Nursing_Philosophy

My Philosophy of Nursing: An Evolving Concept. What is a philosophy and how does it guide the nursing practice' This question is evident in today’s nurses, especially when they are trying to create their own philosophy. Beth Perry Black (2007) states that a nursing philosophy encompasses the core concepts of nursing knowledge such as person, health, nursing and environment. My nursing philosophy is therefore an outlook into my nursing knowledge, ideals and practice. There are many principles that have influenced the creation of this philosophy. These principles include my educational experiences, my background and culture, the knowledge of my responsibilities as a nurse as outlined in ANA Code of Ethics and the knowledge of philosophies by leading voices in the nursing profession, such as Florence Nightingale and Virginia Henderson. My philosophy of nursing has become the basis of my practice, and the viewpoint to which I base my decisions. Choice of Nursing Some people say that they knew at a young age, that they would become nurses. Others say that they chose a different career path, then realized that their real calling was in nursing and therefore decided to change professions and fulfill their passion. All in all, most people who go into the nursing profession do so by choice. My story is slightly different. I would not necessarily say that I came into the nursing profession by choice. I think that it started with my two elder sisters. They were the types that knew they wanted to be nurses since they were ten years old. When they got into college, they immediately embarked on the goal of becoming nurses and successfully achieved it. Then it was my two brothers. They had both wanted to go to medical school, but changed their minds, because they enjoyed the one to one interaction with patients and the comprehensive relationship between the nurses and the patients. They too were successful in their endeavors to become nurses. When I graduated from high school, I knew that I was going to be a nurse not by choice, but by obligation to my family. It was in my second semester of nursing school that I realized that I was no longer joining the nursing profession for my family, I was joining it for myself. I searched deep within myself and realized that the principles outlined in the ANA Code of Ethics, were the exact qualities that I was looking for in a profession. I also realized that through my nursing knowledge and experience, I would be making a significant difference in the lives of many people. By caring for people mentally, physically and spiritually, providing education, providing resources and becoming an advocate I would be truly fulfilling my destiny. Essence of Nursing There are many ideals that define today’s nursing practice and profession. These ideals are diverse in nature, ranging from education to case management. The main concept that encompasses the actions of nursing practice is patient advocacy. Patient advocacy is a concept that should be the basis of all nursing practice. By being patient advocates, nurses strive to find the best modes of care found by evidence-based research, and use these modes to provide the best care to their patients. Secondly by being patient advocates, nurses educate patients not only in a clinical setting, but also in the community with the goal of disease prevention and management. Thirdly, by being patient advocates, nurses stand in the gap between the patients and other health care professionals, ensuring that the patients’ needs are met and their rights preserved. Florence Nightingale was one of the voices that whose philosophy leaned towards patient advocacy. According to Black (2007), Nightingale wanted nurses to be responsible for patients not only in the clinical setting but also in the community. She wanted nurses to be mainly responsible in influencing the patient’s environment and managing their care. This form of responsibility and care defines the concept of patient advocacy. The ANA Code of Ethics (2005) also defines the nurses role of patient advocate in its provision two and three. Provision two states that the nurse’s main responsibility is to the patient, whether the patient is one person or an entire community. In provision three, the Code of Ethics specifies the nurse’s role of patient advocacy in the area of safety, rights and health. In all areas of nursing practice, the role of patient advocate seems to hold the basis of the nursing profession. Beliefs and Values Who is my patient' What influence to I have towards my patient as his or her nurse' I ask myself these questions daily, in my nursing practice. I believe that my patient may be in a clinical setting, or in the community at large. Every patient is different and requires prioritizing of different needs, therefore it is the nurses; responsibility to find out the exact needs of the patient and to formulate a plan that wholly caters for those needs. The patient’s family and significant others should also be recipients of the nurses’ care and support. In many cases, when the patients are going through illnesses, they face socio-economic burdens, also experienced by their families. It is therefore important for nurses to include the families and spouses in the plan of care and to consider them when making decisions and teaching, because they are also part of the patient. I also believe that nurses should create an open environment of free and open communication from the patients and their families in order to keep them informed and make them active participants in their care. The relationship between nurses and other health care providers should be dynamic and goal oriented. All members of the healthcare team should be able to put their preferences behind and focus on a patient oriented goal. They should realize each other’s strengths and resources and work together cohesively in order to provide the best possible care for the patient. The nurses act as patient advocates by discerning the patients’ specialized needs and articulating them correctly to the rest of the health care team for the best outcomes. As a nurse, I know that I am an example to my community and my patients. It is therefore very important for me to maintain a healthy lifestyle and to lead by example with proper diet and exercise. I try to make health food choices and to teach other people around me about the benefits of proper diet and activity. I also take advantage of preventative measures such as regular physicals and checkups and teach my patients to do the same. My health and wellbeing should also serve as an educational tool for my patients. Vision for the Future My goal for the next two years is simple; to grow in knowledge and experience. I have just started on this wonderful journey of nursing and I believe that there is a vast range of experiences and knowledge in store for me as I progress in my practice. I plan to refine my philosophy and to develop it even further as I grow into a more proficient nurse. When I complete my baccalaureate program, I plan to take up more challenging roles in my area of work and to be more active as a community leader. In five years, I would like to have acquired a master’s degree. I believe that education is the key to new doors and experiences in the nursing arena, therefore I want to challenge myself further by becoming a nurse practitioner. I think that my role as a nurse practitioner will enable me to put my clinical experiences together with evidence-based research in order to serve my patients and the community. I would also like to take a more active role in the ANA and to even participate in influencing state legislature in matters related to healthcare. In ten years, I plan to have acquired a doctorate degree. I also plan to have started my own practice and to collaborate with other doctors and nurses in building a hospital in Africa. I want to use my education to make a difference in small villages in Africa where simple necessities of life are missing. I would also like to be part of a research group that conducts studies to find the best practices for nurses here in America. Summary I believe that one major trait that I have that will assist me in accomplishing my future goals is determination. I am prepared to push myself to achieve my dreams not only for me, but for my family and community. I realize that the journey is going to require hard work and patience, and I am prepared to go the extra mile to achieve my goals. The one limitation that I will need to overcome during this journey is the balance between my professional advancement and my family responsibilities. I will need to find a way to balance and prioritize my time and focus between the two entities in order to achieve my goals. It may be difficult at the beginning, but I am convinced that I will achieve this balance and succeed as time goes by. I plan to seek advice from people who have achieved the same goals and to learn the techniques that they used to get this balance. Reference Black, B. P. (2007). Nursing theory: The basis of professional nursing. In K.K. Chitty & B. P. Black (Eds.), Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges (pp 328-347). St. Louis: Saunders. The American Nurses Association. (2005), Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. Retrieved from http://nursingworld.org/ethics/code/protected_nwcoe813.htm#1.1