Specialized Nursing

After completing my bachelor of science in nursing there are numerous possibilities of careers paths I can take. A particular area of nursing that interests me is perinatal or post partum nursing. Nurse specialists in this area can work in ambulatory care settings, and may specialize in maternity nursing, maternity-newborn nursing or neonatal nursing. Nurses in this field provide care and support to women and their families before, during, and after childbirth. They also educate mothers about natural childbirth techniques and pre-natal health, provides comfort during delivery, and teaches a mother about mother-child bonding after the baby has been born. Requirements for this type of work are dependent on the hospital or facility in which you work, but most will require additional courses and prerequisites.

Therapeutic Relationships

Throughout the first semester of the nursing program the importance of therapeutic relationships has been continuously highlighted. I have learned that creating therapeutic relationships with my clients will enhance and able to me to provide better and more effective care. A therapeutic relationship is goal oriented and patient focused. It is directed at advancing the best interest and outcome for the client. It is important when creating a therapeutic relationship to establish trust and confidentiality. This way the patient will be less likely to hesitate in telling you important information about them. Another important aspect when creating a therapeutic relationship is the creation of boundaries. It is important not to become emotionally attached to the client because once the goal of the relationship is reached, the relationship must be terminated. I feel that if I can create this type of relationship with all of my patients I will be more aware of their needs, be able to empathize and make their hospital stay as comforting as possible.

Burnout in Nursing

We are continuously reminded and informed about the increasing nursing shortages in Canada. With a large amount of nurses retiring in the next decade this problem is only highlighted. One of the many problems this shortage will lead to is burnout. As there are many benefits and rewarding moments in nursing, it is also a high stress career. The shortage leads to a lower nurse-patient ratio and in turn a higher work load on each nurse. This can lead to exhaustion and frustration throughout a nurse’s long hours worked. In time these negative feeling may lead to job satisfaction and burnout. As a student nurse I have high anticipation to finally go out and start work in a hospital. With the knowledge of the nursing shortage, and the increase risk for burnout, I will do as much as possible to stop this from happening to myself. I will take time each day to reflect on my work, and relax to relieve my own stress.