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I. REFLECTION
The seminar that I attended was the 25th Regional Convention with the theme
Challenges in Nursing Leadership. The seminar was conducted by the Philippine
Nurses Association, Inc. (PNA) and was a one-day seminar held at the Angeles
University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center, Angeles City, Pampanga.
I am glad that I became a part of that convention because of the knowledge I have
gained from the inspirational presenters. Ive learned that you cannot be an instant good
leader, it is by process, gradually, from being novice to be an expert. Good leaders are
made not born. If you have the desire and willpower, you can become an effective leader.
Good leaders are continually working and studying to improve their leadership skills and
being develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training, and
experience.
II. SUMMARY
The seminar itself was directed to the following topics; Nursing Legislation,
Nursing Education, Nursing Administration, Nursing Service, and Nursing Updates.
In Nursing Legislation discussed by Hon. Leah Primitiva S. Paquiz, ANG NARS
Representative, she deals with the different House Bill like House Bill 151 which is the
Comprehensive Nursing Act of 2013 where it adopt the measures that will pursue the
mission Kalusugan para sa bayan, and also on how the nurses can help in the nursing
profession, she enumerated them as; getting involved, join the technical working group,
submit bills for health workers and healthcare, and speak up against precarious work
load.

In Nursing Education discussed by Dean Elizabeth R. Roxas, National President

ADPCN Inc., she deals with the educational system in the Philippines and why our
country needs the educational reform, she said it is because Philippines is the only
country in the Asia and one in three (3) countries in the world with only 10 years prior to
university. That is why they implement the K to 12 educational system which is the
primary vision is for the graduates of the K to 12 will be holistically developed and
equipped with the 21st century mastery of skills.
In Nursing Administration discussed by Dr. Anabelle R. Borromeo, Chief Nursing
Service of St. Lukes Medical Center, she deal with the nursing leadership and primarily
focused on Nelson Mandelas way. One of Mandelas quotation that I like the most is
Lead from the back and let others believe that they are in front which is true. It doesnt
mean that because you are a leader you must be in front, sometimes you need to lead
them from the back and guide them as leader. Mentoring them from the back is one
method that can enhance staff satisfaction, and therefore, can reduce the feeling among
nurses that they are being devalued, discriminated against, and disempowered by their
own peers.
In Nursing Service discussed by Dr. Mary Grace D. Brackett, Director Nursing
Service of AUFMC, she deals with the right flow of the nursing care that starts from the
safe care safe practice safe nurse safe patient safe workplace and down to the
safe profession. And before she left, she gave us a nice quotation from Mark Twain Why
not go out on the limb? That is where the fruit is. And thats true, innovation, risks
taking are very crucial for us, but how we will be able to explore new things and discover
for what is good to our organization if we will not do it.

In Nursing Updates discussed by Dean Noel C. Cadete, National President PNA

Inc., he deals with the nurse being a journalist, national networking, and the collaboration
with the American Nurses Association (ANA). In this case the Filipino nurses will be
able get updated of latest trends and issues in the nursing profession.
III. IMPORTANCE TO AREA OF INTEREST
Hospital is my area of interest specifically in the Emergency Room. As what the
Philippine Nurses Association, Inc. (PNA) discussed that leadership is critical to
advancing the nursing profession. They said all levels of an organization require strong
nursing leadership to establish a healthy work environment, strong leadership is
particularly crucial at the point of care where most front line staff work and patient care is
delivered. To develop the leadership skills necessary to support the development of
healthy work places, current and future nurses will need guidance and mentoring.
Nursing leaders must act as full partners with physicians and other health professionals,
and must be accountable for their own contributions to delivering high-quality care while
working collaboratively with leaders from other health professions as discussed in the
nursing legislation, meaning every nurses should be responsible enough in every
procedure that they do.
IV. IMPLICATION OF THE TOPICS
Implication to Nursing Practice
Nurses are more updated to the trends in the nursing profession and it helps to
increase involvement of organizational members in decision making by fostering
openness in communication and collaboration among other organizational member.

Implication to Nursing Education

As a result of the growing number of nurses especially in the Philippines and the
dramatically changing role of the front-line nurse manager, leadership education for
nurses is of critical importance. Educating the undergraduate and post graduate students
is really needed in order for them to establish and implement a good nursing leadership.
Implication to Research
Nurse leaders play a significant role in creating a work environment that values
generational differences and supports the needs of each individual. It is important that
they recognize and act on generational differences in values and behaviors. Research
findings described in the nursing and other literature can guide nurse leaders in
structuring the work environment so as to accommodate the differing generational
cultures.
V. BEHAVIORAL CONCEPT
This reaction paper identified the behavioral concept;
Perseverance
VI. ABOUT BEHAVIORAL CONCEPT
Perseverance is the continued effort to do or achieve something despite
difficulties, failure, or opposition. It is also a commitment, hard work, patience, and
endurance. It is like a character you should always show. Perseverance is something that
can leave you far into life. If you show perseverance you can and you will get somewhere
in life.

VII. RELEVANT NURSING THEORY

Theory
This reaction paper is anchored From Novice to Expert Theory by Patricia E. Benner.
Benner believed that the key to nursing is clinical experience because of the
allowance it gives the nurse to continue expanding his/her knowledge, and keep
providing patient care in a holistic and competent manner. Guidance and direction from a
good preceptor is very important in making a successful transition from the initial to the
final stage.
Major Concepts
From Novice to Expert Theory has its five (5) Major Concept; Novice, Advanced
Learner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert.
Novice or beginner, stage of skill acquisition describes that the person has no
background experience of the situation in which he/she is involved. To guide
performance, context free rules and objective attributes must be given. This is the level in
which nursing students belong.
Advanced Learner, has a sufficient experience to easily understand aspects of the
situation. They feel more responsible for managing patient care, yet they still rely on the
help of those who have more experienced. Mostly newly graduated nurses at this level.
Competent, an increase level of efficiency is evident. However, time management
and the nurses organization of the task are more important rather than on timing in

relation to the patients needs. Benner believes that a sense of mastery is acquired through
planning and predictability.
Proficient, identifies the most significant aspects and has a better understanding of
the situation based on background expertise. They no longer rely on preset goals for
organization, and they show an increased confidence in their knowledge and skills.
Expert, no longer relies on analytical principle like rules, guidelines and maxims
to connect his/her understanding of the situation to an appropriate action and has the
abilities to identify patterns on the basis of deep experiential background.
Major Assumptions
Benner identifies four (4) major assumptions; Nursing, person, health and environment.
Nursing described by Benner as an enabling condition of connection and
concern which shows a high level of emotional involvement in the nurse-client
relationship.
Person described by Benner as a self-interpreting being, that is, the person does
not come into the world predefined but gets defined in the course of living a life.
Health described by Benner as what can be assessed. It is described as not just the
absence of disease and illness. Also, a person may have a disease and not experience
illness because illness is the human experience of loss or dysfunction, whereas disease is
what can be assessed at the physical level.
Environment, instead of using the term environment Benner used the term
situation because it suggests a social environment with social definition and meaning.

Implication to Nursing Practice

Benners Theory has been used to aid in the development of clinical ladders of
promotions, newly graduate orientation programs, and clinical knowledge development
seminars.
Implication to Nursing Education
Nursing educators have realized that learning needs at the early stages of clinical
knowledge development are different from those required at later researches.
Implication to Research
Several researches tested the theory and validated. In application of the theory
presented by Benner, nurses have a clear vision of the competencies required in order for
them to climb up into the leadership ladder.
Implication to Behavioral Concept
From Novice to Expert Theory is actually from nothing up to an upgraded
functional healthcare provider. In the beginning you do not have enough knowledge and
skills, but because of the perseverance to learn and to improve, from being novice you
will become an expert that has a better understanding and much stronger capabilities.
VIII. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Figure 1.0 presents the paradigm of this reaction paper.
As shown, the behavioral concept is interconnected by an arrow to the Major
Concepts of the Theory. The upper oval is the behavioral concept which Perseverance. In

lower frame, series of connected frames represented the Major Concepts; Novice,
Advanced Learner, Competent, Proficient, and Expert.
Perseverance

Major Concepts:

Novice

Advanced Learner

Proficient

Competent

Expert
Figure 1.0

IX. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion
In the light of the findings of this reaction paper, it arrived at the following conclusions;
As I said earlier leaders are not born, they are made. Leadership is a set of skills
and abilities that anyone can learn. Those skills can be strengthened, improved, and
enhanced. If you want to make a significant impact on people and in organizations, you
can do so, by making the most important commitment, the commitment to become the
very best leader that you can be.

Recommendation
The following were hereby recommended by this reaction paper.
As a nurse leader you must search for opportunities to innovate, grow, and
improve and it will come from your patients, co-nurses, and other people around you.
You must look outside yourself. You need to accept criticism and welcome the
opportunity to improve as a person, as leader.
X. INSIGHT
Unfortunately, I was disappointed a little bit in the seminar. Perhaps that is partly
my fault for having with positive expectations.

Although the seminar had several

strengths, overall there were two aspects that seriously detracted from it being a
successful experience for me. Firstly, Dr. Mary Grace D. Brackett, the presenter, was
unable to explain her topic clearly and just keep on reading to her copy, and I am very
disappointed when she said pasensiya na, hindi ko kasi kabisado ito knowing that she
was a formerly Clinical Instructor and currently the Director of the Nursing Service of
Angeles University Foundation Medical Center. She accepted to present the topic,
meaning she need to prepare enough because its not just an ordinary seminar but a
Regional Convention which is almost half of the participants are just starting their career
like me and that seminar might really help for us in our foundation. Secondly, inviting
Hon. Cynthia Villar as the Keynote Address. There are so many personalities that can
influence and inspire us, I have nothing against her, but why her? Why Cynthia Villar? I
really feel bad at her after of her controversial testimony regarding the nursing
profession.

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However, although the seminar was rather large, with easily over a hundred
participants, Dr. Annabelle R. Borromeo, the presenter, tried to involve the participants in
the seminar as much as possible. I am sure that she is an amazingly dynamic Chief Nurse
and has a great deal of valuable information to share. Throughout the day, there were
lectures and activities for us to do.
XI. REFERENCES
Books
Alligood, M.R. & Tomey, A.N. (2002). Nursing Theorists and Their Work (5th Edition)
Balita, C.E. & Octaviano, E.F (2008). Theoretical Foundations of Nursing: The
Philippine Perspective
George, J.B (2002). Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice (5th
Edition)