Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

Philosophy of Nursing
Erica D. White
Old Dominion University

PHILOSPHY OF NURSING

Before becoming a nurse I believed that nurses existed to care for people who were sick
and unable to care for themselves. When I became a certified nursing assistant, I had this
schema fulfilled. I took care of people who were essentially unable to care for themselves or
carry out activities of daily living. As I continued to learn and grow during my journey to
nursing, I discovered that there was much more to nursing than caring for people who were ill. I
now view nursing as a profession characterized by caring, teaching, empathizing, learning,
growing, and trusting.
According to the American Nurses Association nursing is the protection, promotion, and
optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering
through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities, and populations (What is nursing?, 2015). This definition paints a very
broad picture of what nursing is and what nurses do and is still appropriate for nursing as it is
practiced today. According to Warelow (2013), there is a shift in the paradigm of nursing from
the days of Florence Nightingale. The theoretical construction of what it meant to be a nurse in
her day has certainly changed. Theories that served a purpose in Nightingales day would not
necessarily fit nursing today. As I approach the end of my first year as a registered nurse I have
identified several new ideas and concepts that I have borrowed from colleagues and the
healthcare system that I work in. Borrowing and sharing knowledge has helped to expand my
philosophy and definition of nursing. My employer fosters a community of learning through
seminars, conferences, support groups, councils, training and various forms of media. This
affords patients, families, and staff the opportunity to learn and construct a shared paradigm
about the healthcare system they are a part of.

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Purpose

If we are to consider the aforementioned definition of nursing as defined by the American

Nursing Association, good nursing is essential within our homes, communities, and social
environments. This definition proclaims that nursing protects, promotes, and optimizes health.
The protection and promotion of health through the prevention of disease and illness is a top
priority of nursing today. Years ago nursing was focused on treating and providing care for
patients in diseased states. Today the focus is more on preventing disease and promoting health.
This is usually evident in primary prevention efforts such as smoking cessation or hand hygiene.
Nursing should also add a touch of care to the patient and family experience. This is
where the characteristic nurturing side of nursing comes into the picture. I have had many
patients and their families vent about their experience through the healthcare system and often
times they are most comfortable after speaking with their nurse and care coordinators. Patients
report feeling more empowered after patient teaching using the teach-back method. Empowering
patients to take control and responsibility for their health is one highlight of becoming a nurse.
Values and Beliefs
Most of my values and beliefs were established years ago through family, tradition,
community, and interpersonal relationships. According to Blais and Hayes (2015) values
frequently derive from a persons cultural, ethnic, and religious background; from societal
traditions; and from the values held by peer group and family. My upbringing has guided the
way I treat people and the way I expect or allow people to treat me. It also serves as a template
of how to handle situations whether I am in control or being controlled. Growing up with a big
family has given me plenty of experience with interpersonal relationships, attitudes, decision-

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making, and trust. In addition to family my religious and spiritual beliefs also influence my role
as a nurse.
As a nurse I have come to value time, patience, respect, trust, integrity, and teamwork. I
value all these things because I have found that I couldnt make it through a shift without at least
one of them. Time is one of the most important and the one I struggled with the most in my first
six months of nursing. As a night shift nurse, I found it difficult to fit in patient teaching. My
shift begins after patients eat dinner and ends before they get breakfast. This means that they are
usually asleep during a large portion of the shift. I have learned to utilize every moment that I
spend in my patients presence to teach and assess their learning. Respect is necessary
throughout the nurse-patient relationship. It is very difficult to care for and interact with people
who do not respect you. If patients trust you they are more receptive to your teaching and
direction. When there is trust in the nurse-patient relationship participation and compliance are
enhanced which aids in healing and recovery. Integrity and teamwork go hand and hand for me.
I work for a healthcare organization that fosters an environment where members of the
interdisciplinary team work together for the greater good of the patient.
Guiding Principles
In my nursing practice I use the guiding principles of always communicating effectively
and always listening to the patient. Effective communication is a must have in healthcare.
Effective communication is essential whether handing off a patient during shift report,
transferring a patient to another unit, communicating with other members of the healthcare team,
or just one-on-one with the patient. Effective communication promotes active listening and a
safe environment for the patient and staff. Failure to communicate effectively can lead to
medication errors and sometimes even death. Members of the healthcare team are also more

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dissatisfied when communication isnt clear. Communicating clearly creates a culture of safety
in the healthcare environment.
I witnessed ineffective communication between a doctor and a nurse when the physician
verbally told a nurse to hold the beta blocker ordered for the patient. The physician stated that he
would put the order in, however he did not do this right away. The nurse held the beta blocker,
but gave the remainder of the morning medications. Later she read the physicians note that
stated he wished to hold all beta blockers and diuretics for the patient for the day. This was
followed by late entry orders. The patient had received the diuretics with the rest of the morning
medications. As a result the patients systolic pressure remained in the mid 80s before receiving
a fluid bolus. If the physician had taken the time to put in the orders immediately and the nurse
had communicate to him her concerns about the patients low blood pressures this error may
have been avoided.
Always listening to the patient is another guiding principle that I incorporate in my daily
practice. Listening to the patient is important regardless of the report I am given or the notes
listed in the patients medical record. Listening is single-handedly one of the best skills that a
nurse can use. I have learned to listen without speaking. Responding to someone verbally isnt
always necessary. Being there and listening are sometimes more therapeutic for patients. One
example of effective communication is taking a telephone order from a doctor or ordering
provider using the read-back method. This means to repeat the order back to the provider as it
was given to you. This helps to prevent errors and catch errors before they cause harm to the
patient.

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Reflection

This assignment reminds me of why I became a nurse and what is important to me in my

practice. I think back to moments where I have been a patient or have had a family member who
was a patient and remember what a scary time that was for me. I think about what was important
to me then and how those things might be just as important to my patients and their families. I
am also cognizant of the fact that people have different values and beliefs and have different
expectations when it comes to their health. There are some changes they are willing to make and
others they wont compromise on.
Conclusion
Knowing what your nursing philosophy is and identifying your values and beliefs are
essential in nursing. Your values and beliefs guide how you treat others and how you want to be
treated. As a member of the healthcare team I have a great appreciation for the diversity that
each patient experience brings. Healthcare environments bring together people from many walks
of life with different experiences. Communicating with each other is not only healthy for the
team environment, but also for the safety and security of patients and their families. Getting to
know how you feel and what you believe in is important regardless of what occupation you
choose. If you havent learned whats important to you before practicing nursing your
experiences will be sure to teach you.

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Honor Code:
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 responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the
Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned.
Name: Erica White____________________________________________
Signature: Erica

D.

White_________________________________________
Date: 11/7/2015_____________________________________________

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References

Blais, K. K., & Hayes, J. S. (2012). Professional Nursing Practice.

Warelow, P. J. (2013). Changing philosophies: a paradigmatic nursing shift from
Nightingale. Australian Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 31(1), 36-45 10p.
What is Nursing? (2015). Retrieved from American Nurses Association:
http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing