Personal Philosophy of Nursing - Admission/Application Essay Example

Personal Philosophy of Nursing due: My desire of being a nurse began when I was a child with my urge to care of anyone who was sick and needed my help. My greatest inspiration came from the achievements of Florence Nightingale. She was a vigilant nurse who led to the improvement of nursing conditions in hospitals. She accomplished this by improving the care that was offered to the patients by the nurses. Her interest in nursing was prompted by her desire to find a meaningful life with a purpose rather than live by the’ natural order’ during her time that required women to only focus on their roles in the domestic circle (Dossey,2010).

She aspired to learn something that was out of the domestic circle that will not deprive her of spiritual or mental nourishment.For her to familiarize and learn of the occupation of nursing, Nightingale visited several hospitals such as The Kaiserworth hospital. Her visits enabled her to learn of statistics and medical reports of hospitals all over Europe. Before the nineteenth century, the conditions of hospitals in England were deplorable (Watson, 1979). This was because it was difficult to hire qualified nurses; those employed to act as nurses were considered to be really desperate for a source of income since the job paid very little, and convents were the only places where the sick, who had no one to take care of them, were properly cared for.

The vigor and determination of Florence Nightingale made it possible for the nursing conditions in hospitals to improve.According to Nightingale, nursing is an art that requires full devotion and what makes it more special is that nurses take care of a living body which is God’s temple (Dossey, 2010, p.14). By having that, perception in mind nurses should treat patients with the utmost respect of their values and proper care. Her actions showed her devotion to nursing. Nightingale had all the qualities needed to be able to be a good nurse.

This is because she dedicated her time to serve the patients who were in need and delivered quality care to all her patients.Nightingale was always driven by the urge to provide her services to others and was always selfless at all times. During the war in Crimea, she managed to convince the war officer in letting her offer her services to the injured soldiers with the help of her fellow nurses. She also involved herself with the training the women who were in charge of wards in the hospitals and those concerned with home care nursing (Watson, 2001).

During the time she spent in Crimea she realized that the dire sanitary conditions in the area led to worsening of diseases and resulted to more deaths. She came to the conclusion that diseases were, as a result, of “miasma that came from dirt and decay” (Tomey, 2006). By using her intelligence, she was able to stop the suffering of many patients. For a nurse to administer proper care, they should ensure that their patients are in a hygienic surrounding. When proper care is given to the patients, it helps in facilitating the body to take part in healing itself.

She referred to it as “reparative process of nature” (Dossey, 2010). By her actions, she changed people’s perception of the profession of nursing making it to be respected. She was able to combine the values learned in Christianity with her profession of nursing (Orem, 2001). I can boldly conclude that my philosophy of nursing is grounded on the actions of Florence Nightingale and by emulating her actions I can be able to be a great benefit to my community by offering proper care to the sick, develop trust with my patients and strive at promoting good health in my area.

To be an efficient nurse it is advisable to examine yourself; your principles and personal values. Character is very important in the profession of nursing.ReferencesDossey, B. (2010). Holistic nursing: from Florence Nightingale’s historical legacy to 21stcentury global nursing. Alternative therapies 16(5), 14-15Tomey, A.M.(2006). Nursing Theorists and their Work. (6th ed. pp. 54-67). St Louis, MO:Mosby. Watson, J. (2001). Theory of Human Caring. In M.E. Parker (ed). Nursing theories and NursingPractice.

(pp, 343-354). Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.Watson, J. (1979). Nursing: Philosophy and science of caring. Boston, MA: little BrownOrem, D. (2001). Nursing Concepts of Practice (6th Ed). St. Louis, MO: Mosby.