According to the South Carolina Nurse Practice Act, the practice of nursing includes "the provision of services for compensation," and the use of "nursing judgment." Nursing judgment is clearly defined as "the logical and systematic cognitive process of identifying pertinent information and evaluating data in the clinical context in order to produce informed decisions." The South Carolina Nurse Practice Act is lengthier than either of the other two definitions provided here. It deals directly with practical and mundane matters related to the profession such as monetary reward for the practice of nursing; the different classes of nurses, "commensurate with the educational preparation," and other official areas of interest: "Nursing practice occurs in the state in which the recipient of nursing services is located." While this definition lacks the inclusion of terms like "compassion," nurses must be firmly grounded in the practical matters of the profession as outlined by the Nurse Practice Act. Furthermore, nursing involves both clinical detachment and empathy; it is in fact a unique profession because of the combination. These three definitions offer a broad understanding of nursing that addresses the reliance on academic knowledge and the clinical judgment on which that knowledge is based. My personal definition especially stresses the empathetic, compassionate side of nursing that is equally as integral to the profession.
I have developed a personal philosophy of...
I believe the core of nursing is caring and compassion. I believe that the focus of nurses is to promote, maintain, and restore health. My vision for myself as a nurse is that I will continue to expand my body of knowledge as the nursing profession continues to grow.
My personal philosophy mirrors the official philosophy of nursing as outlined by my current place of employment: "Nursing in collaboration with other health care providers is responsible for promoting optimum health services for all within the community." The difference between this philosophy and mine is that my employer reminds us that nurses work "in collaboration with other health care providers." Nurses must therefore demonstrate professionalism and excellent communication skills as well as clinical judgment. I will continue to build upon both my personal philosophy and the official philosophy of my employer, both of which reflect the broad implications of the nursing profession. Through this examination of various definitions and theories of nursing, I can better formulate my personal code of ethics and value systems that will help me be the best nurse possible; I intend to continually offer optimal care for those who need it, care that is rooted in clinical wisdom and judgment but which is never devoid of compassion.
