LICEO DE CAGAYAN UNIVERSITY

Paseo del Rio Campus, Macasandig, Cagayan de Oro City

COLLEGE OF NURSING
First Semester, Academic Year 2023-2024
CHN 2 – RLE Group 2 (Block C)

Journal Reading (Elderly)

Student Nurse: Justine Paul O. Gaitera

Yr.&Sec.: NUR-3C (Group 2)

Personality development: continuity and change over the life course

Reflecting on the developmental aspects of personality across the human life course, it's
fascinating to recognize how individuals evolve as actors, agents, and authors of their own
narratives. As a nursing student, understanding these perspectives is crucial for providing
holistic and person-centered care. The concept of the person as an actor, evident even in
infancy, highlights the early emergence of social action patterns that foreshadow the
development of temperament into adult traits. This insight prompts consideration for the role
of early experiences and environmental influences in shaping a person's behavioral tendencies,
offering a valuable lens for understanding patients' responses to healthcare interventions.

The agentic self, characterized by personal strivings and goals, becomes psychologically
salient in childhood. As a nursing student, recognizing and supporting the consolidation of these
goals is pertinent in promoting a sense of purpose and motivation, especially in pediatric and
adolescent healthcare contexts. The emergence of narrative identity in adolescence and young
adulthood, where individuals begin to author their life stories, resonates deeply in the realm of
nursing. Acknowledging and respecting the unique narratives of patients can enhance
therapeutic relationships, fostering a more personalized and empathetic approach to care.
Tracing the development of traits, goals, and life stories from infancy through late adulthood
provides a comprehensive understanding of the individual's journey. It emphasizes the dynamic
nature of personality and prompts nursing students to appreciate the multifaceted aspects that
contribute to a person's identity. Considering the interplay of traits, goals, and life stories at
various developmental milestones underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing
unique needs at different stages of life. This insight encourages nursing students to tailor their
care approaches based on the individual's developmental context, promoting a more effective
and compassionate nursing practice.

In essence, this perspective on personality development offers nursing students a

valuable framework for understanding patients as individuals with unique life stories,
motivations, and goals. It reinforces the significance of a person-centered approach in nursing
care, recognizing that each patient is on a distinct life course with evolving needs and
aspirations.