Reflections on Entering the Service of Nursing

Reflections on Entering the Service of Nursing

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Reflections on Entering the Service of Nursing

The Jesuit approach towards life has a massive influence on how they conduct their business in different sectors including education and healthcare. Within the education sector specifically, the Jesuits has instituted a longstanding tradition that involves numerous principles and regulations. All the relevant areas including research, service, and personal life are expected to be guided by a belief concerning the sacred nature of all existence, the respect for every human being, and the duty to support the disabled of underprivileged in the world (Combs, 2013). This paper focuses on the adoption of the Jesuit ideology within Loyola University, Chicago. Two major tasks will be carried out. One is analyzing the different aspects of learning and life under the Jesuit pedagogy and two, relating the Jesuit principles to personal situation, characteristics, and make conclusions afterwards.

Ideas, Concerns, and Expectations

Personally, I feel that becoming a nurse under the Jesuit way of life is far more demanding and fulfilling in the long term. The nursing profession perceives service as one of its top objectives. All nurses are expected to serve the patients to the best of their abilities. Adopting a working policy that stresses on service above everything holds the potential to improve the quality and speed of nursing in healthcare institutions. The amount of workload for nurses is one of the highest compared to other healthcare personnel within the institution such as administrators, pharmacists and even janitors. Nurses are normally called upon to work longer hours and in stressful conditions. Working as a nurse under the Jesuit context implies stringent regulations and more principles to follow.

I was already content with dealing with the ordinary issues that underpin the professional nursing environment. However, introducing a new aspect of Jesuit principles creates the need for further orientation and briefing. This is for several reasons. One, I will have to revise my understanding of moral responsibility. Currently, the way I see moral conduct is acting in a way that preserves the life of patient as well as maintaining peace and order in the institution. However, I feel concerned taking up membership with the profession since the Jesuit description of moral responsibility demand very much more. It notes that the current generation has failed to identify and deter wrongdoing within the institutions. It demands that every individual should desist from being silent and complacent with such conditions. I feel that this calls for me to be more than a regular nurse. It creates new responsibilities such as rectifying institutional and personal wrongs as well as exposing unethical conduct within the working and personal environment.

Strengths and Contribution to Enforcing Standards

Nurses and other healthcare personnel are guided by the social contract. This contract dictates that the society extends the healthcare profession power over functions necessary to itself and allows them substantial independence in the execution of their regular affairs. Conversely, the healthcare fraternity is expected to carry itself conscientiously and constantly protect the needs of the public. Some of the assumptions in such a contract are self-regulation as well as maintaining high quality in service provision. It is the genuine stamp of the established profession. One of my strengths is a predisposition towards realizing justice and fairness within the society. I have realized that I have a strong urge to rectify social injustices that may include anything from wrongful governance to unfair allocation of resources. I felt that this quality can be very useful in the nursing profession. I am fully aware of the social contract between nursing and the society. This contract offers us nurses the leeway to administer our duties without much interference in return for increased accountability and ethical conduct on our part. Another one of my strengths is compliance with the administration. I have a deep respect for the healthcare profession. Consequently, I know that I would be willing and able to comply with all the institution regulations as well as the code of ethics. Most healthcare personnel violate the regulations laid down by the industry regulators and this has adverse effects on the patients that may culminate in death or permanent physical or mental damage. These consequences oppose the very reason for joining the profession (Oermann, & Gaberson¸2014).

Conclusion

The violation of the social contract between nursing and society is a major issue that has eroded the efforts of many years and people. The Jesuit way of prioritizing moral responsibility, service, and self-appropriation over other aspects has contributed greatly towards restoring integrity and faith in the healthcare system. Nurses, physicians, and other healthcare personnel are expected to maintain high levels of ethical behavior in the process of delivering their services. Sadly, this is not the case in the current environment. Most healthcare institutions are prioritizing financial gain over provision o vital healthcare services (Oermann, & Gaberson¸2014). This has made access to healthcare expensive for the middle and low class. It is imperative for every relevant stakeholder to revise heir approach towards providing healthcare. Their proposed solutions should include elements found in the Jesuit ideology that focuses on morality and excellent service provision. In this way, sanity can be restored to the industry.

References

Combs, M. B. (2013). Transforming ourselves, transforming the world: Justice in Jesuit higher education. New York: Fordham University Press.

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Oermann, M. H., & Gaberson, K. B. (2014). Evaluation and testing in nursing education. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

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