Discussion post

1.Professional socialization relates to the manner in which we learn the roles and functions of being a nurse once we enter the healthcare system. What are some of the ways this socialization occurs in your place of employment, and do you believe it leads to effective assumption of the nursing role? This socialization occurs in a patriarchal healthcare system that still remains predominantly male physician-based. Discuss the impact, you believe, this has on socialization to the nursing role.

Socialization at a professional level is quite important at developing one’s professional career. Nurses get to learn about various expectations and ground rules that aren’t necessarily taught in school. These skills acquired will help the nurse cope with the work environment and adapt quickly. There is always a learning curve when new nurses or medics in the field are hired. The experienced healthcare service providers will always offer guidance to the younger ones so they can pass on their ways of tackling problems and offering solutions to their daily challenges (Masters, 2014). Nurses struggle with the autonomy and decision making that needs to happen once in a prehospital environment. Medics on the other hand have difficulty with different medications, and the critical care aspect that is associated with flight medicine. We also have nursing students and prospective clinicians that do “ride outs” with us as well. Building the sense of belonging contributes to the professional socialization for these clinicians in different stages. I think the culture we have leads to build nurses and other clinicians to the role that is needed to preform our job effectively. I honestly can’t build on the fact that socialization is predominately male physician based. Through socialization, I became the nurse I am today. I can say that most of the meaningful knowledge I have in nursing has been taught to me by extremely intelligent and compassionate women.  So just by personal experience, I feel that socialization has a profoundly positive impact on nursing in general.

2.Identify an area of practice where change theory may find applicability. Provide examples to support your answer. Comment on the inherent weaknesses in change theory that may impact real life situations or give rise to difficulties in the process of applying this theory.

Kurt Lewin proposed the 3 stage model to the change theory as “Unfreezing- change- refreezing” (Smith & Parker, 2015) One example in flight where this was applied was the giant culture change made to flight in 2008. 2008 was considered an extremely deadly year in flight medicine. Many crashes were due to human error.   At that time, it was considered the pilot’s job to determine if the flight was safe, and the medical crew to only worry about the patient and the medical aspect. To decrease the rate of crashes, the culture had to change to where the medical crew had a just as much responsibility on accepting a flight. The weakness to where this theory applies is many people’s resistance to change. Many of the clinicians that had been flying for a long time just assume “ the pilot know what they are doing, I’m not going to question their decision.” On the other side of this, pilots would take it personally if a medical crew member went against their decision and felt the flight was unsafe. This made it difficult as the change needed cause some tension in the relationship between flight crews.

References

Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice. FA Davis.

Masters, K. (2014). Nursing theories: A framework for professional practice. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.