E-Portfolio - Philosophy of Nursing

When discussing my personal philosophy of nursing and the roots of my
understanding of such we must return to the period of time in which I was

still searching for a direction in my career. Prior to my decision to pursue a
degree of nursing, I often considered the career path of a physician.
Beginning my collegiate experience majoring in Biology and Chemistry
followed by four years of medical school and numerous year in internships
and residency thereafter. However, the conversation piece that most
frequently clouded this vision was the discussion of what truly makes me
happy. What things in life leave me feeling fulfilled? When pondering these
questions, often posed by professionals of medical careers currently, my
calling became clearer. As much as it seemed Medical school was the fit for
me, I quickly saw that the personal connection and patient contact I truly
desire would be missing. The role of a nurse is every changing, day to day,
hour to hour, and minute to minute dependent on the specific needs of the
patient at that particular moment. Its in answering these questions that I
began to develop the concept of nursing, and the philosophies of such in
my mind. Being the primary contact point for my patients allows for me to
derive true happiness, seeing the look on their face as I spend five minutes
discussing their grandchildren with them knowing I have four other patients
to pass medications on, bathe, toilet, and assess. But I will not tap my foot,
or check my watch, consumed in my thoughts of how I will ever finish the
tasks I still have. No, I will make this individual feel important, in this
moment, and allow them to feel that I truly care. The feeling that these
actions instill in me are far more rewarding than any action I may perform for
their physical well-being alone. A nurse is one which wears many hats.
The nurse wears the hat of patient advocate. The nurse is to make decisions
with the patients well-being the sole consideration in all decisions. Nurses
are often required to advocate for the patient when other health care
professionals are missing something in the assessment data. Although orders
are placed by physicians and residents, nurses are truly the last line to
review the intervention and ensure it is appropriate prior to the
administration of said intervention.
Nurses are educators. Nurses ay spend countless hours working with a newly
diagnosed diabetic or patient with celiac disease. The nurse must go above
and beyond to constantly ensure the patients knowledge base is growing
accordingly and build individual plans for each patient to ensure these
adequacies are met. Every patient may learn slightly differently and the
nurse may need to present information in different ways, with extensive
patience, to ensure the patient is understanding appropriately.
Nurses are healers. They must have a vast knowledge base which can be
applied at the blink of an eye, almost acting without the time for thought at
all. The nurse must assess the patient and take this clinical data as evidence
for, or against, the carrying out of many treatment and medication plans.
They are also spiritual healers are they continue to provide culturally
competent care and ensure those of different spiritual or ethnic backgrounds
than themselves are provided the appropriate courtesies desired.
Nurses are communicators and coordinators. They must work with a

multitude of other disciplines within the health care facility to coordinate the
care of the patient they are responsible for. This often requires countless
phone calls and face to face interactions with the Pharmacy, physicians and
residents, the Lab, radiology an imaging, internal medicine, wound care,
surgical consults, social workers, family members and others within the
nursing staff itself. This role of constant communication and coordination is
vital to the patients healing process.
All of these different hats truly encompass the philosophy of nursing. This
complex structure which makes up the profession of nursing directly
correlates to and reflects the philosophy of nursing. The profession of nursing
is more than simply a job or even a career, for the philosophy which is
engrained in those of us acting as nurses is simply a lifestyle.

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When discussing my personal philosophy of nursing and the roots of my

understanding of such we must return to the period of time in which I was

Nurses are communicators and coordinators. They must work with a

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