Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation Nursing

Nursing: Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation

Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation: Nursing

The Stairstep Model of Professional Transformation

The Stairstep model of professional transformation advances the idea that identity formation in the nursing profession is a process, and not a one-time event. A nurse grows through their everyday experiences, developing their sense of professional identity in a systematic process until they achieve their professional ideal. One's professional ideal is at the top of the staircase; the various steps of the staircase represents the habits and behaviors (in both their personal and professional lives) that they adopt as they move up towards that ideal (Crigger & Godfrey, 2010). When one is at their ideal, they are able to exercise the core values of integrity, trustworthiness, courage, honesty and justice both inside and outside the profession; they learn to live by these values regardless of the context and situation (XXX).

Like many other nurses, I have often based the effectiveness of my nursing practice on my ability to follow rules. The basic rules governing that govern the profession include disclosing information if you believe that someone in you care is at risk, following legislation relating to mental capacity, maintaining clear professional boundaries, acting without delay when a patient is at risk, and so many more. I always thought that living by these rules in my professional experience is what made me an ideal nurse. The Stairstep model, however, suggests that following the rules is just the first step on the staircase; one's formation and development does not end here. There are many other habits and behaviors at both the disciplinary and personal levels that one adopts/develops as they move up the staircase towards their professional identity. Like many other nurses, I have remained at this first step of the staircase, failing to pursue my professional identity by adopting new ideals about what and who a nurse professional is. The staircase model of professional growth encourages nurse professionals to be in a continuous process of learning and transformation until they can achieve their professional ideal.

They need to continually learn how to be a professional both inside and outside the workplace; people should be able to perceive you as a professional away from the workplace. As such, double standards or following the rules at the workplace alone is a sign that one is yet to establish their ideal personality. Moreover, every step requires one to look back on their actions and professional conduct in the previous step, acknowledge mistakes, accept the consequences, and learn from them. This, the model suggests, is the basis for professional growth. These two precepts -- accepting and learning from mistakes, and acting as a professional both inside and outside the workplace -- will form the basis of my professional development moving forward.

I intend to use the following three criteria to achieve this:

Journaling and Reflection: journaling forms the basis of reflection, and reflection forms the basis of identifying and acknowledging mistakes (XXX). By journaling about my critical experiences on a daily basis, and the personal responses that I put up, I will be able to establish patterns about my behavior, and to continually assess my ability to execute such professional traits as maturity, integrity, respect, and responsibility (Crigger & Godfrey, 2010). Then I will be able to take remedial action to ensure that I do not stay 'off the staircase'.

Role Modeling: role models are an invaluable way for an individual to learn virtue ethics. Identifying a role model both inside and outside the workplace, and observing how they act in different situations would go a long way in helping me identify what I am doing wrong. At the same time, it would present a feel of how a professional ought to act in certain situations.