preview

My Personal Nursing Philosophy

Decent Essays
Nursing Philosophy Mary Bartley Broward College The integration of nursing theories with a philosophical perspective lays the framework for nursing practice (McCurry, Revell & Roy, 2008). My philosophy of nursing is to provide holistic care meeting the physical, social, economic, cognitive, and spiritual health of a person. This philosophy embraces the four elements of the nursing metaparadigm, which is person, environment, health, and nursing. While theorists have differing concepts and definitions of nursing, the American Nurses Association (ANA), defines it as follows; “Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and…show more content…
This can alleviate stress, which contributes to physical and emotional imbalance. Providing holistic care states Maier-Lorentz (2008), is defined as formulating a care plan that meets the individual needs of the patient. Leininger’s theory is the holistic model that supports such care and allows for advancement in transcultural nursing through research (Maier-Lorentz, 2008). To provide such care, while remaining culturally aware, the nurse must be void of any biases and stereotypes as a result of his or her own socialization. Lowe and Archibald (2009), state that there is no formulary approach in nursing practice to adequately deal with cultural diversity, because of preconceived notions and stereotypes. This practice has to be achieved through training and acquired knowledge. Training in providing culturally competent care promotes cultural self-awareness, knowledge of other cultures as well as recognizing the impact of culture on the nurse-patient relationship (Pesquera, Yoder & Lynk, 2008). Social justice is of paramount importance in providing ethical care and is also one of my core philosophical beliefs. Woods (2012), suggests that combining a relational-care based approach with social justice as a social ethic, should guide the nurses values and actions. The inability to provide culturally competent care contributes to the disparities that arise, especially among racial and ethnic minorities.
Get Access