Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay

Personal Philosophy of Nursing
I chose nursing as my area of study because nursing is seen as such an awarding and lifechanging field of work. I love being able to help and support those who are unable to care for
themselves. I believe that the core of nursing is caring for patients and their health. The patients’
health and needs are a nurse’s number one priority. My vision for myself as a nurse is that I will
do my best in providing the top care possible for my patients and their families. I will put all of
my beliefs and opinions aside to fully respect their views on treatments and various scenarios. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample. I
will do my best to efficiently work with my patients, families, and colleagues to provide the most
effective care for the patient. To successfully live out my philosophy of nursing, I must
remember my job is about the patients and their families.
What exactly is nursing? I believe I live my philosophy by Virginia Henderson’s
definition of nursing. She states, the “unique function of the nurse…to assist the individual, sick
or well, in the performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery…that he
would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will, or knowledge.”(Cardinal Stritch
University) Henderson is saying how the main purpose of nursing is to focus on the patients’
general needs or care and help them to better themselves. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample. I agree fully with this statement
because as a nurse, the patient is your main priority. The reason nurses exist today is because
there are always individuals who require medical attention and nurses are the only ones who
know how to properly handle these health-related problems. The practice of nursing is so
complex that it requires several years of study and teaching. We practice nursing to help develop
certain skills to care for patients in a variety of situations. These skills are important for the
successful outcome of the patient. There are many rules and regulations that are incorporated
within nursing that all students are required to learn to provide the best care for the patients.
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Personal Philosophy of Nursing
There are many assumptions and beliefs when people hear the words nurse, patient, and
community. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample. When I hear the word nurse, I think of an important figure associated within the
medical field. Nurse has been a word that has evolved throughout time. A nurse is someone who
tends to the patient’s needs and provides the highest quality of care for them. I believe that the
nurse is the most significant figure within hospitals and other medical settings. Without nurses,
there would be no one focusing on the patients and their families’ needs and wants. They play an
extremely important role within health-care professions. When I hear the word patient, I think of
the one who is receiving the care from the nurse. A patient is anyone who is in need of physical,
mental, or emotionally cares. When I hear the word community, I think of a group of people that
work together within the medical setting. A community can also relate to those who share
common interests or beliefs, whether it is other nurses or patients. All three of these words are
very important within the field of nursing and have varying definitions.Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample.
The three major domains of nursing include, the person, health, and environment. A
person is individual who is receiving the care. An example of this would be the patients that the
nurses care for. The health of each individual varies in meaning for each person, but can relate to
his or her state of illness. This can either be the good or poor health of each patient, depending
on his or her situation. An example of health is sickness or wellness. The environment can
include the various conditions that could affect the heath of the person. For example, this could
apply to different hospital settings. All three of these domains are interrelated within the field of
nursing. There needs to be a good environment that positively affects the person’s health
outcomes.
Overall, I see my future in nursing being very successful and fulfilling. I will continue to
stick with my beliefs and opinions, but not let it interfere with my profession. I will respect and
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Personal Philosophy of Nursing
honor all of my patients’ cultural backgrounds and their various outlooks on life. There will be
many challenges I will face within my nursing profession. Some of these include becoming
adjusted to the medical scene, balancing work and my personal life, and making my patients
happy. I know it will take time, but will be worthwhile. My goals for professional development
include becoming familiar with different aspects of nursing. I want to be able to provide the best
care and environment for my patients. Nursing is a challenging profession, but is overall an
awarding experience. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample
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Personal Philosophy of Nursing
Resources
Cardinal Stritch University. Retrieved November 8, 2013 from http://www.stritch.edu.

Abstract: This paper explores the personal nursing philosophy I plan to convey in my nursing career.I believe the nature of nursing is rooted in commitment to public service and the undeniable desire to help those in need.Nursing is more than treating an illness; rather it is focused on delivering quality patient care that is individualized to the needs of each patient.

My philosophy of nursing incorporates the knowledge of medicine while combining it with relational, compassionate caring that respects the dignity of each patient. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

I believe nursing care should be holistic while honoring patient values. A crucial aspect of nursing is interprofessional relationships, and collaborative efforts among healthcare professionals promote quality patient care. My philosophy of nursing extends to my community in which health promotion is something I will continually strive for.

Personal Philosophy of Nursing

For as long as I can remember I have been overwhelmed with a longing desire to care for those in need, and I feel this ultimately led me to the career choice of nursing. I feel most fulfilled when I am serving and caring for others, and my personal nursing attitude is one that is centered on compassion and service. According to Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (2012), a philosophy is “an analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs,” and before entering to the profession of nursing, it is important to explore my personal values and principles that will guide my nursing practice. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

My philosophy of nursing incorporates the knowledge of medicine while combining it with relational, compassionate caring that respects the dignity of each patient. My philosophy is one that focuses on the empowerment each patient in the delivery of holistic nursing care. This paper will explore the values I feel are necessary in relating to patients as well as health professionals, my personal work culture, and society as a whole.

Personal Philosophy

The Nature of Nursing

The nature of nursing is something that cannot be simplified to one word or phrase. Nursing is more than a profession; it is more than treating those who are ill, rather it is a model of care and service to others, and it is continually evolving. The nature of nursing revolves around commitment to public service and an undeniable desire to help those in need. It is my belief that crucial aspects of nursing include the prevention of illness, the treatment of the ill, and the promotion of health, as well as caring for clients. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

Caring acknowledges what is important to the patient (Austgard, 2006), and I feel this shapes the delivery of nursing care. I believe to say that caring is not intertwined with nursing is to say that breathing has nothing to do with oxygen; for the two go hand and hand, and nursing would not be what it is without its aspect of caring, just like breathing would not be possible without oxygen. The nature of nursing should revolve around respect for each patient and reverence of human dignity.

The nature of nursing is also rooted in science and medical knowledge. It is the goal to prevent illness and treat those who are ill, and this requires a base level of medical knowledge to make nursing care possible. Since the medical field is something that is continually evolving, nurses must keep up to date with the current best practices and delivery of patient care. Nursing is a process that requires continual research and learning. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

Nursing and Patient Care

In regards to nursing and patient care, my philosophy of nursing focuses on holistic, patient-centered care, as well as a caring and compassionate patient relationship. A holistic view of the patient allows the nurse to connect with patients on a relational level in which nurses get to understand the values of patients, and this kind of practice separates physician care from nursing care.

“Holism involves studying and understanding the interrelationships of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual dimensions of the person, recognizing that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” (Dossey, 2010, p.14), meaning holistic nursing is not only concerned with a patient’s physical well being, but it also concerned with patient’s emotional, spiritual, and mental well being. Nurses, by nature are concerned with a patient’s comfort, for “comfort remains a substantive need throughout life and, as such, should be considered an indispensable constituent of holistic nursing care,” (Malinowski & Stamler, 2002).

Patients who feel comfortable cope better with their illness and have faster rates of healing then those patients who admit to being uncomfortable (Malinowski & Stamler, 2002) and as a nurse it is my goal to make sure my patient is physically comfortable as well as mentally and emotionally comfortable. It is my mission to make my care centered upon the patient’s needs and wishes. I believe it is important for patient’s to be informed and be active in their care, and I hope to have a collaborative relationship with my patients so that their needs and wants are met. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

I want my personal nursing to revolve around building a trusting and caring relationship with patients because “to establish a trusting relationship is necessary in order to see the situation from the patient’s perspective and an absolute prerequisite for acknowledging and realizing a patient’s values,” (Austgard, 2006, p.16). I value what is important to each patient, and even if his or her wishes are something I personally disagree with, it is still my moral and ethical responsibility to treat the personal needs of my patient and work for the best possible outcome.

Nursing and Healthcare Professionals

Not only is nursing concerned with patient relationships, but also it involves relations with many other health care professionals as well, for nursing care could not be effective would not effective without the help of other health care professionals. In the past, health care relationships stemmed from the hierarchal basis, and communication took place on a vertical level, but with health care delivery evolving, interdisciplinary teamwork has become a prominent aspect in patient care. As a nurse, I desire to have an open, honest, and effective relationship with other health care professionals while keeping the patient’s needs and wishes as the driving force for care. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

Communication is a key element in any relationship and it is essential in the health care relationships. Interprofessional collaborative practice has shown to improve patient outcomes and retention of medical staff (Wood, Flavell, Vanstolk, Bainbridge, & Nasmith, 2009), thus collaboration is something I feel is critical for my nursing practice. I would like for my relationship with other health care professionals to be one of collaboration, rather than competition.

“Health professionals must be able to work in collaborative practice models such as interprofessional teams in order to ensure consistent, continuous and reliable care,” (Wood et al., 2009) and this supports the notion that interprofessional teamwork in nursing care is essential for the best patient care. I feel that effective patient care and positive patient outcomes should be the driving force behind interprofessional health care relationships.

Nursing and the Work Culture

A work culture is the attitude and personality of a hospital unit, and I feel that a work culture can significantly influence patient care delivery. My preferred work culture would be one consisting of interprofessional collaboration, open communication, and positive attitudes. Teamwork is an essential component of nursing, and I would like to work on a unit in which teamwork is valued and put into practice. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

Communication is critical for a positive work culture, and I personally would like a culture in which the opinion of the staff is encouraged and valued. It is my philosophy that a positive work culture will positively affect patient moral, and this contributes to better patient outcomes. Nursing and the Environment and Society

As a nurse, I feel as though my responsibility to the health and safety of others goes farther than the hospital of clinic I work in. “Nursing has a disciplinary goal to contribute to the health of individuals and the overall health of society,” (McCurry, Revell & Roy, 2009) and I believe nurses are obligated to promote health in their communities and nationwide. Since my philosophy of nursing is more than a profession and that is something that is focused on the commitment to public service, it would be unethical for me to ignore the health care needs of my community.

As a nurse, it is very important that I aid in addressing the healthcare needs of my personal community and environment as well as society as a whole. I feel as though it is my duty and responsibility to take an active role in healthcare issues among the country, including issues such as smoking cessation and primary prevention of health care. I personally would like to be a resource for my environment and take a role in health promotion throughout society.Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

Nurses across the nation should take and active role in promoting health across the nation in working for the safety of all individuals. Not only do I feel as though it is important to focus on my community, but I also feel responsible for helping those who have limited healthcare access, especially those in underprivileged areas of the world. I desire to take part in medical trips oversees to promote health education and wellness in areas where this information is limited.

Vision of Personal Nursing Practice

My vision for nursing practice focuses on what is doing what is most beneficial to my patient. I hope to build caring, trusting relationships with my patients as well as play a positive role in their health outcome. No two patients will ever be the same, and my vision is to individualize care for each of my patients so their personal, emotional, and physical needs can be met. I always want to value each patient as an individual and respect his or her needs and dignity.

My goal is to empower each patient to be active in their care in hopes of improving patient outcomes. Personally, I would like to continue to practice nursing care that is congruent with the best evidence to date, and continue to research and discover better ways of doing things. My vision of my nursing practice is to deliver quality and reliable patient care while promoting health in my community.Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample

Conclusion

Through this philosophy paper, I have explored what nursing truly means to me, and have become more aware of principles I value for clinical practice. I value holistic nursing and want to value each patient as an individual with varying needs. Respect for every patient is essential in preserving a patient’s dignity.

My goal is for the patient to always be the focus of care and to make sure the patient’s values are understood. Interprofessional collaboration is an aspect I hope to implement in my nursing practice in order to better serve my patients. I desire to work in a healthy working environment in which open communication is encouraged. Nursing is something I plan to extend beyond the hospital in an effort to improve the health of my community and the country as a whole. This information and these personal values will serve as a guide for my personal standards of nursing practice. Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay Sample