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My Journey in Nursing: Professional Values, Ethics, and Future Goals

Satcher Smith Post University BSN405-SIM Professor Black September 25, 2026

My Journey in Nursing

When I look back at my nursing journey, I realize just how much nursing has become a part of who I am. I have worked in long-term care, skilled nursing, acute care, and rehabilitation, and each setting has taught me something different. I have cared for patients who needed help with their everyday activities, patients recovering from illnesses or injuries, and patients who were seriously ill or at the end of their lives. Even though every setting has been different, one thing has always stayed the same: I enjoy helping people and being there for them when they need someone.

My own experiences with healthcare have also changed the way I look at nursing. I live with Type 1 diabetes and myasthenia gravis, so I understand what it is like to be both a nurse and a patient. I know what it feels like to take medications, keep up with appointments, deal with symptoms, and depend on healthcare professionals. Because of these experiences, I try to really listen when my patients tell me that something does not feel right. I believe patients know their own bodies, and they deserve to have their concerns taken seriously.

Having my own health challenges has not made me want to leave nursing. If anything, it has made me appreciate my career even more. I have learned that being a nurse does not mean that we are perfect or that we will never have problems of our own. Nurses are people too. We have families, responsibilities, health concerns, and difficult days. Being a nurse, mother, and wife has taught me that finding a balance between my personal life and professional life is important.

Working in long-term care and skilled nursing has taught me how important it is to get to know my patients. When you care for someone for a longer period of time, you begin to understand their personality, routines, likes, dislikes, and what matters most to them. Rehabilitation nursing has also taught me to appreciate the small things. Something that may seem small to another person, such as a patient walking a little farther or doing something independently for the first time, can be a major accomplishment for that patient.

Acute care has been different because patients can change very quickly. I have learned to pay attention to small changes in a patient's condition and to communicate with the healthcare team when I have concerns. Working in different areas has helped me become a more well-rounded nurse and has taught me that there is always something new to learn.

One of the hardest parts of my nursing career has been caring for patients who were dying. I have been present for patients and families during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Sometimes there is nothing more that can be done to change the outcome. In those situations, nursing becomes about comfort, support, communication, and simply being present. I have learned that sometimes the most important thing I can do is sit with a patient or family member, listen to them, and let them know that they are not alone.

I have also experienced situations where I noticed that a patient was not receiving the correct medication or where something about a medication order did not seem right. These experiences taught me how important it is for nurses to advocate for their patients. I cannot simply give a medication because it appears on the medication administration record. I have to check that it is appropriate, look for safety concerns, and ask questions when something does not seem right. Speaking up can sometimes be uncomfortable, especially when you are questioning something, but patient safety has to come first.

My Nursing Practice and the ANA Code of Ethics

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics provides nurses with guidance about how we should treat our patients and conduct ourselves as professionals. The 2025 Code of Ethics includes 10 provisions that address the responsibilities nurses have to patients, themselves, the nursing profession, and society (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2025).

One provision that connects closely with my nursing practice is Provision 1, which focuses on practicing with compassion and respect for every person's dignity and worth. This is something I try to remember with every patient. I have cared for people from many different backgrounds and with many different health problems. Regardless of what a patient is going through, I believe they deserve to be treated with respect. I try to remember that every patient is someone's loved one and that they have a life outside of the hospital or healthcare facility.

Provision 2 states that the nurse's primary commitment is to the patient. This provision is especially meaningful to me because of the importance I place on patient advocacy. I have had situations where I was concerned about a patient's medication or condition and knew that I needed to speak up. Sometimes advocating for a patient means asking questions, contacting the provider, or making sure the patient's concerns are communicated. I believe every patient deserves a nurse who will stand up for them (ANA, 2025).

Provision 3 focuses on promoting, advocating for, and protecting the health and safety of patients. Patient safety is something I take seriously. Medication administration is one example. When I notice that a medication may not be correct or something does not make sense, I do not ignore it. I stop, check the information, and communicate my concern. Nurses have an important responsibility to help protect patients from preventable harm (ANA, 2025).

Provision 5 focuses on the nurse's responsibility to maintain personal health, integrity, and professional growth. This provision is meaningful to me because I have learned through my own experiences that I cannot take my health for granted. I have to take care of myself so that I can continue taking care of others. I also understand that nursing is a career where learning never stops. Continuing my education and working toward my BSN are important steps in becoming the nurse I want to be (ANA, 2025).

These provisions remind me that the Code of Ethics is not just something nurses read in school. It applies to what we do every day. It affects how we speak to patients, how we protect them, how we advocate for them, and how we continue to grow professionally.

The Importance of Standardized Nursing Language

Standardized nursing language is important because nurses need to communicate clearly with one another and with other healthcare professionals. Patients often move between different healthcare settings. A patient may go from a hospital to skilled nursing, then to rehabilitation, and eventually return home. During these transitions, it is important that everyone understands the patient's condition, needs, and care that has already been provided.

Standardized nursing language gives nurses a consistent way to describe patient problems, nursing interventions, and patient outcomes. Nursing classifications such as NANDA-I, Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC), and Nursing Outcomes Classification (NOC) help nurses communicate and document care in a more consistent way. Research has shown that standardized nursing terminology can improve nursing documentation and make nursing care and patient outcomes easier to measure (Bertocchi et al., 2023).

My experience working in different nursing settings has shown me how important communication really is. When a patient is transferred from one facility to another, the next nurse needs to understand what happened, what has already been done, and what still needs to be done. When information is missing or unclear, the patient can be placed at risk.

Standardized language also connects to the ANA Code of Ethics because nurses have a responsibility to provide safe and competent care. Good documentation and communication are important parts of patient safety. If information is not communicated correctly, something important can easily be missed. For me, standardized nursing language is not just about completing paperwork. It is about making sure the next nurse has the information needed to safely care for the patient.

What Motivates Me to Stay in Nursing

Nursing can be hard. There are long shifts, stressful situations, emotional moments, and days when I go home completely exhausted. Even with those challenges, I still love what I do. What keeps me in nursing is knowing that I can make a difference in someone's life, even if that difference is sometimes small.

My own health journey has also influenced my decision to stay in nursing. Living with chronic health conditions has given me a better understanding of what patients may experience when they are dealing with health problems over a long period of time. I know how frustrating it can be when your health affects your everyday life. I also know how important it is to have healthcare professionals who listen and take your concerns seriously.

One experience that has stayed with me is caring for a patient who was dying. Being around the patient and family during such a difficult time reminded me that nursing is not always about finding a cure. Sometimes there is nothing we can do to change what is happening, but we can still provide comfort and support. I could make sure the patient was comfortable, communicate with the family, listen to their concerns, and simply be present.

That experience taught me that nursing is not always about curing someone. Sometimes nursing is about being there when there is no cure. It is about helping a patient feel comfortable and helping a family get through one of the hardest experiences they may ever face.

Another experience that has stayed with me involved a medication concern. I noticed that something did not seem right and knew that I needed to speak up. That experience reminded me that nurses have to pay attention and advocate for their patients. It is easy to become busy during a shift, but being busy should never cause us to overlook something that could affect a patient's safety.

These experiences are some of the reasons I continue to love nursing. I like knowing that I can help someone, even if it is in a small way. Sometimes helping means giving medication or performing a treatment. Other times, it means listening to a patient, answering a question, holding someone's hand, or comforting a family member.

I also want my children to see that challenges do not have to stop us from reaching our goals. Being a mother, wife, nurse, and someone managing my own health is not always easy. There have been times when I have had to push through difficult days. I have learned to keep going while also understanding that there are times when I need to slow down and take care of myself.

My Short-Term SMART Goals

My first short-term goal is to complete my BSN degree by my expected graduation date. I will stay on track by following a weekly study schedule, completing my assignments on time, and asking for help when I need it. Completing my BSN is important to me because I want to continue growing both personally and professionally as a nurse.

My second short-term goal is to complete at least two continuing-education activities within the next six months. I want to focus on areas that can help me in my nursing practice, including medication safety, chronic disease management, rehabilitation, and caring for patients with complex medical conditions.

My third short-term goal is to participate in at least one quality-improvement or professional-development activity within the next year. I believe this will help me become more comfortable with leadership and give me an opportunity to be involved in improving patient care.

My Long-Term SMART Goals

My first long-term goal is to take on a nursing leadership role within the next three to five years. This could include becoming a charge nurse, preceptor, committee member, or taking on another leadership responsibility. I want to continue improving my communication, delegation, and leadership skills so I can help other nurses and contribute to better patient care.

My second long-term goal is to obtain a nursing specialty certification within the next five years. I plan to research certifications that fit my experience and interests and work toward meeting the requirements.

My third long-term goal is to consider pursuing a graduate nursing degree within the next five to seven years. I want to complete my BSN first and gain more nursing experience before deciding which graduate program would be the best fit for my career and my family.

How My BSN Will Help Me Reach My Goals

Completing my BSN will help me reach both my short-term and long-term goals. I have learned a lot from working in long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, and acute care, but I know there is still a lot more for me to learn.

The BSN will give me additional knowledge about evidence-based practice, leadership, research, quality improvement, and community health. These skills can help me become a stronger nurse and advocate for my patients. Research has also found an association between having a greater proportion of BSN-prepared nurses and improvements in some patient outcomes (Lasater et al., 2021).

For me, getting my BSN is about more than earning another degree. It is about proving to myself that I can continue moving forward even when life gets difficult. I have had to balance school with nursing, being a mother and wife, and managing my own health. There have been times when it would have been easier to give up or put school on hold. However, I have continued because I know that finishing my degree will help me become the nurse I want to be.

My Personal Nursing Philosophy

My nursing philosophy is simple: Treat people the way I would want someone to treat me or someone I love.

I believe patients deserve compassion, respect, honesty, and someone who will advocate for them. I believe nurses should listen to their patients instead of assuming they already know everything about what the patient is feeling.

My experiences as both a nurse and a patient have taught me that healthcare can be overwhelming. Patients can be scared, confused, frustrated, or tired. A nurse may be one of the few people who can make that experience a little easier.

I also believe nurses need to take care of themselves. I have learned this through my own experiences with managing my health. I cannot take care of other people if I completely ignore myself. Taking care of myself does not mean that I will never have difficult days. It means that I need to recognize my limits and do what I can to stay healthy and continue doing the work I love.

Being a mother and wife while working as a nurse has also taught me a lot about balance. My family is important to me, and so is my career. I am proud that I can be both a mother and a nurse. I hope my children see that even when life is difficult, it is important to continue working toward your goals.

Looking back at my nursing career, I am grateful for all of the patients who have taught me something. I have learned from patients who were getting better, patients who were struggling, patients who were going home, and patients who were dying. I have also learned from their families and from the nurses and other healthcare professionals I have worked with.

Nursing has challenged me in many ways, but I still love what I do. I love helping people. I love being able to make someone feel better, even when I cannot fix everything. Most of all, I love knowing that I can be an advocate for someone when they need it the most.

My nursing journey is not over. I still have goals that I want to accomplish, including completing my BSN and continuing to grow professionally. I also want to continue being there for my family and taking care of myself. I do not know exactly where nursing will take me, but I know that I want to continue helping others and making a difference in the lives of my patients.

References

American Nurses Association. (2025). Code of ethics for nurses. https://www.nursingworld.org/nurses-books/Code-of-ethics-2025/

Bertocchi, L., Dante, A., La Cerra, C., Masotta, V., Marcotullio, A., Jones, D., Petrucci, C., & Lancia, L. (2023). Impact of standardized nursing terminologies on patient and organizational outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 55(6), 1126–1153. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.12894

Kautz, D. D., Kuiper, R., Pesut, D. J., Knight-Brown, P., & Daneker, D. (2008). An exemplar of the use of NNN language in developing evidence-based practice guidelines. International Journal of Nursing Terminologies and Classification, 19(1), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-618X.2007.00074.x

Lasater, K. B., Sloane, D. M., McHugh, M. D., Porat-Dahlerbruch, J., & Aiken, L. H. (2021). Changes in proportion of bachelor's nurses associated with improvements in patient outcomes. Nursing Outlook, 69(5), 755–763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.04.003