Growing up, life was a struggle.

Through this adversity I strived, I

had this inherent ability to comfort all I came in contact with, and I
took a natural role as a leader in all endeavors. I graduated high
school with honors, graduated Molloy College, and landed my dream
job in labor and delivery. While working in labor and delivery I met my
biggest mentor thus far, Cynthia Rubin. She was my Assistant Nurse
Manager, and she saw something in me. She was a great leader.
Professionally the staff, patients, and their families were always drawn
to her. She taught us that comfort, above all, was most important in
our setting. There was never conflict; she could even make polar
opposites find some common ground. Everyone loved her. This is
what soul leadership is about, for love needs to permeate everything
we do. Love dissolves conflicts (Dunham-Taylor & Pinczuk, 2010). I
had the great privilege of working side by side with her for 3 years,
until she past away. To this day her quirky little habits are missed, and
the workplace is not the same. I did however pull so many great
qualities and core values from Cynthia; she made an amazing
professional mentor.
Comfort is an important topic in any situation, whether it is as a
patient, nurse, or peer. Dr. Katherine Kolcabas Theory of Comfort
stands out to be a theory that I can relate to on the Labor and Delivery
floor. A quote by Dr. Katherine Kolkaba herself sums it all best: In
todays technological world nursings historic mission of providing

comfort to patients and family members is even more important.

Comfort is an antidote to the stressors inherent in health care
situations today, and when comfort is enhanced, patients and families
are strengthened for the tasks ahead. In addition, nurses feel more
satisfied with the care they are giving (Alligood & Tomey 2010).
Although philosophies have the potential to change I think the
idea of comfort will forever be imbedded in my soul. Some other core
values I possess professionally and personally include: integrity,
compassion, caring, kindness, knowledge, and empathy. I believe in
the quality of life. Within nursing I use the best practice that I know of,
and stand by evidenced based practice. I provide emotional support. I
collaborate well with all health team members. I always stand by the
basic human rights of respect, honesty, privacy, and advocacy. I try to
educate whenever a situation warrants. I assess all situations and use
clinical judgment. I tend to patients physical health as well as their
emotional, and try to tie in their families when appropriate. I am a
leader, and a mentor. I am a go-to person for the new staff. I am a
team player. I recognize others strengths and weakness, and I involve
others that may need growth, or that I can learn from. Individuals who
become nurses are expected not only to adhere to the ideals and
moral norms of the profession but also to embrace them as part of
what it means to be a nurse. The ethical tradition of nursing is selfreflective, enduring, and distinctive. A nurse should uphold moral self-

respect, professional growth and maintenance of competence,

wholeness of character, and preservation of integrity (ANA, 2001).
The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others, including
the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain
competence, and to continue personal and professional growth (ANA,
2001).
Within all situations, especially stressful ones I try to reduce
anxiety. I am always an open ear and try to make even small
communication with all I encounter. I set personal and professional
goals and try to stick to them. I am human, and I do make mistakes. I
dont make excuses, I own up to my downfalls. I also learn from them. I
remain spiritual. I am a better person than I was ten years ago,
yesterday, and tomorrow I will be even better. I am reliable, and loyal. I
take time to relax and to breathe. I also take time to reflect.
These characteristics in me will never change. My values in
nursing are the same for my every day life. I was meant to be a nurse,
and a leader, and I cant wait to see what the future has is store for
me.