Posted: September 29th, 2024

Personal Philosophy of Nursing Essay

NSG 3007 Week 4 Assignment 2 Personal Philosophy of Nursing.

Nursing was a calling for me. At thirteen months, my son’s lung collapsed, and he was hospitalized for 18 days. This experience was both terrifying and eye-opening. As a new mother, I had no idea what to do. It was the care and compassion of his nurse that nursed him back to health. Her dedication inspired me deeply. The hospital was clean, free of clutter, and quiet, which was therapeutic for the healing. Such an environment played a crucial role in his recovery. Twelve years later, I have made it my mission to provide non-judgmental care to every patient I come across, regardless of race, spiritual beliefs, financial status, lifestyle, or disability. This commitment is the cornerstone of my nursing philosophy.

According to Black, the foundation of nursing is its basic concepts, the ideas that are essential to understanding professional practice. These concepts are person, environment, and health (Black, 2014). Understanding these concepts is vital for effective nursing care. There are several philosophies, conceptual frameworks, and middle-range theories that are based on either one or all three of the concepts. These theories guide nursing practice in various ways. Every nurse will have different beliefs and values that will influence their own practice. These personal beliefs shape how nurses interact with patients. Finally, nursing will have weaknesses and strengths that will guide the way they collaborate with the multidisciplinary team. Recognizing these aspects is crucial for professional growth.

Nurses have always been aware of the influence of the environment on people, beginning with Florence Nightingale. Her insights laid the groundwork for modern nursing practices. She understood the elements of a healthful environment in which restoration and preservation of health and prevention of disease and injury were possible (Black, 2014). This understanding is still relevant today. So what is the difference between philosophy and conceptual framework? According to Black, a philosophy is a set of beliefs about the nature of how the world works. It provides a lens through which we view our practice. A conceptual framework provides an organizational structure that makes clearer connections between concepts. It helps in structuring nursing knowledge. As it relates to nursing, a philosophy provides a broad, general view of nursing that clarifies values and answers broad disciplinary questions. This broad view is essential for holistic care.

Florence Nightingale changed the whole perception of nursing. Her contributions were revolutionary. The birth of modern nursing has evolved throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. This evolution has been marked by significant milestones. Nightingale was recognized as the first nursing theorist and most commonly known as “The Lady with the Lamp.” Her legacy continues to inspire nurses worldwide.

She initiated her environmental theory beginning in the Crimean War, which focused on environmental factors to improve the health of each patient. Her theory emphasized the importance of a clean and healthy environment. To Nightingale, “healing was a holistic perspective and process of bringing together all aspects of oneself, body, mind, and spirit to achieve and maintain integration and balance” (Dossey, Selanders, Beck, Attewell, 2005). This holistic approach is integral to nursing care. After researching this theory, it best describes the way I view nursing. It aligns with my personal beliefs and practices. To fully take care of a patient, there are several factors that must be involved to take care of the patient. These factors include physical, emotional, and environmental aspects.

Working in Intensive Care, I utilize Nightingale’s environmental theory all the time. It guides my daily practice. She described 10 different concepts in caring for a patient. These concepts are foundational to patient care. Ventilation and warming, to me, means keeping the air clean and helping maintain a stable body temperature. These elements are crucial for patient comfort and recovery. Every morning I work, I open up the shades, not only for the direct sunlight but to allow the vented patients to differentiate from morning and night. This simple act helps regulate their circadian rhythms. At the hospital I work at, we have quiet time between 2 pm and 4 pm, and after 8:30 pm to promote a time for resting and relaxation. This practice supports healing and recovery.

Next, Nightingale mentions variety, which means the need for changes in color and form. This concept is important for mental stimulation. Every day, the volunteers stop by to see every patient and offer a flower, newspaper, and a word search. These small gestures make a big difference. Giving variety helps with boredom for the patients. It also lifts their spirits. Personal cleanliness, nutrition, hope and advice, and bedding are other concepts she addresses in her Environmental Theory. These elements are essential for holistic care.

Florence Nightingale’s theory helps with understanding the basic human essentials in care for the whole patient. Her insights are timeless. Her theory helps with making sound clinical judgment and generating effective interventions. It provides a framework for decision-making.

According to Black, nursing is defined as the provision of health care services, focusing on the maintenance, promotion, and restoration of health. This definition encompasses the core of nursing practice. The American Nurses Association definition of nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, facilitation of healing, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, groups, communities, and populations. This comprehensive definition highlights the multifaceted nature of nursing. Everyone’s definition of nursing is a little bit different, but they all sum up to the same thing. The essence of nursing remains consistent.

To me, nursing is defined as the field that facilitates wellness to the health and helps heal the ill and injured. This perspective guides my practice. Nursing provides patient care, assesses, and educates patients about their conditions. Education is a key component of nursing. The practice of nursing is based on a specific body of knowledge that is built on theory (Black, 2014). This knowledge base is essential for effective practice. The foundation of nursing, its bones, is its basic concepts, the ideas that are essential to understanding professional practice. These concepts are person, environment, and health (Black, 2014). They form the core of nursing philosophy.

The term “person” is used to describe each individual man, woman, or child (Black, 2014). This concept emphasizes the individuality of each patient. In the field of nursing, we will care for a variety of cultures, races, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and socioeconomic statuses. This diversity enriches the nursing experience. Every person has the right to be cared for regardless of their background. This belief is fundamental to nursing ethics.

My motto for caring for people is, treat everyone as if it was your son, daughter, mother, or grandmother. This approach fosters empathy and compassion. While it is the nurse’s job to care for the patient, it’s those persons responsible to learn to care and educate themselves. Patient education is a collaborative process. For example, a patient diagnosed with pancreatitis, who continues to drink 5 beers a day. This behavior poses a challenge to their health. The nurse is limited in assisting the patient, but she can still educate them on the importance of not drinking. Education empowers patients to make informed decisions. The patient has to take responsibility for his own health. Personal accountability is crucial for recovery.

The concept of environment includes all the circumstances, influences, and conditions that surround and affect individuals, families, and groups (Black, 2014). This concept is broad and multifaceted. Florence Nightingale understood the elements of a healthful environment in which restoration and preservation of health and prevention of disease and injury were possible (Black, 2014). Her insights continue to guide nursing practice. The environment can be internal and external. Both aspects are important for holistic care.

Internal factors vary from moods to general outlook on life. These factors influence health and well-being. External factors include the use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, culture, and upbringing. These elements shape the patient’s environment. The nurse can be a positive influence in helping to make their environment healthier. This role is vital for patient outcomes.

The final concept is health. Health is best viewed as a continuum rather than as an absolute state. This perspective acknowledges the dynamic nature of health. Each individual’s health status varies from day to day depending on a variety of factors, such as rest, nutrition, and stressors (Black, 2014). These factors are interrelated and impact overall well-being. To be healthy does not mean that you are free of disease, but completely well physically, mentally, and emotionally. This holistic view is essential for comprehensive care. Health not only includes dieting and exercising but also having a sane mind and being happy. Mental health is as important as physical health.

People, health, and environment are the foundation of nursing. These concepts are interdependent. Each concept is equally important, and they are interdependent. This interdependence is crucial for effective nursing care. An individual can be healthy in body, but unhealthy in mind because of the influence of the surrounding environment. This highlights the importance of a holistic approach. A good example would be a non-smoking casino worker, whose environment is surrounded by smoke. This can potentially affect his health in the long run. Environmental factors play a significant role in health outcomes.

“Everything we do, every decision we make, and course of action we take is based on our consciously and unconsciously chosen beliefs, attitudes, and values (Black, 2014). These elements shape our practice. My personal values and beliefs are honesty, kindness, respect, compassion, lifelong learning, persistence, family, benevolence, health promotion, non-judgmental attitude, responsibility, reliability, and teamwork. These values guide my interactions with patients and colleagues. I use these values to make personal decisions and live my everyday life. They are integral to my identity. My personal and professional values and beliefs are congruent. This alignment is essential for authentic practice.

The qualities that make a great nurse show through what is valued. These qualities are evident in daily practice. Being a good nurse with values isn’t turned on and off at the beginning or the end of the shift, it remains with them forever. These values are a constant presence. Not every situation will go as expected, but to remember we are all human and we are not perfect. This understanding fosters resilience and growth. Examine each situation and learn from it. Reflection is key to professional development. The focus of nursing is to ensure patient safety, healing, needs, and empowerment. These goals are central to nursing practice.

In nursing, a failure to communicate can have significant, even dire consequences. Effective communication is crucial for patient safety. Communication does not involve simply being able to talk, but to listen to and engage with another person nonverbally, because much of the way that humans express themselves is through nonverbal communication. This aspect of communication is often overlooked.

Developing a nurse-patient relationship is the key to effective communication. This relationship is foundational to patient care. There are five major elements that must be present for communication to occur: a sender, a message, a receiver, feedback, and a context (Black, 2014). These elements are essential for meaningful interactions. Communication is important in nursing practice for it is said to weave together practice to ensure that care is continuous, consistent, and congruous within and across the practice setting (Johns, 2004). This continuity is vital for patient outcomes.

For me, communication comes naturally, I love to talk with my patients. This passion enhances my practice. I love being able to sit right next to them and listen to their problems, breaking down what’s really going on, and just being there for them. This presence is comforting for patients. Sometimes it’s hard to end the conversation because the patient has so much to tell you. These conversations are valuable for building trust.

Another good form of communication that I have is silence. Silence can be powerful in certain situations. Working in the ICU, I use this form of communication a lot. It allows space for reflection and processing. Lastly, we had to terminally extubate a patient, and I knew after extubation and turning off all the vasopressors, the patient would not last long. This was a difficult moment for everyone involved. I asked all the nurses to come stand around the family and patient. This gesture provided support and solidarity. The patient took his last breath two minutes later. This moment was profound and moving. Doing this spoke volumes without a word being said. The family was very appreciative. Their gratitude was deeply felt.

In conclusion, nursing has evolved because of new opportunities and experiences. This evolution continues to shape the profession. With the help of Florence Nightingale and several other theorists, modern nursing is at its best. Their contributions have been invaluable. People are living longer and are engaged in learning more about their health conditions. This knowledge empowers them to take charge of their health. As nurses, we will continue to do our part to improve the image of the nursing profession through the use of our values and beliefs. These values are the foundation of our practice. Through effective communication, we will continue to improve healthcare standards. This commitment is essential for the future of nursing.

References

Butts, J. B., & Rich, K. L. (2021). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

American Nurses Association. (2005) Code for nurses with interpretive statements. Washington, DC: Author.

Dossey, B. (2010). Florence Nightingale’s Vision for Health and Healing. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 28(4), 221-224. doi:10.1177/0898010110383111

Houser, N. O. (2023). The value of a personal philosophy of citizenship education. The Social Studies, 114(2), 59-66.

Petrovskaya, O. (2023). Technology and nursing. In Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and Nursing (pp. 481-493). Routledge.

Professional Nursing: Concepts & Challenges, 7th Edition. [South University]. Retrieved from https://digitalbookshelf.southuniversity.edu/#/books/978-1-4557-0270-1/