521 Discussion I

Unit 1 Discussion: The Role of the Nurse

Michael Moates, Ed.D.

Department of Prelicensure Nursing, Herzing University

Kellie Soles, DNP, FNP

January 5, 2026

Hello everyone! My name is Michael, and I'm excited to begin this journey in the MSN-DE program at Herzing University. My background is somewhat unconventional for nursing. I hold an doctorate in education and work as an adjunct professor, mental health practitioner, and university fellow.

My experience with nursing has been primarily collaborative and observational. In mental health settings, I've worked alongside psychiatric nurses and witnessed their critical role in assessment, medication management, crisis intervention, and patient advocacy. I've also developed a deep appreciation for the nursing profession through creating educational content for a healthcare encyclopedia wiki, which has exposed me to the breadth and complexity of nursing practice across specialties (American Nurses Association, 2021). While I'm proficient in mental health assessments and behavioral interventions, I recognize that systematic physical assessment represents new territory. However, my foundation in critical thinking, patient communication, and evidence-based practice positions me reasonably well to begin studying health assessment, even as I develop technical examination skills.

I am beginning this course with a strong appreciation for the multifaceted role of the nurse as both a clinician and patient advocate. My prior experiences with nursing have emphasized that nurses serve as the primary link between patients, families, and the healthcare system, integrating assessment, communication, critical thinking, and compassionate care. Nurses are often the first to recognize subtle changes in patient condition, making thorough health assessment a foundational competency in safe and effective practice.

Based on this understanding, I feel reasonably prepared to begin studying health assessment, though I recognize it as an area that requires continual development. While I am familiar with basic vital signs and patient interviewing concepts, I view this course as an opportunity to strengthen my systematic assessment skills and clinical reasoning. Accurate health assessment is essential for early identification of deterioration, individualized care planning, and improved patient outcomes (Jarvis, 2024).

I'm most excited to learn the integration of health history and physical examination, how subjective patient narratives combine with objective clinical findings to inform nursing diagnoses and care planning (Jarvis, 2024). This synthesis of qualitative and quantitative data resonates with my research background and will be essential for advanced practice nursing roles.

The most challenging aspect will likely be mastering hands-on physical examination techniques and developing the clinical judgment to differentiate normal from abnormal findings. Unlike mental status examinations that I perform regularly, physical assessment requires anatomical knowledge and psychomotor skills that demand repetitive practice (Potter et al., 2021). Additionally, balancing this rigorous program with my current professional responsibilities will require disciplined time management.

References

American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). American Nurses Association.

Jarvis, C. (2024). Physical examination and health assessment (9th ed.). Elsevier.

Potter, P. A., Perry, A. G., Stockert, P. A., & Hall, A. M. (2021). Fundamentals of nursing (11th ed.). Elsevier.