Write a paper in APA Style that discusses each of the AACN Essentials and describe how you met each essential. Incorporate evidence from your previous Nursing Evolution assignments, as well as detailed examples from your didactic, skills lab, and clinical rotations.
For each essential include the following:
A brief summary explanation of the essential that is cited with at least one scholarly source
At least one example of how you met the essential during your nursing program
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Meeting the AACN Essentials in Nursing Education
Abstract
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) Essentials serve as a foundation for nursing education, guiding the preparation of future nurses to meet the complex demands of healthcare. This paper discusses each of the AACN Essentials, providing a summary explanation supported by scholarly sources and detailing my personal experiences and examples from my nursing program, including didactic coursework, skills labs, and clinical rotations.
Introduction
The AACN Essentials outline the competencies required for professional nursing practice and are essential for shaping the educational framework for nursing programs. As I progressed through my nursing education, I encountered various opportunities to meet these essentials, enhancing my knowledge, skills, and professional identity. Each essential represents key areas of knowledge and practice that are critical to the nursing profession.
Essential I: Liberal Education for Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice
Summary: Essential I emphasizes the importance of a liberal education in preparing nurses to think critically and adapt to various healthcare settings. A diverse educational background allows nurses to engage with patients holistically (AACN, 2008).
Example: During my program, I completed courses in psychology and sociology that enhanced my understanding of human behavior. In clinical rotations, this knowledge allowed me to communicate effectively with patients from diverse backgrounds, resulting in improved patient rapport and care.
Essential II: Basic Organizational and Systems Leadership for Quality Care and Patient Safety
Summary: This essential focuses on developing leadership skills necessary for safe and effective patient care within complex healthcare systems (AACN, 2008). Leadership involves understanding organizational structure and systems.
Example: In my clinical rotations, I participated in a quality improvement project aimed at reducing medication errors. By collaborating with my peers and clinical instructors, I learned to analyze incident reports and implement evidence-based strategies to enhance patient safety.
Essential III: Scholarship for Evidence-Based Practice
Summary: Essential III underscores the significance of integrating scholarship and research into nursing practice. Nurses must utilize evidence-based practices to improve patient outcomes (AACN, 2008).
Example: I engaged in a systematic review project during my research course, where I analyzed current literature on pain management strategies. This experience taught me how to critically evaluate research findings and apply them in clinical settings to provide better pain relief for patients.
Essential IV: Information Management and Application of Patient Care Technology
Summary: This essential highlights the importance of using technology and information management systems effectively to enhance patient care (AACN, 2008). Nurses must be proficient in technology to ensure accurate data collection and communication.
Example: During my skills lab sessions, I practiced using electronic health record (EHR) systems to document patient assessments and interventions. This experience was invaluable during my clinical rotations as I efficiently accessed patient histories and collaborated with the healthcare team.
Essential V: Healthcare Policy, Finance, and Regulatory Environments
Summary: Essential V addresses the need for nurses to understand healthcare policy, finance, and regulations that impact practice (AACN, 2008). Awareness of these factors enables nurses to advocate for their patients effectively.
Example: In a policy course, I researched the implications of healthcare reform on access to care. This assignment deepened my understanding of policies affecting underserved populations, motivating me to participate in community health initiatives during my clinical rotations.
Essential VI: Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration for Improving Patient Health Outcomes
Summary: This essential emphasizes the importance of interprofessional collaboration in delivering comprehensive care (AACN, 2008). Effective communication among healthcare professionals enhances patient outcomes.
Example: During a clinical rotation in a medical-surgical unit, I participated in interdisciplinary rounds where I communicated patient needs with physicians, pharmacists, and social workers. This experience taught me the value of teamwork in developing holistic care plans for patients.
Essential VII: Clinical Prevention and Population Health
Summary: Essential VII focuses on the role of nurses in promoting clinical prevention and addressing population health concerns (AACN, 2008). Nurses must understand how social determinants affect health outcomes.
Example: In my community health nursing rotation, I conducted health screenings at a local health fair. This experience allowed me to apply knowledge about preventive care while also addressing health disparities prevalent in the community.
Essential VIII: Professionalism and Professional Values
Summary: This essential emphasizes the importance of professionalism and ethical practice in nursing (AACN, 2008). Nurses must demonstrate integrity, accountability, and respect for diverse populations.
Example: Throughout my nursing program, I adhered to ethical guidelines during patient interactions. For instance, I advocated for a patient’s autonomy by ensuring they were informed about their treatment options before making decisions.
Essential IX: Baccalaureate Generalist Nursing Practice
Summary: Essential IX outlines the competencies necessary for baccalaureate-prepared nurses to deliver safe, effective care using critical thinking and clinical judgment (AACN, 2008).
Example: My capstone project involved developing a comprehensive care plan for a patient with chronic illness. This project required integrating theoretical knowledge with clinical skills to create an individualized approach that addressed both medical needs and lifestyle modifications.
Essential X: Quality Improvement and Safety
Summary: This essential focuses on the need for nurses to engage in quality improvement activities aimed at enhancing patient safety (AACN, 2008). Understanding quality metrics is essential for improving care delivery.
Example: I participated in a quality improvement initiative focused on hand hygiene compliance in our clinical setting. By collecting data on handwashing practices and presenting findings to our nursing staff, I contributed to efforts that significantly improved compliance rates.
Conclusion
The AACN Essentials provide a comprehensive framework for nursing education that fosters critical competencies necessary for professional practice. Throughout my nursing program, I encountered numerous opportunities to meet each essential through didactic coursework, skills labs, and clinical rotations. These experiences have not only equipped me with the knowledge and skills needed for effective nursing practice but have also reinforced my commitment to lifelong learning and professional development in alignment with the AACN Essentials.
References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2008). The essentials of baccalaureate education for professional nursing practice. Retrieved from AACN
This paper is structured according to APA style guidelines. Please ensure that you format your title page, running head, page numbers, margins, font size/type, spacing, citations, and references properly according to your institution’s requirements or the latest APA guidelines.
