At the end of training courses, reflective analysis tools play an essential role. They allow for a qualitative assessment of the evolution of one’s own knowledge and competencies during the last weeks of study (Schön, 2018). In this program, I have critically examined the foundations of ethics and philosophical morality that have governed social life throughout human existence. Just as moral values have changed, my own perceptions of the importance and relevance of this course have also been modified.
When I first set out to take this course, I was sure that it would be a discipline from the category of basic lessons that any qualified professional simply needs to know. Now, at the end of the semester, I realize that I was seriously mistaken. The sowk270 class was a real solution to my current issues of social awareness and morality. More specifically, with the course materials, I was able to clearly draw the line between the personal and the alien and realize the extent of my own significance, although this had previously been difficult for me. More importantly, in the weeks since, I have become more aware of the vulnerability of certain social groups, especially in the context of a profound globalization crisis (Hasa, 2021). It has become clear to me that governments and social activists are not passive players but seek to reduce segregation and discrimination. Among others, I do not want to remain on the sidelines and am willing to sacrifice my resources wisely in order to help those in need.
My chosen profession, nursing, is not an easy field in itself. Clinical work always involves the threat of patient death, so I will have to face difficult situations every day in the future (Solomon, 2017). However, it is this fact that makes me work hard to move forward and achieve professional success. When I first saw a social worker in the hospital, at that moment, I realized how significant a sacrifice they make every day. In this regard, I want to reiterate the importance of the ethics course because nursing and ethical dilemmas are inextricably linked. More than once, I will have to deal with the most challenging challenges of interacting with a patient’s family members, communicating an unpleasant diagnosis to a patient, or resolving conflict situations (Top 10, 2018). The experience I have already gained, I am sure, will help me in the future. In particular, one should not focus only on personal experiences or working relationships but instead take the multifactoriality of the situation into account: this requires connecting professional ethics, empathy, and humanity.
In fact, one could say that this course has, in a sense, served as a predictive model of what the future holds for me. Although I have yet to complete the master’s degree, I already understand that ethical issues are closely integrated into my work in clinical settings. For this reason, in my sowk270 class, I was most interested in solving complex ethical dilemmas when choosing one option did not seem like a simple task. Issues related to patient life and health, respect for personal boundaries, and socially appropriate care also focused on solving dilemmas because it is impossible to satisfy everyone’s interests. In this course, I realized that as a professional, my role is not to achieve the expectations of as many stakeholders as possible but to respect the framework of public and professional morality. This does not mean that I will refuse to help someone in need if it does not satisfy my work code: on the contrary, it means that I will have to make a double effort to find an effective solution to an individual problem.
As a result, the past course was a synthesis of the thoughts I had by the time I entered, but it also helped to structure them in a profound way. With the help of sowk270, I understood how important it is to have a comprehensive approach to solving a problem and that in professional matters, one cannot rely only on feelings. I now know for sure that I can be a real professional, but I need to finish my studies in order to do so. I see many different courses ahead of me that will diversify my horizons and help me on my nursing journey, but this ethics class will never be an afterthought for me.
References
Hasa. (2021). What is the difference between social exclusion and vulnerability. Pediaa. Web.
Top 10 most prevalent ethical issues in nursing. (2018). MRI.
Schön, D. (2018). What benefits might reflective writing have for my students? WAC. Web.
Solomon, A. (2017). The tough stuff: How to deal with the death of a patient. HNHN. Web.