Contributor: Mana Ghanbar Nezhad
In virtual nursing theory week, I learned that nursing is far more than performing tasks or following procedures; It is a complex, relational, and dynamic profession that requires the integration of ethical values, clinical knowledge, technological competence, and systemic awareness. Caring is not simply about having good intentions; it is something that emerges through interactions with patients, families, communities, and healthcare systems. For example, the “Dance of Caring Persons” shows that caring is reciprocal and relational, where both the nurse and patient contribute to the experience, emphasizing presence, listening, and strengthening personhood rather than just completing tasks.
I also learned that technology does not replace caring but can enhance it when used intentionally. Through the concept of Technological Competency as Caring, tools like ICU monitors or telehealth systems become ways that help nurses to better understand patients and preserve their dignity, rather than creating distance. This shifted my perspective from seeing technology as separate from caring to recognizing it as part of a holistic, patient-centered approach.
Another important learning is that nursing care must be understood within broader social and structural contexts. Patients’ experiences are shaped by intersectionality, meaning overlapping factors like race, culture, and socioeconomic status influence health outcomes. For instance, Black African immigrants may have significant mental health needs but underutilize services due to stigma, racism, and lack of culturally appropriate care. This showed me that health disparities are not simply the result of individual choices but are deeply rooted in systemic barriers not just individual choices.
I also learned that professional identity in nursing develops over time through reflection, mentorship, feedback, and real-world experiences. Skills like metacognition, thinking about how I think, and the intentional use of strategies like humor can strengthen clinical judgment, communication, and resilience. This means nursing is not only about what I do, but also about how I think, reflect, and grow within complex situations.
This learning matters because it shifts the focus of nursing from a task-based approach to one that is meaningful, equitable, and deeply context-sensitive. It emphasizes that effective care is not just about completing clinical duties, but about understanding the broader systems, relationships, and lived experiences that shape each patient’s health. By recognizing the influence of systemic inequities, cultural beliefs, and social determinants of health, nurses are better prepared to provide care that truly meets patients’ needs rather than unintentionally overlooking them.
For example, understanding why Black African immigrants underutilize mental health services, due to stigma, racism, and lack of culturally appropriate care, prevents nurses from attributing this gap to personal choice and instead encourages advocacy for more inclusive and responsive services. Similarly, recognizing the complex vulnerabilities of people experiencing homelessness, particularly women who face higher levels of trauma and limited access to care, highlights the need for relational, holistic, and flexible approaches.
What stood out to me in the theory week was how it brought nursing theory to life in a way that felt deeply reflective and integrative, moving beyond task-based learning into a more relational and systems-oriented understanding of care. I learned that nursing is not only about clinical procedures, but about dynamic human relationships shaped by presence, communication, and shared meaning, as illustrated in concepts like the “Dance of Caring Persons.” I also gained a new perspective on technology, recognizing through frameworks such as Technological Competency as Caring that tools like monitors and telehealth can actively support, rather than replace, human connection and dignity. In addition, theory week helped me connect patient experiences to broader social and structural contexts, including how intersectionality, stigma, and systemic inequities influence health outcomes. Overall, this experience was unique because it integrated theory, reflection, and real-world application in a way that strengthened my professional identity and expanded how I understand nursing practice.
Ultimately, this learning equips nurses to move beyond assumptions, challenge inequities, and advocate for social justice in healthcare. It supports the delivery of care that is inclusive, dignified, and responsive to the full context of patients’ lives, ensuring that nursing practice is not only clinically effective but also ethically grounded and transformative.
About Mana Ghanbar Nezhad
Mana Ghanbar Nezhad, BSN, RN, is currently a Family Nurse Practitioner student at Wright State University and a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. My perspective is shaped by my experiences as an immigrant and bilingual nurse working across diverse healthcare settings. I believe that nursing should move beyond task-oriented care and focus on human connection, dignity, advocacy, and social justice.