MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 1

My Nursing Philosophy

Venice E. Rittler

NSG 463: Professional Role Transition, James Madison University

MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 2

Introduction

The nursing profession has been a rated as the number one most trusted profession in the

United States for the past 17 years in a row, yet now more than ever nurses are questioning why

they do what they do (Gdiesing, 2019). Without the added strain of a global pandemic, nurses are

burdened with a variety of tasks, often without the resources to effectively accomplish it all.

Denehy (2019) states it well when she describes “more and more nurses in all settings are finding

that changing demands and expectations of the role are greater than the resources or number of

hours in the day to accomplish what nurses would define as quality nursing care. Such demands

are pushing nurses to examine their values and what drew them to the profession of nursing in

search of balance and meaning in the work setting.” Now in the midst of the 2020 Coronavirus

pandemic, nurses are expected to complete the medication, documentation, prevention,

education, and care planning for all patients while there are fewer nurses on the floor due to

financial strain on hospitals, less personal protective equipment, and increasingly stressful and

sometimes traumatic working conditions. Nurses are overburdened and patient care suffers as a

result. In times of difficulty, it is natural to question why we do the things that we do. Upon

personal reflection, I have examined and created my own nursing philosophy.

The Road to Nursing

As is the case for many college freshmen, upon arrival to college I was undecided on

what to study. Through electives and general studies classes, I found my way to the Human

Development major, with a specialty in Professional Helping Skills. During this program and the

various internships and field studies I completed, I discovered that I cared less about specifically

what I was doing and more about why I was doing it. Soon I was able to name that I desired to

be trained to help those in vulnerable situations. With this in mind, I graduated college and
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 3

started my first job as an associate in a youth non-profit. Within the first year I felt the itch for

something more, and nursing came to mind. I have always been fascinated with human anatomy

and development, as well as medicine, but honestly nursing seemed out of my reach. It seemed

too difficult, too specialized, and so important that I felt nervous I would never measure up.

Nevertheless, I began to take pre-requisites at night while working full-time to dip my toes in the

water, and once I started I knew I was headed in the right direction. In 2017 I started my

associates degree in Nursing at a nearby community college. I have found nursing to be

incredibly mentally challenging as well as emotionally rewarding. I love being trained to care for

people in a way that few are trained to do. Not only that, but I love working with a team of

people for the betterment of others, and nursing brings all of these components together.

Pregnant During a Pandemic: Re-evaluating the “Why” of Nursing

I have been a nurse for a little over a year, and about half of that time has been affected

by Covid-19. Not only that, but in June I welcomed my first child. As a result of my pregnancy

amidst a pandemic and working conditions in the hospital, I do feel that I was forced to examine

the “why” behind my nursing practice in a way that I might not have expected coming out of

nursing school. It was essential for my family and myself to evaluate the cost of continuing to

work in the hospital and assess my motivation for coming into work each shift.

Personal Reflection

In my own personal reflection, I have established that I feel satisfied in my career when I

can initiate changes in care for my patients as well as bring joy and comfort amidst a vulnerable

time. When I start a shift with a to-do list and end the shift with every task completed and

knowing that I did my best to bring a smile to my patients’ faces, I can leave grateful to do a job

I love. However, as those who are in the nursing profession understand, it is not always possible
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 4

to make every change one is hoping to complete each shift. New orders, test & procedural

changes, patient status, medication alterations, and much more can contribute to delays or

changes in care that require a re-direct in focus. When these inevitable delays and changes occur,

I feel accomplished and valuable when I can flexibly adapt and continue to help my patients’

progress towards their goals. As a result, I would describe my nursing philosophy as striving to

use my knowledge and training to affect changes in patient care, as well as bring joy, peace, and

comfort to those who are in vulnerable positions.

Impact of Philosophy on Professional Development

An advantage of the nursing field is that there is always more to learn and opportunities

to advance. The feeling of making a difference is what drives my decision-making and practice

on a day-to-day level. This drive naturally challenges me to complete tasks I’ve never completed,

ask a lot of questions, and push myself to get things done. I find that each shift I am learning

something new, developing both professionally and personally.

In addition to this, my professional goal is to become a Family Nurse Practitioner in the

coming years, and my nursing philosophy also provides the ambition to meet that goal. With my

desire to serve those in vulnerable positions, I know the more knowledge and training I receive,

the greater impact I can make. I aspire to be a health care provider who continues to bring joy,

peace and comfort amidst the difficult health care circumstances, providing excellent care and

affecting changes in patient outcomes. When I achieve an advanced degree, the scope of patients

I can serve will broaden, and I can continue to strive for the parts of nursing care that bring joy to

my own life.
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 5

Conclusion

We live in a society that trusts the nursing profession above all over professions, yet does

not always consider the impact of the burden placed on the profession. In recent months, there

has been a natural re-evaluation for myself as to why I am a nurse, and as a result a nursing

philosophy has been realized. I hope to continue to use my knowledge and training to affect

change in the care of my patients, as well as bring peace, joy and comfort to those in vulnerable

positions.

Nursing philosophy: “I strive to use my knowledge and training to affect changes in patient care

and bring joy, peace and comfort to those who are in vulnerable positions.”
MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 6

References

Denehy, J. (2015). Articulating Your Philosophy in Nursing. The Journal of School Nursing ,
17(1).

Gdiesing. (2019). For the 17th year in a row, nurses top Gallup's poll of most trusted
profession: AHA News. American Hospital Association | AHA News.
https://www.aha.org/news/insights-and-analysis/2019-01-09-17th-year-row-nurses-top-
gallups-poll-most-trusted-profession.