My Personal Philosophy of Nursing Practice

Nursing as a profession has evolved significantly since Florence Nightingale first emphasized the importance of using intellect, compassion, and skill to care for individuals holistically (Turkowski & Turkowski, 2024). Today, nurse leaders are expected to integrate evidence-based practice with advocacy, systems thinking, and cultural sensitivity to meet the complex needs of patients and communities. Despite this evolution, many challenges persist, particularly in addressing the broader social and environmental factors that influence health outcomes: My Personal Philosophy of Nursing Practice.

These gaps highlight the need for a clearly defined philosophy that guides ethical, person-centered, and socially responsible nursing practice. The goal of this paper is to share my approach to nursing, describe how it matches the four-nursing metaparadigm ideas, backs up Walden University’s social change objectives, apply the SDOH framework and include relevant middle-range and interdisciplinary theories.

Intersection with the Four Nursing Domains

My personal philosophy of nursing is shaped by the integration of the four metaparadigm concepts: person, environment, health, and nursing. These domains serve as the foundation of holistic care and guide my clinical and leadership decisions.

The concept of person recognizes patients as complex individuals with unique cultural identities, values, and beliefs (Purisima et al., 2024). In my practice, I recall supporting a newly diagnosed diabetic patient who struggled with dietary compliance due to her cultural food preferences. Rather than applying a standard plan, I collaborated with a culturally competent dietitian to create a personalized meal strategy that honored her background. This experience emphasized the value of culturally safe, person-centered care.

The environment includes the physical, social, and economic conditions that affect health outcomes. One case that deeply impacted me involved a hypertensive patient experiencing food insecurity. While pharmacologic treatment was prescribed, sustainable progress only occurred after I connected her with a local food pantry (Purisima et al., 2024). This reinforced my belief that addressing environmental factors is essential for effective, equitable care.

I view health not merely as the absence of illness but as a multidimensional state of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. I once cared for a terminally ill cancer patient who, despite his clinical decline, achieved peace through spiritual support and quality time with his family. Facilitating this emotional closure reflected my commitment to honoring each patient’s personal definition of health.

Nursing, as I define it, is a dynamic and relational profession rooted in ethics, evidence, and advocacy. In my leadership role, I use evidence-based practice, reflective inquiry, and compassionate communication to empower both patients and team members (Flaubert et al., 2021). For me, nursing is not only a clinical discipline but also a vehicle for equity and systemic change.

Alignment with Walden’s Mission for Social Change

My personal philosophy of nursing practice aligns closely with Walden University’s mission of positive social change. As a nurse, I view advocacy as a moral imperative. I strive to not only treat illness but to address the upstream factors that affect vulnerable populations.

For example, I have participated in campaigns promoting access to Medicaid for underserved families and supported mobile clinics offering preventative care in rural regions (Walden University, 2024). These actions are not only clinically effective but also socially transformative. As a DNP-prepared nurse, I aim to influence policy, mentor future nurses in health equity work, and create systems that prioritize fairness and inclusivity.

Application of the Social Determinants of Health Framework

My nursing philosophy strongly aligns with the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) framework, which recognizes that health outcomes are profoundly shaped by non-clinical factors such as socioeconomic status, education, housing, and access to care (Walden University, n.d.). As a DNP-prepared nurse, I believe it is essential to assess and intervene beyond traditional clinical boundaries to achieve health equity.

For example, I worked with a patient whose poorly controlled asthma was exacerbated by substandard housing and exposure to indoor pollutants. While pharmacological interventions were necessary, long-term improvement required interdisciplinary collaboration. I partnered with a social worker and legal aid to advocate for safer housing conditions. This intervention highlights how my philosophy supports upstream solutions rooted in environmental and social justice.

Additionally, I routinely screen for food insecurity and transportation barriers during intake assessments, believing that these determinants must inform individualized care planning. In one case, linking a patient with a mobile health clinic and a local meal service directly reduced ER visits and improved medication adherence. These actions reflect my commitment to whole-person care that addresses root causes rather than symptoms alone (Shanks & Gordon, 2024).

My practice philosophy sees nurses as not only caregivers but also as advocates positioned to disrupt structural inequities through education, policy, and community engagement

Support from Middle-Range Nursing Theories

Two middle-range nursing theories that strongly support my personal philosophy of practice are Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort and Benner’s Novice Expert Theory. Each provides a practical and patient-centered framework that guides my clinical decisions and leadership actions.

Kolcaba’s Theory of Comfort focuses on meeting patients’ holistic needs across physical, psychospiritual, environmental, and sociocultural dimensions (Lin et al., 2024). This theory aligns with my belief that true health is a multidimensional state of well-being. During my time in hospice care, I cared for a terminally ill patient whose family was struggling with anticipatory grief.

Applying Kolcaba’s approach, I tried to make the situation relaxing, suggested spiritual acts and arranged sessions with a counselor (Lin et al., 2024). Such interventions improved comfort for the patient as well as for the family, matching the theory’s main goal of total comfort.

Benner’s Novice to Expert Theory complements my nursing leadership philosophy, especially in mentorship and capacity building. Nursing is a field that continually grows and changes. To guide and support our new graduate nurse, I turned to Benner’s model to personalize my feedback.

Initially, she concentrated on certain tasks and over time, using structured reflection and seeing complex scenarios, she became able to think critically. My experience confirmed the need to back nurses at each step of their development and help them gain pride in their field (Sterner et al., 2021). The two theories reaffirm my work as a CarePro which includes supporting both patients and health professionals all the way from entering care until transitioning out.

Support from Interdisciplinary Theories

My personal philosophy of nursing practice is also strongly supported by two interdisciplinary theories: Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory. Both theories can be applied to other areas and provide useful views on holistic care and managing social risks to health.

Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory emphasizes the importance of self-efficacy, observational learning, and reciprocal determinism in behavior change. This is consistent with my dedication to both patient empowerment and teaching about health (Islam et al., 2023). For a hypertension patient, I involved peer examples in group sessions, showed them how to log their blood pressure digitally and assured them it is possible to keep hypertension under control.

When the patient was able to observe how others controlled their disease and reviewed their own progress, his confidence and follow-through with new habits became much better (Islam et al., 2023). It became clear that having higher self-efficacy helps people stick to healthy habits.

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory complements my understanding of patients as nested within complex systems—family, community, institutions, and policy environments. This theory reinforces the need to tailor interventions based on contextual factors. I once worked with a single mother managing diabetes while juggling two jobs and limited childcare.

Applying this systems-based lens, I coordinated flexible telehealth appointments, involved a community support worker, and referred her for subsidized childcare. These efforts acknowledged the interplay of macro and micro systems influencing her health (Tong & An, 2024). Together, these theories enhance my nursing philosophy by emphasizing empowerment, contextual responsiveness, and social integration—key elements in achieving health equity and person-centered care.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my personal philosophy of nursing practice is rooted in a holistic, equitable, and evidence-based approach that acknowledges the individuality of patients and the systemic factors influencing health. Through alignment with the four nursing domains, Walden’s social change mission, and the SDOH framework, I am positioned to contribute meaningfully as a DNP-prepared nurse. Supported by Kolcaba’s and Benner’s middle-range theories and interdisciplinary insights from Transformational Leadership and Planned Behavior models, my philosophy integrates compassion with innovation. This philosophy will continue to guide my leadership, advocacy, and practice as I strive to improve outcomes and promote justice across all care settings.

References

Flaubert, J. L., Menestrel, S. L., Williams, D. R., & Wakefield, M. K. (2021, May 11). Supporting the Health and Professional Well-Being of Nurses. The Future of Nursing 2020-2030 – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573902/

Islam, K. F., Awal, A., Mazumder, H., Munni, U. R., Majumder, K., Afroz, K., Tabassum, M. N., & Hossain, M. M. (2023). Social cognitive theory-based health promotion in primary care practice: A scoping review. Heliyon, 9(4), e14889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14889

Lin, Y., Zhou, Y., Chen, C., Yan, C., & Gu, J. (2024). Application of Kolcaba’s Comfort Theory in healthcare promoting adults’ comfort: A scoping review. BMJ Open, 14(10), e077810. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077810

Purisima, E. M., Arde, B. O., Nero, F. D., Locsin, R. C., & Montayre, J. (2024). Reframing the environment domain of the nursing metaparadigm: Exploring space, place, and technology. Belitung Nursing Journal, 10(6), 614–623. https://doi.org/10.33546/bnj.3458

Shanks, C. B., & Gordon, N. P. (2024). Screening for food and nutrition insecurity in the healthcare setting: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Non-Medicaid insured adults in an integrated healthcare delivery system. Journal of Primary Care & Community Health, 15. https://doi.org/10.1177/21501319241258948

Sterner, A., Ramstrand, N., Palmér, L., & Hagiwara, M. A. (2021). A study of factors that predict novice nurses’ perceived ability to provide care in acute situations. Nursing Open, 8(4), 1958–1969. https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.871

Tong, P., & An, I. S. (2024). Review of studies applying Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory in international and intercultural education research. Frontiers in Psychology, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1233925

Turkowski, Y., & Turkowski, V. (2024). Florence Nightingale (1820-1910): The founder of modern nursing. Cureus, 16(8), e66192. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.66192

Walden University. (2024). Academics: Student Handbook: Vision, Mission, and Goals. https://academics.waldenu.edu/handbook/vision-mission-goals

Walden University. (n.d.). Social Determinants of Health: Understanding vision health equity. Walden University. https://www.waldenu.edu/online-masters-programs/master-of-science-in-nursing/resource/social-determinants-of-health-understanding-vision-health-equity

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YOUR PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING PRACTICE (NO SUBMISSION DUE)
Florence Nightingale’s philosophy and teachings emphasize that the nurse must use her brain, heart and hands to create healing environments to care for the patient’s body, mind and spirit. Nursing, since the time of Nightingale, has been building the holistic paradigm, in all schools of thought, with a view to a humanistic approach to the human being in their indivisible relationship with the environment. (Riegel et al., 2021, p.1)

The nursing paradigm includes four domains: person, environment, health, and nursing. These domains enable nurses to provide holistic and patient-centered care. When you combine them with your own attitudes, beliefs, and values, you can begin generating a unique and personal philosophy of nursing.

For this first Assignment of the course—and building on this week’s Discussion—you will formulate your personal philosophy of nursing practice. Keep in mind that you will not submit your Assignment until Day 7 of Week 3. Begin now and continue developing your thoughts and ideas, as you engage with Weeks 2 and 3, which focus on nursing theory.

Note: As you work your way through this course, the image above to the upper-right will appear with each Assignment to remind you that the effort you put in now will benefit you in the future, as you put your knowledge and skills into action as a DNP-prepared nurse.

Resources

• Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
• Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. (SEE ATTACHED)
  

  My Personal Philosophy of Nursing Practice

To Prepare

• Review the Learning Resources for this week. Pay special attention to what is said about developing a personal philosophy of nursing practice.
• Search the Walden Library and the internet to identify at least two middle-range nursing theories and two interdisciplinary theories that inform and/or support your personal philosophy of nursing practice.
• Reflect on your Week 1 Discussion post and the comments you received from colleagues to help you further clarify your personal philosophy of nursing practice.
• Consider how your personal philosophy intersects with the four nursing domains: person, environment, health, and nursing.
• Consider how your personal philosophy aligns with Walden’s mission for social change.
• Consider how your personal philosophy aligns with the SDOH framework.