Marylou Bryan, RN
Baccalaureate Nursing Graduate of Old Dominion University 

Image of a Nurse: Power Point Assignment

NURS 401 – Professional Development

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Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is for the student to assemble a PowerPoint presentation. In addition, the student will organize content about their value/viewpoint of the professional image of a nurse. There is no right or wrong to the content.

 

Approach to Assignment

My approach to this assignment was to consider the “look” of nursing and how much it’s changed over the years. Once a nurse wouldn’t be caught without her cap and today nurses aren’t allowed to wear caps. What a drastic change due to the knowledge and research of infection control.  

           

Reason for Inclusion

I included this assignment because I had fun researching and creating a colorful presentation. This assignment was one of the first that I had to combine a video presentation with a Power Point. I realized how difficult it can be to talk into a camera without making mistakes. All in all, I think to turned out well. I learned a great deal about the changes in a nurse’s uniforms, job duties, and pay scale. Nursing has evolved from hospital trained to doctorate level graduate programs. I enjoyed working on this Power Point presentation and thought it would be a nice addition. My presentation is titles “The Nursing Image: Then and Now” with a summary of the changes within the image and responsibilities of a nurse.

 

Critical Thinking

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• Engages in creative problem solving.

 

From the beginning of this assignment I had to engage in creative problem solving. I had to consider what image a nurse had in my mind. Where did the image of a nurse come from and what formed that image for me? I needed to ask myself where do I want to start? I did some research on nursing images and decided to start with the literal image of a nurse.

 

Communication

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• Demonstrates skills in using technology, informatics, and communication devices that support safe nursing practice.

 

I had little knowledge of how to combine a video presentation with a Power Point slide show which required different technology. I had to consider my own image and communication skills when presenting the information during the video. This project enhanced my awareness of nursing practice in the past and how it changed to the present. Within this project I reviewed the nursing practices of past nurses and the current safe nursing practices to include the five core values of the nursing profession. Which are promotion of human dignity, integrity, anatomy, altruism, and social justice.

 

Research

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• Shares research findings with colleagues.

 

One of the requirements for this Power Point presentation project was to share our image of a nurse video presentation with the other students within the course. It was fun to view other students’ presentations and I enjoyed hearing what other students thought about my work. In the past I had a difficult time with critiques of my work but this time I was able to open myself up to any and all comments without regret.

 

Leadership

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• Articulates the values of the profession and the role of the nurse as member of the interdisciplinary health care team.

 

This assignment helped me to understand the importance of the nurse leader and the valuable part nurses play within the healthcare team. I was able to communicate the values of the nursing profession through my presentation of the image of a nurse then and now through the review of duties and growth of education within the profession.