Nursing Philosophy : Nursing Practice

For centuries the development of nursing knowledge has been influenced by numerous theorists and their respective theories. These theories have influenced, and continue to influence, nursing education, practice and research. (Johnson & Webber, 2005)

A theory is defined as “a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered to explain phenomena (Merriam-Webster, 2017). In the nursing field, nursing theories have helped shape philosophies of many nurses in our history, as well as modern day. Every nurse, near and far, could probably tell you who Florence Nightingale was. She was a pioneer for women in nursing and made countless contributions to our field. Her nursing philosophy was based on Environmental Theory, “A belief that a person’s surroundings such as clean air, water,

After previously writing about Caper’s (1978) pattern of knowledge defined as personal knowledge I started to reflect back up on each day of what had previously occurred? What had led to the situation? And what could have I done differently to have bettered my relationship with patients? Searching for these answers during my daily practice has opened self-exploration into what nursing means to me. Within this paper I will discuss my philosophy of nursing, my personal definition of nursing, and what guided me towards becoming

As nurses we accept the responsibility of caring for the patient therefore, we have to be hold accountable for the care that we provide. It is important for nurses to use their own judgement in accepting responsibility, when to seek consultation and when and what to delegate to others. According to Battie & Steelam (2014), “a prospective nurse should hold themselves accountable for patient advocacy, continuity of care, lifelong learning, to colleagues, the nursing profession, and their organization”.

anything thrown your way, yet sympathetic enough to be understanding of it. There is so much

Nursing is based on caring in nursing. Compassion and concern for protecting and enhancing the

A nursing philosophy is the thoughts and beliefs about the job of a nurse based on one’s values. My values that have formed over the years have influenced me to purse a forever career as a nurse. I grew up in a small town Smithfield, Pennsylvania with my parents and younger brother. My community consisted of close relationships between the residents. Every one helped and cared for one another when needed. The practices of my community guided me to want to become a nurse. I want to continue to care for my community and give back to them by treating their illnesses and providing them with better health care. I am particularly interested in caring for pediatric patients. My goal is to try to provide every infant a chance to live their beautiful life created for them by God. While doing this, the primary focus of being a nurse will be to accommodate my patients and allow them to become a healthy person again.

One's faith plays a crucial role in the healing process or when facing an incurable illness. As a health care provider, I must not be subjective to others' faith and believes. In many cases, spirituality and religion are related and intertwined to one's health. My priority as a nurse is to provide my patient with comfort and care and in order to do so, I must be sensitive to my patient's religious preference. Based on my own assumptions, families tend to get closer and spend more time together as a family member is nearing the end stages of his life. This is the time when the patient seeks some sort of divine intervention such as visitation from his church's minister or a representative from his faith. As a nurse, my duty is to be compliant to the patient's wishes if it is within my capability. I'm also going to be supportive to the patient as well as to his family during this emotional time by genuinely listening to their concerns while abandoning any judgments.

Philosophy is a set of ideas, values, and beliefs behind what a person does (Merriam- Webster Dictionary, 2015). All nurses have beliefs about what nursing is and is not. It is important to stay true to one’s personal, moral, and ethical values at all times. Nurses are morally and ethically responsible for their patients, decisions, and actions (Lindh, Barbosa, Berg, & Severinsson, 2010). Every nurse brings something different to healthcare because they have different philosophies and/or believe in different nursing theories that guide their practice.

A journey of 1000 miles begins with a single step, a Chinese proverb that I have come to live by through my journey of nursing. I never thought in a millions years that I would have become a nurse. When I was younger nursing was the only profession my mother pushed. It was as if everyone in our family had to be a nurse. Honestly, I think I rebelled from the thought of being a nurse simply because it was my mothers desire for my life. I went from wanting to become a lawyer, to a therapist, to a pharmacist, to even a radiology tech. Ultimately; nursing became the clear path that God wanted for me. Interestingly enough I have come to realize my personal

1. How does describing one’s philosophy of nursing influence a nurse’s practice? What if a nurse has never thought about a philosophy? I believe describing one’s philosophy of nursing influences a nurse’s practice because it gives a nurse an understanding what his or her beliefs and values are based on the foundation of beliefs about people, environment, health, and nursing. Also, it is important to make sure those beliefs are in line with deeply held beliefs.

We should uphold our personal and professional ethical standards at all times. When we find conflict between our personal beliefs and those of the patient, we should endeavor to find a mentor to guide us through our conflict and find a solution that meets the needs of the patient without compromising our own personal belief system. As nurses, we must vow to take accountability for our own actions. I must remember that my fellow nurses can be great resources. They deserve respect and recognition for their hard work, reliability, and knowledge. Nurses should support and assist fellow nurses, nursing students, and other healthcare providers to provide a positive team environment Together we can collaborate to maximize the patient’s health potential on the illness-wellness continuum. As nurses, we can do our part to improve the image of the nursing profession through daily work ethics as well as involvement in the community, political, and professional nursing organizations. Through these forums, nurses can collectively improve healthcare standards both locally and globally.

To understand nursing philosophy, you must first understand what nursing means to you as an individual. To me nursing as well as nursing philosophy involves providing individualized holistic care to a patient, family, community, or even one’s own self. Holistic care is providing care involving the mind, body, spirit, and environment.

Nationally, nursing has become one of the most flourishing and outstanding occupations in the medical field. Years ago, nurses were discriminated by people because they provided care for ill individuals, which was against social law. The term nursing has been generalized to helping others who are sick. However, nursing is more than an oversimplified definition. This paper will examine the role of nurse: interview of a nurse, nursing theorist, and my personalized definition and philosophy of nursing.

Nursing philosophy “identifies what is believed to be the basic or central phenomena of the discipline, relates nursing to a particular world view, and provides some information on how one may come to learn about the world”. (p. 13, Salsberry, 2008). My personal philosophy of nursing evolved over the years and includes my observations, beliefs, thoughts, and practices. The purpose of this paper is to discuss my personal philosophy of nursing and the personal and professional experiences that have contributed to the development of my view of nursing.