Personal Philosophy of Nursing

Personal Philosophy of Nursing

You cannot really understand the magnitude of which the medical field affects each and every one of our lives until you become a part of it, which is something I have experienced firsthand throughout my training to become a nurse. From being placed into a nurse's arms in the delivery room to holding the hand of a nurse on the way out of our lives, the truth remains that nearly every individual in the western world has had and will continue to have multiple encounters with nurses who we trust to respect and care for us and are as important to our health and well-being as any of our medical relationships. I am lucky to have had nurses in my childhood and adolescence that made me want to become a nurse myself, who have demonstrated to me what being a nurse is all about: caring for their patients with the utmost professionalism, ethical standing and experience. As I leave school to begin my nursing career, I fully believe that I have been equipped with these tools as well as others that will help me on my way.

Above all else, I believe that my nursing philosophy is based in a sense of ethical duty for my patients' health and overall well-being. By being able to interact with those nurses who have been in the field for years as well as those who I will be leaving school alongside, I have come to understand the importance of always treating a patient as a person. Of course, such a belief sounds easy enough, and if you ask anyone in the medical field, they'll tell you that they abide by this philosophy. However, move beyond the small-talk and into the O.R., delivery room, private office etc. And take note of the difference between those nurses who treat patients merely as Patient X; 10:00 A.M. And those who understand that 10 a.m. is in fact, Mrs. Jones, a breast cancer survivor with constant fear of relapse. Above all else, as a nurse, I vow to never lose my sensitivity within my profession. I understand that hours will be long, patients will be many, but I plan to begin each day of my career by reminding myself that patients are people who need help and advice and genuine concern that comes with looking beyond the day's patient-list to the future of nurse-patient rapport and respect.

Second, I will work a firm ethical standing into each and every day of my job. Not only will I honor and abide by the code of ethics that I will work under, but I am determined to never let an ethical dilemma go without investigation or remedy. In studying to become a nurse, I have learned that not only must we, as nurses, be steadfast in our own ethical practices, but we must be on the look for ethical violations all around us. From fellow employees to patients to friends and family, by taking on the job of a nurse, I have recognized that I now have a duty to report whatever I witness that may be classified as an ethical violation. Further, in the case that I witness such a violation, I as a nurse must not be afraid to seek advice and help outside of my immediate circle. As not every situation can be remedied with the same techniques, so can an issue of suspected child abuse be handled as specifically and differently than a case of elder neglect. As a nurse, we must work within our fields and within the greater scheme of the medical profession. I have learned never to be afraid to ask questions, seek help above me, or take a new approach to a situation that needs new education, preparation and skill.