My Nursing Philosophy - Essay Example

? My Nursing Philosophy My Nursing Philosophy Establishing a personal nursing philosophy entails contemplating on ones beliefs, values, as well as principles on matter pertaining to the nursing practice. For me to develop my nursing practice, I contemplated on what nursing means to me as well as factors that guide my nursing practice. In the course of my nursing studies, I have encountered different situations, which have enabled me develop my personal nursing philosophy. Additionally they have changed and molded my assumptions regarding nursing practices. However, they have at times challenged my assumption and personal value but for the better. Developing a personal nursing philosophy required me to reflect on my assumptions about nursing and compare them with the facts I had learned, particularly from the different philosophers accredited for developing different concepts that shaped nursing practices. Nursing practices entails giving patient-centered care and maintaining the different ethics that guide nurses in their practice. My nursing philosophy is based on my experiences, nursing education, principles, and theories that guide nursing, as well as my goals as a nurse. It addresses the aspects surrounding nursing practice, which include the society, environment, the patient of recipient of nursing care, health, and nursing care. I have always been compassionate about giving professional caring towards patients. For me, nursing is not just about me as the nurse and the patient, it comprise the patients family and the society. This is because of the roles that may pray in preventing occurrence of certain diseases as well as their contribution in enhancing healing of patients. Additionally, they are an important source of information regarding patients and other health related problems. The American Nurses Association definition of nursing (2004, p. 7) as “Protection, promoting, and Abilities, prevention of illnesses and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” clearly describes what nursing entails. I find this definition very comprehensive since it clearly defines the roles of a nurse. Additionally, it demonstrates the need for continuous knowledge acquisition as key to proficient nursing. For quite some time the issue on whether nursing is, an art or a science has been debated. Being a nurse entail taking care of the patients, this is considered as an art. Therefore, the definition of nursing is a clear depiction of the components of nursing. Being a successful nurse requires one to seek knowledge, which is then applied in the daily activities. This necessitates clear understanding of diseases, their causes, diagnosis, and treatment. This makes nursing a science since it involves seeking knowledge. According to Philips, science is “an original body of knowledge concerning human beings and their world,” (2006, p.43). Nursing is thus multidimensional, and involves acquiring knowledge in addition applying the theory of behavioral and natural sciences in defining the skills and professional values used in care giving (Warms & Schroeder, 2009; Phillips, 2006). However, nursing goes beyond understanding the disease progression and treatment. It entails enhancing the healing process through giving care. When Nightingale (1820-1910) and Nissen (1834-1892) wrote a about nursing, they metaphorically compared it to art. They were considering the quality of care given by nurses (Austgard, 2006, 16). The aspect of care giving requires nurses to connect with the patient and their family and is thus an art. Nursing is thus both a science and an art. That is why I consider knowledge crucial for successful nursing. Additionally, applying the knowledge learnt in class is crucial since it enables one to understand different diseases and disease processes. Knowledge acquisition is the scientific component of nursing. It entails learning how to use technical resources which requires nurses to have apposite understanding of the anatomy as well as the physiology of the human body. Additionally, understanding pathology is crucial for pharmacological therapy. After acquiring knowledge, bedside care enables one to develop artistically since it requires one to be able to relate with the patients. It is by being caring that nurses are able to connect with the patients and help them therapeutically. Nursing therefore centers on acquiring knowledge and using it to improve the healing process of the patients. Being a nurse require one to consider not just his or her welfare but also that of the patients, their family, and the society. The effectiveness of the care given to patients is determined by different factors. As we discussed about patient-centered nursing, I noticed how the quality of care given determines the recovery speed. I have thus come to believe on the need to offer the best possible care, which emphasizes on creating a comfortable environment for the patients as well as their families. Empowering patients is crucial since it enables them realize that they can also contribute to speeding their own recovery. Whenever I am providing nursing care to any patient, I make them and their families realize the role they can play in facilitating the healing process. Therefore, the connections or relations between the nurse, the environment, the society, and the care recipient are fundamental aspects in nursing. When I joined nursing, I had no idea on the effect that environment plays in determining the rapidity of recovery. However, developing a good patient-nurse relationship enabled me to realize how patient handle different situation and how this could affect recovery. It is from this experience that I have come to understand that I should always aim at enhancing the recovery of patient. Additionally, I have realized it is important to assist patients cope with illnesses where better health effect cannot be achieved. It is in such cases that I have realized that the patient’s family is an important component of nursing care. It is thus crucial to make the family understand that any decisions regarding the patients that that a nurse may make is for the good of the patient. That is why I consider nursing ethic very crucial in that they should guide the decision made by nurses. Though being a nurse has been my dream since I was a child, my assumptions and ideas regarding nursing have changed. As child, I considered nursing as a profession that involves wearing a sparkling white uniform. However, I now understand that being a nurse is a call to change the lives of other positively. It is acquiring knowledge and using it together with technology to provide apposite environment for healing to occur. It is also empowering the patients and the society by informing them of the role they can play in facilitating the healing process. However, to be an efficient and competent nurse, there are set guidelines and ethical codes that act as guidelines. Additionally, they help nurses in making decision that are ethical and enhance better interactions between patients and nurses. Though important, therapeutic medicine requires to be complemented by nursing care to be effective. In my practice, I have realized the importance of nurses being capable of exercising political power in advocating for health programs that enhance adequate care for patients. As a nurse, I consider it my obligation to support inclusion of patients with addiction in health programs that consider their health situations. Additionally, I have recognized the importance of nurses in creating awareness on health matter by enlightening the patients and other members of the society. Therefore, nursing encompasses the care recipient, the society, nursing knowledge, and health. References American Nurses Association, 2004. Nursing: Scope and Standards of Practice.       Washington DC, The Publishing Program of ANA.   Austgard, K. (2006). The Aesthetic Experience of Nursing. Nursing Philosophy, 7, 11-19. Phillips, J. (2006). What constitutes nursing science? In W. Cody (Ed.), Philosophical and Theoretical Perspectives for Advanced Nursing Practice (4th ed., pp. 43-50). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Warms, C., & Schroeder, C. (2009). Bridging the Gulf between Science and Action: The "New Fuzzies" Of Neopragmatism. In P. Reed & N. Shearer (Eds.), Perspectives on Nursing Theory (5th ed., pp. 264-272). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer | Lippincott Williams and Wilkins. Read More