A Self-Reflection Assignment

Introduction to the Nursing Profession: Relational Inquiry – 

 What is a Nurse? A Self-Reflection Assignment 

Value: 25% of Final Grade 

Assignment Description :The purpose of this assignment is to allow students to personally reflect on their values, beliefs, and understanding of being a professional nurse. 

Students are invited to explore and think critically about their own personal and evolving definition of professional nursing using a relational orientation and inquiry-based action.

 According to Doane & Varcoe (2021), a relational orientation “…is a way of thinking and focusing [one’s] attention…on what is going on at and between the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and contextual levels…” (p. 2). Inquiry-based action allows one to observe what else might influence, shape, or determine what is happening, but at a deeper level (Doane & Varcoe, 2019). 

Assignment Expectations

 This assignment draws upon the required readings, resources, and engagement activities from Module 1 (weeks 1, 2 and 3) of the course. 

The assignment must be typed, double-spaced, and accompanied by a title page (per APA 7th edition format) with an integrity pledge signed by the student. 

The overall written response should not exceed 500 words in length (not including the title page). 

 

Assignment Instructions Reflect on the images presented to you on the following pages and think critically about the intended purpose of each image. For example, consider who generated the image, who the intended audiences are, and what the underlying message is. 

Choose one (1) of the images and provide a focused, thoughtful, and insightful response to each of the following questions in Part A & Part B (below). Responses should reflect your understanding of content explored in Module 1 (weeks 1, 2, and 3) of the course.

 You are encouraged to respond to each question individually in paragraph format – please note, however, that the overall written response for BOTH Part A and B of the assignment should not exceed 500 words in total. 

 

Part A: Reflecting on an image of nursing 

Question #1: ï‚· What feelings and thoughts do you have as you reflect on and think critically about the image you have chosen? How does this compare to your own vision of what it means to be a professional nurse? (Intrapersonal dimension)

 

 Question #2: ï‚· How might others (e.g., friends, family, or members of the public) react, think or feel about this chosen image in relation to nursing? What questions might come to their mind about who or what a professional nurse is/does? (Interpersonal dimension)

 

 Question #3: ï‚· What forces or structures are present in the context of the chosen image, and how do these influence how you and others respond to the image? What is ‘going on’ in the image that shapes these responses? (Contextual dimension) 

 

Part B: Creating your own image of nursing 

Consider how your understanding of professional nursing has expanded as a result of reflecting and thinking critically about your chosen image from Part A above. 

Create your own image that aligns with how you view professional nursing, and supports your written response to the following question: What has changed for you, or what do you see differently now and why? 

Your image can be a photograph you take, a digital image you create, a drawing, painting or other art form. Feel free to be as creative as you like. If you create something physical (e.g., painting or other art form), please take a photo and submit as a .jpeg or .pdf. The image must be included with your assignment submission. [Note: You can copy/paste the image on a separate page and include as part of your Word document; or, submit/upload it as an additional file]

 

 Reference Doane, G.H., & Varcoe, C. (2021). How to nurse: Relational inquiry in action (2nd ed.). Wolters Kluwer.