NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 1

Nursing Philosophy and Professional Goals Statement

Gracie Hertel

Grand Canyon University

April 20th, 2019

Introduction

As nursing majors, our views, philosophy, and goals will constantly change and take shape as we

progress through each level in the nursing program. Over the course of this program, we will see

and experience things we thought we would have never thought we would. We will see and

experience things that will change our opinions about different aspects of nursing. However,

these experiences will ultimately aid in shaping our personal nursing philosophy and the goals

we want to accomplish in order to becomes the best nurses that we can. In this essay, I will be

discussing my personal approach to and philosophy of nursing care, how my clinical experiences

in level 1 have impacted my development of my philosophy, and goals that I would like to attain

by the end of the nursing program.

Personal Approach to and Philosophy of Nursing Care

As long as I could remember, I have always had a strong desire to work in the medical field. A

lot of that desire came from the love I have for learning about the human body, how it functions,

and the science behind how our bodies work. However, I decided to pursue nursing because I

believe God has given me a heart of compassion and a heart to serve others. I want to be there

for people during the best and worst times of their life. I want to be able to care for those who are

sick, and show them that despite their illness, there is still hope. I desire to make an impact on

people’s lives, and ultimately be a light for those who may only see darkness. Therefore, my

personal approach to and philosophy of nursing is to provide the upmost care for those who are

ill, to form a strong nurse-client relationship, and to restore health through the creation of goals

and caring of patients. I believe my approach is very similar to that King’s theory of goal

attainment and Peplau’s interpersonal process. King believed nursing to be, “‘…promoting,

maintaining and restoring health, caring for the sick and injured and caring for the dying’”
NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 3

(Creasia and Friberg, 2016). He believed that the main goal was to help individuals maintain

their health, so that they can fully function. Peplau’s concept of nursing was a therapeutic

interpersonal process. He believed nursing involves the interaction between two or more

individuals who have a common goal. He also developed six phases that occur within a nurse-

patient relationship that started with stranger and ended in counselor (Creasia and Friberg, 2016).

These two individual’s concepts of nursing are very similar to the approach I have with nursing.

Another personal approach I embrace is the importance in providing nursing care to every person

despite their socioeconomic, racial, or religious status. Everyone deserves to be treated with the

same care. Therefore, it is important to understand our own personal beliefs, but it is equally

important to value the beliefs and cultures of others, so that the upmost care can be given (Hall

et. all, 2017). This aspect of personal approach can be related back to Leininger’s Cultural Care

Theory. Leininger believed that the goal of nursing was to, “…to support, facilitate, or enable

individuals or groups to regain or maintain their health in a way that is culturally congruent…”

(Creasia and Friberg, 2016). Overall, I believe that nursing care needs to be focused on creating a

nurse-patient relationship, providing the best possible care to patients, and remaining culturally

congruent, as well as disregarding any disparities because every person deserves the same level

of care.

My Clinical Experience

My clinical experience and didactic classes this semester have impacted the development of my

nursing philosophy greatly. The didactic classes taught me how to treat and care for patients, as

well as implementing that care in the correct way. I have also learned to provide culturally

congruent care, the importance of valuing the beliefs of others without our biases clouding our

nursing care. Also, I have come to the understanding that every person is different and I cannot
NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 4

expect one patient to react the same way as another patient may have when providing care. I

have learned the importance of patient autonomy and the acceptance that some patients might

deny treatment despite the ability of healing. Clinicals solidified all of these aspects of nursing

for me. One aspect that impacted the development of my nursing philosophy was the nurses at

the clinical site. The nurses were kind and took care of their patients in the way they should be

taken care of. However, I felt like they were only there to administer each patient’s medications

and any other task that a CNA is not allowed to perform. I realize a lot of the nursing care such

as bathing a patient, assisting a client to the restroom, taking vital signs, et cetera can be passed

down to a CNA, but I strongly believe, as nurses, we should still be providing that kind of care as

well. I understand nurses are busy and do not have a lot of time, but I believe if you are in a

patient’s room and they need assistance, one should care for them rather then get a CNA to do

the job. Part of my nursing philosophy is providing the upmost care to patients and I believe this

is the way to do it. We have learned all of those skills for a reason, and it is so we can take care

of our patients. Another aspect of clinicals that has impacted my nursing philosophy was

experiencing patients from different racial and/or ethnic groups and those who have different

religious beliefs from my own. For example, at my clinical site, there was a Native American

woman there for short term care. She did not speak very much English and she was very quiet

and reserved, which I learned in class that Native Americans tend to have a stoic expression and

they are more reserved. Therefore, they have to be cared for in a different manner then another

patient that has a totally different culture. It is essential that nurses provide care that is culturally

congruent and consistent to that patient’s beliefs and culture. In general, my clinical experiences

have assisted me with developing my approach to and philosophy of nursing care.

My Goals
NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 5

1. Provide care that is free of any biases, value the beliefs of others, and to set aside differing

opinion in order to provide the best care for my patient as possible. Going into nursing, I knew

that I needed to understand what my personal beliefs are and how I can still provide care without

letting my beliefs getting in the way. As a nurse, I am to respect and value what my client

believes. That does not mean that I disregard my beliefs, but instead it means that I provide the

same care I would to any patient and how my care be free of biases. By the end of this program, I

want to overcome my biases, that way I can provide the best care to my patients.

2. Be able to properly form a therapeutic relationship with my future patients. A therapeutic

relationship is professional, interpersonal alliance between nurse and client in which they join

together for a period of time to achieve health-related goals (Arnold & Boggs, 2016). This

includes assisting clients with coping, supporting clients and their family to understand the

client’s experience of the illness, and providing emotional and informational support to help

clients and their families make decisions about their health care. I want to be there for my patient

in any way that I can.

3. To be confident in myself and the nursing care I am providing. As I go through the nursing

program, I want to gain more confidence and trust that I know what I am doing. I know

confidence comes with time and practice, and I strongly believe I can get there if I stay focused

and driven.

4. To not be afraid to speak up when I do not understand or do not know how to perform a

specific task. As a nurse or nursing student, I believe it is embarrassing when you do not know or

understand how to perform a task. However, that is why it is important to speak up and ask

questions. That way, I will fully understand what I need to be doing and I will be even more so
NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 6

confident in myself and the work I am doing. No one should be afraid to speak up. In the end, it

will ultimately help me to become a better nurse.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I am looking forward to continuing through the nursing program and seeing how

my nursing philosophy and goals will change as I go through the program. As a nursing student,

I believe that it is important to provide the best care possible. One that is free of any biases and

one that creates a strong therapeutic relationship with the client. I desire to be there for my

patients in any way that I can. I believe that is what nursing is all about; being there for your

patient, advocating for them, and being one of their biggest support systems during their health

care experience.
NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 7

References

Arnold, E., Boggs, K. Interpersonal Relationships: Professional Communication Skills for

Nurses. [Pageburstls]. Retrieved

from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/9780323242813/

Friberg, E., Creasia, J. Conceptual Foundations: The Bridge to Professional Nursing Practice.

[Pageburstls]. Retrieved from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/9780323299930/

Potter, P. A., RN, MSN, PhD, FAAN, Perry, A. G., RN, EdD, FAAN, Stockert, P., RN,

BS. Fundamentals of Nursing. [Pageburstls]. Retrieved

from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/9780323327404/