as a nursing student essay

How to Write a Nursing Reflective Essay as a BSN Nursing Student

• November 29, 2023

Welcome to NursingWriters.net, your go-to resource for expert information and guidance on writing nursing essays. In this article, we will provide you, as a BSN nursing student , with a comprehensive guide on how to write a compelling nursing reflective essay. Reflective essays are a personal reflection on your experiences in the nursing profession, and we are here to help you navigate this writing challenge.

As a busy nursing student, we understand that you may have limited time to spare. That’s where NursingWriters.net comes in, empowering you to excel in your BSN program by providing expert guidance on different writing and comprehension challenges you may face. Let’s dive into the world of nursing reflective essays and discover how you can effectively express your thoughts and insights.

Key Takeaways:

• Reflective essays allow nursing students to reflect on their experiences and personal growth in the profession.
• A nursing reflective essay is different from a personal statement, focusing on self-reflection rather than academic achievements.
• Key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay are the inciting incident, personal reflections, vivid details, and actions taken.
• The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide a clear thesis statement.
• The body paragraphs should delve into the writer’s reflections and emotions with specific examples and anecdotes.

What Is a Reflective Essay in Nursing?

A reflective essay in nursing is a powerful tool that allows nursing students to analyze their experiences, emotions, and actions related to their nursing practice. It provides an opportunity for self-reflection, critical thinking, and personal growth. Reflective writing can help nurses develop a deeper understanding of their own practice, improve patient care, and enhance their professional development.

Reflective essays in nursing differ from personal statements in that they focus on specific experiences and their impact on the writer’s growth and development. These essays require the writer to critically reflect on their actions, emotions, and thoughts, and identify ways to improve their practice. By examining their experiences and applying reflective frameworks, nursing students can gain valuable insights into their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for growth.

When writing a reflective essay in nursing , it is important to follow a structured approach. This includes describing the incident or experience, analyzing personal thoughts and feelings, exploring the actions taken, and reflecting on the outcomes and implications. By structuring the essay effectively, nursing students can communicate their reflections in a clear and organized manner.

Key Elements to Include in a Nursing Reflective Essay

When writing a nursing reflective essay, it is important to include key elements that will make your essay comprehensive and impactful. These elements will help you convey your thoughts and experiences clearly, allowing the reader to gain a deeper understanding of your reflections on nursing practice.

Inciting Incident or Event

The first key element to include in your nursing reflective essay is the inciting incident or event. This is the moment or experience that triggered your reflection and made a significant impact on your practice. It could be a challenging patient encounter, an ethical dilemma, or a personal realization. By describing this event in detail, you set the stage for your reflective journey.

Personal Reflections

Your nursing reflective essay should also include personal reflections on the experience. This is where you delve into your thoughts, feelings, and emotions related to the inciting incident. Reflect on how the event made you feel, what you learned from it, and how it has influenced your growth as a nursing professional. Be honest and vulnerable in your reflections, as this will allow the reader to connect with your experience on a deeper level.

Vivid Setting and Descriptive Details

To create a vivid and engaging narrative, include specific details that paint a picture of the setting and the people involved. Describe the physical environment, the interactions between healthcare professionals and patients, and any other relevant details that contribute to the overall context of the experience. This will help the reader visualize the situation and understand the complexities of the event.

Actions Taken

Finally, it is important to describe the actions you took in response to the inciting incident. Discuss how you applied your nursing knowledge and skills to address the challenges or opportunities presented by the event. Reflect on the effectiveness of your actions and whether there were any areas for improvement. This demonstrates your ability to critically analyze your own practice and make informed decisions.

By including these key elements in your nursing reflective essay, you can create a comprehensive and impactful piece of writing that showcases your growth and development as a nursing professional.

How to Write the Introduction of a Nursing Reflective Essay

The introduction of a nursing reflective essay plays a crucial role in capturing the reader’s attention and setting the tone for the entire essay. It should provide a concise overview of the main points that will be discussed and create a sense of curiosity and engagement. Here are some tips to help you write an effective introduction for your nursing reflective essay:

• Start with an intriguing opening line: Begin your introduction with a captivating statement or anecdote that relates to the topic of your essay. This will grab the reader’s attention and make them eager to continue reading.
• Provide context and background information: Give a brief overview of the event or experience that you will be reflecting on in your essay. This will help the reader understand the context and significance of your reflections.
• Present a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly state the main purpose of your essay and the specific points or themes that you will be exploring. This will give the reader a preview of what to expect in the body of the essay.

By following these tips, you can craft an introduction that captivates the reader and sets the stage for a compelling nursing reflective essay.

“As I walked into the busy hospital ward on my first day of clinical rotation, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. Little did I know that this experience would become a pivotal moment in my nursing journey, shaping my understanding of empathy, communication, and patient-centered care. In this reflective essay, I will delve into the details of this encounter and explore the personal and professional growth that resulted from it.”

With an attention-grabbing opening, providing context, and presenting a clear thesis statement, your introduction will set the stage for a compelling nursing reflective essay that captures the reader’s attention and lays the foundation for your reflections.

Nursing Reflection Essay Tips and Examples

Writing a nursing reflective essay requires careful consideration and thoughtful analysis. Here are some tips to help you craft an impactful and meaningful reflection essay as a BSN nursing student . Additionally, we will provide examples to illustrate how these tips can be applied.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflection Essay:

• Start by choosing a specific experience or event that had a significant impact on your nursing practice. This could be a challenging patient encounter, a critical incident, or a personal realization that transformed your perspective.
• Reflect on the experience and consider how it affected your emotions, thoughts, and actions. What did you learn from the experience? How has it shaped your growth as a nursing professional?
• Focus on the key aspects of the experience that were particularly impactful or meaningful to you. Avoid including unnecessary details or deviating from the main message of your reflection.
• Use specific examples, anecdotes, or patient scenarios to support your reflections. This will make your essay more engaging and relatable to the reader.
• Consider the ethical implications of the experience and reflect on how it has influenced your approach to patient care and decision-making.
• End your essay with a reflection on the implications of your learning for future nursing practice. How will you apply the lessons learned to provide better care and improve patient outcomes?

Now, let’s take a look at two examples of nursing reflective essays to further illustrate these tips:

“During my clinical rotation in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), I encountered a complex patient case that challenged my critical thinking skills and decision-making abilities. The patient was a middle-aged woman who had undergone a complicated surgery and experienced numerous post-operative complications. This experience taught me the importance of collaboration within the healthcare team and the significance of advocating for the patient’s best interests…”

“One of the most significant experiences during my nursing education was my time spent in the pediatric oncology unit. Witnessing the resilience and bravery of children facing life-threatening illnesses had a profound impact on my perspective as a nurse. It taught me the importance of providing holistic care, not only addressing physical needs but also supporting emotional well-being and promoting a positive environment for healing…”

These examples demonstrate how personal reflections, specific details, and professional insights can be incorporated to create a compelling nursing reflective essay. Remember to structure your essay in a clear and organized manner, ensuring that your reflections flow logically and coherently.

By following these tips and utilizing examples, you can create a compelling nursing reflective essay that showcases your growth and development as a nursing professional.

How to Conclude a Nursing Reflective Essay

The conclusion of a nursing reflective essay serves as the final reflection on the writer’s growth and learning from the experience. It is an essential part of the essay that summarizes the main points discussed and leaves a lasting impression on the reader. The reflective essay conclusion should bring closure to the essay by restating the thesis statement and highlighting the key takeaways from the essay.

To write a strong and impactful conclusion, start by restating the thesis statement in a clear and concise manner. This reminds the reader of the main focus of the essay and reinforces its significance. Next, summarize the key points discussed in the body paragraphs, highlighting the most important insights and reflections. This helps to reinforce the main ideas and ensures that they are not overlooked in the final reflection.

In addition to summarizing the main points, a thought-provoking statement or future outlook can be included to provide a sense of closure and leave the reader with something to ponder. This can be a reflection on how the experience has influenced the writer’s future practice or a call to action for continued personal and professional growth. By ending the essay on a strong and meaningful note, the conclusion enhances the overall impact of the nursing reflective essay.

A well-crafted conclusion is essential for a nursing reflective essay as it reinforces the main ideas, leaves a lasting impression on the reader, and provides a sense of closure. By following these tips, nursing students can create a powerful and impactful conclusion that enhances the overall effectiveness of their reflective essays.

Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay

Writing a nursing reflective essay can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can also be a rewarding experience. Here are some helpful tips and strategies to guide nursing students in their essay writing process:

• Start early: Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm ideas, reflect on your experiences, and write and revise your essay. Starting early will help you avoid last-minute stress and allow for a more thoughtful and polished essay.
• Conduct thorough self-reflection: Before you begin writing, take the time to reflect on your experiences and emotions related to your nursing practice. Consider how these experiences have shaped your growth and development as a nurse, and what lessons you have learned along the way.
• Organize your thoughts and ideas: Create an outline or a rough structure for your essay to ensure a logical flow of ideas. Group similar thoughts and reflections together to create cohesive paragraphs, and use headings or subheadings to further organize your essay.
• Seek feedback: Share your essay with trusted peers or instructors and ask for their feedback. They can offer valuable insights, provide constructive criticism, and help you refine your essay to make it stronger and more impactful.

Additionally, it is important to pay attention to the technical aspects of your essay:

• Grammar and spelling: Proofread your essay carefully to ensure it is free of any grammatical or spelling errors. Use grammar and spell-check tools, and consider asking someone else to review your essay for a fresh perspective.
• Coherent writing style: Use clear and concise language to convey your thoughts and reflections. Avoid excessive jargon or technical terms, and focus on communicating your ideas effectively.
• Formatting guidelines: Follow any formatting guidelines provided by your instructor or institution. Pay attention to font style, size, spacing, and citation style if required.

By following these tips and strategies, nursing students can approach their reflective essay writing with confidence and produce compelling and insightful essays that showcase their growth and development in the nursing profession.

Reflective Tools and Models for Nursing Reflective Essays

Reflective tools and models can provide structure and guidance for nursing students when writing reflective essays. These tools help organize thoughts and experiences, allowing for a more comprehensive and meaningful reflection. By utilizing reflection models , nursing students can enhance their reflective writing skills and deepen their understanding of their own growth and development as healthcare professionals.

Gibbs’ Reflective Model

“Reflective practice is both an art and a science that requires ongoing commitment and practice.” – Gibbs

Gibbs’ Reflective Model is a widely used reflection framework in nursing. It consists of six stages: description, feelings, evaluation, analysis, conclusion, and action plan. This model encourages a structured approach to reflection, allowing the writer to systematically explore their thoughts and emotions, analyze the situation, and identify areas for improvement or further development.

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model

“We do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.” – Dewey

Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model focuses on the importance of reflection as a tool for learning and growth. It emphasizes the need to actively engage with experiences, thoughts, and emotions, and to critically evaluate them in order to gain deeper insights and understanding. This model encourages nursing students to think analytically and develop a continuous learning mindset.

Kolb Reflective Model

“Knowledge results from the combination of grasping experience and transforming it.” – Kolb

The Kolb Reflective Model is based on the concept of experiential learning. It consists of four stages: concrete experience, reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and active experimentation. This model encourages nursing students to engage in a cyclical process of learning, where they actively participate in experiences, reflect on them, conceptualize their insights, and apply their learning in real-life situations.

Schön Reflective Model

“Reflection-in-action is the heart of the learning process.” – Schön

Schön Reflective Model emphasizes the importance of reflection in the midst of action. It focuses on the ability to think and adapt in real-time, making decisions based on professional knowledge and experiences. This model encourages nursing students to develop a reflective mindset that allows them to learn and grow while actively engaging in their practice.

Benefits of Reflective Writing in Nursing

Reflective writing plays a crucial role in nursing practice, offering numerous benefits for nursing students and professionals alike. By engaging in reflective writing, nurses can enhance their self-awareness, develop their critical thinking skills, and gain a deeper understanding of patient experiences. This section will explore the advantages of reflective writing in nursing and its significance in healthcare.

Enhanced Self-Awareness

Reflective writing fosters self-reflection, allowing nurses to examine their thoughts, emotions, and actions in various clinical situations. Through this process, they gain a deeper understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. This heightened self-awareness enables nurses to provide more effective and compassionate patient care, fostering a patient-centered approach.

Improved Critical Thinking

Reflective writing encourages nurses to think critically about their experiences and the impact of their actions. It requires them to analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of their decision-making and problem-solving skills. By reflecting on past experiences, nurses can identify areas where they can enhance their clinical practice and make informed decisions based on evidence and best practices.

Increased Empathy and Understanding

Through reflective writing, nurses develop a deeper empathy and understanding of patient experiences. By reflecting on their interactions with patients, nurses can recognize the emotions, fears, and challenges faced by individuals in their care. This increased empathy enables nurses to provide more holistic and patient-centered care, improving the overall healthcare experience for patients.

Continuous Professional Development

Reflective writing is an essential tool for nurses’ continuous professional development. It allows them to document their growth, learning, and achievements throughout their nursing career. By regularly engaging in reflective writing, nurses can identify areas for further development, set goals for improvement, and ensure they are providing the best possible care to their patients.

Overall, reflective writing in nursing is a powerful tool that empowers nurses to enhance their self-awareness, critical thinking skills, and empathy. By engaging in this practice, nurses can continuously improve their clinical practice, provide high-quality patient care, and contribute to the ongoing development of the nursing profession.

Nursing Reflective Essay Examples

Looking for inspiration for your nursing reflective essay? Here are some examples that showcase different experiences, reflections, and growth in the nursing profession.

These examples demonstrate how nursing reflective essays can provide valuable insights into personal experiences, reflections, and professional growth. They serve as excellent references to help nursing students develop their own reflective writing skills and gain a deeper understanding of the nursing profession.

Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay for Nursing School Application

A nursing reflective essay can be a powerful tool for nursing school applications. It allows applicants to showcase their self-awareness, critical thinking skills, and passion for the nursing profession. When writing a nursing reflective essay for a nursing school application, there are a few key tips to keep in mind.

Reflect on your passion for nursing

Start by reflecting on what drew you to the nursing profession and why you are passionate about it. Consider your personal experiences, such as volunteering or shadowing healthcare professionals, and how they have shaped your desire to become a nurse. Highlight your commitment to providing compassionate and quality patient care.

Share personal experiences in healthcare settings

Provide specific examples of your experiences in healthcare settings, such as clinical rotations or internships. Reflect on the challenges you faced, the lessons you learned, and how those experiences have impacted your growth and development as a future nurse. Discuss any significant interactions with patients, healthcare teams, or mentors that have shaped your understanding of the nursing profession.

Align with the nursing school’s values and mission

Research the nursing school’s values, mission, and educational philosophy. Ensure that your reflective essay aligns with these principles and demonstrates your commitment to the school’s mission. Use the nursing school’s prompts or essay questions as a guide to structure your essay and address the specific criteria they are looking for in applicants.

By following these tips, you can write a compelling nursing reflective essay that effectively conveys your passion for nursing, showcases your experiences, and aligns with the nursing school’s values. Remember to proofread your essay carefully for grammar and spelling errors and seek feedback from mentors or trusted individuals in the nursing profession to ensure your essay is clear, concise, and impactful.

(Table) Tips for Writing a Nursing Reflective Essay for Nursing School Application

Writing a nursing reflective essay can be a transformative experience for BSN nursing students. It allows them to gain valuable insight into their own growth and development as future healthcare professionals. Throughout this comprehensive guide, we have provided expert information and guidance on how to write a compelling nursing reflective essay.

By understanding the purpose of a reflective essay and the key elements to include, nursing students can effectively showcase their personal experiences and reflections. Incorporating reflection models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Model or Kolb Reflective Model can also provide structure and depth to their essays.

At NursingWriters.net, we are dedicated to empowering busy nurses and providing them with the tools they need to excel in their BSN programs. Whether it’s writing a reflective essay or any other writing challenge, we are here to support and guide nursing students towards success.

What is a nursing reflective essay?

A nursing reflective essay is a personal essay where the writer reflects on their own experiences and how those experiences have shaped their growth and development in the nursing profession.

How is a reflective essay in nursing different from a personal statement?

While a reflective essay in nursing focuses on the writer’s personal experiences and reflections, a personal statement is more of a formal document that highlights the writer’s qualifications, achievements, and future goals in the nursing profession.

What are the key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay?

The key elements to include in a nursing reflective essay are the inciting incident or event, personal reflections on the experience, specific details to create a vivid setting, and a description of the actions taken by the writer. It is important to avoid including academic details and excessive focus on emotions.

How should I write the introduction of a nursing reflective essay?

To write an engaging and informative introduction for a nursing reflective essay, you can grab the reader’s attention with an intriguing opening line, provide context and background information, and present a clear thesis statement. Focus on the specific event or experience that will be the main focus of the essay.

How should I structure the body paragraphs of a nursing reflective essay?

The body paragraphs of a nursing reflective essay should have a clear structure. Use the first paragraph to present the thesis statement and provide background information on the event. Use subsequent paragraphs to explore your reflections, emotions, and actions taken. Use specific examples and anecdotes to make the essay more engaging.

How should I conclude a nursing reflective essay?

To write a strong conclusion for a nursing reflective essay, you can summarize the main points discussed in the essay, provide a final reflection on your growth and learning from the experience, restate the thesis statement, and leave the reader with a thought-provoking statement or future outlook.

What are some tips for writing a nursing reflective essay?

Some tips for writing a nursing reflective essay include starting early, conducting thorough self-reflection, organizing your thoughts and ideas, and seeking feedback from peers or instructors. Pay attention to proper grammar and spelling, coherent writing style, and adhere to any formatting guidelines provided.

How can reflective tools and models help with nursing reflective essays?

Reflective tools and models provide structure and guidance for nursing students when writing reflective essays. Models such as Gibbs’ Reflective Model, Dewey’s Reflective Thinking Model, Kolb Reflective Model, and Schön Reflective Model can be used as frameworks for organizing thoughts and experiences in a nursing reflective essay.

What are the benefits of reflective writing in nursing?

Reflective writing in nursing offers benefits such as enhanced self-awareness, improved critical thinking skills, increased empathy and understanding of patient experiences, and continuous professional development. It promotes lifelong learning and helps improve patient care.

Where can I find nursing reflective essay examples?

You can find nursing reflective essay examples that showcase different experiences, reflections, and growth. These examples incorporate personal reflections, specific details, and professional insights into nursing practice. They demonstrate the diversity of topics and experiences that can be explored in nursing reflective essays.

How can I write a nursing reflective essay for nursing school applications?

To write a nursing reflective essay for nursing school applications, reflect on your passion for nursing, personal experiences in healthcare settings, and future goals in the nursing profession. Address specific prompts and align the content with the nursing school’s values and mission.

How can writing a nursing reflective essay benefit BSN nursing students?

Writing a nursing reflective essay allows BSN nursing students to gain insight into their own growth and development as future healthcare professionals. It helps improve critical thinking skills, self-awareness, and understanding of patient experiences. It also promotes continuous professional development.

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Nursing Essay Examples

Nursing Essay Examples That Will Help You Write a Stellar Paper

Published on: May 6, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

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Many nursing students struggle with writing effective nursing essays, which are an essential part of their education and professional development.

Poor essay writing skills can lead to low grades and an inability to effectively communicate important information.

This blog provides a comprehensive guide to writing nursing essays with examples and tips for effective writing. Whether you are a nursing student or a professional looking to improve your writing skills, this blog has something for you. 

By following the tips and examples provided, you can write compelling nursing essays that showcase your dedication to the field.

Let’s get started.

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What is a Nursing Essay?

A nursing essay is a type of academic writing that aims to explore a particular topic related to nursing. It also presents a clear and concise argument or viewpoint supported by evidence. 

Nursing essays can take many forms, including:

• Descriptive essays
• Reflective essays
• Analytical essays
• Persuasive essays

What is the Importance of the Nursing Essay?

Nursing essays are important for several reasons. First, they help nursing students develop critical thinking skills by requiring them to analyze and evaluate information.

Second, they help students develop research skills by requiring them to locate and use credible sources to support their arguments. 

Third, nursing essays help students develop communication skills by requiring them to present their ideas clearly and concisely in writing. Finally, nursing essays are important for nursing education because they prepare students for the types of writing.

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To help students better understand how to write nursing essays, it can be helpful to review examples.

Below are some examples of nursing essays.

Nursing School Essay Examples

College Nursing Essay Examples

Graduate Nursing Essay Examples

Nursing Scholarship Essay Examples

Nursing Essay Conclusion Examples

Nursing Essay Examples of Different Fields

Nursing is a diverse field with many different specialties and areas of focus. As a result, nursing essays can take many different forms and cover a wide range of topics. 

Given below are some examples of different types of nursing essays:

Personal Philosophy Of Nursing - Essay Examples

Cal State Fullerton Nursing Essay Examples

Evidence Based Practice Nursing In Medical Field - Essay Examples

Leadership In Nursing And Healthcare Professionals - Essay Examples

Principles Of Professional Practice Of Nursing Professionals And Pharmacists

If you're seeking additional examples of nursing essays, you're in luck! 

Below are some more examples that can help you gain a better understanding of nursing essays:

Health Care And Reflective Models For Nursing - Essay Examples

History Of Nursing Essay Examples

Ethical Dilemma In Nurses Work - Essay Examples

Mental Health Nursing Essay Examples

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

Working In A Team And Collaboration In Nursing

How to Write a Nursing Essay

Writing a nursing essay can seem daunting, but with the right approach, it can be a rewarding experience.

Here are the key steps involved in writing a nursing essay:

Understanding the Topic and Question

The first step in writing a nursing essay is to carefully read and understand the topic and question. 

This will help you determine what information you need to research and include in your essay. Make sure you understand any key terms or concepts related to the topic. Consider different perspectives or viewpoints that may be relevant.

Researching the Topic

Once you have a clear understanding of the topic and question, it's time to research. 

Start by gathering information from credible sources such as academic journals, textbooks, and government websites. 

Consider both primary and secondary sources, and make sure to take detailed notes as you read.

Organizing and Outlining the Essay

Once you have completed your research, it's time to organize your ideas and create an outline for your essay. 

Start by identifying the main points or arguments you want to make, and then organize them into a logical order that flows well. 

Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Writing the Essay

With your outline in place, it's time to start writing your essay. Make sure to follow your outline closely, and use clear and concise language that effectively communicates your ideas. 

Use evidence from your research to support your arguments, and cite your sources appropriately.

Editing and Revising the Essay

Once you have completed a first draft of your essay, take some time to edit and revise it. Look for any errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation, and make sure your essay is well-organized and flows well. 

Consider asking a peer or instructor to review your essay and provide feedback.

What To Include In Your Nursing Essay

When writing a nursing essay, there are several key elements that you should include. Here are some important things to keep in mind:

• Introduction

Your introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and purpose of your essay. It should also include a clear thesis statement that presents your main argument or point of view.

• Background Information

Provide some background information on the topic to help the reader better understand the context of your essay. This can include relevant statistics, historical information, or other contextual details.

• Evidence and Examples

Use evidence and examples from your research to support your arguments and demonstrate your knowledge of the topic. Make sure to cite your sources appropriately and use a variety of sources to strengthen your argument.

• Analysis and Evaluation

Provide analysis and evaluation of the evidence and examples you've presented. This can include discussing strengths and weaknesses, comparing and contrasting different viewpoints, or offering your own perspective on the topic.

Your conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement. It should also offer some final thoughts or suggestions for further research or action.

Nursing Essay Topic Ideas

Choosing a topic for your nursing essay can be challenging, but there are many areas in the field that you can explore. Here are some nursing essay topic ideas to consider:

• The role of technology in nursing practice
• The impact of cultural diversity on healthcare delivery
• Nursing leadership and management in healthcare organizations
• Ethical issues in nursing practice
• The importance of patient-centered care in nursing practice
• The impact of evidence-based practice on nursing care
• The role of nursing in promoting public health
• Nursing education and the importance of lifelong learning
• The impact of nursing shortages on healthcare delivery
• The importance of communication in nursing practice

These are just a few ideas to get you started. You can also explore other topics related to nursing that interest you or align with your academic or professional goals. 

Remember to choose a topic that is relevant, interesting, and feasible to research and write about.

Tips for Writing an Effective Nursing Essay

Writing a successful nursing essay requires careful planning, research, and attention to detail. Here are some tips to help you write an effective nursing essay:

• Writing Concisely and Clearly

Nursing essays should be written in clear and concise language, avoiding unnecessary jargon or technical terms. Use simple language and short sentences to help ensure that your ideas are communicated clearly and effectively.

• Stating a Clear Thesis Statement

Your thesis statement should clearly state your main argument and provide a roadmap for the rest of your essay. It should be clear, concise, and located at the end of your introduction.

• Using Proper Citation and Referencing

Citing and referencing your sources is crucial in any academic writing, including nursing essays. Make sure to use proper citation and referencing styles, such as APA or MLA. Include a reference list or bibliography at the end of your essay.

• Seeking Feedback and Revising

Before submitting your nursing essay, seek feedback from peers, professors, or writing tutors. Use their feedback to revise and improve your essay. Make sure that it is well-structured, coherent, and effectively communicates your point of view.

By following these tips, you can write a nursing essay that demonstrates your knowledge and skills in the field.

In conclusion, writing a successful nursing essay requires careful planning, research, and attention to detail. 

To showcase your knowledge in the field of nursing, it is important to have a clear understanding of the topic at hand. When writing your nursing essay, be sure to include relevant examples, incorporate current research, and use proper citation and referencing. 

And remember , seeking feedback and revising your essay is key to ensuring that it effectively communicates your ideas and arguments.

If you need help with your nursing essay or any other type of academic writing, consider using our AI essay writer . 

Our nursing essay writing service can provide personalized support to help you succeed in your academic goals.

So, why wait? Contact us to get college essay writing help today! 

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How to Write a Nursing Essay with a Quick Guide

Ever felt the blank-page panic when assigned a nursing essay? Wondering where to start or if your words will measure up to the weight of your experiences? Fear not, because today, we're here to guide you through this process.

Imagine you're at your favorite coffee spot, armed with a cup of motivation (and maybe a sneaky treat). Got it? Great! Now, let's spill the secrets on how to spin your nursing tales into words that not only get you that A+ but also tug at the heartstrings of anyone reading. We've got your back with nursing essay examples that'll be your inspiration, an outline to keep you on the right path, and more!

What Is a Nursing Essay

Let's start by dissecting the concept. A nursing essay serves as a focused exploration of a specific aspect of nursing, providing an opportunity for students to demonstrate their theoretical knowledge and its practical application in patient care settings.

Picture it as a journey through the challenges and victories of a budding nurse. These essays go beyond the classroom, tackling everything from tricky ethical dilemmas to the impact of healthcare policies on the front lines. It's not just about grades; it's about proving, 'I'm ready for the real deal.'

So, when you read or write a nursing essay, it's not just words on paper. It's like looking into the world of someone who's about to start their nursing career – someone who's really thought about the ins and outs of being a nurse. And before you kick off your nursing career, don't shy away from asking - write my essay for me - we're ready to land a professional helping hand.

How to Start a Nursing Essay

When you start writing a nursing essay, it is like gearing up for a crucial mission. Here's your quick guide from our nursing essay writing service :

Choosing Your Topic: Select a topic that sparks your interest and relates to real-world nursing challenges. Consider areas like patient care, ethical dilemmas, or the impact of technology on healthcare.

Outline Your Route : Plan your essay's journey. Create a roadmap with key points you want to cover. This keeps you on track and your essay on point.

Craft a Strong Thesis: Assuming you already know how to write a hook , kick off your writing with a surprising fact, a thought-provoking quote, or a brief anecdote. Then, state your main argument or perspective in one sentence. This thesis will serve as the compass for your essay, guiding both you and your reader through the rest of your writing.

How to Structure a Nursing Essay

Every great essay is like a well-orchestrated performance – it needs a script, a narrative that flows seamlessly, capturing the audience's attention from start to finish. In our case, this script takes the form of a well-organized structure. Let's delve into the elements that teach you how to write a nursing essay, from a mere collection of words to a compelling journey of insights.

Nursing Essay Introduction

Begin your nursing essay with a spark. Knowing how to write essay introduction effectively means sharing a real-life scenario or a striking fact related to your topic. For instance, if exploring patient care, narrate a personal experience that made a lasting impression. Then, crisply state your thesis – a clear roadmap indicating the direction your essay will take. Think of it as a teaser that leaves the reader eager to explore the insights you're about to unfold.

In the main body, dive into the heart of your essay. Each paragraph should explore a specific aspect of your topic. Back your thoughts with examples – maybe a scenario from your clinical experience, a relevant case study, or findings from credible sources. Imagine it as a puzzle coming together; each paragraph adds a piece, forming a complete picture. Keep it focused and let each idea flow naturally into the next.

Nursing Essay Conclusion

As writing a nursing essay nears the end, resist the urge to introduce new elements. Summarize your main points concisely. Remind the reader of the real-world significance of your thesis – why it matters in the broader context of nursing. Conclude with a thought-provoking statement or a call to reflection, leaving your reader with a lasting impression. It's like the final scene of a movie that leaves you thinking long after the credits roll.

Nursing Essay Outline

Before diving into the essay, craft a roadmap – your outline. This isn't a rigid skeleton but a flexible guide that ensures your ideas flow logically. Consider the following template from our research paper writing service :

Introduction

• Opening Hook: Share a brief, impactful patient care scenario.
• Relevance Statement: Explain why the chosen topic is crucial in nursing.
• Thesis: Clearly state the main argument or perspective.

Patient-Centered Care:

• Definition: Clarify what patient-centered care means in nursing.
• Personal Experience: Share a relevant encounter from clinical practice.
• Evidence: Integrate findings from reputable nursing literature.

Ethical Dilemmas in Nursing Practice

• Scenario Presentation: Describe a specific ethical challenge faced by nurses.
• Decision-Making Process: Outline steps taken to address the dilemma.
• Ethical Frameworks: Discuss any ethical theories guiding the decision.

Impact of Technology on Nursing

• Current Trends: Highlight technological advancements in nursing.
• Case Study: Share an example of technology enhancing patient care.
• Challenges and Benefits: Discuss the pros and cons of technology in nursing.
• Summary of Key Points: Recap the main ideas from each section.
• Real-world Implications: Emphasize the practical significance in nursing practice.
• Closing Thought: End with a reflective statement or call to action.

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Nursing Essay Examples

Here are the nursing Essay Examples for you to read.

Writing a Nursing Essay: Essential Tips

When it comes to crafting a stellar nursing essay, a few key strategies can elevate your work from ordinary to exceptional. Here are some valuable tips from our medical school personal statement writer :

Connect with Personal Experiences:

• Approach: Weave personal encounters seamlessly into your narrative.
• Reasoning: This not only adds authenticity to your essay but also serves as a powerful testament to your firsthand understanding of the challenges and triumphs in the nursing field.

Emphasize Critical Thinking:

• Approach: Go beyond describing situations; delve into their analysis.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays are the perfect platform to showcase your critical thinking skills – an essential attribute in making informed decisions in real-world healthcare scenarios.

Incorporate Patient Perspectives:

• Approach: Integrate patient stories or feedback into your discussion.
• Reasoning: By bringing in the human element, you demonstrate empathy and an understanding of the patient's experience, a core aspect of nursing care.

Integrate Evidence-Based Practice:

• Approach: Support your arguments with the latest evidence-based literature.
• Reasoning: Highlighting your commitment to staying informed and applying current research underscores your dedication to evidence-based practice – a cornerstone in modern nursing.

Address Ethical Considerations:

• Approach: Explicitly discuss the ethical dimensions of your topic.
• Reasoning: Nursing essays provide a platform to delve into the ethical complexities inherent in healthcare, showcasing your ability to navigate and analyze these challenges.

Balance Theory and Practice:

• Approach: Connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
• Reasoning: By bridging the gap between theory and practice, you illustrate your capacity to apply academic knowledge effectively in the dynamic realm of nursing.

Highlight Interdisciplinary Collaboration:

• Approach: Discuss collaborative efforts with other healthcare professionals.
• Reasoning: Acknowledging the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare underscores your understanding of the importance of teamwork – a vital aspect of successful nursing practice.

Reflect on Lessons Learned:

• Approach: Conclude with a thoughtful reflection on personal growth or lessons from your exploration.
• Reasoning: This not only provides a satisfying conclusion but also demonstrates your self-awareness and commitment to continuous improvement as a nursing professional.

As we wrap up, think of your essay as a story about your journey into nursing. It's not just about getting a grade; it's a way to share what you've been through and why you want to be a nurse.

Imagine the person reading it – maybe a teacher, a future coworker, or someone starting their nursing journey. They're trying to understand your passion and why you care about nursing.

So, when you write, remember it's more than just an assignment. It's your chance to show why nursing matters to you. And if you ever need help – there's always support from our essay writer online .

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How to Write a Nursing Essay?

How can a nursing essay effectively address ethical considerations, what are some examples of evidence-based practices in nursing essays.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

How to Write an Admission Essay for Nursing School

The nursing school admission process is rigorous. One of the critical requirements for new applicants is an application essay, and writing a compelling nursing essay will give you a major head start over other nursing school candidates.

Once you have figured out why you want to be a nurse, all your memories, accomplishments, ambitions, and goals will align. Therefore, writing an essay on why you are interested in becoming a nurse and selecting a specific nursing college or university allows the admissions team to understand why they should choose you over other candidates.

A well-written, organized, and polished nursing school essay automatically increases your chances of acceptance. With thousands of applications destined for assessment and judgment by the admissions committee, you would want to make your application essay for the nursing school admission stand out.

We have admission essay-writing experts and consultants who, luckily, have compiled this intensive guide to help you write an intentional, focused, and perfect essay for nursing school.

Note: If you are in a hurry or you need direct assistance in writing your nursing college essay, please place an order and let our expert essay writers craft for you an original, engaging, and compelling nursing essay!

What Is a Nursing School Essay?

A nursing school essay is a written piece that demonstrates your interest in a nursing career and elaborates why you are the perfect fit for a specific nursing program.

Most nursing schools (colleges and universities) require aspiring students to write an application essay for nursing school admission. It is a personal essay submitted as part of the application process, which the admission officers review to determine if you can be accepted.

A good nursing school essay shows your interest in the nursing field, your chosen career path, why you want to pursue your nursing education through a specific nursing school program, and why you believe you should be accepted into the institution. It has to show why the entire process is crucial to you and why you are a worthy candidate to select for the nursing school program.

Sometimes, it is the only hope one has left, especially if the competition is stiff. Imagine a situation where the application materials such as grades, resumes, test scores, or recommendation letters are all qualified; a nursing school essay will be the only means to select the best out of the rest fairly.

Writing a perfect nursing essay will demonstrate that you are ready to go down the thorny path of training to become a nurse. Nursing education entails research and writing assignments, and a well-written essay demonstrates your readiness.

Helpful Information to Include in a Nursing Admission Essay

You are probably wondering what goes into an application essay for nursing school admission. Well, your nursing essay will answer an essay prompt from the university. Most colleges will specify the essay questions for college of nursing applicants for various levels of study (MSN, DNP, BSN, Ph.D., or ADN).

Below are some examples of what might be expected:

• Your goals and ambitions for a successful nursing career
• How do you plan to achieve your academic goals
• The specific reasons why you want to join the nursing field
• Reasons you are selecting the particular nursing school or program
• Personal accomplishments that set you apart as the right candidate
• Experiences and encounters that make you love nursing career
• Plans for the future once accepted
• Experience with medical training or patient care
• Character traits aligned to being a nurse
• How you are prepared to become a successful nurse
• Academic, personal, and career interests
• Any other reasons to convince the admissions committee to approve your admission

In some quarters, a nursing school application essay might be a statement of purpose, personal essay, or letter of intent. It is a chance to plead with the admissions committee to accept you into your dream nursing college or program. Having looked at what goes into it, it is also essential to cover the steps to writing a perfect and comprehensive admission essay for nursing school.

Structure of a Nursing School Essay

A nursing essay for admission into a nursing program or school follows the typical format of an academic essay. It is organized into three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

• This is the opening paragraph that has to impress your readers (admissions officers)
• It can make or break your admission essay or personal statement
• It should be direct to the point
• It is a roadmap that helps the readers to know what to expect as your story grows.
• Open it using an enticing quote, event, anecdote, or statement
• You are allowed to use personal pronouns such as I in the introduction and the rest of the essay
• It has 2- 3 and sometimes five paragraphs
• Elaborates the introduction
• Every paragraph has a unique opening sentence that is a mini-thesis statement.
• Bears the best ideas yielded in your brainstorming session
• It can be as long as your word limit allows but contributes to at least 70-80% of the word count
• Focuses on quality over quantity
• Has one idea or experience per paragraph
• You should mention the skills you intend to develop and how they will help you become a successful nurse
• Connect the skills and experiences to the program and your future career
• Summarize and emphasize the main ideas
• It should be captivating and insightful
• Conveys a sense of closure to the readers
• Invites the readers to reflect on the ideas in your essay
• Creates one last lasting impression on the readers

Outline for a Nursing School Essay

A good nursing school essay outline should give you directions that help you visualize what the essay will look like in its final draft.

If you are writing a nursing essay, having the outline is the first thing you do after brainstorming (as shown in the steps).

It helps you to figure out how to arrange the ideas and points in the essay for a better flow. You can develop each section independently, regardless of the sequence, and still have a quality essay. 

In most cases, the outline is meant for personal consumption, especially when writing a personal statement. However, if you are writing a nursing essay on a given nursing topic , you might be required to write an outline, annotated bibliography , and the nursing essay , and each will be graded separately.

Given the structure, you can outline your nursing school essay as follows:

    Introduction paragraph

• Hook (quote, statement, or anecdote)
• Background information
• Thesis statement
• Transition sentence

    Body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence
• Evidence, data, and facts
• Transition to the second body paragraph

    Body paragraph 2

• Transition to the third body paragraph

    Body paragraph 3

• Transition to the conclusion

    Conclusion

• Summary of the main ideas
• Restate the thesis statement
• Last impression (call to action to the admissions committee)

Steps for Writing a Nursing School Essay

Optimizing your application essay increases your chance of getting accepted into the nursing program or nursing school. The essay should elaborate on your person (who you are as an individual) by providing a comprehensive perspective of your career ambitions, goals, and plans related to your passion for nursing. You should elaborate to the admissions committee why you are a good fit for their nursing program. Students at the ADN, BSN, ABSN (Accelerated BSN), MSN, DNP, or Ph.D. might be required to write an admission or personal essay, and here are the five steps to make it successful.

• Read the prompt
• Brainstorm for ideas
• Plan your essay
• Write the first draft
• Edit and Polish your Essay

Let's explore all these steps before delving into the tips to help you write the essay better.

Read the Prompt

If you are considering applying to a specific nursing school, you need to begin by researching the application process to know when you will be expected to submit your application essay.

In most cases, the nursing schools have essay prompts and instructions for the potential nursing candidates published on their websites. The prompts might vary depending on the programs you are interested in pursuing and the institutional preferences. Therefore, it is vital to begin by locating the nursing school essay guidelines. A quick search online can help, or you will also find it enclosed in the email sent to you by the school's admissions committee.

Read the instructions thoroughly with a specific focus on the essay question, word limit, and topics you must cover. If you apply to many nursing schools, you should locate and read each prompt before moving to the next steps.

Reading and understanding the instructions is the first step in writing an excellent application essay. Besides, it helps you to customize the essay to the requirements and not the other way around.

Brainstorm for Ideas

Now that you know what is expected of you, you need to decide what to include in your nursing essay to make it stand out. For this, get into an idea-generation marathon where you brainstorm ideas based on the prompt and the requirements.

Give every idea a thoughtful consideration and make shorthand notes so that you have all the ideas condensed. Consider your ambitions, accomplishments, drive, passion, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, character traits, and other attributes that might relate to your urge to pursue nursing as a career.

Also, research the nursing program and relate it to your personal ambitions and desires. Such information will help you spot the specific things you like about it. You can then tailor your experiences and encounters to the requirements. Look at the program's website and examine 2-3 aspects that stand out. This will help you focus on what you have that makes you the best pick for the program. You can also reference experiences, events, or traits related to the program.

Consider the environment and people around you and relate them to your desire to become a nurse.

Experiences, encounters, and events can inspire ideas to pen into your nursing school essay.

You can also research some well-written examples of nursing personal statements and essays to get inspired when brainstorming ideas for yours. Besides, you can also ask people in your network, such as family, friends, or peers, for ideas that can stand out and then choose the best.

To get the most robust ideas, rate them depending on how best they answer the prompt; this is the fodder for the entire application essay. Choose 3-5 strongest points and make them the central focus of your essay.

Plan your Essay

As a nurse, planning is everything, even when it comes to clinical decision-making. And because you are destined for this noble career, planning your personal essay won't hurt. Instead, it helps you know what to put and where to engage the admission officers from the beginning to the end of your nursing school essay.

With the ideas in mind, create a rough outline and adjust it until you are fully satisfied that your thoughts, facts, and opinions are well-organized. The outline will help you to structure your essay, avoid derailing it, and write a draft that bears all the quality ideas.

A good step is to organize the essay into paragraphs that align with the word count (often given as the minimum or maximum number of words, exact number of words, or characters).

Include an introduction to give your readers a clear understanding of the focus of your essay. Yes, a good nursing essay has a thesis statement that shows your central claim or the main idea you are focusing on the entire essay.

You should include the body paragraphs, each with a topic sentence supporting the thesis and a series of supporting facts such as examples, evidence, and illustration.

Finally, include a conclusion as the last paragraph that reverberates the thesis, summarizes the essay, and has a call to action to the admissions committee.

Write the First Draft

After the outline, you must begin writing your essay sentence by sentence and paragraph after paragraph. Whatever approach you take, ensure that every detail covered in the outline ends up in your essay as long as it is valid.

Write the introduction paragraph by giving a hook or attention grabber. You can begin with a quote from a famous nurse or a scholarly nursing article. You can also state facts or give statistics if they matter to your application. You should also elaborate on your selected topic, especially if the prompt provides options. End your first paragraph with a thesis statement that describes the focus of your nursing school essay. The introduction should account for 10-15% of the word count.

Each body paragraph has a unique, unmistakable, and concise topic sentence followed by supporting details and a concluding sentence that transitions to the next paragraph. Ensure that you have at least two body paragraphs considering that you can write either a three-paragraph or a five-paragraph nursing essay. Collectively, the body section should be 70-80% of the essay's word count. The body paragraphs should outline your encounters, experiences, and events and how they relate to the specific nursing program.

The final part is the conclusion, where you summarize the main ideas in the essay. for this, avoid the clich� conclusion starters such as "in conclusion," "to sum up," or "in summary." Instead, use conclusion opening sentences that demonstrate to your reader that the essay has ended � it gives the best closure and helps close the information loop in your essay. Rephrase your thesis and summarize the main ideas before appealing to the admissions committee to accept you into their nursing program. It should be 10-15% of the word count, like the introduction paragraph.

Edit and Polish the Essay

Now that you are done with your first draft, it is only the beginning, and you are far from being done. You need to take a break to cool down your frustrations, anxiety, and adrenaline developed when writing. It is a chance to establish an objective mind to look at things from a broader perspective when you settle for editing and proofreading.

If you are not good with editing and proofreading, you can hire a professional proofreading and editing expert to look at your essay and suggest changes to make. You can also use friends and family as a second and third eye to see what you cannot see. Using their feedback will help you optimize the essay for better results. You can incorporate the suggestions and proceed to editing and proofreading.

As for editing and proofreading, you can take advantage of tools such as Grammarly, Ginger, Hemingway Editor, and other editing and proofreading tools available by students and professionals. Revise the essay until it meets the requirements and addresses the prompt. If anything, do not be afraid to do away with an entire paragraph or a few paragraphs that don't make sense.

It is better to start over again than submit a subpar nursing school essay that will be a laughingstock of the admissions committee. The only way to entertain the admissions officers is to write an outstanding nursing school essay that will automatically dial you into the nursing program of your choice. Best of luck!

Example of Nursing School Essay Prompts

• Discuss your interest and understanding of the clinical nurse leader role. What's your story? And what experiences have contributed to your interest?
• The DNP program aims to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Describe experiences that exhibit your formal leadership role or informal leadership skills.
• How will the program help you achieve your academic and career goals?
• What experiences have influenced your interest in pursuing a clinical specialty you have chosen?
• The DNP program aims to prepare nurse leaders at the highest level of nursing practice to improve patient outcomes and translate research into practice. Describe experiences that exhibit your leadership skills.
• Why have you chosen to pursue a nursing research doctorate?
• How does becoming a nurse fulfill your ambitions?
• What does becoming a nurse mean to you?
• What drives you to become a nurse?
• Why do you want to become a nurse?
• What is your nursing philosophy?
• What was your reason for choosing nursing as a career? Do you have any additional information that you would like the admissions committee to know about you that has not been previously considered in the application?
• What are your professional goals? How will this accelerated nursing program help you materialize those goals?
• Discuss a specific leadership position (e.g., manager, director, associate dean) you wish to attain within three to five years after completing the DNP program.

Note: Some of these prompts have been rephrased from the Rush University Website . They keep changing depending on the preferences of the admissions committee. Inquire with your university or college of nursing to get specific directions on the most current prompts and instructions.

Related Reading: Ideas for a nursing capstone project.

Tips for Writing an Effective Nursing School Admission Essay

When grades, test scores, and other material entries don't count , a nursing school essay, referred to as a personal statement, suffices. In this case, a great nursing school can only be your hope for getting into nursing school. If you want to get ahead of the competition, these proven tips will significantly help you.

1. Plan Well

To pen an excellent nursing school essay that gets you accepted, you need to plan the essay.

Read the instructions, brainstorm as you take notes, research widely, and create an outline.

And even when done, the purpose is to have a reverse outline to help you score the essay against the requirements. Planning helps you to know what attention-grabbing statement to begin the essay with, the sequence of the body paragraph ideas for a logical flow, and what specifics to include in the conclusion.

Having an outline will help you save time when writing the first draft and help you to stay focused when writing.

2. Show, Don't Tell!

All effective nursing school essays express your personality, experiences, and encounters while convincing the admissions officers that you are the best fit for the program.

You should not focus on telling your story alone. Instead, show how your account relates to the prompt.

Discuss experiences, encounters, and events but show how they have impacted your choice of the program and desire to become a nurse.

If you are applying to a specific program, enlighten your readers on why you are specifically interested in the program and what that means.

It could be the hybrid learning model that entails both online and classroom learning or the history or reputation the school has, parental preferences (if they were a graduate), mentor recommendation, etc.

3. Choose Information Wisely

Ensure that every idea or information in your essay is unique, authentic, and original. Don't just write fictitiously.

If you have no past experiences directly related to nursing, you can introduce them and twist them to fit the context.

Impress the admissions committee with your wits, not just a summary of what others have written online.

Standing out in your presentation of facts will always carry the day. Genuinely share your story about what made you want to become a nurse.

4. Avoid Excuses

Even if you don't have appealing past encounters with medicine, hospitals, or anything related to nursing, tell your story as it is.

Do not excuse yourself for telling the truth. After all, you are on your journey to becoming a nurse; all you are seeking is training to develop the knowledge and skills.

If you have cared for your family members at home, babysat your siblings, or have compassion for the suffering, these are the most authentic stories you have, and they can spell meaning on your ambition. Therefore, prove your strong candidature by stating things as they are without clutching at things that do not matter.

5. Let it Flow!

Instead of forcing things such as humor or stories, write plainly about your experiences, encounters, and past events that made you want to become a nurse.

Most "why I want to be a nurse" essays don't have to have any humor. If it clicks well and is good, if it doesn't, don't force it.

As well, avoid exaggerating things when writing your nursing school essay. You should focus on making it as interesting, engaging, and convincing as can be but be truthful.

Avoid mixing up stories. A good way is to focus each paragraph on the main point that relates to your thesis.

6. Show you care about People and Yourself

Nursing is a noble career that entails caring for oneself as you care for others. Your full-time attention and job will be to care for people to help them achieve better health outcomes.

You must show empathy, selflessness, and determination to be a nurse. You can bring examples of when you took care of others and yourself.

Let the committee know that even when training as a nurse, you understand self-care as much as you understand caring for others.

7. Bring in Current Issues

If there is a chance that you can introduce nursing concepts or ideas from current events, it will beef up your nursing school essays.

Get facts from well-established nursing organization websites such as the American Nurses Association, National League of Nursing, Emergency Nurses Association, Sigma Theta Tau, or National Black Nurses Association, etc.

Intrigue your readers by understanding the challenges and opportunities in the nursing field.

You can relate your application to nursing shortages, medical errors, nursing burnout, continuing education, evidence-based practice, etc.

8. Briefly Explain your Qualifications

Since you have already provided material such as transcripts, resumes, and test scores, it is imperative to briefly expound on the qualifications without going into details. Tell them about your experiences, your education, and how you have set yourself up for success in nursing school . For instance, elaborate on how volunteering and internships helped you develop a sense of becoming a nurse or how they developed skills you will apply in nursing school.

9. Share your plans

Everybody has plans. You have short, medium, and long-term goals as you prepare to enter nursing school. You should include them in your essay and demonstrate how the program or school will help you achieve them. Admission officers are always wowed by hearing about goals, especially if they relate to their schools or programs. As you do this, be very specific with the goals and how you intend to achieve them.

All set, but before You Go �

As you contemplate entering nursing school, you must understand that it will never be a walk in the park. There is so much to learn within the specified time frame, and you must show your preparedness. A nursing school personal essay is one of the ways to do so.

Related Article:

• Writing a nursing philosophy ( a student's guide)
• Writing a nursing student resume (a guide)

Lucky for you, our nursing admission essay writers have shared insights, tips, and steps that can help you write an exceptional application essay for any nursing school or program. If you follow them, you will write a seamless admission essay that increases your chances of getting into the nursing school of your dreams.

We wish you luck in your endeavors and promise that were available in case you need a well-written, organized, and plagiarism-free admission essay tailored to your experiences and the specific nursing school or program requirements.

Struggling with

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Writing Tips for Nursing School Students

• Nursing School Writing Types
• Writing a Nursing Essay
• Citations Guide
• Common Writing Mistakes
• Writing Resources

Are you ready to earn your online nursing degree?

Writing is an essential skill nurses should achieve proficiency in early in their career. It is a crucial part of the profession, as nurses need to be able to effectively communicate with patients, families, and other healthcare professionals.

While verbal communication also plays a vital role in nursing, being able to write well builds the nurse’s ability to provide better care.

Being able to accurately detail a patient’s personal history, symptoms, and diagnosis allows for the execution of a precise treatment plan that is clearly communicated to all parties involved, both professional and personal.

From registered nurses to clinical nurses and beyond, being able to communicate effectively and efficiently is a critical soft skill that will help nurses in any role increase their ability to treat their patients.

This guide provides an overview of the types of writing nurses will experience throughout their educational training. Utilize the following tips and tricks to help strengthen your writing skills, which will ultimately help in the development of transferable career skills .

Types of Writing Nurses Will Do in School

Personal statements for nursing school.

Nursing schools want candidates who meet academic and professional requirements. They also want a candidate who demonstrates a sincere passion for patient care and individual connections. You should always craft a personal statement, even when the application doesn’t explicitly require one. Personal statements allow you to describe your goals, characteristics, credentials, volunteer work, and meaningful life experiences. A well-crafted essay can help you stand out among other qualified applicants. And, as with any piece of writing, you must take the time to revise.

In your personal statement, you should portray yourself as determined and empathetic, with characteristics, goals, work ethic, and healthcare philosophy that align with a program’s values. Some nursing schools ask for a general personal statement, while others require a specific prompt. Colleges commonly ask students to describe a hardship they overcame, a difficult task they accomplished, or a professional goal they hope to achieve through the program. Many schools also ask students to detail previous experiences in healthcare. You may decide to write about how you connect with patients or how you provide practical and emotional support to loved ones.

You will also encounter writing prompts during examinations, including standardized tests like the GRE or MCAT, nursing school entrance exams , and course-specific evaluations. You may also take exams to get state licensure or professional certification. In most of these instances, you will need to write one or several long-form essays. Proper planning is key. Though you won’t know what specific prompt the test will require, you can expect certain common topics. You can search online or use study guides to determine which prompts usually appear on each test.

On test day, you should begin by creating an outline that lists three main points in response to the prompt. Using these points, work backwards to write a central thesis to guide the essay’s structure. Review what you’ve written to ensure that the essay actually responds to the prompt at hand. Be sure to leave time to correct spelling, grammar, and stylistic errors.

Research Papers

Like essays, research papers follow a long-form structure. Unlike an essay, which heavily relies on the writer’s point of view, a research paper presents an in-depth investigation of a topic using data, expert opinions, and insights. While an essay evaluates general critical thinking and writing skills, a research paper tests your knowledge, research skills, and original contributions. Research papers also allow you to prove you understand what has been argued and discovered about a topic. Research papers, especially at the graduate and doctoral levels, require independent research and analyses. These papers sometimes take months or years to complete.

To write a successful research paper, you should pick a topic relevant to your interests and the nursing field. Possibilities include elderly care challenges, patient safety and ethics, mental health treatment and regulations in the U.S., and nursing shortages and possible solutions. Whatever your choice, you must plan accordingly. Advanced papers such as dissertations may require funding or help from professors. Research papers often consist of the following sections: abstract, introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, and references. You should keep this general structure in mind as you prepare notes and outlines.

How Do You Write a Nursing Essay?

In nursing school, essay writing includes academic papers, personal narratives, and professional compositions. You should become familiar with each of the five major forms below. There are many similarities between these essay types, such as an overarching thesis and a supportive, logical structure. You should support claims with factual, statistical, anecdotal, and rhetorical evidence. However, each form requires distinct skills to achieve specific results.

Comparative

Cause and effect, citations guide for nursing students.

Citations allow readers to know where information came from. By citing sources, you avoid plagiarizing or stealing another person’s ideas, research, language, and analyses. Whether intentional or unintentional, plagiarism is one of the most egregious errors one can make. Consequences for plagiarism include automatic course failure, disciplinary actions from the university, and even legal repercussions. You should take special care to ensure you properly cite sources.

Which Style Should Nursing Students Use?

Because nurses rely on scientific terms and information, professionals in the field usually use APA style. Regardless of the purpose and specific genre of your text, you should always strive for concise, objective, and evidenced-based writing. You can expect to learn APA style as soon as you enroll in a major course. However, you should also prepare to learn other styles as part of your academic training. For example, freshman composition classes tend to focus on MLA guidelines.

Common Writing Mistakes Students Make

Active vs. passive voice.

Active and passive voice represent two different ways to present the same piece of information. Active voice focuses on the subject performing an action. For example, the dog bites the boy. This format creates clear, concise, and engaging writing. Using active voice, nurses might write, I administered patient care at 11:00. Passive voice, on the other hand, focuses on the object of the sentence or the action being performed. For example, the boy was bitten by the dog. A passive sentence is usually one that contains the verb “to be.” Using passive voice, you might write, patient care was administered at 11:00.

Professionals in the sciences often use passive voice in their writing to create an objective tone and authorial distance. Passive voice can prioritize specific terms, actions, evidence, or research over the writer’s presence. Additionally, nurses use passive voice because it is usually clear that the reported thoughts, actions, and opinions come from them. However, you must also learn how to use active voice.

Punctuation

There are 14 punctuation marks in the English language, each with multiple and sometimes overlapping uses. Additionally, certain punctuation marks only make sense in highly specific and nuanced grammatical instances. To master punctuation, you must learn through practice, particularly by revising your own writing.

For example, colons and semicolons are often used interchangeably, when they actually serve distinct purposes. Generally used before itemized lists, colons stand in for the phrases “here is what I mean” or “that is to say.” For example, I am bringing three things to the picnic: applesauce, napkins, and lemonade. Semicolons separate two independent clauses connected through topic or meaning. For example, It was below zero; Ricardo wondered if he would freeze to death. Comma splices, which create run on sentences, are another common mistake. You can identify a comma splice by learning the differences between an independent and dependent clause.

Grammar refers to the rules of a particular language system. Grammar determines how users can structure words and form sentences with coherent meaning. Aspects include syntax (the arrangement of words to convey their mutual relations in a sentence) and semantics (how individual words and word groups are understood). Unless you major in writing, literature, etymology, or another related field, you generally won’t examine English grammar deeply. Through years of cognitive development and practice, native users implicitly understand how to effectively employ the language.

Distinct grammatical systems exist for each language and, sometimes, even within a single language. For example, African American Vernacular English uses different syntactic rules than General American English. You should learn grammatical terms and definitions. Common errors include subject/verb agreement, sentence fragments, dangling modifiers, and vague or incorrect pronoun usage. Hasty writers can also misuse phonetically similar words (your/you’re, its/it’s, and there/their/they’re).

Writing Resources for Nursing Students

Apa style central, reviewed by:.

Shrilekha Deshaies, MSN, RN

Shri Deshaies is a nurse educator with over 20 years of experience teaching in hospital, nursing school, and community settings. Deshaies’ clinical area of expertise is critical care nursing and she is a certified critical care nurse. She has worked in various surgical ICUs throughout her career, including cardiovascular, trauma, and neurosurgery.

Shri Deshaies is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. Learn more about our review partners here .

Page last reviewed November 30, 2021

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How to write a personal statement for nursing school.

Reviewed by:

Jonathan Preminger

Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine

Reviewed: 6/19/23

Writing a personal statement for nursing school can be a daunting task, but we’re here to help! Here’s everything you need to know about writing a personal statement for nursing school.

Writing your personal statement is a nerve-wracking experience, no matter what program you’re applying for . You may be wondering: “what are nursing schools looking for in a personal statement?” or, “how can I make my personal statement for nursing school stand out?” Lucky for you, we’ve got some answers. 

Here we’ll cover everything you need to know about writing a personal statement for nursing school. We’ve included a breakdown of the components to include, examples of nursing school personal statements, and tips to improve your own. 

Let’s get started!

Get The Ultimate Guide on Writing an Unforgettable Personal Statement

What Is a Nursing School Personal Statement?

When applying to nursing schools , you’ll most likely notice that most applications require a personal statement. A personal statement is a short essay, typically no longer than two pages, that tells your target schools a little bit about who you are. 

Each school has different expectations for the length and contents of your personal statement, so make sure to check the specific requirements of your target schools. Some common topics include your personal goals for nursing school and why you want to become a nurse.

Nursing School Personal Statement Format

Before writing your personal statement for nursing school, you should plan out what you want to include. If your school does not ask you to answer a specific question with your essay, here is a list of what you should include in your nursing school personal statement.

An Introduction

The introductory paragraph should focus on what brought you to this point. Your school primarily wants to get to know you as a candidate through your personal statement. Your intro should include things like:

• How you first became interested in nursing
• What inspires you about becoming a nurse
• What you intend to achieve through a nursing degree

In this paragraph, your main goal is to introduce yourself and give the admissions committee a bit of background on your passion for nursing. Perhaps you have a family member who inspired you to pursue nursing, you grew up near a hospital, or you’ve struggled with health issues yourself - these are all great examples of an origin story. 

Think to yourself: “If my journey into nursing school was a movie, how would it begin?”

Body Paragraph(s)

In the body paragraph(s) of your nursing school personal statement, you can include a bit about your achievements. However, this isn’t the place to simply list your achievements. 

Think about how your experiences helped you to develop skills for nursing school . Include things like:

• How you’ve furthered your interest in nursing through experience (both in and out of school)
• How your achievements make you a good fit for the program
• Specific things about the program that interests you

The body portion of your essay should contain the majority of the information you want to include. Make sure to only include accomplishments if they help to explain how you’ll contribute to the program. Your CV will list any other achievements that don’t come into play here.

A Strong Conclusion

Your personal statement should end on a positive note. Think about summarizing your statement by looking toward the future. Include things like:

• Your future ambitions following nursing school
• What you’ll be able to contribute to the program 

The end of your body paragraph(s) should mention what you hope to achieve in the future with your nursing degree and lead into your conclusion. The final sentences of your personal statement should further state your passion for your program and how you’ll be a great fit at your target school. 

What Not to Write in a Personal Statement for Nursing School

Before getting into our tips and examples, let’s go over what not to include in your personal statement for nursing school. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when crafting your personal statement. 

Keep it Simple

Your personal statement should be authentic and genuine, but make sure to keep the brief in mind while you’re writing. As mentioned above, a personal statement is typically no longer than two pages in length. 

You should absolutely include some personal anecdotes; in fact, we encourage it! Just make sure to stick to the relevant parts of your story and not to elaborate too much on areas that are not relevant to your application. 

Do Not Reiterate Your CV

Your personal statement is an essay, not a resume. Keep in mind that your application already contains all of your achievements on your CV, transcripts, and other application materials. 

Your personal statement is about understanding your passion and motivations. You can use examples from your CV to further assert your interest in the program, but only if you can elaborate on how they’ve specifically helped you on your journey to nursing school. 

Tips for Writing a Stellar Nursing Personal Statement

Let’s go over a few tips on how you can improve your personal statement. Using these tips can help to make your personal statement and essays for your nursing school application stand out while remaining authentic and genuine. 

Create A Timeline

When writing your personal statement, your focus should be on telling your story. Creating a clear timeline of events can help to effectively tell the story of how you decided to apply for nursing. 

Start with how you became interested in nursing, develop your story with experiences that have cultivated your knowledge, and conclude by talking about your program and your future goals. A timeline will make your essay easy to read and give the admissions committee a good idea of your journey so far.

Stick To the Brief

If your target school(s) give you a specific prompt for your personal statement, make sure to refer back to the prompt while writing your essay to ensure you’re staying on track. 

For example, if your prompt asks you a question, be sure to answer the question at the beginning, the end, and throughout your essay. Your personal statement shouldn’t be vague or veer too far off course. 

Speak From the Heart

It is crucial in your nursing personal statement to share what makes you unique . This is your chance to show the admissions committee why you’d be a perfect fit in their program and demonstrate what you bring to the table. 

Include genuine experiences that have pushed you toward nursing throughout your life. Conveying your passions and motivations is critical in your personal statement for nursing school.

Do Your Research 

One great way to make your nursing personal statement stand out is to do thorough research on your program and include it in your piece. Showing your passion for the specific program. you’re applying to can give you an edge over others and impress the admissions committee. 

When you include your research, be sure to add it organically into your writing. Use your research as a way to connect your personal experiences to the program rather than simply listing information.

Nursing School Personal Statement Examples

Here are two nursing personal statement examples that were written successfully. We’ve also included explanations of how they are good examples to help you improve your own personal statement. 

*Important note: Do not use our samples in your nursing school application. These examples are meant to serve as a guide when crafting your own original personal statement for nursing school. 

Example #1: Indeed ’s Nursing School Personal Statement Sample

“I walked backward down the hill, my arms supporting the weight of the wheelchair as its wheels rolled slowly in reverse. Sunlight danced through the trees around us and shone in my grandmother's hair as she sat inside the wheelchair. I couldn't see my grandmother's face from that angle, but I could hear her laughing with joy as she enjoyed the outdoors for the first time in weeks. My grandmother came to live with my family two years ago after breaking her hip. Although she completed much of her recovery at our home, Nurse George came by every day to perform my grandmother's personal care tasks, monitor her vital signs and assist with her physical therapy exercises. George also taught me some basic patient care practices, such as how to support a wheelchair correctly while going downhill. I had never considered a career in nursing before, but George helped me see the rewards of helping people with their medical conditions and injuries. I am excited by this opportunity to apply to Fern Hill's College of Nursing because I appreciate your program's specialization in rehabilitation nursing. Being a part of my grandmother's recovery team has inspired me to pursue a nursing career that helps patients recover from injuries or medical conditions. I believe that your school's emphasis on assisting patients in regaining their independent skills can help me achieve these professional aspirations. Since realizing that I want to become a nurse, I have become a regular volunteer at Jefferson Rehabilitation Center. I mentor young people struggling with drug addictions and provide childcare for the children of rehabilitation patients. There is no feeling comparable to when a mentee or outgoing patient offers you a sincere "thank you." I can no longer imagine pursuing a career where I do not get to help people overcome their challenges and navigate their way to recovery. My experiences helping my grandmother and patients at Jefferson have taught me the value of empathy and communication. Frequently, my mentees simply want someone to listen to them. I do my best to give them a judgment-free space in which to share their stories. Whether the medical issue is emotional or physical, patients appreciate working with flexible and considerate people. I believe I embody these qualities by actively listening and letting patients talk at their own pace. I am ready to pursue a nursing career and learn about helping patients in a more professional and technical capacity. Fern Hill's College of Nursing is the ideal place to prepare for my future nursing career.”

Why this is a good example: In this example, the writer has done an excellent job of telling the story of how they became interested in nursing. They also develop a clear timeline of events from when they first thought about nursing to how they began developing their skills through volunteering. 

Most importantly, the candidate mentions specific reasons why they’re interested in the program and how they feel they can contribute to the school and field. 

Example #2: Johns Hopkins University Nursing Personal Statement Sample

“I grew up close to a hospital, where I watched patients go through the double doors for a variety of ailments. From a young age, this drove me to develop a strong interest in the field of medicine. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in the future that would allow me to take care of those in need. Through my courses in the natural sciences as well as social studies, I have continued to develop my knowledge in the field in order to be ready to continue my education. Now, I am ready to take the next step in my education by applying for the Nursing program at Johns Hopkins University.  Three years ago I completed a nursing shadowing internship that opened my eyes to many of the daily struggles of being a nurse. During my time in the clinic and on the wards, I had the opportunity to work In the critical care and trauma ward as well as In obstetrics and geriatrics. These various experiences showed me the diverse role that nurses play in a healthcare setting, and emphasized the importance of empathy and dedication to patient care.  Johns Hopkins University Is known worldwide for its focus on patient wellness and medical research. As a nursing student at Hopkins, I hope to not only further the institution's goal of providing exceptional patient care, but also to assist with the many clinical trials ongoing at the hospital that pave the way for new treatments. Through hands-on training with knowledgeable staff, I know that I will be able to make the most of my nursing training at Johns Hopkins and become a nursing professional that is capable of enhancing patient wellness in a healthcare setting.”

Why this is a good example: In this example, the writer develops a clear timeline and clearly defines their relevant information. The writer covers when they first became interested in nursing, courses they’ve taken, and what experiences have made them get serious about the profession. 

Finally, they include why they are specifically interested in the program at Johns Hopkins and conclude by adding what they will add to the program as a student.

FAQs: How to Write a Personal Statement for Nursing School

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about nursing school personal statements. 

1. Do All Nursing Schools Require A Personal Statement?

Almost all nursing schools require a personal statement, which can typically be described as a short essay (2 pages or less) that explains who you are and why you want to attend the school’s nursing program.

2. Is a Personal Statement for Nursing School an Essay?

Yes, a personal statement is a short essay that briefly describes your past, present, and future experiences in relation to nursing.

3. How Long Should A Nursing Personal Statement Be?

Each nursing school has different length requirements, which can typically be found in the prompt. If no length is specified, two pages or less is recommended. 

4. What Should I Include In My Nursing School Personal Statement?

Your nursing personal statement should include:

• Why you want to become a nurse
• What inspires you about nursing
• Elaborate on the experiences you’ve had that have taught you about nursing
• Program-specific reasons for your interest in the school
• How you intend to contribute to the program and the field of nursing

If your school’s personal statement asks a specific question, that question should be answered throughout your essay. 

5. Does Nursing Require Essays?

Yes, most nursing program applications require personal statement essays, and some require secondary (or supplemental) essays as well.

6. When Should I Write My Personal Statement for Nursing School?

You should begin writing your personal statement(s) for nursing school as soon as you receive the prompt. Make sure to give yourself an adequate amount of time to complete all sections of your application before the deadline.

7. How do you Start a Personal Statement for Nursing School?

To start a compelling nursing personal statement, there are a few different writing techniques you can use. You can start by introducing yourself, start by talking about how you became interested in nursing, or you can start “in the action” by cutting right into your story. 

Final Thoughts

Your personal statement for nursing school should be genuine, heartfelt, and express how you will make an excellent addition to your target school’s nursing program through a series of examples. 

Each personal statement you write should be adjusted to suit the individual program you are applying for. Sending a general personal statement with every application you submit is impersonal and not recommended. Make sure to follow your brief closely and map out your essay before writing it to ensure you include all of the relevant information. 

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Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay

Applying for nursing school is an exciting step towards a rewarding career helping others. The nursing school essay, also known as a personal statement, is a critical part of the application. This is your chance to showcase your passion for the nursing profession and explain why you want to become a nurse.

This guide will show you exactly what admission committees are looking for in a strong nursing school application essay. Let’s walk through how to plan, write, and polish your “why I want to be a nurse” personal statement so it stands out from the competition.

What To Include In Your Nursing Essay

Writing a compelling nursing school essay requires advanced planning and preparation. Follow these tips to create an effective personal statement:

Plan Your Nurse Essay

The first step is to carefully conceptualize your nursing school admissions essay. Jot down some notes answering these key questions:

• Why do you want to go into nursing?
• What personal experiences or traits draw you to the field of nursing?
• How have you demonstrated commitment to caring for others?
• What are your academic and professional qualifications for nursing?

From here, you can start mapping out a logical flow of key points to cover in your nursing school application essay.

Show an Emotional Connection to the Profession

Admission committees want to see that you have genuine passion and empathy for the nursing career choice. Dedicate part of your personal statement to describing your intrinsic motivations and positive impacts for desiring to become a nurse.

Avoid cliché reasons like “I want to help people.” Instead, get specific by sharing a personal anecdote that emotionally moved you towards nursing.

Here’s an example of how you could open your nursing school entrance essay by highlighting a meaningful patient-care interaction:

“Holding Mrs. Wilson’s trembling hand, I watched her fearful eyes relax as I reassured her that the medical team would take excellent care of her. At that moment, providing empathetic comfort to calm her nerves despite the clinical chaos around us, I knew deep down that nursing was my calling.”

This introduction immediately establishes an emotional pull towards the human side of healthcare. From here, explain how this or similar experiences instilled a drive in you to become a nurse.

Show That You Care

Much of nursing is providing compassionate, person-centered care. Therefore, your “why I want to be a nurse” essay should emphasize your ability to be caring, empathetic, patient, and comforting to others.

Share examples that showcase your natural inclination for caregiving:

“Volunteering at the Red Cross shelter after the wildfires by comforting displaced families demonstrated my patience and attentiveness to those suffering. Even as some evacuees grew frustrated by the chaos, I calmly reassured them that we would do everything possible to assist with their recoveries and ensure they felt cared for.”

This example highlights key soft skills needed in nursing as a career, like compassion, active listening, the desire to help, and providing a calming presence under pressure.

Share Your Aspirations

A strong application essay will also articulate your goals and vision for contributing to the nursing field. What are you hoping to achieve through a career in nursing?

Here is an example of discussing aspirations in a nursing school personal statement:

“My long-term aspiration is to become a nurse leader by earning an advanced degree and management experience. I aim to leverage my organizational, communication and critical thinking skills to mentor junior staff, improve operational workflows, and advocate for policies that enhance quality of care. In nursing, I’ve found my true calling – to provide critical care, and help others by being a source of compassion and driving excellence in healthcare delivery.”

This type of self-motivated, forward-looking vision demonstrates maturity, strong goals, and natural leadership qualities.

Describe Your Nursing Skills and Qualifications

Finally, your nursing school entrance essay should summarize the skills; profession offers, and experience that makes you an excellent candidate for the nursing program. Highlight relevant strengths like:

• Academic achievements (science/healthcare courses, GPA, etc.)
• Extracurricular activities (volunteering, internships, etc.)
• Relevant work experience (patient care roles like CNA, medical assistant, etc.)
• Other transferable skills (communication, leadership, teamwork, critical thinking, etc.)

For example:

“My passion for science, healthcare experience as a CNA, and volunteering at a community health fair have prepared me to thrive in the intellectually stimulating and collaborative nursing curriculum. I bring dedication, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic as demonstrated by my 3.8 GPA studying Biology at the University of Michigan.”

With application essays, it’s all about showcasing why you would make an outstanding addition to the nursing program, making a difference through your qualifications and intangible traits.

How Do You Write an Introduction to a Nurse Essay?

Now that you’ve brainstormed content ideas, it’s time to turn them into a polished personal statement. Here are some tips for crafting an attention-grabbing introduction to your nursing school essay:

Hook the Reader with a Personal Story

One of the most engaging ways to start writing your essay is by recounting a brief personal story that illuminates your drive to become a nurse. This can immediately immerse the reader in your intrinsic motivations.

For example , you could open with an anecdote describing a meaningful instance of care and comfort you provided to someone in need:

“Tears streamed down Mrs. Hernandez’s face as she told me about losing her husband to cancer last year. As a hospice volunteer, I held her hand, listening intently to her painful story of grief and loss…”

This type of vivid introduction pulls the reader into the narrative straight away. From here, you can continue sharing details about the scenario and its influence on your desire to pursue nursing.

Illustrate the Human Impact of Nursing

Another compelling way to begin your nursing personal statement is by painting a picture of nursing’s profound impact on patients and their families. This highlights your understanding of the profession’s vital role.

For instance:

“Looking a trembling new mother in the eyes as she first held her newborn, relieved knowing both were safe and healthy after a complicated delivery – that is the human difference nurses make each and every day.”

This type of introduction emphasizes nursing’s profound emotional impact on patients during vulnerable yet joyful moments. It activates the reader’s empathy by bringing them into the vivid scene while showing your own insight into the medical field.

Articulate Passion for Helping Others

Finally, you can start your nursing application essay by asserting your resounding passion for caring for others. This clear expression allows you to succinctly introduce central values like empathy and compassion.

“Ever since I was a young volunteer candy striper in my local hospital, I’ve held an unwavering passion for helping those suffering through the profound act of nursing. I was born to care for others.”

This authoritative opening clearly states your emotional connection to nursing in a compelling yet concise way. You can then build on this assertion of passion through personal examples and further explanation.

No matter how you start your nursing school essay, the introduction should vividly showcase your motivation and why you chose nursing. Set the tone early with your authorship and emotion.

Why I Want To Be A Nurse Essay Examples 

Now let’s analyze some complete sample nursing personal statements for inspiration on crafting your own:

Why I Want to Be a Nurse at a Hospital: Essay

Essay on why i want to be a nurse assistant, 1000-word essay on why i want to be a nurse, essay on why i want to be a nurse, why i want to be a nurse: argumentative essay, mental health nursing personal statement, why i want to be a pediatrics nurse, why i want to be a nurse practitioner essay, writing a why i want to become a nurse essay.

To craft a standout nursing school application essay, prospective students should engage the reader with an emotional opening that illuminates their calling to the profession, whether through a compelling personal anecdote or vivid imagery expressing the profound impact of nursing. 

The conclusion should be resolved by painting an inspiring vision of how the writer’s skills, values, and determination will be channeled into excellence as a nursing student and future registered nurse, making an empathetic difference in patients’ lives.

With focused, mature writing that radiates passion and preparedness, a “why I want to become a registered nurse” personal statement can stand out amidst the competition as a window into a promising applicant’s commitment to this vital healthcare profession.

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Tips for Writing Your Nursing Program College Essays

This article was written based on the information and opinions presented by Giebien Na in a CollegeVine livestream. You can watch the full livestream for more info.

What’s Covered:

The importance of your college essays, general advice for writing your nursing essays.

If you know you want to be a nurse, you probably have quite a few reasons for that. Instead of merely relying on your academic and test performances to tell your story, you get the opportunity in your essays to share exactly why you’re so passionate about nursing. Writing about this can be a clarifying and even exciting process. This article explains why college application essays matter and how you should write about why you want to become a nurse.

Grades and test scores matter when you’re applying to college, but your essays can help improve your chances of admission. They’re how you can express your experiences and make your desire to become a nurse clear and personal.

If your prospective school doesn’t have supplemental essays, it’s a good idea to include your interest in nursing in your Common App essay . This could mean that you end up with two different drafts of the essay: one for if there are supplemental essays where you can discuss your interests in nursing and one for if there are not. You’ll change them out depending on whether you also have to respond to specific prompts about why you want to pursue nursing. This may not sound like much fun, but it will help you be admitted to your school of choice.

It might seem exciting to apply to a place where you don’t have to write extra essays—it’s less work! If you don’t do that additional work, though, you’ll have fewer chances to explain yourself. You might not be able to share exactly why you think that you’re the right fit for a certain college or program. 

If you are writing supplemental essays for the colleges that you’re interested in, you can include more details about your passion for nursing. You’ll often be asked, “why this major?” or “why this school?” When you have those opportunities to share your specific reasons, you can let yourself get personal and go deep into your passion. Use that space to share important details about who you are.

Start Broad

When writing essays entirely about why you want to pursue nursing , try to start from a broad interest, then slowly work your way to telling specific personal stories and goals. 

When first thinking about your general interest in nursing, ask yourself what attracts you to the work of being a nurse. This can lead to powerful potential responses. Maybe you like taking care of people in the community. Perhaps you’ve always known that you wanted to make a difference in the healthcare profession, but you don’t want to be a doctor. You’d rather make patients’ healthcare experiences as comfortable and pleasant as possible. 

After you’ve described these broad, overarching motivations for wanting to go into nursing, consider any personal experiences that have made you want to be a nurse. Think about moments you’ve had during hospital visits or checkups or an anecdote from a time that you decided to volunteer in a healthcare role. Once you’ve written these stories, you can end the essay by discussing your planned major and career goals.

Discuss Your Future Goals

If you know what your end goal is, be sure to include it. You can write about becoming a registered nurse or maybe a nurse practitioner. It doesn’t have to be set in stone , but sharing a final ambition can help anchor your personal narrative. Writing about the future that you want can help the admissions officer reading your essay see how you view yourself. If they can do this, they’ll better understand your values and motivations and see you as a real candidate for their school. 

You don’t have to follow this pattern exactly. For example, it can be powerful to begin your essay in the middle of the action—you can dive right into an anecdote and get the reader interested in your story from the jump. 

While you should avoid dramatization, starting with a few clear, memorable scenes or a line or two of dialogue can make for an instantly interesting essay. All of this helps you show your passion, rather than simply explaining what intrigues you about a nursing career. 

Once you’ve led with your narrative, though, remember to ground it in clear reasons for your intended career and what you want your future to look like. A good essay will be balanced between the past, present, and future. It’s how a college will see who you are and everything that you have to offer.

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Writing an Outstanding Application Nursing Essay

Embarking on the path to a nursing career involves navigating through various challenges and significant moments, with the nursing application essay standing out as a key component. This essential part of your application transcends mere formality; it presents a special chance for you to highlight your character, commitment, and aptitude for the nursing profession. In this detailed guide, we aim to explore the intricacies of creating a standout nursing application essay. Whether you’re just starting to explore the nursing field or are ready to submit your application, this article is your roadmap to success.

Understanding the Purpose of the Essay

What do nursing schools seek in your essay.

Nursing schools are looking for candidates with the academic qualifications and personal qualities essential for nursing. Your essay should reflect your compassion, empathy, commitment to the profession, and understanding of the nursing role.

The Essay’s Role in Your Application

Your application essay is your voice in the admission process. It’s where you can speak directly to the admissions committee, tell your story, and explain why you are drawn to the nursing field. This essay can be the deciding factor in your application, setting you apart from other candidates.

Preparing to Write

• Research: Aligning with the School’s Values

Prior to beginning your essay, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with the fundamental ideals and beliefs of the nursing school you’re applying to. Spend time browsing their website, absorbing their mission statement, and comprehending their perspective on nursing education. This crucial insight will help you tailor your essay to resonate with the school’s philosophy. This research will help you tailor your essay to resonate with their ethos.

• Self-reflection: Your Nursing Journey

Reflect on your experiences and why you chose nursing. Think about moments in your life that led you to pursue this career. These reflections will help you create an authentic and personal narrative.

• Brainstorming: Crafting Your Story

Take time to brainstorm ideas for your essay. Think about your strengths, experiences, and what aspects of nursing excite you. Make sure to note down these key points; they will be the essential framework for your essay.

Structuring Your Essay

• Introduction: Making a Strong First Impression

The introduction of your essay is your first chance to capture the reader’s attention. Begin with an engaging story, a meaningful personal experience, or a statement that makes the reader think. This approach will offer a window into your personality and highlight your enthusiasm for nursing.

• Body: Building Your Narrative

Organize the body of your essay around a few key experiences or ideas. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of your journey or a particular quality you possess. Use examples from your life to demonstrate your commitment, compassion, and ability to overcome challenges.

• Conclusion: Leaving a Lasting Impression

Your conclusion should wrap up your essay by summarizing the key points and reaffirming your interest and readiness for a nursing career. This is your final chance to remind the admissions committee why you are a suitable candidate.

Writing Tips and Best Practices

• Clarity and Conciseness

Keep your writing clear and concise. Avoid unnecessary jargon and be direct in your storytelling. Remember, the admissions committee reads many essays, so getting your point across quickly is crucial.

• Authenticity: Be Yourself

Your essay should reflect your true self. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. Honesty and sincerity will resonate more than trying to fit a certain mold you think the school wants.

• Using Specific Examples

Provide specific life examples rather than general statements about your passion for nursing. This might include volunteering, personal experiences with healthcare, or moments of inspiration from other nurses.

• Attention to Technical Details

Proofread your essay multiple times for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Also, adhere to the nursing school’s formatting guidelines, such as word count and font size.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Steering Clear of Clichés and Generalities

Clichés and overused phrases can make your essay sound generic. Instead, focus on providing unique insights and personal experiences that highlight individuality.

• Directly Answering the Essay Prompt

It’s crucial to stay on topic and answer the essay prompt directly. Deviating from the prompt can lead the admissions committee to question your attention to detail and ability to follow instructions.

• Avoiding Excessive Jargon

Revising and Refining Your Essay

• The Importance of Drafts and Revisions

Your first draft is just the beginning. Be prepared to revise and refine your essay several times. This process helps fine-tune your message and improve the overall flow and clarity.

• Seeking Feedback

Get feedback on your essay from mentors, teachers, or peers. They can provide valuable insights and suggest improvements you might not have considered.

• Final Proofreading

Before submitting your essay, do a thorough proofreading. Check for grammatical errors or typos, and ensure your essay adheres to the specified word limit and formatting requirements.

Crafting your nursing application essay is an opportunity for self-reflection and a chance to convey your zeal for nursing. It’s important to remain authentic, be truthful in your narrative, and allow your sincere passion for nursing to be evident. With careful preparation, thoughtful structure, and attention to detail, your essay can prove your readiness for a nursing career.

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How to Write a Nursing School Personal Statement: What to Include, Examples, and Mistakes to Avoid

So, you have decided to go to nursing school, or advance your nursing career by furthering your education. Now is the time to become familiar with the application process, get your transcripts and letters of recommendation in order and compose the, in some cases dreaded personal statement. Writing a personal statement is a common part of the application process when working to advance your education. However, the term "Personal Statement" is a bit of a misnomer. The universities and colleges asking for this essay are not looking for your life story. Instead, they want you to demonstrate what makes you uniquely qualified as a candidate for their program. In this post you will find the information necessary to make you stand out among hundreds of other applicants, create a personal statement tailored to your personal goals as well as to your potential institutions, and find out what common mistakes are made and how to avoid them.

Although some institutions will give you a specific prompt to discuss when applying to the program, many will request a general personal statement (aka a statement of purpose). There are some commonalities among all of these essays for which you will find appropriate advice here, to different degrees, depending on the program application requirements. Each of these essays should be written for the specific program you are applying to, so be wary of differences not only in essay type or topic but also appropriate formatting and length. Above all, be aware that you are writing to present yourself as a professional capable of caring for the lives of others; following their provided guidelines and avoiding familiar language (such as contractions and common word abbreviations) will allow you to present yourself in the best possible light.

General guidelines

The personal statement.

Although you want to refrain from telling the story of your life, you still want to make it personal. Be sure to illustrate with specific and unique examples why you are cut out for this career and the specific program you are applying to. There are many things that can be included in this category, not all of them will be right for each applicant to discuss or appropriate for the prompts that each individual provides. However, this list should give you an idea of what the evaluators are looking for in a strong candidate:

Educational background

• Did you take advanced biology classes in high school? If so, you may want to highlight this background and how it demonstrates your devotion to health care.
• Have you gone out of your way to learn relevant skills? Perhaps you can discuss your CPR certification training.
• Have you been administering insulin to a diabetic cat for years? This demonstrates a devotion to health care and the ability to learn transferable skills. In fact, my long history of doing this has come up in highly successful interviews in the past, which was the inspiration for this particular example. Although I was medicating a different species than I would be working with, this history demonstrates the ability to regulate insulin levels, properly store medication, fill a syringe safely, and correctly administer a subcutaneous injection.

Volunteer work

• Volunteer work at a hospital is likely a common point of discussion for aspiring nurses. e sure to tell a story about a situation that makes you stand out which solidified your certainty that this is the right field for you.
• Assisted living facilities, caring for special needs children, working at animal shelters, or volunteering at homeless shelters (among other things) may also be sources of inspiration that allow you to highlight why you should be accepted into the program.
• Supervisors in these types of positions may also be great resources for recommendation letters or potential proofreaders for the initial draft of your personal statement.

Work experience

• If you have worked in a related field in a paid position, this should definitely be not only included in your essay, but considered a potential source of a particularly persuasive letter of recommendation.
• Your employer may also be an excellent resource to ask for feedback regarding rough drafts of your personal statement.

Personal motivation

• Do you have a unique story that has compelled you to want to pursue the field of nursing; perhaps you helped care for a family member? These personal motivations are also excellent ways to set yourself apart.

Relevant acquired skills

• Have you acquired a particular skill set relevant to nursing outside of traditional means? This is the time to highlight that achievement. Perhaps you have experience working in a pharmacy or have proven yourself in high-stress situations; these characteristics translate well into the field of nursing.
• Another asset that you might find to be in your favor is fluency in a foreign language, or ASL. This unique skill set might make you a valuable candidate as well as a more highly sought after employee once you graduate.

Unique traits that make you stand out

• Thousands of applicants to nursing programs write that they have "always wanted to go into nursing", sometimes even in their opening line. Find a way to stand out.
• For example, in my personal statement, I wrote about how I actually did not have a traditional story that culminated in my pursuit of higher education. I found my way from grill cook and karate instructor to medical research science. Embrace the fact that you may not be conventional. Letting your personality, background and voice come through in your personal statement will help the admissions committee determine if you are a great fit for their program.

The right fit

As with any educational program, fit is important when looking into pursuing a nursing degree. Demonstrating that you have researched the program, and illustrating in your essay why it is the place for you, will set you apart from other applicants. Additionally, if your long term goal is to be an ER nurse, for example, and you are applying to a program known for a different type of nursing, application reviewers will see this in a negative light.

Essay topics

In some cases, colleges and universities will give you a specific prompt for this essay or ask for a series of short essays addressing particular questions. In these cases, be sure to answer their questions thoroughly and be aware of formatting guidelines and word count limitations. Equally important, be sure to demonstrate ways in which you are a good fit for not only the program, but also the nursing profession. This is a position that is both incredibly personal and physically demanding, but also a situation where you need to be cool under fire and fastidious with your work. Use any opportunity you can to demonstrate that you possess these characteristics in a way that makes you a highly competitive candidate and a potential star in your chosen field.

If you have applied for continued education in the past and have written this kind of essay before, you may have noticed that applying to nursing programs is a bit unique. Particularly, there is a more empathic slant to writing these essays. As personal statements go, writing one for a nursing program is much more 'personal' than preparing one for academic study. To put this all in context, below are some sample essay prompts used by nursing schools in the past. Following this, some advice from successful career nurses will lend an additional perspective from professionals directly working in the field you aspire to join.

Sample prompts

The Vanderbilt University website currently gives the following information regarding the personal statement portion of the application process:

Your Statement of Purpose should reflect your understanding of the role of the advanced practice nurse and your interest in a particular patient population. Before writing your statement of purpose, please carefully review information about the specialty on our web site so that you clearly indicate to the faculty that your career goals are a fit with the specialty. If you are applying to a dual specialty, be sure to address the scope of practice in each specialty area. Students are offered admission to their selected specialty; it is not possible to enter the program undecided about your specialty area. Vanderbilt University

As you can see, this program focuses on your understanding of what it takes to work in the nursing field and puts a particular emphasis on the patient population you want to work with and the reason behind this decision. They also focus on familiarity with the program, as discussed above. These are points that likely generalize to numerous programs and to personal statements for this field in general.

Yale University has the following requirements, according to a website which generates advice specific to nursing personal statements. This site offers the following advice, which echoes the focal points found here, and may offer further information as you pursue your continued education and refine your personal statement. As you can see, Yale differs in its requirements and constrains the length of the personal statement considerably.

Yale University nursing requires you to write a 250-word essay with free choice of your subject. In writing your essay, it is important that this provides you the advantage to stay ahead of your competition. You should be able to include intellectual development, skills, interests, potential contribution to the progress of National University nursing and among many others. It is important to note that Yale University school of nursing utilizes strict admission process so you should be able to comply with top-notch standards. Do not compromise your admission simply by sending out a poorly written personal statement. To improve your chances in Yale University school of nursing, your essay should be able to reflect your dedication, excellence, commitment, and genuine interest to belong to Yale. In your Yale University nursing personal statement, you should also be able to highlight components of your background from academic to personal that will provide the admissions committee an overview of who you are and what you can deliver. To guarantee your admission in National University Nursing, you should be able to provide your readers with information that is unique and interesting that is not shown in any part of your application. Yale University

The essay requested in this case is considerably short, however, it allows you to write about the topic of your choice. This gives you the opportunity to present yourself as a unique candidate. In this personal statement, it is still important to choose a topic that allows you to address all of their listed points of concern to the best of your ability within the constraints of the allotted space. This excerpt also stresses the focus on compliance to high standards necessary to successfully complete the nursing program. Although this is a very short essay, it is emphasized how important it is to ensure that this work is well composed. Writing a rushed essay will be obvious to those reviewing applications and reflects poorly on your ability to perform at a high level, both academically and as a potential future nurse. Additionally, it is re-emphasized in this piece that it is important to understand the program to which you are applying. As they state, it is important to demonstrate a "genuine interest in belonging to Yale"; this is true of all program applications. Always focus a portion of your essay on demonstrating why this particular program is right for you and what unique skills you bring to the table that other applicants do not. Finally, always remember not to simply reiterate information that already has been included elsewhere in your application; be sure to tell the committee something new and interesting that gives you a competitive edge.

This differs from Fairfield University's DNP program , which requires that the applicant:

• Discuss a practice problem in your field that, in your experience, has a broad impact on patient care outcomes.
• State professional goals for the next 5-10 years.
• Explain how a DNP will help you reach your goals.

As you can see, depending on the institution and level of degree program that you are interested in, the requirements for application can vary greatly. In the case of the Doctor of Nursing Program offered at this university, the personal statement is more focused on the background of the applicant directly relating to their previous experience in their nursing careers. There is also a focus on the ability to think critically about the field, its shortcomings, and how they can be amended. This institution also has an interest in your long-term career development and plans for up to the next 10 years. Remember that reflecting on this in your personal statement allows you to demonstrate your potential to raise the reputation of the university in the long term, a topic that they have a demonstrated interest in learning about you as an applicant. Planning your long term career goals will also assist you in deciding which programs are the best fit for you and will allow you to gain the appropriate background to reach these goals over your career.

What degree program is right for you?

It is important to know that there are a variety of nursing degrees that can be applied for, even within a single university. Each of these offers a different career path, and potential for further education or future job promotion. Before you decide which program you want to attend, you should research the many options available within the nursing field. An example of the options that should be considered can be found at the University of Rochester website :

• Accelerated Programs for Non-Nurses (BS & MS) for students with a non-nursing bachelor's degree and want to become a nurse in just 12 months.
• RN to BS program: for students who want to earn a bachelor's degree in as little as 16 months with part-time coursework.
• Clinical Nurse Leader (MS) for licensed registered nurses who already hold a bachelor's degree in nursing.
• Health Care Organization Management and Leadership (MS) for all applicants with a bachelor's degree.
• Nursing Education (MS) for nurses who aspire to teach at either a college of nursing or within a clinical setting.
• Nurse Practitioner program (MS) for nurses who want to provide another level of care for their patients.
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) for nurses entering at the post-baccalaureate or post-master's level.
• PhD in Nursing & Health Practice program for all licensed health professionals who already hold a master's degree.
• Legal Nurse Consultant Course for registered nurses or advanced practice nurses.
• Care Manager Education program for nurses or other health professionals currently working in a care manager capacity, or entering this growing field.
• RN First Assistant program for CNOR or APRN's.

This may not be a comprehensive list, but it gives you an idea of the level of diversity available to you. Become familiar with the programs at each institution you apply to and ensure that they will give you the appropriate foundation to achieve your long-term goals, both in your career and in potentially continuing your education further.

What do nurses say?

Discussions with successful nurses who have completed this process have revealed that, unlike personal statements for academic programs, this essay has a more personal bent. Revealing your altruism and desire to help people, as well as your motivation toward expanding your knowledge and personal growth are appropriate in these essays. You should also highlight how your increased knowledge and growth will allow you to help your patients and become a more effective practitioner. Emphasizing these things while telling an anecdotal story about volunteer work, an aid job, or other experiences will allow you the ability to express these things while demonstrating your unique skills and understanding of the field. Another point often made by individuals who have been successful in furthering their education, and therefore in writing these letters, is that it is sometimes appropriate to discuss your background disadvantages; perhaps you did not achieve top grades because you also had to work full time, for example. Communicating this to reviewers demonstrates that you can persevere in times of hardship and remained committed to your education.

Recapitulation of key points:

• Emphasize what makes you a unique applicant.
• Discuss why you want to be a nurse, and in what field, in a way that conveys your personality and sets you apart.
• Remember that this is a professional document; use formal language, not contractions.
• Do not start your personal statement essay with "I have always wanted to be a nurse." or "I have always wanted to help people." These, and similar sentiments, are common in these essays. An intriguing opening statement will get the attention of the application review committee and make you more memorable. Remember, the reviewers are reading hundreds of these a day, if not more.
• Refrain from reiterating the information that can be found in your application. Not only is this redundant, but you will be forfeiting the opportunity to demonstrate to the review panel how you stand apart from the other applicants.
• Research each program and write a letter that demonstrates why the program is a good fit for you.
• Remember to showcase any skills you have developed that will make you a successful student as well as a long-term asset to the program.

These techniques will allow you to compose a more competitive personal statement for any program you choose. A well-researched and written essay will give you an edge during the application process. Make yourself stand out from the rather large crowd of applicants with a compelling introductory statement and remember to be your (professional) self. This will help to ensure that you get accepted into a program that is a good fit for you, your education, and your career goals. Apply to multiple programs at a variety of levels of competitiveness, you will not get admitted into every program you apply to, but hopefully you will get into the right one.

Anna’s Student Nursing Experience

On Wednesday 2nd September (8pm-9pm UK time) @EBNursingBMJ is co-hosting a twitter chat on student nursing and midwifery with @RCNStudents 

To celebrate the contributions our student nurses/midwives make – we are sharing blogs of their experiences in practice.  Today’s blog is from Anna Jones , a second year student nurse on the children’s branch, from the University of Leeds 

My name is Anna Jones and I am a second year student nurse. I am studying at the University of Leeds and my branch is children’s nursing. I am currently on my summer annual leave and I have to say, I’m enjoying every minute! As much as I enjoy my course, it’s a relief to have a break! To say that second year has been difficult would be an understatement. Continual deadlines whilst working on placement all year has been exhausting, but a challenge I am proud to say that I have overcome. Being a student nurse brings many challenges every day. Whether it’s completing an assignment, frantically trying to get a certain skill signed off or ironing your uniform after a twelve and a half hour shift ready for another the next day. What I would give for my own fairy god mother!

However, these challenges do not compare to the ones many patients encounter daily and I am forever putting my own life into perspective to realise how truly lucky myself and many others are to have good health. Working within the field of paediatrics is incredibly rewarding and a joy to meet and care for so many courageous children and families. The strength and resilience they have to face each day is remarkable and gives me the motivation to deliver the best care I can, because my patient’s deserve nothing less.

Like I mentioned, this year has been a tough one – I thought first year was difficult but nothing can prepare you for the jump to second year. I first worked on a day case surgical ward which I loved. Whilst the no nights and weekends were a bonus, meeting so many children and families every shift was a delight. I was able to accompany patients throughout their short stay in hospital, from their admission and the journey to the anaesthetic room to bringing them back to the ward and saying goodbye as they were discharged. Although this was a short experience for patients and their families, do not underestimate the fear and anxieties that are experienced and how valuable the role of nurses are to lend a comforting smile and words of encouragement as children prepare for their surgery.

Being a children’s nurse means delivering the upmost care to that patient, but also ensuring family centred care is encapsulated within practice because they are also on this journey, experiencing a vast range of emotions. Comforting a parent who was crying as their child had been anaesthetised and taken to surgery, having only known them for a few hours seems a bit of an awkward situation. But when you are in that role, that caring role of a nurse, you pat them on the back, lend them a shoulder to cry on or even give them a hug, all with no hesitation. Because if you cannot show that level of compassion and empathy, how can you truly fulfil your role as a nurse?

The rest of my placements this year have been based in the community, one of which was health visiting. Students often have mixed reactions about health visiting but for me it was very different to life on the ward! 9am starts was one of the best perks, an extra two hours in bed was bliss! Working 9-5 Monday to Friday was also a very different routine, and one which I actually found more tiring than 3 long days on a ward. Community placements were slightly more relaxed compared to the busy pace of a ward, but do not doubt the workload. One baby is born every forty seconds in the UK, and each one needs a health visitor. But I enjoyed the placement and an area of health care I would certainly consider further along in my career. Another placement within the community was based at a SILC school. These are Specialist Inclusive Learning Centres for children with special needs. This was a special placement for several reasons; meeting children with specialist and complex needs was so valuable as a student nurse. To see the small yet significant impact you were making on these children was endearing and a valuable learning experience for future practice. The school was also where my grandma had nursed for 20 years; I had quite literally stepped into her shoes! As you can see, nursing runs in the family…

I found that working in the community was a valuable experience to ascertain the care that is delivered outside of the hospital setting. It was also important to become aware of all the services available for children and families to ensure that you are working as part of a wider team to ensure that the care you deliver is holistic within the context of that patient. I realise I sound like I’m writing an essay but it is so important to deliver effective, person centred care. To put my job into perspective, I always try to imagine if it was my younger sister or brother being cared for which gives me the drive to deliver the care that my patients deserve. If my parents or grandparents had to go into hospital, I would want the best level of care delivered to them, as would everyone. This is why the notion of ‘person centred care’ should resonate throughout the nursing workforce and an aspect I will channel within my career. At the beginning of my nursing programme I discovered a quote by Maya Angelou that encapsulates this well within the context of nursing:

‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

I have one more placement of my second year, 4 weeks on a respiratory ward which I begin in a few weeks time. It’s been nice to relax and have some time off but I am looking forward to being thrown back into the whirlwind that is nursing. I will then continue straight into third year. My final year. With so many assignments and placements, qualifying has always seemed like a lifetime away, but now it’s only 60 weeks away (to be precise!) Am I apprehensive? Yes. I can already feel the huge weight that is third year beginning to rest on my shoulders with the prospect of dissertation and applying for jobs. Am I ready? Sometimes I’m not so sure, but I’ve got this far so there is definitely no turning back now! Am I excited with what the next few years will bring? Absolutely.

Anna Jones @AnnaJones6

Comment and Opinion | Open Debate

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10 Tips on Writing a Nursing School Admission Essay

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Your essay is a crucial part of your application, as it allows the admissions committee to learn more about you, your passion for nursing, and your goals.

In this article, I’ll share some of my best tips on writing a standout nursing school admission essay.

Tips for Writing a Nursing School Admission Essay

1. understand the prompt.

Before you start writing, make sure you understand the essay prompt or question. Take the time to read and analyze it carefully to know exactly what the admissions committee is looking for in your essay.

The prompt may ask you to discuss your reasons for choosing nursing as a career. It may ask you about your experiences and accomplishments that have prepared you for nursing school. Maybe your future goals as a nurse.

To fully grasp the prompt, break it down into smaller components and consider each part separately.

For example, if the prompt asks you to describe a challenging situation you’ve faced and how you overcame it, think about what the admissions committee wants to learn about you through this question.

They might be interested in your problem-solving skills, your resilience, or your ability to learn from difficult experiences. Understanding the underlying purpose of the prompt will help you craft a more focused and relevant response.

Additionally, research the nursing school you’re applying to, as this can provide valuable context for your essay. Learn about the school’s mission, values, and the qualities they seek in their students.

This information can help you tailor your essay to align with the nursing program’s expectations and showcase your fit for the school.

2. Plan and outline your essay

Creating an outline for your essay is a crucial step in writing. Organizing your thoughts and ideas into a logical structure helps ensure your essay flows smoothly and stays focused on the main topic.

An outline can also save you time and prevent writer’s block by giving you a roadmap to follow as you write your essay.

Start by brainstorming the main points you want to cover in your essay. Think about how these points relate to the prompt and how they support your overall message. Once you have a list of ideas, prioritize them based on their importance and relevance to the prompt.

Next, organize your ideas into a logical order. An essay typically has an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

In the introduction, you’ll want to capture the reader’s attention and introduce your main point or thesis statement.

The body paragraphs will expand on your main point, providing evidence and examples to support your argument.

Finally, the conclusion will summarize your main points and provide a closing thought.

Create a subheading or bullet point for each body paragraph in your outline.

Underneath each subheading, jot down a few notes or key phrases you’ll expand upon in the paragraph.

This will give you a clear structure to follow as you write, ensuring that each paragraph stays focused on a single topic and contributes to your overall message.

Remember that your outline is a flexible tool. As you write, you may need to adjust your outline to better fit your ideas or to more effectively address the essay prompt.

Don’t be afraid to revise your outline as needed to create the strongest essay possible.

3. Start with a strong introduction

Your introduction should grab the reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your essay.

It’s essential to make a strong first impression, as the introduction will shape the reader’s perception of your essay and determine whether they continue reading with interest or not.

To create a captivating introduction, consider starting with a compelling anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a powerful statement that relates to your main point or thesis.

This “hook” should engage your audience and make them want to read more.

For example, you might share a personal story about a meaningful experience that inspired your passion for nursing or ask a question that challenges common misconceptions about the nursing profession.

Once you’ve captured the reader’s attention, provide some context for your essay and introduce your main point or thesis statement.

This statement should clearly and concisely convey the central idea you’ll explore throughout your essay.

It serves as a roadmap for your reader, guiding them through the main points you’ll cover in your essay and helping them understand your overall argument.

4. Be authentic

When writing your nursing school admission essay, your storytelling must be authentic and genuine. The admissions committee wants to learn about the real you, not just a polished, idealized version of yourself.

Being honest about your experiences, goals, and aspirations will create a more compelling and memorable essay that stands out from the competition.

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable ( within reason, of course ) and share your personal story, including any challenges or obstacles you’ve faced along the way.

This can demonstrate your resilience, perseverance, and growth as an individual. Remember that nobody’s perfect, and the admissions committee isn’t expecting you to be either.

They want to see your passion for nursing and your commitment to overcoming adversity in pursuit of your goals.

Also, avoid using cliches or generic statements that could apply to any nursing school applicant. Instead, focus on what makes you unique and why you’re an excellent fit for the nursing program you’re applying to.

This might include your background, personal experiences, specific nursing interests, or long-term career aspirations.

5. Show, don’t tell

One of the most effective ways to make your essay engaging and memorable is to use descriptive language and vivid examples to illustrate your points.

This technique, known as “showing, not telling,” allows the reader to visualize your experiences and emotions, making your essay more compelling and personal.

For example, instead of simply stating that you’re compassionate and empathetic, show the reader how you’ve demonstrated these qualities in your life.

You might describe a specific situation where you provided emotional support to a friend going through a difficult time or volunteered at a nursing home, connecting with residents on a personal level.

When using examples, be specific and focus on the details that will help the reader understand and relate to your experiences.

This will not only make your essay more engaging but also provide evidence that supports your claims about your personal qualities and experiences.

6. Stay focused

It’s essential to keep your essay focused on the prompt and avoid going off on unrelated tangents.

Including irrelevant information or anecdotes can distract the reader and weaken your overall message.

To maintain focus, continually refer back to the essay prompt as you write and ensure that each paragraph contributes to your main point or thesis statement.

When writing your essay, resist the temptation to include every detail about your life or accomplishments.

Instead, select the most relevant and impactful experiences that directly relates to the prompt and showcase your suitability for the nursing program.

By staying focused and concise, you’ll demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively, a crucial skill for nursing professionals.

7. Be concise

Adhering to the word limit for your essay and being concise in your writing are important aspects of crafting a strong nursing school admission essay.

Admissions committees review many essays, so keeping yours clear, focused, and easy to read is essential.

To be concise, focus on presenting your ideas and experiences clearly and straightforwardly.

Avoid using overly complex language, jargon, or unnecessary filler words. Instead, choose words and phrases that accurately convey your message without being overly verbose.

When editing your essay, look for areas where you can eliminate repetition or condense your ideas without losing the overall meaning.

This may involve rephrasing sentences, removing redundant words, or combining ideas into a single, cohesive statement.

Being concise will make it easier for the admissions committee to understand and appreciate your essay, increasing your chances of making a positive impression.

8. Edit and proofread

Carefully editing and proofreading your essay is essential to making a strong impression on the admissions committee.

A polished, well-written essay demonstrates your attention to detail and commitment to excellence.

First, take a break after completing your initial draft to give yourself some distance from your work. This will make it easier to approach your essay with fresh eyes and a more objective perspective.

When you’re ready to begin editing, read your essay out loud to yourself or have someone else read it to you. This can help you identify awkward phrasing, unclear sentences, and areas that need improvement.

As you edit, focus on your essay’s overall structure, coherence, and flow.

Make sure your paragraphs transition smoothly from one idea to the next, and ensure that your evidence and examples effectively support your main points.

Remove any repetitive or irrelevant content, and revise vague or confusing sentences.

Once you’ve made revisions to the content and organization of your essay, proofread it carefully for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

You can use an online grammar checker like Grammarly, but don’t rely solely on these tools.

They can miss errors or suggest incorrect changes, so it’s essential to review your essay carefully yourself or enlist the help of someone with strong writing skills.

9. Get feedback

Seeking feedback on your essay from trusted friends, family members, or mentors can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improvement.

When you’re immersed in the writing process, it’s easy to overlook issues or become attached to certain ideas. Getting an outside perspective can help you identify areas that need clarification or revision.

When you ask for feedback, be specific about the type of input you’re looking for.

For example, you might ask your reviewer to focus on the clarity of your main point, the effectiveness of your examples, or the overall organization of your essay.

Encourage them to provide honest constructive criticism and be open to their suggestions.

Take the time to thoughtfully consider the feedback you receive and decide which suggestions to incorporate into your essay.

10. Give yourself time

Avoid waiting until the last minute to write your essay.

Giving yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, edit, and revise will help you submit the best possible essay with your nursing school application.

Rushing through the process can lead to mistakes, missed opportunities, and an essay that doesn’t effectively showcase your passion and potential as a future nurse.

Create a timeline for your essay-writing process that includes deadlines for brainstorming, outlining, writing, revising, and proofreading deadlines.

This will help you stay on track and ensure that you’re dedicating the necessary time and effort to each stage of the writing process.

Additionally, giving yourself ample time allows for breaks, which can help you maintain your focus and motivation as you work on your essay.

Be Successful in Nursing School

Writing a standout nursing school admission essay is a critical step in your journey to becoming a nurse, but it’s not the last step. Once you get in, you’ll want to have the right tools to be successful.

Have You Read These Yet?

• How to Go to Nursing School and Work Full Time
• How to Apply to Nursing School
• How to Become a Nurse Right After High School
• What Math Classes Are Required For Nursing School?

About the Author

Nurse Money Talk is a career and lifestyle blog for nurses and nursing students. Our goal is to help nursing students become nurses and nurses excel in their nurse career and nurse life.

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• Ask Nurse Thomas

How to Write a Winning Nursing Application Essay

Not everyone dreads writing their nursing application essay. Some consider writing a strong suit. But others definitely don’t. If you fall in the latter category, take heart; submitting a well-crafted, winning essay isn’t as difficult as it may seem.

It may help to keep in mind that a bad essay probably won’t ruin your chances of becoming a nurse. But a good essay could mean the difference between getting accepted into a program of your choice, at a time of your choosing, or not. That’s because admissions personnel often turn to the application essay to differentiate among candidates who might otherwise seem equivalent. A good application essay can set you apart from the pack and help your application stand out.

Of course, if writing were your passion, you’d probably be pursuing a different career. Admissions staff for nursing programs throughout the U.S., including those at the Denver College of Nursing , understand this. In addition to giving you a chance to reveal a bit about yourself and your motivation for becoming a nurse, admissions personnel view the essay as a way to assess skills that go beyond writing ability. For example, it can be a quick way to assess whether you’re capable of following instructions carefully.

Importance of the Nursing Application Essay

The nursing school application essay is an important part of the admissions process. It not only provides insight about an applicant that goes beyond grades and test scores, but also gives the applicant an opportunity to discuss personal and professional aspirations and explain why they’re passionate about becoming a registered nurse (RN).

An application essay provides a glimpse into an applicant’s character and values. It also helps applicants demonstrate their ability to convey thoughts coherently, a vital skill for nurses who must communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare teams, among others.  

The admission essay also presents students with an opportunity to highlight unique experiences they’ve had, challenges they’ve overcome, and impactful moments in their lives that have motivated them to pursue a nursing degree. Whether it’s a story about a transformative volunteer experience or a story about how an intensive care unit (ICU) nurse helped care for a family member, these narratives help differentiate candidates by showcasing their potential contributions to the profession.

Writing a compelling nursing school application essay is about more than drafting words onto a page. It’s about crafting a final product that enables admissions counselors to see applicants as more than their GPA, educational history, and academic achievements. It can be an equally important skill for students looking to apply for grants and scholarships to help them pay for nursing school .

Tips for Your Nursing Admission Essay

Writing a nursing school application essay requires finesse and clarity. Below are just a few of the tips students can use to craft an essay they can be proud of.

1. Follow Instructions Carefully

Think of your essay as another type of screening tool. For example, applicants who fail to follow instructions properly are easily weeded out of the pile. This makes sense when you consider the ultimate importance of following instructions and staying on task in nursing school.

Managing your workload, meeting expectations, and making deadlines will be crucial to your success. It’s far too easy to fall behind — and never catch back up — if you don’t practice self-discipline during nursing school.

If the expected length of your nursing application essay isn’t spelled out, assume that you should submit no more than two pages of text. If you’re assigned a specific topic, be sure to address it, even if you only use it as a springboard to launch your essay in a new direction.

2. Don’t Procrastinate

Writing a strong essay may take more time than you realize. Accordingly, it makes sense to allow plenty of time to complete your essay. Unless you’re already an accomplished writer, assume that crafting a polished essay will take considerable time for brainstorming, drafting, editing, and rewriting.

It may be helpful to create an outline first. But try not to overthink it. Writing that comes from the heart — not the head — is often some of the most compelling writing there is. But even heartfelt sentiments require a bit of effort to shine on the page. Clear phrasing and attention to detail matter.

3. Don’t Be Intimidated

The idea of creating an outline and writing one or more drafts can sound daunting, but it doesn’t need to be. A rough draft can simply be a bunch of words strung together that capture your stream of consciousness. It’s OK not to worry about grammar, structure, transitions, or other technical details when writing a rough draft.

Remember, it’s called a rough draft for a reason. The point is to gather your thoughts, ideas, and even feelings, and give them voice. Once you’ve done this, you’ll likely find that making revisions; fixing grammar and spelling errors; and eliminating unclear, unnecessary, or inappropriate words or phrases comes more easily. Writers used to do this by hand. Today’s technology makes it remarkably easy to edit on the fly, and numerous digital proofreading tools are available to help you fine-tune your writing.

4. Make the Essay Yours

Lastly, avoid the obvious, the expected, or the banal. Recognize that there are certain sentiments that virtually every applicant will be tempted to express. Try to avoid the expected and do something a little different. That doesn’t mean you should be different for the sake of being different. But sharing something that other writers haven’t already discussed can be valuable.

Attempt to craft a strong, compelling opening sentence or paragraph. In any piece of writing, it’s important to hook your reader early for optimal impact.

You and your experiences are unique. Take the plunge and dare to bare a bit of your soul and bring some of the emotion that motivates you into your writing. As noted earlier, writing that comes from the heart is invariably more gripping than writing that appears to follow a template. Allow your essay to tell a story: the story of you. But keep it succinct and keep it honest. 

Pursue Your Dream of Becoming a Registered Nurse

Aspiring nurses across the U.S., whether they’re interested in earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) , a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) , an RN to BSN , or a Master of Science of Nursing (MSN) , must start their educational journey by applying to an accredited nursing program and crafting a nursing application essay.

Are you ready to take the next step toward your dream of pursuing a nursing job at a hospital, community care clinic, or group medical practice? Discover how completing a nursing degree with the Denver College of Nursing can prepare you for the next step in your career.

Recommended Readings Celebrating Important Women in Medicine and Healthcare Making a Difference in Texas as a Rural Healthcare Safety Net Provider Nurse What Does an OR Nurse Do?  

Sources BigFuture, Tips for Writing an Effective Application Essay  Indeed, Writing an Application Essay for Nursing School Admission IntelyCare, "Tips to Write a Personal Statement for Nursing School” 

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Modal Question

Essay on Being A Student Nurse

Students are often asked to write an essay on Being A Student Nurse in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Being A Student Nurse

Introduction to student nursing.

Being a student nurse is a mix of learning and practice. It’s about studying the science of health and medicine, while also caring for people. It is a challenging yet rewarding journey, where you learn to help people when they are at their most vulnerable.

The Learning Phase

The first step to becoming a nurse is education. Student nurses spend a lot of time in classrooms, learning about human anatomy, diseases, and treatments. They also learn about ethics and laws related to healthcare. This knowledge forms the base of their nursing career.

Practical Experience

In addition to classroom learning, student nurses also gain hands-on experience. They work in hospitals and clinics under the supervision of experienced nurses and doctors. This helps them apply their learning in real-world situations.

The Challenges

Being a student nurse is not easy. It involves long hours of study and work, dealing with sickness and death, and managing stress. But, overcoming these challenges makes them stronger and prepares them for their future roles.

The Rewards

250 words essay on being a student nurse, what is a student nurse.

A student nurse is a person who is learning to be a nurse. They go to a special school called a nursing school. Here, they learn about how to take care of sick people. They also learn about medicines and how the human body works.

What Does a Student Nurse Do?

A student nurse does many things. They go to classes and learn from books. They also get hands-on practice. This means they get to do real nursing tasks under the watchful eyes of experienced nurses. They might help patients eat, take vital signs like temperature, or give medicine.

Why is it Important to be a Student Nurse?

Being a student nurse is important because it is the first step to becoming a nurse. Without this training, a person can’t become a nurse. It’s also important because it helps the student nurse learn if this is the right career for them.

Challenges of a Student Nurse

Being a student nurse is not always easy. It can be hard to see people who are very sick. It can also be tough to learn all the things you need to know. But many student nurses say it is worth it. They feel happy when they can help people feel better.

So, being a student nurse is a big job. It takes a lot of learning and practice. But it is a very important job. Without student nurses, we would not have nurses to take care of us when we are sick. Student nurses are very special people who work hard to help others.

500 Words Essay on Being A Student Nurse

The journey of learning.

Becoming a student nurse means starting a journey of learning. This journey is filled with a lot of new information. Student nurses learn about human bodies, illnesses, and how to take care of sick people. They also learn how to work with doctors and other nurses. This education is not just from books but also from real-life experiences.

The Importance of Practical Training

Practical training is a big part of being a student nurse. This means working in a real hospital or clinic, under the watchful eyes of experienced nurses. Here, student nurses get to apply what they have learned in class. They get to interact with patients, give them medicines, and assist in their care. This practical training helps student nurses understand what their job will be like when they become full nurses.

Challenges and Rewards

Teamwork and communication.

Student nurses also learn about teamwork and communication. Nurses don’t work alone. They are part of a team that includes other nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers. Good communication is key to this teamwork. Student nurses learn how to talk to their team members, how to listen, and how to make sure everyone understands what needs to be done.

Preparation for the Future

Being a student nurse is a big step towards becoming a full nurse. It prepares students for the challenges and rewards of nursing. It gives them the knowledge and skills they need to care for patients. And it gives them a taste of the teamwork and communication that are so important in healthcare.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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• Open access
• Published: 15 August 2024

Nurturing ethical insight: exploring nursing students’ journey to ethical competence

• Sylvia Hansen   ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0003-8733-6892 1 ,
• Elisabeth Hessevaagbakke 1 ,
• Katrin Lindeflaten 1 ,
• Kaja Elvan 1 &
• Daniela Lillekroken 1  

BMC Nursing volume  23 , Article number:  568 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

459 Accesses

Metrics details

Ethical competence is a key competence in nursing and the development of the competence is a central part in nursing education. During clinical studies, nursing students face ethical problems that require them to apply and develop their ethical knowledge and skills. Little is known about how ethical competence evolves during students’ initial clinical placements. This study explored the development of ethical competence in first-year nursing students during their first clinical placements in nursing homes.

This exploratory-descriptive qualitative study used focus group interviews to collect data and a phenomenological hermeneutical method for analysis. Twenty-eight first-year nursing students participated in six focus groups. The data were collected between March and April 2024 at Oslo Metropolitan University in Norway.

The naïve reading of the data involved an awareness of the students applying their prior knowledge, modifying their prior knowledge and developing skills that allowed them to manoeuvre ethical practices that, in some cases, appeared excellent and, in other cases, grim. The structural analysis identified three themes: (i) ethical competence forges in practice, (ii) ethical competence evolves at the intersection of knowledge and skills and (iii) ethical competence unfolds through meaningful discussions. A comprehensive understanding of the data was formulated as ‘Being on a journey towards ethical competence’. This presents a metaphor illustrating that nursing students embark on a journey towards ethical competence; from their point of departure, their clinical experiences forge the essential waypoints along their path, knowledge and skills fuelling their navigation in rugged terrain towards their destination.

Conclusions

Nursing students’ ethical competence evolved in intricate ways during their initial clinical period. Being informed bystanders or participants in the care of nursing home residents in situations of ethical tension may be a unique position enabling students to evaluate care options differently from those immersed in the ward culture. The findings indicate that organised professional development in nursing homes needs to focus on more reflexively driven ways of supervising students in their first clinical study period. Educational institutions need to continue and further develop reflection-based learning activities and meeting points with students and their peers during their clinical placement periods.

Peer Review reports

Ethical competence is at the core of nurses’ integrity [ 1 ]. The overall aim of nursing is to deliver proficient healthcare services. However, the assessment of how services are delivered requires value-based and ethical inquiry [ 2 ]. Practicing nursing with integrity amid the complex moral choices and pressures that nurses confront on a daily basis is challenging [ 3 ]. Not living up to the ethical standards of nursing puts patients’ well-being at risk and is associated with human costs on patients’ behalf [ 4 ]. Furthermore, violating the ethical standards of nursing is also associated with moral injury [ 5 ]. To ensure high ethical standards in nursing, it is essential to enhance ethical training in the curriculum [ 6 , 7 , 8 ]; this training aims to cultivate moral qualities in students, preparing them for their roles as nurses. Being a ‘good’ nurse requires not only procedural skills and clinical reasoning but also strong moral qualities and ethical reasoning.

Improvements in nursing students’ ethical competence can positively affect appropriate and timely clinical outcomes [ 7 ]. The ways in which nursing and other healthcare professions educational institutions organise and implement learning activities to promote students’ ethical competence vary, and different approaches may yield diverse results [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. However, the experiences students in the healthcare professions gain through their clinical studies substantial impact their learning outcome [ 15 , 16 ]. According to Mezirow [ 17 ], encountering a real ethical problem initiates an inner process that is essential to the development of ethical competence. The process consists of two steps. First, one identifies the problem at hand. Then, the essence of the problem is mirrored in the self, and ethical reflection and assessment starts as an attempt to identify just solutions.

In Norway, although learning activities vary from institution to institution, a key requirement in the curriculum for a bachelor’s degree in nursing is that graduates are qualified to reflect on and handle ethical problems in their professional roles. Additionally, they must be qualified to plan and implement respectful, collaborative and comprehensive interactions with patients and the patients’ next of kin [ 18 ]. By their nature, these qualifications are related to clinical skills. Therefore, training and guidance to achieve mandatory qualifications cannot be separated from clinical studies, which make up 50% of the total study hours in nursing education in Norway.

In the bachelor’s programme in nursing at Oslo Metropolitan University [ 19 ] in Norway, nursing students’ ethical training during clinical studies emphasises developing ethical competence through a discursive model of ethical reflection. This model, which is known as the Center for Medical Ethics model, or the CME model [ 20 ], is extensively utilised across interdisciplinary settings in Norwegian health service settings. The application of ethical decision-making models is a widely used method for systematic training as a way to enhance ethically justified reasoning and well-grounded decision-making [ 21 ]. The CME model equips students with a practical and applicable tool for developing ethical competence. The model is considered to be well suited because of its relatively simple structure and ability to apply knowledge and assessment directly to subject matter and practical solutions. Furthermore, using the model enhances discourse and diversity in the structured process of addressing ethical and legal problems.

Over the years, researchers have conducted studies to better understand the concept of ethical competence in healthcare professionals. A review conducted by Kulju et al. [ 22 ] aimed to analyse the concept of ethical competence in the context of healthcare. Based on the results, ethical competence can be defined in terms of character strength, ethical awareness, moral judgement skills and willingness to do good. Virtuous professionals, the experience of professionals, human communication, ethical knowledge and supporting surroundings can be seen as prerequisites for healthcare personnel to develop ethical competence.

In an integrative review, Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ] aimed to clarify the concept of ethical competence, identifying six distinct yet interconnected components related to the concept: ethical sensitivity , the ability to recognise ethical tension; ethical knowledge , the integration of philosophical, normative, deontological and practical knowledge; ethical reflection , a continuous process evaluating alternatives to ethical issues; ethical decision-making , choosing responsibly among options; ethical action , contextually adapted action driven by reflection; and ethical behaviour , embodied moderation and respect. These components elucidate how ethical competence evolves among healthcare personnel and students.

Understanding the concept of ethical competence and its development in nursing students in different learning contexts is still challenging. The various studies addressing ethical competence in nursing students often target one of the six components identified by Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ], the relationship between two or more of the components or one of the components related to other phenomena. For example, Hakbilen et al. [ 24 ] found that students had medium ethical sensitivity after courses, highlighting the need to integrate ethical issues into all nursing education content to improve students’ ethical sensitivity. The results from a study conducted by Chen et al. [ 25 ] indicated that both moral sensitivity and professional values had a positive effect on the improvement of ethical decision-making in Chinese nursing students. Park et al. [ 26 ] reported that senior students had greater moral sensitivity in patient care and conflict than freshmen students and that more hours of ethics education were linked to higher principled thinking scores among seniors. The findings from another study [ 27 ] demonstrated that nursing students’ ethical sensitivity includes perception, affectivity, cognitive processing and cooperation. Using these categories, an educational framework for teaching ethical sensitivity was developed, detailing the purpose, content and methods. Albert et al. [ 28 ] conducted a review to understand nursing students’ ethical dilemmas in clinical settings; they found that dilemmas arose when students had to choose between providing ethical care or accepting unethical practices, staying silent about neglect or reporting it, and offering quality care or adapting to the culture because of a lack of autonomous decision-making. Heggestad et al. [ 29 ] explored the link between affective and cognitive empathy and students’ moral sensitivity, finding that affective empathy was a strong driver of students developing moral sensitivity. Students valued emotions for empathy and feared becoming indifferent. Moe [ 30 ] examined the relationship between ethical knowledge and action choices among graduating nursing students; she found a significant correlation between ethical knowledge and students’ actions after accounting for factors such as ethics courses, healthcare decision experience and general healthcare experience. ‘Action’ was measured by students’ likelihood of implementing behaviours in a list of nursing interventions across eight patient care vignettes. Ramos et al. [ 31 ] studied the ethical conflicts perceived by nursing students in their sixth semester and described their decision-making process. The students used a three-stage strategy: realisation, reflection and intervention. Reflection served as a mediator, drawing on individual insights, others’ input, academic knowledge and context, hence helping students choose the best response to ethical issues.

As the research literature has demonstrated, as a comprehensive concept, ethical competence has been underexplored. As a result, the concept has not yet been operationalised across different contexts and various healthcare settings, particularly in the context of first-year nursing students’ clinical practice in nursing homes. First-year nursing students often start their first period of clinical practice with limited formal ethical knowledge and experience; therefore, more knowledge of the evolution of ethical competence in them is necessary.

Aim of the study

The aim of the present study was to explore the development of ethical competence in first-year nursing students during their first clinical placements in nursing homes.

The current study employed an exploratory-descriptive qualitative (EDQ) design [ 32 ] and used content analysis to analyse the empirical data based on focus group interviews with students.

Recruitment

All five researchers contributed to recruiting the participants. They provided information both face to face and via email to students during and after the clinical period. To be included, students had to (i) be enrolled in the academic year 2023–2024, (ii) have completed the clinical period at a nursing home, (iii) voluntarily participate in the study and (iv) agree to be recorded during the interviews. Students who wished to participate in the study contacted the researchers to arrange a date and time for the interviews.

Participants and study setting

For the present study, purposive sampling was deemed appropriate for selecting participants who could provide the necessary information to address the study’s aim. Sandelowski [ 33 , 34 ] suggested that, in qualitative research, it is crucial to ensure that the sample size is sufficient to obtain the quality of the information needed. A total of 113 first-year students were invited to participate in the study, and 28 agreed to participate. Among those who agreed, only three were men. The participants’ ages ranged from 19 to 31 years. At the time of the interviews, their work experience in healthcare services ranged from 0 to 8 years.

During the fall semester of 2023, the students attended a two-hour lecture and a three-hour seminar on ethics in nursing aimed at enhancing their theoretical ethical competence. The study was conducted at the Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, following the students’ completion of a six-week clinical period in a nursing home as part of their first-year curriculum during their bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Data collection methods

The data were collected through focus group interviews using a semistructured interview guide. This data collection method is both time- and resource-efficient, allowing for the exploration of a wide variety of perceptions. Additionally, the participants can build upon each other’s responses, generating new insights and information [ 35 ]. The interview guide was developed for this study by the first author following the five phases recommended by Kallio et al. [ 36 ]: (1) identifying the prerequisites for using semistructured interviews; (2) retrieving and using previous knowledge; (3) formulating the preliminary semistructured interview guide; (4) pilot testing the guide; and (5) presenting the complete semistructured interview guide. After pilot testing, small adjustments to the questions were made to enhance the clarity and relevance of the interview guide. For the interview guide, see supplementary file 1 .

Six focus groups were conducted between March and April 2024. The number of participants varied across the groups: two groups had three participants, two groups had five participants, and two groups had six participants. The interviews were held in a classroom or seminar room and lasted between 30 and 50 min.

Ethical considerations

The present study was approved by the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research (SIKT, project number 334855). Approval to conduct the study was given by the head of studies at the Department of Nursing and Health Promotion at Oslo Metropolitan University. The study was conducted according to the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki’s [ 37 ] principles of good and ethical practices in scientific research: informed consent, consequences and confidentiality. All the students who participated provided written informed consent at the beginning of the interviews. The students were informed about the aim of the study and the data collection method and were guaranteed confidentiality and the ability to withdraw from the study at any point in time.

All the researchers moderating the focus groups were nurse educators engaged in students’ clinical studies in nursing homes, and hence some of the participants knew the moderator prior to data collection. Being invited to participate in a focus group conducted by a nurse educator could put students in vulnerable positions given that the nurse educator may be perceived as an authority figure. According to Barbour [ 35 ], researchers should carefully consider the reasons participants may have for taking part in a study. In this study, it would question morality if a student would resort to participate for fear of being disadvantaged or poorly assessed by the nurse educator. Furthermore, if a student would customize his or her statements in the focus group, to convey an image as a ‘good’ student in front of the nurse educator, it would question morality as well as data authenticity. Therefore, the researchers always strived to be as transparent and open as possible with participants regarding potential implications.

In this study, openness related to in-depth information to invited participants concerning the authenticity of willingness as a participating principle, as well as of the genuineness that any statements made in the focus group would not affect the student in any way. Furthermore, the students were detailed informed that the focus group would occur as a conversation with peers, the moderators’ role facilitating discussions, and that any viewpoints would be welcomed. Debriefing before and after the focus group sessions, as recommended by Barbour [ 35 ], disclosed no incidents of students feeling obliged to participate or feeling restrained to express themselves freely.

The interview data were stored as secured computer files that were accessible only to the researchers. The records and transcripts will be permanently deleted after the research project has been completed and the results have been published.

Data analysis

All six focus group interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim by the researchers immediately after completion. The transcripts resulted in 52 A4 pages taped with 1.5 line spacing and New Roman font size. The duration from transcribing the interviews to completing the analysis ranged from four to six weeks.

To analyse the interviews, a phenomenological hermeneutical method inspired by Lindseth and Norberg [ 38 ] was used, which is ideal for understanding healthcare practices by exploring the narratives of lived experiences. This method involves three steps: naïve understanding, structural analysis and comprehensive understanding.

Initially, each researcher independently read the texts multiple times to gain a naïve understanding and highlighted passages describing nursing students’ perceptions of the preconditions that contributed to enabling their ethical competence. These passages were compared and discussed until a consensus was reached. The researchers then reread the texts to ensure that no relevant material was missed.

During the structural analysis, condensed meaning units were grouped into themes and reflected upon in light of the naïve understanding. The text was reassembled to integrate both naïve understanding and structural analysis. The literature was consulted to refine and deepen the understanding of the preconditions that contribute to enabling students’ ethical competence. A comprehensive understanding was developed, tested against the naïve understanding, discussed and revised multiple times, with further review given by the first author.

The data analysis concluded when that a comprehensive understanding of the meaning units was achieved, indicating saturation [ 39 ]. Coding meaning units involved reviewing each interview and noting every identified issue (or code). Saturation was reached when no new information emerged in any of the coded meanings [ 39 ].

Whittemore et al. [ 40 ] suggested four criteria to improve the rigour of a study with an EDQ design: credibility, authenticity, criticality and integrity.

To enhance study credibility, the researchers selected pertinent excerpts from participant statements to substantiate the findings. Researcher triangulation cross-verified the findings, enhancing credibility. Additionally, credibility was ensured through verbatim transcription of interviews and independent data analysis, which was followed by collaborative coding and theme development to reach a consensus.

Data authenticity was reinforced by encouraging the participants to freely express themselves during the interviews. The researchers supported and accurately represented participant voices in the findings.

The overall integrity of the study was evaluated through rigorous critical appraisal of the research decisions. A detailed description of the research process allows readers to comprehensively assess the study quality at every stage.

Criticality and integrity were further enhanced by addressing researcher bias, employing member checking and engaging in peer review. The researchers reflected on their positions relative to participants and maintained awareness of their preconceptions throughout. Reflexivity was pivotal in enhancing qualitative study rigour. Logistical challenges preclude member checking; however, the students were given ample opportunities during the focus group interviews to provide detailed input and clarify perspectives. Peer review involved all researchers critically evaluating the study for quality, validity and reliability. Although all team members reviewed the empirical data, only the first and last authors conducted structural analysis and developed a comprehensive understanding, with others providing expert assessments.

The interpretation process and findings are derived from the transcripts of six focus group interviews. The findings are presented in three distinct parts: naïve understanding, structural analysis and comprehensive understanding.

Naïve understanding

The nursing students, that is, the participants in the present study, encountered complex ethical situations during their clinical period in nursing homes, particularly when providing care to nursing home residents.

The students often encountered ethical challenges in clinical practice that conflicted with their theoretical knowledge of ethical care from university or from their personal values. They observed healthcare personnel engaging in behaviours they deemed unethical, such as ‘white lies’, causing feelings of powerlessness due to their inability to act. Despite witnessing challenging ethical caring actions, the students also noted positive examples of ethical sensitivity, actions and beneficiary caregiving. They navigated these complex situations by developing their own strategies and reflecting on their roles as future healthcare professionals.

The students recognised that their theoretical knowledge, practical skills and empathy for nursing home residents were crucial in identifying ethical problems. They internalised ethical principles deeply through their experiences, and this was often prompted by residents’ reactions. Although they emphasised the importance of guidance and reflective dialogue to enhance ethical competence, the lack of supervision and specific feedback on ethical problems was perceived as a hindrance to further developing ethical competence. The students valued discussions with peers, nurse educators and interdisciplinary meetings for support and ethical reflection, despite challenges in accessing consistent guidance from nurse preceptors.

Structural analysis

The structural analysis of the data revealed three themes: (i) ethical competence forges in practice, (ii) ethical competence evolves at the intersection of knowledge and skills and (iii) ethical competence unfolds through meaningful discussions. These themes are considered essential preconditions for the development of ethical competence among nursing students. An example of the structural analysis process is illustrated in Table  1 .

Ethical competence forges in practice – being able to identify ethical and unethical care

This theme suggests that ethical competence is developed and strengthened through practical experience, with students having hands-on engagement in ethical situations and being petitioned to act. This implies that students can assess various situations and distinguish between ethical and unethical caregiving and start grounding the course of their own ethical actions through their reflections.

The clinical period was evaluated as a positive experience offering numerous valuable learning opportunities. The students observed healthcare personnel providing ethical and dignified care to nursing home residents. However, they also witnessed some situations in which the care provided was less ethical and undignified. The situations described by the students as unethical caregiving were situations in which the residents resisted care or various procedures, such as changing ostomy bags, or refused personal hygiene tasks, such as grooming or brushing their teeth. Intuitively, most students were aware of the conflict between their own wish to help and the residents’ autonomy and right to say ‘no’. The students observed that, in most situations, healthcare personnel respected the residents’ wish to refuse assistance and, therefore, did not provide any help. One of the students said the following:

In our facility, some residents had not washed themselves for a long time and smelled. However, I appreciated seeing how the principle of autonomy was maintained. I felt that the healthcare personnel managed this very well, ensuring that the residents made their own decisions. Nevertheless, I had concerns about hygiene. If a resident did not want to wash and the healthcare personnel respected their wish, I think that it raised an ethical dilemma … what about the principle of nonmaleficence and beneficence … how are these maintained? (S3, FG1)

Other situations identified as unethical practices and triggering students’ ethical reflection were those situations in which healthcare personnel, because of high workload, time pressure or ingrained habits, ignored residents’ needs and wishes and focused on getting the job done. One of the students said the following:

I think that’s one of the worst things. It truly irritates me when I see nurses doing a job, that they are doing it just because it’s a job. They don’t think about the fact that it’s a person who has had a whole life before they got here [at the nursing home]. I’ve experienced it so many times that for some nurses, it’s just about the job, just about completing tasks and getting it over with. … (S3, FG2).

Ethical competence evolves at the intersection of knowledge and skills – Being able to apply theory in practice

This theme highlights the importance of both theoretical understanding (knowledge) and practical abilities (skills) in the development of students’ ethical competence. This finding suggests that ethical competence emerges as a result of the integration of knowledge and skills.

Several students felt that their ability to assess challenging situations as ethically laden resulted from their reflections on theoretical knowledge, practical skills and empathy for nursing home residents. Witnessing ethically challenging situations prompted them to reflect on ethical principles and find solutions, thereby acquiring and applying knowledge in practice. Students applied their knowledge, including their personal values and beliefs, as well as what they learned at university or during their clinical training, to assess the practical skills required for challenging situations. The skills the students often highlighted included the ability to initiate dialogue with residents to prevent ethical tensions, the capability to mediate and offer alternatives when residents did not comply with health measures, and the ability to articulate persuasive arguments to obtain residents’ consent for specific health measures they initially rejected but were deemed necessary.

Although the students were grateful for prior ethics education at the university and appreciated the knowledge gained from seminars, they believed that clinical practice provided real situations where they could reflect and discuss possible solutions. This is illustrated by one student’s statement:

When you’re in a nursing home, it’s much more real … when you discuss in the classroom, you won’t truly grasp the reality … yes, understanding the situation and what it entails … a case on paper is very black and white, but in reality, it involves emotions, observations and knowledge that help you assess the situation and find solutions. … (S4, FG4).

Nevertheless, the students perceived the nursing home as a valuable learning environment that offered many educational opportunities. Given that many nursing home residents had cognitive impairments or were persons with dementia, ethically challenging situations frequently arose. In addition to reflecting on how to apply their knowledge in practice, several students were interested in preventing the occurrence of ethical problems and/or finding solutions to these ethical situations. Therefore, the students stressed the importance of gaining skills using a model for ethical reflection, which helped them in ethical decision-making. This is illustrated by a student’s statement:

The CME model gave me a lot. I could organise things systematically and consider different courses of action. What can one choose to do and not do. In addition, then, I think in nursing homes, it’s special … you see so much, there are many residents who are diagnosed with dementia, and things where you stand in every day, such as assessing if they are competent to consent or not … Maybe you have to motivate a lot, spend a lot of time on diversion and such things … I think … it’s a place [nursing home] where you learn a lot about ethics. (S1, FG5)

Ethical competence unfolds through meaningful discussions – providing opportunities to exchange knowledge

This theme emphasises the role of dialogue and reflection in the development of ethical competence. This suggests that engaging in meaningful discussions with peers, nurse preceptors or nurse educators facilitates the growth and deepening of ethical competence.

Although most of the students were content with the nursing home as a learning environment and the supervision offered by nurse preceptors, some students revealed feelings of dissatisfaction about observing healthcare personnel conducting unethical practices, including ‘white lies’, breaching of residents’ privacy, respect, removing personal items from the resident, such as cigarettes or a lighter, without residents’ consent or neglecting to display the medication when the resident requested. A situation involving unethical conduct was illustrated by one of the students:

One resident was very sad and anxious about being there [nursing home]. She asked several times, ‘When will I get to go home?’ And then the nurse preceptor said, among other things, that ‘you are going home in three days’. However, that’s not true … The patient was on a two-week stay. The nurse preceptor said she did this to calm down the resident’s anxiety; she gave the resident hope … We discussed a little bit … and I think that it’s a bit of an ethical dilemma because the nurse said this to be kind, but she [the resident] had the right to know about her stay. (S1, FG6)

In such situations, the students felt the urge to discuss their emotions and their own assessments with someone. However, the nurse preceptors were often too busy, restricting their time for reflection and thorough supervision. As a result, the students turned to their peers or nurse educators for discussions. Often students felt safer discussing with peers and educators and found these discussions more helpful. If these discussions were supportive, they could lead the students to find confidence in their assessments and could help them find their voice, advocating for the residents and for ethical behaviour towards the residents.

However, the students also displayed positive experiences. Observations of commendable ethical actions and behaviour from staff and nurse preceptors demonstrating effective techniques for handling value-laden situations helped the students recognise and integrate beneficial ethical actions and behaviours into their own repertoires. At times, both students and healthcare personnel from the same ward were regularly provided with opportunities to reflect on their practices, particularly ethically challenging situations. These group discussions were facilitated by a priest. One student expressed enthusiasm for these discussions:

We had a visit from the priest in the ward to discuss ethical challenges. We stood in a circle, and the healthcare personnel shared the ethical challenges they faced in their daily work. We discussed various ethical dilemmas and explored the best ways to address them so that everyone involved would benefit. I found it quite rewarding to engage in these discussions. Although we did not reach a definitive conclusion, I felt that having such discussions improved my ethical knowledge and understanding. (S3, FG3)

Comprehensive understanding

The naïve understanding and structural analysis illustrate that nursing students embark on a journey towards ethical competence during their first period of clinical studies, with clinical experiences being essential waypoints along the path to their destination, that is, gaining ethical competence. Ethical sensitivity is foundational and the point of departure for the evolution of ethical competence in students. This sensitivity is driven by the compassion and understanding of residents’ needs and best interests, which students observe firsthand. Ethical knowledge evolves at the intersection of theoretical and practical insights within the nursing home setting and fuels and propels students’ ability to assess and reflect upon options in situations where there is ethical tension. Making meaningful discussions with their fellow passengers; peers, nurse preceptors and educators are crucial preconditions fostering students’ ethical reflections and decision-making in navigating the clinically rugged terrain. Ethical action and behaviour are the destinations of students’ journeys and hinge upon their learning of beneficial caring skills and on their opportunities to behave in accordance with their values in their caregiving. Overall, nursing students’ ethical competence evolves when they integrate ethical sensitivity, knowledge, reflection, decision-making, action and behaviour within clinical practice.

First-year nursing students with limited knowledge and skills enter their initial clinical studies and likely do not achieve the final level of ethical competence required in the nursing profession during this period. Nevertheless, our comprehensive understanding is that first-year nursing students begin a crucial journey towards ethical competence during their clinical placement in nursing homes. Their journey progresses through the integration of various components of ethical competence. Most prominently, the characteristics of ethical competence described in the integrative review of Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ] are identifiable in the scenic route the students’ take. Each of the components of ethical competence defined by Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ] evolve in the students, both distinctly and intertwined. Therefore, we find it valuable to discuss the students’ roadmap considering the components of ethical competence outlined by Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ]. We will discuss how ethical sensitivity, ethical knowledge, ethical reflection, ethical action and ethical behaviour play out in our finding, offering interpretations of how ethical competence evolves throughout their journey.

Ethical sensitivity is the point of departure

In all six focus groups, the students provided rich descriptions of the ethical problems that they encountered in their clinical studies and discussed how they individually identified ethical tension in these situations. Drawing on Weaver et al. [ 41 ], Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ] define ethical sensitivity in nursing as both a compassionate-driven and intelligence-driven capacity. The compassionate aspect is related to self-awareness and personal normative knowledge and is particularly described by the students in our study as to ‘imagine themselves in the role of the resident’ as a catalyst for them to identify tension.

The students were strongly affected by the residents’ vulnerability in value-laden situations when they sensed that the residents were not given choices and had to accept receiving care they did not consent to, involuntarily had to relate to strangers, felt that their intimate spheres were being invaded, felt that customised information was not given to them and so forth. For example, one student described her emotional discomfort witnessing a residents’ vulnerability being restricted access to his personal items (cigarettes and lighter). This caused the resident to be restless and his hands to shake.

The students’ emotions appear as a point of departure in their journey towards ethical competence enabling them to identify tension. In this sense, our findings are in line with those of Heggestad et al. [ 29 ], who found that undergraduate nursing students’ moral sensitivity is mostly linked to the affective dimension of empathy.

Studying senior nursing students, Shayestehfard [ 27 ] found that both affective and cognitive dimensions characterise ethical sensitivity in nursing students. In their study, nursing students’ ethical sensitivity is described as being affected emotionally and, hence, becoming aware, awakened, alarmed or shaken. The cognitive side to students’ sensitivity is described as processing signs and symptoms of vulnerability that enable the students to identify caring needs. The students in our study also described the cognitive components of their ethical sensitivity. Many of the descriptions in the focus group discussions represented their interpretations of the consequences of not intervening, professional caring duties in nursing and the beneficence or nonmaleficence of residents in critical situations as strong sources of their identification of ethical tension. Some of the students expressed that they were initially emotionally driven in their identification of ethical problems. However, as time progressed, their understanding and focus could change. One student related this change directly to the forging of ethical competence. As competence forges, the student said, one understands better what is ethically problematic and what is not, and you are not only driven by your feelings, but you are also driven by what you understand to be critical caring needs.

Ethical knowledge – pit stopping to fuel

Sometimes, the students identified ethical tension merely depending on their inherent and personal normative knowledge and values, but often, they also applied other knowledge, especially in the longer term. Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ] define ethical knowledge as multifaceted, including philosophical and theoretical knowledge as well as practical knowledge.

Ethical sensitivity is sometimes solely normative driven, but it is difficult to negate the relevance of factual knowledge in ethical reflection and decision-making [ 31 , 42 ]. Few would deny the importance of factual knowledge concerning the assessment of treatment and healthcare, consequences and obligations for specific patients or their next of kin that lead to decisions [ 42 ]. Thus, philosophical, and theoretical knowledge (‘ knowing that ’) is a necessary condition for assessing options and making decisions. The students described knowledge from medicine, nursing, psychology, and other disciplines as sources of ethical reflection, most frequently concerning the doctrine of informed consent, values and care needs at stake, ethical principles, ethical guidelines or directives and communication strategies and interaction. One student said that theoretical knowledge learned at university prior to clinical studies was ‘worth its weight in gold’. Nevertheless, philosophical, and theoretical knowledge is not merely something one learns and can apply instantly [ 7 , 43 , 44 ]. Decontextualized ethics education does not sufficiently help students transfer learning from the classroom to ethical nursing practice situations [ 45 ]. During the focus group interviews, the students highlighted the importance of the nursing home as a learning arena contributing to their acquisition of ethical knowledge in the form of practical skills. This means that the clinical studies offered them a real-world framework consisting of authentic situations, hence enabling students to acquire practical knowledge (‘ knowing how ’) through a meaningful understanding of the context at hand. Therefore, the students’ journey towards ethical competence hinges on understanding the particularity of each ethical problem, such as what and who it concerns in the specific context in which the problem arises and unfolds. These understandings fuel the forging of ethical competence among students.

Sometimes, the students described situations in which they experienced a noticeable lack of knowledge, which led them to question which skills were applicable and appropriate. According to Andersson et al. [ 9 ], to become ethically competent in clinical studies, three moments should be presented to students: the learning environment should create conditions for learning, nurse preceptors should design strategies for learning, and students should interact with others. The present study has revealed how the students described the nursing home as a learning environment in which encounters are both physical and personal; they learned to recognise and interpret residents’ verbal and nonverbal language and its meanings, and they were required to address ethical problems by applying practical skills and understanding. Concrete situations often triggered their inquiries. In their search for practical knowledge, the students had to interact with others, which fuelled and facilitated their journey towards achieving ethical competence.

Ethical reflection and ethical decision-making – navigating rugged terrain

Clinical studies provided the nursing students with the opportunities to engage in ethical reflection and decision-making processes in their placement wards. The students frequently reflected on the actions to take in various ethically tense situations and often provided sound justifications for their suggestions or raised relevant questions about what to consider. A recurring theme in their discussions was how much to push residents who resisted healthcare, speculating on the least invasive approaches. Ethical reflection represents the thinking process helping decision makers clarify beliefs and thoughts by considering various alternatives to ethical problems [ 23 ]. Ethical decision-making is closely intertwined with the reflective process, but differs in the sense that, when ‘deciding’, one also makes a choice from among the number of alternatives and thereby temporarily pauses the reflective process [ 23 ]. Nevertheless, being a student, especially encountering the clinical field for the first time, is a susceptible position, and it might be challenging for students to reflect on and make decisions. Particularly during the initial period of their placement, students mostly take part in caring actions that are already relatively settled and must learn how to implement prescribed caring chores.

Ranjbar et al. [ 46 ] developed a three-level model illustrating the route for moral development in nursing students. To achieve the final level of ethical competence, the students first pass through phases of development at the lower levels. As students enter their first year and are exposed to clinical practice, they begin acquiring practical and technical skills (first level). Here, their focus is essentially on acquiring and mastering these skills and being able to perform them with ease. It is at the second level that students advance in their ethical judgements. At level two, students can better reconstruct ethical problems and become more effective ethical agents. Until students reach level two, it is difficult for them to make sound ethical assessments without the support of others. In our study, the students’ abilities to take part in ethical reflections and ethical decision-making in practice varied. Some students were not very active in discussions concerning alternative actions and interventions to resolve ethical problems in their ward, but they expressed that they learned from observing and listening. Other students displayed a much more active role in the decision-making processes, discussing and sharing their views and opinions with staff, hence influencing the actions taken. Furthermore, the students often encountered ethical problems that arose unexpectedly or spontaneously and sometimes had to reflect there-and-then and decide what to do, often without supervision and without a prescribed recipe.

However, the process of learning how to understand and make decisions when encountering ethical problems in real-life nursing contexts continues to progress throughout the bachelor’s programme [ 21 ]. Managing ethical problems gave the students and participants confidence, triggering their potential to solve ethical problems now and in the future. However, the students expressed a need to take part in discussions and reflect on how to go forward in situations with ethical tension because they lacked the experience, knowledge and skills to navigate through ‘rugged terrain’. In many cases, the students said that, in their opinion, communication is crucial in solving ethical problems, and they need to reflect on and increase their skills using viable techniques and manners to initiate dialogue, mediation and persuading arguments.

According to Jakobsen et al. [ 21 ], using group discussions and discussing examples of ethical problems can help students engage in a more comprehensive reflection process. Discourse within the clinical setting has been outlined as a prerequisite concerning ethical competence [ 31 , 42 ]. Justifying a certain practice requires more than the competence of one individual; hence, the decision-making process should be based on a multitude of views and opinions, thus contributing to consolidating decisions throughout the healthcare team [ 42 ]. Crucial elements of knowledge and skills are transferred among clinicians through their mutual reflections on appropriate care actions. Hence, being part of ethical reflection is essential to nursing students’ learning [ 31 ]. According to a review of the empirical literature on nursing students’ ethical decision-making, discussions with contemporaries are perceived as the most influential source of developing ethical decision-making abilities [ 47 ]. In their study, Ramos et al. [ 31 ] found that ethical reflection serves as a mediator between the realisation of an ethical problem and the interventions that nursing students carry out. Discussing the problem at hand helps nursing students draw on both individual insights and others’ input, helping the students choose the best response to ethical issues. Sometimes, when lacking the opportunity to reflect, the students turned to peers and educators as sparring pairs, pondering the alternatives to problems. The students found peers to be central in this regard, with peers being in circumstances similar to themselves. Reflecting together with another person was essential to their understanding and ability to develop skills for assessing and knowing how to handle difficult situations. Using the CME model [ 20 ] was considered a fruitful method of sorting information as well as sorting objective facts from subjective emotions, hence resulting in greater clarity.

The students valued ethical reflection partly because they believed that some healthcare personnel’s interventions were based on poor assessments that did not sufficiently advocate for the residents; they also found that nurse preceptors or other employees were sometimes more concerned with getting the job done, avoiding extra work, and coping through the working day when assessing solutions to ethical problems. The students often mentioned ‘reflection’ both as a way of considering alternatives of action when facing ethical problems and as a way of processing their emotions while witnessing poor care and not having the courage to question nurse preceptors’ assessments. The results from a literature review on moral courage in undergraduate nursing students [ 48 ] highlight students’ strong identification with the role of patient advocacy. The same attitude was perceived by the participants in our study; they expressed that residents’ well-being was their primary objective. However, according to Bickhoff et al. [ 48 ], several factors inhibit nursing students from pursuing an advocacy role, sometimes also leading to students taking part in poor practice unintentionally or complying with unethical practices. The characteristics of nursing students’ experiences in their clinical studies, such as feeling or being subordinate on the ward, their identity as ‘just’ or ‘only’ a student, a desire to fit in, fear of reprisals and poor validation, have been reported in numerous studies [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 ]. These experiences diminish nursing students’ opportunities to take active roles in ethical reflections and decision-making and, thus, to take part in and influence the ward learning community. On the other hand, students who are given opportunities or who seize opportunities on their own to act as patients’ advocates report gaining the courage to voice their assessments and suggestions in the work environment [ 48 ]. The participants in our study expressed that they sometimes felt subordinate to the ward and were not given a voice, which hindered their ability to make sound assessments for the benefit of the residents. Nevertheless, some students, though not all, found the ability to seize opportunities to advocate for residents’ beneficial care.

Ethical action and ethical behaviour – the destination in sight

Ethical action involves implementing a course of action chosen after considering the possible alternatives, while ethical behaviour is characterised by an attitude of respect, responsiveness and support when carrying out the chosen action [ 23 ]. In a person with high ethical competence, ethical behaviour is embodied [ 23 ]. The students discussed actions they carried out to solve ethical problems, sometimes with nurse preceptors, peers or independently. Similar to the results of a systematic review [ 7 ], our study has revealed that students prioritised maintaining patients’ dignity, privacy and confidentiality, emphasised effective communication to resolve ethical issues and demonstrated a strong commitment to residents’ well-being. Consequently, the students showcased sound ethical behaviour.

Some students described the inability to act in accordance with ethical standards as a bodily experience of distress. One student mentioned that her feelings in tense situations settled in her body. According to Ranjbar et al. [ 46 ], the final level (level three) in the route for moral development in nursing students is where they internalise professional values and the ethos of nursing into their personal identity, making ethical actions and behaviour a reflection of their identity and personality. Few students reach this level during their nursing education [ 46 ]. Although it is difficult and impractical for us to claim that the students in our study had reached level three, their discussions rarely involved knowingly violating ethical values. When they did, they expressed discomfort. For example, one student described lying to a resident to get him indoors when he was not properly dressed because of cold weather, finding the experience distressing. Similar findings have also been presented in previous studies [ 52 , 53 ]. Nevertheless, even though nursing students tend to be idealistic and hold strong values [ 7 ], there is no guarantee that these values will consistently result in virtuous ethical actions and behaviours, either now or in the future.

A literature review investigating nurses’ ethical practices [ 54 ] revealed that contextual circumstances, such as limited time and resources and less authority in the ward hierarchy, can influence nurses’ ability to make decisions. These circumstances result in a conformist approach, adapting to existing practices and sometimes merely executing the decisions made by others. This, in turn, affects nurses’ internalisation of ethical behaviour and leads to less individually adapted care actions. Although this review [ 54 ] focused on professional nurses, there is evidence that nursing students’ ethical behaviour is similarly influenced by these circumstances. For example, Tanaka [ 55 ] reported that nursing students often adjust their ethical values to accommodate certain circumstances. Even when nursing students perceive the actions and behaviours of nurse preceptors as ‘wrong’, they may alter their stance on the issue and reorganise their ethical values to adopt coping behaviours that align with the situation. As a result, nursing students often struggle with prioritising their relationships, with nurses who exhibit inadequate care behaviours or with their commitment to patients. As nursing students progress through their programmes, they may become increasingly disillusioned, cynical and focused on completing their tasks, which ultimately ends with a loss of idealism [ 56 ].

The students participating in our study described instances in which they observed cynicism among certain employees and witnessed violations of residents’ dignity by nurse preceptors and other healthcare personnel. Examples included speaking over residents’ heads, ridiculing them and handling them roughly or even being disrespectful to residents’ family members. In these situations, the students often felt powerless and complicit, feeling ‘dragged along’ because of their subordinate role. Occasionally, they sought explanations from the nurse preceptors, but the responses varied in credibility. The students also observed commendable ethical actions from nurse preceptors, who demonstrated effective techniques for handling value-laden situations. Learning from these positive examples helped the students recognise ethical behaviours. They observed that the manner of coercion mattered and witnessed gentle, informative restraint techniques. Overall, the students were eager to adopt noncoercive approaches, seeking to balance assertiveness with positive persuasion.

Despite witnessing unethical actions and behaviours, these experiences did not necessarily hinder the students’ development of ethical competence. According to Engel et al. [ 57 ], experiencing unethical caregiving can actually strengthen students’ commitment to ethical practices. Most students act as informed bystanders and can navigate the space between observation and action. They may maintain a low profile while also developing the courage to advocate for patients. These adaptive strategies were evident among the students in our study. In distressing situations, the students occasionally assumed caregiving responsibilities to ensure proper care. For instance, when an employee force-fed a resident, a student intervened by gently and patiently helping the resident. We interpret this action as a coping strategy that bridges the gap between observation and action.

The students frequently mentioned that gaining confidence during their clinical studies might empower them to voice their concerns more effectively in the future. However, according to Bickhoff et al. [ 48 ], the lack of authority persists throughout the clinical curriculum, with students often assuming a subordinate role across different periods of clinical study. On a positive note, some students have reported that experiencing a lack of authority motivates them to avoid unethical practices in their future careers [ 48 ]. In our study, the students strongly expressed their desire to maintain their ability to advocate for residents’ best interests in the future. They observed that, for some healthcare personnel, the job had become routine, leading to a loss of perspective on ethical actions. The students were determined not to find themselves in a similar position in their careers.

Implications for nursing education and clinical practice

Findings from the current study suggest that building a solid ethical foundation in nursing involves more than just theoretical and practical knowledge. Several strategies are needed to sustain ethical practice and potentially mitigate moral distress among nursing students and nurses.

One crucial strategy is to integrate ethics education throughout the entire curriculum, rather than treating it as a standalone module. This should include case studies, role-playing, and discussions relevant to real-world scenarios. Additionally, providing strong mentorship and supervision during clinical placements is vital. Experienced nurse educators and preceptors can model ethical behavior, offer guidance, and support students as they navigate complex situations. Encouraging regular reflective practice is also important. Discussions, debriefing sessions, and peer interactions can help students process their experiences and deepen their understanding of their ethical beliefs and responses. Since learning does not occur in a vacuum, creating a supportive learning environment with access to guidance can assist students and nurses in addressing moral distress and seeking guidance. Furthermore, offering diverse and challenging experiential learning opportunities allows students to confront ethical issues in a controlled setting, hence building their confidence and competence in managing ethical problems. Finally, fostering a culture of ethical leadership within educational and clinical environments can set a standard of ethical behavior that positively influences nursing students and nurses.

Strengths and limitations of the study

The present study’s findings are based on participating students’ accounts of their experiences with ethical issues during their first clinical period in nursing homes. One limitation of the study is that the students’ subjective perceptions and narratives may not always accurately reflect their actual ethical actions and behaviour in a real-world caring context.

Out of the 113 invited students, only 28 agreed to participate. It is worth considering whether those students who chose not to participate would have described their experiences differently. Although the sample size was limited to 28 participants across six focus groups, our transcription and analysis of the data indicated that saturation was achieved after the final focus group. Furthermore, our goal has not been to generalise but rather to present a possible interpretation of how ethical competence evolves in nursing students in the context of clinical studies in nursing homes.

Another potential limitation could stem from our interpretations, which might be shaped by our preconceptions, particularly because all the authors are nurse educators engaged in students’ clinical studies in nursing homes and know the curriculum well. To counter potential bias, we rigorously adhered to the data as they emerged from the transcripts.

Another challenge we encountered relates to the varied use of concepts concerning ethical practices by different authors [ 23 , 54 ]. While reviewing the literature on nursing students and their ethical competence, we observed that some studies aimed at exploring or describing ethical decision-making in students but primarily focused on aspects of ethical sensitivity. Therefore, in certain instances, we needed to heavily rely on specific findings from these studies, even if they did not align perfectly with their original aims. Throughout this process, we aimed to maintain accuracy and fairness in referencing other studies.

Some of the studies we have referenced in our discussion were older than five years and were conducted in contexts that may not resemble the environment of Norwegian or Nordic nursing education. Because of the limited research exploring ethical competence in nursing students, we reviewed these studies to provide supporting knowledge for our findings. The geographical differences between the places where the studies were conducted and our study could have led to discrepancies in our discussion of the development of students’ ethical competence during their initial clinical study period in Norwegian nursing homes. However, we did not find studies with aims similar to ours, so our discussion draws on the findings of Lechasseur et al. [ 23 ] and the general literature describing nursing students’ experiences with ethical issues in diverse and varying contexts. However, we believe that ethical competence in nursing students evolves during their theoretical and clinical education, regardless of their country of origin; therefore, our findings could be applicable to similar settings and practices among nursing students.

The aim of the present study was to explore the development of ethical competence in first-year nursing students during their first clinical placements in nursing homes. Our naïve understanding was that the ethical challenges students encounter in their clinical studies often conflict with their theoretical ethical knowledge and personal values. The students navigated complex ethical situations by reflecting on their experiences, expanding and adapting their knowledge base and internalising ethical principles in their actions. Through structural analysis, we identified three key themes that are considered essential preconditions for the development of ethical competence in nursing students. Our comprehensive understanding of the findings reveals that nursing students embark on a journey towards ethical competence, with clinical experiences serving as pivotal milestones.

Our findings illustrate that nursing students’ ethical competence evolves in complex ways when they first time are exposed to clinical settings. The first clinical period in nursing homes offers real-life insights into both ethical and less ethical care practices. Acting as informed observers or active participants in ethical problems involving nursing home residents offers students a unique perspective to critically evaluate care options that are distinct from those immersed in the ward culture. However, students’ ability to resist conventional practices and progress on their ethical journey may vary. Moments of reflection and supportive interactions are crucial for sustaining momentum on this journey. Therefore, peers, nurse preceptors, and nurse educators play vital roles in guiding students by providing robust support and navigation.

Our study suggests that structured professional development in nursing homes should prioritise the reflective supervision of students during their initial clinical placements. Educational institutions should continue to enhance and expand ethical reflection-based learning activities and opportunities for students and their peers during their clinical training.

Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Student [number] participant in focus group interviews

Focus group [number]

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to the students who participated in this study, thereby contributing to the data collection. Additionally, the authors sincerely thank Oslo Metropolitan University Library for granting approval and for their support in covering the publication fee of this article.

Open access funding provided by OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University. This research received no specific grant from any agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. Open Access funding was provided by the University Library – Oslo Metropolitan University.

Open access funding provided by OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University

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Department of Nursing and Health Promotion, Oslo Metropolitan University, PB 4 St. Olavs plass N, Oslo, 0130, Norway

Sylvia Hansen, Elisabeth Hessevaagbakke, Katrin Lindeflaten, Kaja Elvan & Daniela Lillekroken

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SH was involved in data collection and analysis, reflection, discussions regarding the manuscript’s intellectual content, and drafting the manuscript. DL contributed to the study conception, data collection, and analysis, and was involved in revising the manuscript critically for important intellectual content. EH, KL, KE were involved in data collection, analysis, and discussions regarding the manuscript’s intellectual content. All authors agreed to be accountable for all aspects of work and take public responsibility for appropriate parts of the content.

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Correspondence to Sylvia Hansen .

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The study was approved by the Norwegian Agency for Shared Services in Education and Research (Sikt/Ref. nr. 334855) and by the leader of the Department of Nursing and Health Promotion at Oslo Metropolitan University. This study does not seek to investigate participants’ health status, sexuality, ethnicity, or political affiliation (sensitive information); therefore, it is exempt from ethical approval by the Norwegian Regional Committees for Medical and Health Research Ethics as no health information or patient data are recorded. The study adhered to the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki and followed Oslo Metropolitan University’s guidelines and regulations. Data confidentiality was strictly maintained, and the information was used solely for research purposes. Participant anonymity was safeguarded by not detailing participant characteristics in the paper. Researchers provided both verbal and written information about the study, and written voluntary informed consent was obtained from all participants prior to data collection.

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Hansen, S., Hessevaagbakke, E., Lindeflaten, K. et al. Nurturing ethical insight: exploring nursing students’ journey to ethical competence. BMC Nurs 23 , 568 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02243-x

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Received : 04 July 2024

Accepted : 07 August 2024

Published : 15 August 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-02243-x

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