Running head: Personal Philosophy 1

Claire Brunetti

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Karyn Schultz, MS, RN, CNE

NUR 2100

March 11, 2018

“I Pledge”
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This reflection will demonstrate how personal beliefs are expressed in chosen

values, and how those values grow into larger nursing philosophies. Every nurse develops

many personal beliefs through their experiences, either consciously or subconsciously.

Values, however, take more consideration, and slowly develop into complex philosophies

about life and the workplace as a nurse.

A philosophy of nursing is a combination of beliefs formed and values chosen and

expressed in setting that guides the decisions we make as a nurse (Black, 2017). I believe

that when I begin my career as a nurse, my philosophies may begin to shift or transform

into other philosophies; I imagine that caring for patients as a professional in a clinical

setting will mold my current philosophies into those that are patient centered and focused

on care for others. Philosophies can be expressed in formal, written form, but are often

informally expressed by individuals as subconscious actions. These actions will guide

your behavior and eventually solidify your own personal nursing philosophy.

Philosophies will impact the educational and workplace setting, so it is important that

students and nurses review the philosophical statements made by institutions so there is

little to no conflict between their working philosophies and your own.

My personal philosophy with regards to nursing is this: Nursing requires a

caregiver that is empathetic, compassionate, and most importantly, willing to work to

preserve that patient’s dignity. Patients deserve to work with a nurse who places a large

amount of effort on the quality of care given and a strong conviction to continue

improving that care. I will utilize my values placed on compassion, empathy, and patient

autonomy/dignity to consciously form best methods of practice with my patients. I plan

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to withhold any differences in belief so as not to make the patient uncomfortable or

impair my ability to provide the best care for that specific patient situation.

A belief can be described as an attitude, conviction, or opinion, often proven as

right or wrong in society, and is shaped through experiences (Black, 2017). Beliefs can

be either descriptive/existential, evaluative, or prescriptive/proscriptive; Descriptive

beliefs are a matter of fact and can be supported with evidence. Evaluative beliefs

typically judge other beliefs on a spectrum of “good and bad”. And prescriptive or

proscriptive beliefs are those ‘for’ or ‘against’ a certain decision or lifestyle (Black,

2017). It is essential that nurses hold a nonjudgmental attitude towards patients and

colleagues when a difference in beliefs is made apparent.

Values are similar to beliefs in that they are not easily influenced by change and

are relatively stable, but a value is a chosen state of desire based on the beliefs you have

formed over time (Black, 2017). That is, a group of beliefs have the ability to support a

major value in your life. Because of this fact, an individual will hold several beliefs

either consciously or subconsciously, but may never use those beliefs to solidify a set of

values they choose to live by; this can lead to confusion or distress about one’s chosen

path. As a nurse, clarifying your own values will assist in making more difficult decisions

in a clinical setting. Examples of values commonly utilized as a nurse include

compassion, empathy, and dependability (Black, 2017). Patient autonomy and their right

to make informed decisions about their own health and plan of care is another value that

Bon Secours and other organizations choose to adopt.

As a student, a belief that I hold about nursing involves the level of emotional

maturity and strength needed to care for patients. I believe that nursing is one of the most
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demanding professions that require a strong sense of self and the ability to take criticism

constructively and not personally. I believe that care is best delivered when information is

communicated in a clear, concise, and accurate manner. However, I also strongly believe

that best medical practice should take priority over personal/religious beliefs when life or

the quality of life is being compromised; this is where I will need to withhold judgment!

Finally, I believe that most nurses are prone to falling behind on both physical and

emotional self-care. Taking care of one’s self, in school and in the workplace, will ensure

that patients are receiving the best care possible and the healthcare team is working

together in the most efficient way possible.

There are many important values that I intend to carry over into my practice as a

nurse; I have always been an empathetic person, and being able to view an issue from the

patient’s perspective is key to practicing with compassion and respect for their autonomy.

Naturally, valuing the patient as whole person whose health should be approached

holistically defines our position, but this value on a holistic approach to health is the most

intellectually responsible path to health promotion/illness prevention. This specific value

has drawn me to the nursing profession versus a career in medicine. And finally, I will

focus on preserving the dignity of all of my patients. A patient is often in a vulnerable

state when admitted into the hospital; my job will be to preserve and prevent the erosion

of my patient’s dignity so they are able to accept care without unnecessary obstacles.

I believe that preserving the dignity of the patient while treating them as a holistic

person is essential to quality nursing practice. I most value my sense of compassion,

empathy, and emphasis on patient autonomy and their right to make informed decisions

about their own health care and subsequent treatment. My nursing philosophy remains
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that nurses are among the hardest working individuals who have been gifted with a call to

serve their community. I will consider the patient, their environment, level of health, and

respond with proper nursing interventions.

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References

Black, B.P. (2017). Professional Nursing Concepts and Challenges. St. Louis, Missouri:
Elsevier