I had read the SHSU SON handbook at least three times before this assignment.

However, I never payed attention to its mission, vision, and conceptual framework. Thus,
coming to realize how much I am reflected in these three items is surprising. The SONs mission
states that the program provides a nursing foundation which promotes holistic, evidence-based
care, built on the concept of lifelong learning and founded in scholarly teaching, research, and
practice in a professional community. Through SHSU SON, I have not only become a nurse,
but also a researcher. Thanks to this program, I have discovered how passionate I am towards
research and I have been provided with the opportunity to develop this role. The SHSU SON
employed me as a student research assistant for Dr. Neill, who, once the work ended, asked me
to collaborate on her project and co-sign the article for doing the literature review. In addition, I
went with SHSU College of Health Sciences to San Jose, Costa Rica to represent SON and
present an evidence-based practice (EBP) poster I developed with the information collected with
my group during the Research summer class.
The passion I have developed towards research along the program has led me to embrace
SONs vision: maintain and restore the health of diverse individuals, families, and communities
now and in the future through evidence-based practice and the growing use of technology. At
SHSU, I have learned the importance that EBP has in nursing and how nurses can improve their
practice. Through research, nurses can enhance the outcomes of the patients and change policies
and laws for the best interests of the communities.
By looking at the SHSU SONs conceptual framework, I have realized that this program
has also shaped my philosophy of nursing. The SON believes that through changes in the
environment, nurses can enhance the health of the person through all health stages: health
promotion, disease prevention, maintenance, and restoration. Before entering into the program,

my inclination towards nursing was just focused on health restoration. I was merely interested
on changing the disease process. Now, I value the impact that nurses can have on the prevention
of illness and enhancement of the overall health of the patients. With SON, I have developed a
holistic practice where I care about all the aspects of the people, not merely the physical.
Because of everything I have learned and all the aspects of myself I discovered, I am so
proud I chose SHSU SON to pursue my dream of becoming a nurse. The school values have
made me a better person and have shaped my orientation in life towards leading the nursing
practice through research. I am proud of all the achievements I have accomplished in these two
years and the great foundation SON has built for my professional career as a nurse.