

Nurses can help clients understand the role culture plays in their mental health by encouraging therapeutic communication about their symptoms and treatment. For example, a nurse should ask, “What do you think is wrong? How would you treat your symptoms?”

Read more about providing culturally responsive care in the “ Diverse Clients ” chapter of Open RN  Nursing Fundamentals .

2.4. motivational interviewing.

Patient education and health promotion are core nursing interventions.  Motivational interviewing (MI)  is a communication skill used to elicit and emphasize a client’s personal motivation for modifying behavior to promote health. MI has been effectively used for several health issues such as smoking cessation, diabetes, substance use disorders, and adherence to a treatment plan. [ 1 ]

The spirit of motivational interviewing is a collaborative partnership between nurses and clients, focused on patient-centered care, autonomy, and personal responsibility. It is a technique that explores a client’s motivation, confidence, and roadblocks to change. During motivational interviewing, nurses pose questions, actively listen to client responses, and focus on where the client is now with a current health behavior and where they want to be in the future. [ 2 ]

Motivational interviewing uses these principles [ 3 ]:

• Express empathy.  Use reflective listening to convey acceptance and a nonjudgmental attitude. Rephrase client comments to convey active listening and let clients know they are being heard.
• Highlight discrepancies.  Help clients become aware of the gap between their current behaviors and their values and goals. Present objective information that highlights the consequences of continuing their current behaviors to motivate them to change their behavior.
• Adjust to resistance.  Adjust to a client’s resistance and do not argue. The client may demonstrate resistance by avoiding eye contact, becoming defensive, interrupting you, or seeming distracted by looking at their watch or cell phone. Arguing can place the client on the defensive and in a position of arguing against the change. Focus on validating the client’s feelings.
• Understand motivations.  Uncover a client’s personal reasons for making behavioral changes and build on them.
• Support self-efficacy.  Encourage the client’s optimistic belief in the prospect of change and encourage them to commit to positive behavioral changes. Ask clients to elaborate on past successes to build self-confidence and support self-efficacy.
• Resist the reflex to provide advice.  Avoid imposing your own perspective and advice.

When implementing motivational interviewing, it is important to assess the client’s readiness for change. Motivational interviewing is especially useful for clients in the contemplation stage who are feeling ambivalent about making change. Recall these five stages of behavioral change [ 4 ]:

• Precontemplation:  Not considering change.
• Contemplation:  Ambivalent about making change.
• Preparation:  Taking steps toward implementing change.
• Action:  Actively involved in the change process.
• Maintenance:  Sustaining the target behavior.

Identify clients who are ambivalent about making a behavioral change or following a treatment plan by listening for the phrase, “Yes, but.” The “but” holds the key for opening the conversation about ambivalence. For example, a client may state, “I want to take my medication, but I hate gaining weight.” The content in the sentence after the “but” reveals the client’s personal roadblock to making a change and should be taken into consideration when planning outcomes and interventions. [ 5 ]

See the following box for an example of a nurse using motivational interviewing with a client.

Example of Motivational Interviewing [ 6 ]

Mr. L. had been in treatment for bipolar I disorder with medication management and supportive therapy for many years. He had a history of alcohol dependence but was in full recovery. Mr. L. was admitted to the intensive care unit with a toxic lithium level. He had been seen in the emergency room the preceding evening and was noted to have a very high blood alcohol level. The next day the nurse asked the client about his alcohol use using motivational interviewing.

Client:  I am so sick of everyone always blaming everything on my drinking!

Nurse (Using reflective listening):  You seem pretty angry about the perception that you were hospitalized because you had been drinking.

Client:  You better believe it! I am a man! I can have a few drinks if I want to!

Nurse: (Expressing empathy and acceptance): You want to be respected even when you are drinking.

Client:  I have had some trouble in the past with drinking, but that is not now. I can quit if I want to! Compared to what I used to drink, this is nothing.

Nurse (Rolling with resistance):  So you see yourself as having had drinking problems in the past, but the drinking you’ve done recently is not harmful for you.

Client:  Well, I guess I did end up in the hospital.

Nurse (Using open-ended questioning):  Tell me more about what happened.

Client:  I was pretty angry after an argument with my girlfriend, and I decided to buy a bottle of whiskey.

Nurse (Exploring):  And then?

Client:  Well, I meant to have a couple of shots, but I ended up drinking the whole fifth. I really don’t remember what happened next. They said I nearly died.

Nurse (Summarizing):  So after many years of not drinking, you decided to have a couple of drinks after the argument with your girlfriend, but unintentionally drank enough to have a blackout and nearly die.

Client:  I guess that does sound like a problem…but I don’t want anyone else telling me whether or not I can drink!

Nurse (Emphasizing autonomy):  Tell me how the choice to drink or not continues to support or oppose your health goals.

View the following supplementary YouTube videos about motivational interviewing:

Introduction to Motivational Interviewing [ 7 ]

Motivational Interviewing – Good Example – Alan Lyme  [ 8 ]

Complete Western Region Public Health Training Center’s  Motivational Interviewing  course and receive a certificate of completion.

2.5. teletherapy and telehealth.

Telehealth  is the use of digital technologies to deliver medical care, health education, and public health services by remotely connecting multiple users in separate locations. Nurses must be aware of potential barriers affecting client use of telehealth (such as lack of Internet access or lack of support for individuals learning new technologies), as well as state and federal policies regarding telehealth and their nursing license across state lines.

Read more about telehealth licensing requirements and interstate compacts at the  Telehealth.hss.gov webpage .

Teletherapy  is mental health counseling over the phone or online with videoconferencing. COVID-19 has led to reduced access to medical and mental health care, so delivering behavioral health care via telehealth is one way to address this issue. When using teletherapy, nurses should treat clients as if they are sitting across from them and focus on eye contact and empathetic expressions to build a connection, just during a face-to-face encounter. [ 1 ]

Group therapy can be accomplished via telehealth. Connecting clients through telehealth creates a group dynamic that can build community, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer new perspectives. Group therapy via telehealth can create a sense of belonging and build a trusted support system.

Here are a few guidelines for group therapy telehealth sessions [ 2 ]:

• Prescreen group members:  Group members may have various needs, experiences, or personalities. It is helpful to screen each potential client to ensure every member can benefit from group therapy and that their needs match the goals of the group.
• Require completion of online consent forms:  Group telehealth sessions involve multiple people and are conducted outside of a controlled setting like an office. Client consent forms should be required and available online. The consent forms should outline any associated risks, benefits, and limits to confidentiality.
• Develop group guidelines:  Make clear ground rules covering what is acceptable and what is not acceptable. Some common ground rules include requiring all participants to have their camera on, attend from a room where they can be alone during the session, and use the digital “raise hand” feature (or raise their hand) when they want to speak. Prohibiting recording of the session is a common ground rule to protect confidentiality. Address logistical topics like how many missed sessions are allowed and how to contact the group leader(s).
• Select your settings and technology:  Choose the telehealth video platform that best suits your needs for encryption and privacy, user controls, and more. Go through all of the settings ahead of time to select the options that provide the highest level of privacy. Think about what will help you and the group communicate effectively such as screen sharing options or a virtual whiteboard.
• Be engaging:  When you are on screen instead of in person, it is even more important to be conscious of the group dynamic and take steps to keep group members interested, energized, and engaged. Start with introductions and greetings using first names only for privacy. Make eye contact with group members by looking into the camera and use body language and hand gestures to help express your ideas. Build in moments for clients to interact and contribute to the conversation, such as breakout rooms or paired discussions.

2.6. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

II. GLOSSARY

Communicating both verbally and nonverbally that we are interested in what the other person is saying while also actively verifying our understanding with them.

A communication skill used to elicit and emphasize a client’s personal motivation for modifying behavior to promote health.

A relationship that establishes trust and rapport with a specific purpose of facilitating therapeutic communication and engaging the client in decision-making regarding their plan of care.

A mnemonic for effective nonverbal communication that stands for the following [ 1 ]:

• S: Sit and squarely face the client
• O: Open posture
• L: Lean towards the client to indicate interest in listening
• E: Eye contact

The use of digital technologies to deliver medical care, health education, and public health services by remotely connecting multiple users in separate locations.

Mental health counseling over the phone or online with videoconferencing tools.

A type of professional communication defined as the purposeful, interpersonal, information-transmitting process that leads to client understanding and participation. [ 2 ]

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ .

• Cite this Page Open Resources for Nursing (Open RN); Ernstmeyer K, Christman E, editors. Nursing: Mental Health and Community Concepts [Internet]. Eau Claire (WI): Chippewa Valley Technical College; 2022. Chapter 2 Therapeutic Communication and the Nurse-Client Relationship.
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In this Page

• INTRODUCTION
• BASIC CONCEPTS OF COMMUNICATION
• THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION
• MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING
• TELETHERAPY AND TELEHEALTH
• LEARNING ACTIVITIES

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Reflection of Interview With Registered Nurse

The rationale for choosing nursing path.

The interviewee responded that her ultimate reason for choosing nursing as a profession was the opportunity to help patients and their families directly. She emphasized that although physicians play a significant role in treating the disease and saving a patient’s life, the patient needs more than that to cope with the disease and rehabilitate both mentally and physically. Nurses are the ones who mediate between the physician and the patient, provide the immediate psychological and medical needs of patients, and also address family concerns. All these constitute a critical part of patient well-being, which is the ultimate goal of nurses.

Nursing School Experience

Maintaining work-life balance.

She emphasized the importance of social support she received from her family members, friends, instructors, and colleagues. Inevitably she experienced burnout while switching between school and part-time work as a registered nurse. These difficulties were further compounded by familial struggles and financial challenges. The last year was particularly exhausting for her since healthcare professionals, especially nurses, were in close contact with patients and frequently overworked. However, she said she is immensely grateful for the people around her during those difficult times who supported her, psychologically and financially. Moreover, the realization she was contributing toward the larger goal of overcoming the pandemic, saving lives, and alleviating patients’ struggles encouraged her not to give up and overcome difficulties.

Commitment to School

She mentioned her level of commitment to nursing school was quite high since she aspired to pursue a master’s degree in the future. Hence, she studied around 5 hours per day, dedicating a lot of time to memorizing the information. Nevertheless, she also aimed to be actively involved in social life by engaging in student clubs and volunteer organizations as well as spending time with friends.

Clinical and Lab Experience

Although she does not remember her lab experience, she recalled her clinical experience was exciting and exhausting. She passed her first clinical experience at the Ellenburg Nursing Center, the senior living provider in Anderson, South Carolina. She could not take night shifts since she had to be with her children at night. She could take day shifts when her children were in schools and kindergartens. Hence, she had to wake up early at 5 am every day and commute to her workplace by starting her shift at 7 am.

Moreover, the work was very challenging since it required a lot of care for residents. Although she enjoyed her job, she was frequently sleep-deprived and tired, and she did not have the emotional and physical energy to spend time with her children. Since she is a single mother, she could not simply delegate tasks such as caring for kids and monitoring their studies to their father. This aspect of her clinical experience was overwhelming and even made her rethink whether she wanted to pursue this path. However, two reasons helped her overcome these struggles and ultimately convinced her to remain in nursing. First, the staff at the Ellenburg Nursing Center was very supportive and caring, like a family. They genuinely cared for residents and workers as well. Secondly, the happiness and satisfaction of residents continuously reminded her that her job was valuable and reenergized her. Thus, her first clinical experience was very challenging and, yet internally, emotionally rewarding.

Preparation for Examinations

She mentioned that it was difficult for her to keep a consistent, intensive preparation for the examinations since she had family and part-time work; hence, she often could not prepare. She initially felt that she would never pass the test and would waste her time and money that she could instead invest in her children. After giving up her hopes for several months, she realized that she should at least give it a try.

She decided she would try to prepare at least 1-2 hours a day and take one practice exam each week. Since her time was tight, it was vital for her to have a clear study plan. She prioritized the areas in which she was the weakest and dedicated her time to these areas. The progress was slow as her first improvements were only seen after around three months since she started preparing. She also did not have additional financial resources to purchase preparation resources or attend tutoring sessions. Nevertheless, with discipline, hope, and determination, she was able to pass the test with good scores.

Top Three Patient Memories

The first memory she had was when she was working at the Ellenburg Nursing Center. The patient was a woman in her late sixties, and she had deteriorating dementia. Hence, she was frequently confused about where she was, even what her name was. She enjoyed doing puzzles and crosswords, although she rarely smiled and talked to other residents. She frequently forgot that she was in a nursing center and kept asking when her son would visit her. The interviewee struggled to remind her of the truth that she was not at her home but at a nursing home. The most memorable part of this memory for her was the weak smile on the patient’s face when her son came to visit her. This memory has reminded her of the profound importance of human relationships, especially between a parent and child.

Another unforgettable memory for her was when she was working in AnMed, where she currently works. She witnessed the desperate attempt of parents to tell their eight-year-old son that he would soon die from leukemia. The son was very pessimistic as if he already knew the truth. Parents thought a lot about how and which one of them should be speaking to their child. They even asked the nurse, the interviewee, to tell them this information. Eventually, the parents told their child about his diagnosis, and the interviewee burst into tears while witnessing this moment.

The third vivid memory is less tragic but still had a profound influence on the interviewee. The patient was a middle-aged Muslim woman who struggled to reconcile her religious obligations with her treatment. She requested a female physician and nurse, which was difficult to provide given the scarcity of female healthcare professionals. She felt significant mental pressure and guilt when sacrificing her prayers due to her health conditions. This memory encouraged the interviewee to think about creating more inclusive, diverse healthcare institutions.

The Hardest Thing About Being a Nurse

The hardest thing for her about being a nurse is that the duties and responsibilities of nurses can be overwhelming. She mentioned that since many patients are physically and psychologically struggling, they and their families often resorted to nurses to take on their frustrations and anger. Moreover, there is still a hierarchical attitude between the physicians and nurses persist; the latter is often the victim of neglectful, belittling attitudes. However, there are still some patients who thank nurses, which helps them to overcome such a toxic environment. Moreover, some nurses on duty and physicians attempted to guide her and other new nurses, which allowed her to adapt and succeed.

“NurseLife” and Personal Reflections

The phrase “NurseLife” means life with compassion, empathy, and dedication regardless of the situation around you. She emphasized that being a nurse means that she needs to respond quickly and correctly to crises. The interview significantly influenced my perspective on nursing and life. Being a single mother juggling work, family life, and nursing school, I can significantly relate to the interviewee’s struggles. Her success story encourages me to overcome my difficulties and obtain a registered nurse license through hard work and dedication.