Personal Nursing Philosophy

A philosophy can be defined as an application of individual beliefs to both known and unknown situations in their areas of specialization. Nurses are faced with a myriad of unpredictable events that require the use of one’s expertise and philosophy to make critical decisions that would positively influence patient outcomes (Foxcroft & Calder, 2011). The decisions that are made in healthcare are forever revolving, necessitating the need for a change in the approach as well as in their beliefs (Foxcroft & Calder, 2011). My desire to join the nursing profession was motivated by my desire to help those in need. As such, I am focused on the provision of nonjudgmental care to those in need regardless of their race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, and age.

On a daily basis, I am driven by my philosophy, which is the responsibility to communities to provide patient-centered, holistic, and safe care to all that require it. One of the things that I remember every day is the fact that my patients are individuals who deserve individualized attention and not just room numbers or medical conditions. In connection with this, I get irritated when other nurses refer to patients by their medical conditions rather than their real names. As a patient advocate, I use clinical judgment in meeting the needs of my patients, besides encouraging them to take an active role in their care by engaging in the mutual goal-setting process.

The nursing profession has been developed through theories and evidence-based practices that emanate from research studies. The concerns of nurses are defined in a specific meta-paradigm that aims to explain the link between science, philosophy, and current evidence-based practices. Currently, the central concepts of the nursing profession are four and include the person, environment, health, and the nursing profession. As I provide individualized care, I ensure that these four key areas of the profession are addressed.

Personal Nursing Philosophy

The person refers to the recipient of the nursing care. Some scholars have gone to the extent of including the patient’s members of the family as well as friends in this meta-paradigm. To adequately address this aspect of the nursing profession, I make sure that my goal is to nurture and empower the individual to manage their health to the best of their abilities. The aspect of health can be defined regarding wellness as well as accessibility to health services. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not necessarily the absence of infirmity (Parker & Smith, 2012). Going by this definition, it can be seen that it is never easy to achieve optimal health since a wide range of factors influence wellness. Nurses should assess the conditions of their patient’s health before coming up with interventions that promote optimal health.

The environment refers to the surrounding factors that influence the health of patients. They include culture, personal relationships, geographic locations, and a wide range of social factors. The final aspect is the nursing profession, which refers to the skills required in the provision of quality care. I would suggest that the concept of caring, as explained by Watson, be included in the meta-paradigm of nursing because of its relevance among nurse professionals. One may not differentiate between nursing and caring since they mean the same thing. On the other hand, I do not think it would be necessary to eliminate an already-used concept. However, less emphasis can be put on the metaparadigm of the environment in which nurses have little or no control.

.References

Foxcroft, S., & Calder, L. M. (January 01, 2011). Personal Nursing Philosophy. International Journal for Human Caring, 15, 3, 89.

Parker, M. E., & Smith, M. C. (2012). Nursing theories and nursing practice. Philadelphia [Pa.: F.A. Davis Co.

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Personal Nursing Philosophy

After reading this week’s assigned chapters, think about your nursing philosophy. In your own words, discuss your philosophy of nursing. Reflect on the definition of the four concepts of the nursing meta-paradigm.

Personal Nursing Philosophy

Write your own definition for each concept of the meta-paradigm of nursing. Which concept would you add to the meta-paradigm of nursing and why? Which concept would you eliminate and why?