Running head: MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 1

My Nursing Philosophy

Genai R. Coward

Old Dominion University

My Nursing Philosophy
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 2

It is important for every nurse to understand the purpose or the WHY of the nursing

profession. My personal nursing philosophy is a critical reflection of my beliefs, actions, and

relationships as a nurse. The purpose of this paper is: to explore personal beliefs and values of a

registered nurse--and to explore the role of a nurse, purpose of nursing, nursing relationships,

and ethical principles. Reflecting on the nurse’s role, nursing relationships, and ethical principles

are important to discover in order to become the best nurse possible.

The Nursing Definition

Nursing is defined as providing care, compassion, and attention to patients and the

community. It means putting aside personal values and beliefs, and embracing the values and

beliefs of patients--treating a patient as a holistic being and executing treatment as such. Nursing

is a calling to provide a helping hand to those who are debilitated; maybe even just for a moment

at time. It means fixing unpleasant situations through simple acts of kindness --and providing

optimal treatment to prevent unfavorable outcomes. A nurse takes on multiple roles: provider,

educator, advocate, cheerleader, coach, and friend. Knowing the definition of a nurse, is

important to reflect on as it exemplifies the role of a nurse.

The Purpose of Nursing

The purpose of nursing is to promote health, to prevent injuries or illness, advocate, and

to alleviate pain or displeasure from patients who may be going through unpleasant

treatments/illnesses. (ANA, 2010) It is being a listening ear and comfort to patients during a

time of distress. It also entails being an educator. For an example, nurses educate patients on

health promotion topics to help prevent the spread of certain diseases or epidemics like

childhood obesity. A nurse could go out to community schools and help initiate programs to help
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 3

control obesity. The nurse would educate children on healthy snack alternatives, and try to help

children understand the importance of maintaining a healthy weight. Nurses also have a role of

advocating for a patients-- as nurses have the most direct interaction with patients, nurses

inevitably advocate for patients. Things that nurses advocate for are helping patients make

informed decisions about their healthcare, treatments, understanding medications, as well as

making ethical decisions.

As a nursing student, I enjoy making patients smile during clinical rotations. It is

encouraging to know that educating a patient, or providing extra attention can make a patient’s

visit more pleasant.. It is intuitive for me to lend a helping hand. These characteristics help me

live out the compassion that coincides with being a nurse.

Nursing Relationships

Nursing and Client in a Culturally Diverse Setting

Things that may be culturally unacceptable by an American may be unavoidable during

patient care; however, cultural acceptance as a nurse is mandatory. For an example, people from

different cultures may accept things like a child raising his/her voice to their caregiver, a patient

refusing a bath due to cultural beliefs, or a patient swaddling a baby in a crib. Working as nurse

in a culturally diverse setting is possible and can be successful. Opening up awareness and being

more culturally sensitive will help ease into a different culture that nurses encounter daily.

There are three practices (the three A’s) nurses can make to help facilitate the act of

honoring individual choices and beliefs- awareness, asking, and acceptance. (Ferwerda, 2013)

Being aware of patient’s cultural beliefs connects the patient and nurse on a higher level, which

will promote a higher level of comfort for the patient, resulting in healing. Developing awareness

can help prevent biased thinking from a nurse, prevent stereotyping, racism, and cultural
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 4

oppression bias. Awareness can help eliminate these thinking in order to provide optimal health

care to the patients. (Ferwanda, 2013). The practice of asking is important, because nurses aren’t

aware of every individual and cultural practice. Asking a patient about their beliefs and values

demonstrates respect and sense of care. Accepting a patient beliefs is essential.This idea goes

hand in hand with Margaret Newman’s nursing theory, “Health as Expanding Consciousness.”

(Nursing Theories, 2011). Her theory states that being aware of a disease is accepting the role

new life and new purpose that may not have been discovered in a healthy individual.

Encouraging a patient to accept themselves, to promote healing. By incorporating these three

practices, incorporating cultural interactions with patients are both easier and more successful.

(2013).

Nurses and the Community

The relationship of the community nurse is to provide education to the community in

order to prevent or spread diseases. Community nurses develop direct relationships to members

of their communities in the form of school outings, community outreach, festivals, or non-

profits. It is important to develop a relationship with the community, as it may be the

community’s only form of health promotion and education. Nurses and other health care

professionals

Nurse and Other Health Care Professionals

The relationship between health care professionals and other community nurses is based

on effective open communication. Communication in the healthcare is essential to executing

optimal patient care. Communication errors happens when there isn’t appropriate actions shown

between the nurse and healthcare provider. Not completely understanding a concept, can result in
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 5

a mishap in healthcare. Making sure that each medical professional understands one another is a

sign of great communication and result in a positive relationship.

Two Moral or Ethical Principles or Rules That Guide

Nurses are held ethically responsible through the American Nursing Association’s (ANA)

ethical principles. Two principles that guide my professional practices are: Beneficence and

Autonomy. According to ANA, beneficence is defined as doing good and the right thing for the

patient. Throughout my clinical experiences, I practice beneficence by encouraging patients to

improve their health by changing their diet. For an example, I encouraged a patient with type 2

diabetes weighing 240 pounds, to start incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into their diet.

This will help to control the diabetes; as a result, her BMI will decrease.

Respect for autonomy is another important principle that guides my practice as a nurse.

Autonomy is the ability to make independent decisions about health care. According to the

American Nurses Association (ANA), autonomy and patient self-determination are upheld when

the nurse accepts the client as a unique person who has the innate right to have their own

opinions, perspectives, values and beliefs. (ANA, 2011). It is important that patients are

informed about alternative treatments in their healthcare plan. It is equally important for the

nurse to give patients power in their healthcare--to allow the patient the ability to make the most

informed and independent decision possible. For an example, my experience working in the

nursing home autonomy is usually ruled out. Many times I’ve seen a patient's right to “do not

resuscitate (DNR) ” ignored when CPR is performed to resuscitate the patient. The patient has

the right to reject or accept all treatments. This includes having an autonomous decision to

choose DNR during respiratory failure.

Conclusion
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 6

Nurses work with individuals from a diverse background: different cultural beliefs,

religion and values. It important for the nurse to be comfortable in their own beliefs and

philosophy- and to be open to the beliefs and values of others. Following the ethical principles

of a nurse , outlined by the ANA, can help develop positive nurse- to- patient relationships.

Having an open communication with medical providers can help eliminate hospital/patient

errors. My values and beliefs will follow me throughout my career as a nurse. Having an exact

understanding of my philosophy will help guide my decisions and throughout my calling as a

nurse. Understanding the definition and the role can help provide the best care to the patients

possible. Understanding my personal view and outlook on what it means to be nurse will lead

my actions in future as a practicing nurse. Understanding the various roles of the nurse, nursing

definition, ethical principles, and relationships built between patients and staff, is essential in

order to best nurse possible.

MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 7

References

American Nurses Association. (2001). Code of ethics with interpretive statements. ANA

Publishing: Silver Spring, MD.

Ferwerda, J. (2013, September 15). How To Care For Patients From Different Cultures.Retrieved

from https://nurse.org/articles/how-to-deal-with-patients-with-different-cultures/

Nursing Theories. (2011). Health as expanding consciousness. Retrieved from

http://currentnursing.com/nursing_theory/Newman_Health_As_Expanding_Cons

ciousness.html
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 8

I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any
form of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware
that as a member of the academic community it is my responsibility to turn in all
suspected violations of the Honor Code.