Senior students' experience in primary nursing

Unfortunately, not all students can function effectively and feel a sense of satisfaction on a primary nursing unit. Three of the 72 students found primary nursing too difficult and expressed a desire for team leading experiences. Nevertheless, in primary nursing, the majority of students begin to see nurses as colleagues, and, consequently, the hierarchy of status is lessened, and a greater openness envelopes the students. Being involved with primary nursing in the senior experience provides the student with increased awareness of the professional nurse by providing personalized patient care, and by providing opportunity to make decisions which are acted upon. Further, she realizes she can accept total responsibility for patient care, and her acceptance of responsibility and accountability affects the client, the physician and, most importantly, herself. Finally, she sees herself as a mature individual who has accomplished a goal: effective, efficient, personalized care of another human being. Consequently, her increased satisfaction with her performance deepens her sense of self-worth, and from these awarenesses she develops a strong sense of personal contribution to the total care of the client: the ultimate goal of professional nursing.