Free Essay: Sociology and Nursing in the 21st Century

Patients require quality and safe healthcare services from caregivers. Patients, both in the hospital or at home anticipate that the nurses attending to them will provide them with safe and quality services for improved results. Gender roles are one of the changing sociological aspects in the nursing profession. There are different perceptions of gender roles in the 21st like the varying perception of sexual orientation. As a nurse student, it is ideal to understand both the traditional and current gender roles to ensure the provision of quality healthcare without discriminating patients or being prejudiced as a caregiver. This paper seeks to assess my career goals as a nurse with respect to gender roles and the sociological aspects that affect the nursing practice and profession.

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The major goal of a nurse is ensuring that families and individuals that need medical care are afforded quality health care services. In addition, nurses not only provide the necessary services but they play a role in restoring and promoting the general well being of patients. As a student aspiring to be a nurse, my career goal is to be an agent of change in the community through the provision of quality patient care.

The world is changing and traditional ways of living and thinking have become a thing of the past. With advancements in technology, women empowerment, and advocacy, today's woman is more empowered than a woman ten years ago. In the past decades, gender roles for men and women were clearly defined (Price, Sheri, et al., 102). However, today, gender roles are not a limitation to individuals pursuing their dreams. And so is with nursing, traditional gender roles are not followed and one is free to study and work in the field of their choice without any discrimination (Alan, Helen, et al, 46).

Traditional gender roles were restrictive and discriminated against women in the past. Women had clearly defined roles based on what society expected them to do. In a world where human rights thrive and are respected, women can no longer be discriminated against based on their gender. And since any form of discrimination is a violation of human rights, traditional gender roles can no longer continue or be followed (Price, Sheri, et al, 110).

A nurse is a critical person in the restoration and maintenance of people's well being and restoring their ideal health status. A practicing nurse will meet and interact with people from different social and economic backgrounds (Merryfeather, Lyn, et al, 33). Growing up in the middle-class family, with parents from other countries, my gender socialization attitudes are different. My class ceiling puts me in a better position than someone from a poor background. My attitudes towards sex, sexuality, and sexual orientation of people are different from those from rich and poor backgrounds. However, my career plans as a nurse, my gender socialization attitudes, and aspects have been impacted. I cannot be prejudiced or discriminate against people. I cannot practice heterosexism or afford to be homophobic (Price, Sheri, et al, 121). Also, I cannot be biased against the transgender either.

In conclusion, my career plans as a nurse have been impacted by sociology since the nursing profession requires equal treatment of all people in offering holistic care. My career roles do not follow traditional roles. Since I cannot be biased, prejudiced or discriminate anyone on the basis of their gender, sex, class, or sexual orientation, I am in a position to achieve my career goals as a nurse.

Works cited

Allan, Helen, et al. Understanding sociology in nursing. Sage, 2016.

Merryfeather, Lyn, and Anne Bruce. "The invisibility of gender diversity: Understanding transgender and transsexuality in nursing literature." Nursing forum. Vol. 49. No. 2. 2014.

Price, Sheri, Shelley Doucet, and Linda McGillis Hall. "The historical social positioning of nursing and medicine: implications for career choice, early socialization and interprofessional collaboration." Journal of Interprofessional Care 28.2 (2014): 103-109.