Assess your nursing career through “appreciative inquiry” (Billings & Kowalski, 2008).
Drawing on your own life stories and experiences, what does a nursing career mean to you?
How does your nursing practice parallel the ANA (2025) Code of Ethics? List four specific examples from the Code of Ethics.
Why is consistent and standardized nursing language necessary for care in today’s healthcare environment, and how does it relate to the Code of Ethics?
What motivates you to remain in the nursing profession? Give an example through a personal story and what you learned that motivates you as a registered nurse.
Develop three short-term and three long-term SMART goals that emphasize your unique strengths. (See SMART goal tutorial on the main course page.)
How will a BSN degree impact your short-term and long-term SMART goals?
Sample Answer
o assess a nursing career through Appreciative Inquiry, we focus on the "Discovery" and "Dream" phases—identifying the peak moments of excellence and imagining how to leverage those strengths for the future.
1. The Meaning of a Nursing Career
To me, a nursing career is not merely a sequence of clinical tasks; it is the stewardship of human dignity during moments of profound vulnerability. It is a bridge between the cold precision of medical science and the warm necessity of human empathy. Through the lens of Appreciative Inquiry, my career represents a collection of "high-point" stories where active listening and clinical intuition converged to change a patient's trajectory.
Parallels with the ANA (2025) Code of Ethics
The ANA Code of Ethics serves as the moral compass for my practice. Below are four specific examples of how my daily work aligns with these provisions:
Provision 1 (Autonomy and Dignity): I ensure that every patient, regardless of their cognitive state or social standing, is informed of their rights and treated with inherent worth.
Provision 2 (Primary Commitment): In a complex healthcare system, I act as the "North Star" for the patient, ensuring their interests remain the priority amidst competing hospital or family demands.