The Philosophy And Science Of Caring

Nursing is a practice in which nurses promote health and the well-being of patients. I believe that nursing is not only a job that prevents and cures illness, but has a deeper meaning and understanding. Becoming a nurse gives the opportunity to maximize and promote patients’ well-being. It is a way to learn and understand new perspectives and expand prior knowledge, to build relationships with patients, community, and other nurses, in addition to learning how to empathize and realize the patient’s needs, and to value and see people as human beings. I think even with the list given is not enough to define or explain a nurse. I believe being a nurse is a diverse and immeasurable experience, and what happens in this field is unknowing and uncertain. My goal in nursing practices is to take in life experiences and use the skills and ideas learned to shape me to become a better nurse and a better person.

“Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (ICN 2010)

“Philosophies of nursing are statements of beliefs about nursing and expressions of values in nursing that are used as bases for thinking and acting. Most philosophies are built on a foundation of beliefs about people, environment, health, and nursing” (Chitty & Black, p. 298). By using person, environment, health, and nursing as a guideline to achieve the ultimate goals of nursing; I will discuss my personal philosophy and how these factors are used in nursing.

When people think about nurses, many ideas come to mind. They think of the hideous old starched, white uniforms, a doctor’s handmaiden, the sexy or naughty nurse, or a torturer. The media and society have manipulated the identity and role of nurses. None of these ideas truly portray nurses and what they do. Nurses are with the patients more than the doctors. People do not realize how little they will encounter the doctor in the hospital until they are actually in the hospital. People quickly realize how important nurses are. Because nurses interact with their patients constantly, nurses are the ones who know the patients best.

A nursing theory that has influenced my professional nursing practice is Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. In this theory she addresses how nurses care for their patients. Caring is the essence of the nursing profession and is a relationship formed between the nurse and the patient. In Watson’s theory she believed that caring could assist the patient to gain control in their own health care, become educated, and in the end find health. Watson focused on the patient’s mind, body, and soul and this is the aspect of her theory that I try to use in my professional practice. As a new nurse straight out of nursing school I focused more on protocols and procedures to make sure I was doing everything right. My patients had good outcomes but I was amazed when I started thinking about the patient as a whole and not just thinking about the illness they had and how to treat it. Many times just treating the patient’s

My personal philosophy of nursing would stem from the quotation from Maya Angelou- “they may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” This statement has always stood out to me pertaining to nursing. Nursing is an art form that must include compassion, caring, honesty, and patient care. Every single day as a nurse you are dealing with a patient’s life. You must have the listed qualities to perform your care for the patient properly.

ANA defines nursing as “The protection promotion and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury alleviation of suffering of human response, and advocacy in the care of individual, families, communities and population” (ANA, 2013).

What nursing is defined as in my opinion, is more of a philosophy. I see nursing as a combination of beliefs and ideals that revolve around the concepts of compassion, integrity, and sacrifice. I have always viewed nurses as caring and compassionate towards their patents. There is a quality in their personalities in that they truly care about who they are working with. Nurses are also ones who can be trusted, as you know that they regard their job to the highest degree. Nurses will not compromise, and will do whatever necessary to ensure the health of their patients. Sacrifice is another concept I associate with nursing. Nurses put their patients above themselves and will gladly go out of their way to ensure their wellness. If I had

Nurses support and enable individuals, families and groups to maintain, restore or improve their health status. Nurse also care for and comfort when deterioration of health has become irreversible. A traditional ideal of nursing is caring and nurturing of human beings regardless of race, religion, status, age, gender, diagnosis, or any other grounds.

My philosophy of nursing is one which I will stand by for the duration of my nursing career. This philosophy is based on providing competent, compassionate and holistic care to the best of my ability. My philosophy stems from the values and beliefs instilled in me during my early childhood, and are accompanied by trustworthiness, respect, and compassion.

Before I entered this program, I assumed that a nurse was a person who would simply listen to the doctors and act according to their demanding orders without any judgmental and critical reflections. I once thought a nurse used to be a person who could not have the power to complete the medical school, who could only accept the unreasonable reprimands from other higher health care team members, and who would spend his/her time, money, and efforts to receive the insufficient reciprocal compensation. This was the thought of a boy who lived a in country of words and pictures that have its frame but not its soul, Vietnam; however, things in that country are getting better. What is a nurse to me? A nurse can be described as carative, a term that

Nurses take part in an integral responsibility in the healthcare system. This is why they have been acceptably referred to as the vital center of healthcare. Being a nurse is one of the most challenging occupations in the world and demands a lot of commitment and dedication to the job. Nurses play various roles as they have to act as care providers, conversationalist and a coach among others. If nurses were to be removed from the healthcare system, it would crumple in its tracks.

This paper will explore the beginnings of one of nursing’s most popular theories. Jean Watson established her caring theory in nursing which is still widely used today. In this paper, the author will explore the history of this theory as well as the changes that have occurred over time. The reader will gain insight as to how the theory was formed and how it is still used in today’s nursing practice.

Death and Dying in the Emergency Department: The Application of the Philosophy and Science of Caring

Introduction: Introduces the theory, purpose of the paper, and provides rationale for selecting the theory.