The essay is divided into 2 parts. Theoretical Commentary and part2 Reflective piece
Part 1 (approximately 1250 words) Commentary to be written in the third person
Briefly define the concepts of self-awareness and self-leadership, leadership, values, professional behaviours, professional responsibility and accountability. You can identify the relevance of these concepts in terms of your role as a student nurse and future qualified nurse (either in relation to the role of the nurse generally or specifically to your chosen field of nursing) Discuss this in terms of The Code (NMC 2018) and any other relevant policies that underpin nursing practice and leadership. (Learning Outcome 1)
Discuss your role as a student nurse in ensuring that you are protecting the public within your nursing practice. How does this link to your professional responsibility and accountability? This can also be linked to your chosen field of nursing. (Learning Outcome 2)
Part 2 (approximately 1250 words) Reflective piece which can be written in the first person using personal pronouns such as I, me, my etc.
Reflect on the importance of self-awareness, with application to your role as a student nurse and considering relevance to clinical practice. Discuss the results from a self-awareness questionnaire. You may choose to use the one completed in the Week 1 Consolidate activity during week 1 or an alternative. Discuss the main findings – both strengths and areas for opportunity, and reflect on what this means to you as a student nurse and a future nurse. (Learning Outcomes 1, 3)
Reflect on the importance of leadership within the nursing profession. Briefly define the main leadership styles and how these impact on nursing practice. Discuss your own leadership style as identified in the leadership questionnaire completed in class. Discuss your capacity for self-leadership, with application to your role as a student nurse in future practice placements giving relevant examples.
Identify areas of opportunity to develop your professional knowledge and skills to ensure you continue to develop your self-awareness and self-leadership. Identify the steps you would take to achieve this, and what your goals are. You have to make reference to your more detailed Action Plan which will attached as an appendix. Ensure your goals are written as SMART goals using the required template. (Learning Outcome 3)