My Philosophy of Nursing
Personal Philosophy of Nursing
Cindy Lucas
Jacksonville University
November 12, 2012
Personal Philosophy of Nursing The nursing profession is not just a job, it is a higher calling. The amount of work, time, and emotion that goes into nursing practice holds nurses to a much higher standard than the average nine to five office job. Nurses must be proficient in a background of anatomy, physiology, and the way drugs and diseases work. Nurses must also combine that knowledge with sharp critical thinking skills and an unconditional compassion for humankind. While every nurse is unique in their own way, I hope the values that I have in my daily living can affect the way I conduct myself while on duty as a practicing nurse. The same theme seems evident in most nursing philosophies; caring, health and wellbeing, environment, and clinical excellence through education. As I contemplate what my philosophy of nursing is I have discovered that I also incorporate these aspects of nursing into my own personal values of what I believe it is to be a nurse. My personal belief system has always been that a nurse should possess strong ethical and moral values, a passion for caring, and a commitment to lifelong education.
Ethical and Moral values One of the greatest challenges in nursing is how to integrate appropriately one’s own values and beliefs into the professional practice. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient and the patient’s family. Patient respect, advocacy, honesty, and privacy are four qualities that any human deserves and are especially important in the healthcare setting. The American Nurses Association states, the nurse promotes for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient (Association, 2001). Although it is important to understand that these qualities are nursing roles, the nurse must collaborate with all healthcare providers such as doctors, therapists, social workers and case mangers using these qualities
Cindy Lucas
Jacksonville University
November 12, 2012
Personal Philosophy of Nursing The nursing profession is not just a job, it is a higher calling. The amount of work, time, and emotion that goes into nursing practice holds nurses to a much higher standard than the average nine to five office job. Nurses must be proficient in a background of anatomy, physiology, and the way drugs and diseases work. Nurses must also combine that knowledge with sharp critical thinking skills and an unconditional compassion for humankind. While every nurse is unique in their own way, I hope the values that I have in my daily living can affect the way I conduct myself while on duty as a practicing nurse. The same theme seems evident in most nursing philosophies; caring, health and wellbeing, environment, and clinical excellence through education. As I contemplate what my philosophy of nursing is I have discovered that I also incorporate these aspects of nursing into my own personal values of what I believe it is to be a nurse. My personal belief system has always been that a nurse should possess strong ethical and moral values, a passion for caring, and a commitment to lifelong education.
Ethical and Moral values One of the greatest challenges in nursing is how to integrate appropriately one’s own values and beliefs into the professional practice. The nurse’s primary commitment is to the patient and the patient’s family. Patient respect, advocacy, honesty, and privacy are four qualities that any human deserves and are especially important in the healthcare setting. The American Nurses Association states, the nurse promotes for, and strives to protect the health, safety, and rights of the patient (Association, 2001). Although it is important to understand that these qualities are nursing roles, the nurse must collaborate with all healthcare providers such as doctors, therapists, social workers and case mangers using these qualities
References: Association, T. A. (2001, June 30). Code of Ethics for Nurses. Retrieved from American Nurses Association: http://www.nursingworld.org Cook, S. E. (1913). The Life of Florance Nightingale. London: Macmillan and Co., limited. Hills, M., & Watson, J. (2011). Creating a Caring Science Curriculum: An Emancipatory Pedagogy for Nursing. New York, New York: Springer Publishing Company,LLC. Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring. Boulder, Colorado: University Press of Colorado.