PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING PAPER

Nurs 401- Intro to Professional Development for Baccalaureate Nursing Practice

Purpose of Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to enable the student to discover his or her personal philosophy
of nursing, as it exists at the beginning of the academic journey toward the BSN.

Student Approach to Assignment

I approached this assignment by assessing the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics
and developing my own personal definition of nursing. I also developed my personal
perspective on the purpose of nursing. This paper enabled me to reflect on my practice as a
nurse by assessing moral and ethical principles that guide my practice as a nurse. I approached
this assignment in the way that I did because it allowed me to assess nursing as a whole and
allowed me to reflect on my nursing career in different settings from the beginning.

Reason for Inclusion

This assignment should be included in the portfolio because it enabled me to develop my own
definition of nursing and develop my own personal perspective on the purpose of nursing. It
represents me as a nurse because it allows me to explain principles that guide my practice as a
nurse. It also enhanced my abilities on my critical thinking skills.

Critical Thinking

 Uses nursing and other appropriate theories and models to guide professional practice.
I developed my own philosophy on the purpose of nursing. I used one of the concepts in Jean
Watson’s philosophy and theory of transpersonal caring, which is developing and sustaining a
helping-trust caring relationship, to explain how honesty and respect help create a positive
relationship with my patients and me. Having a positive relationship with my patients helps
them achieve better outcomes and guides my professional practice as a nurse. I always introduce
myself to the patient, and I ask the patient what their needs are. I always explain to the patient
what I am going to do and the importance of the intervention.

Nursing Practice

 Performs therapeutic interventions that incorporate principles of quality management

and proper safety techniques.
My practice as a nurse is my duty to do no harm and to keep the patient as safe as possible. I
maintain patient safety by scanning patients’ armbands and medications. I double check the
medications with each patients’ medication orders. I also make sure that every patients’ call bell
is within reach, their side rails are up, and the bed is in the lowest position.

Communication
 Demonstrates skills in using technology, informatics, and communication devices that
support safe nursing practice.
A moral or ethical principle that guides my professional practice is confidentiality. One example
is I maintain patient confidentiality by always logging out of my workspace to hide their
information. I use the scanner to scan the patients’ armbands and medications. I always make
sure patients’ have their call bells before leaving the room.

 Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship.

Therapeutic communication can be used in a variety of ways including verbal and nonverbal. I
use nonverbal therapeutic communication with my patients by showing respect and showing
empathy. Another nonverbal form of therapeutic communication is by focusing and actively
listening to what my patient is saying and hearing their concerns. Verbal forms of therapeutic
communication that I use are verbally acknowledging their concerns, and actively engaging in
conversation with them. One way that I use therapeutic communication is by explaining to the
patient to never hesitate to call me. I explain to them that I am there for them. I let them know I
will notify the provider about their concerns.

Leadership

 Articulates the values of the profession and the role of the nurse as a member of the
interdisciplinary health care team.
I believe the three values and beliefs of the nursing relationship are honesty, respect, and
professionalism. The nurse shows respect as a member of the interdisciplinary health care team
by only sharing health care information of patients with other members of the health care team
that they share. The nurse shows honesty as a member of the health care team by
communicating with other health care team members when they have a questioning attitude
about a patient’s plan of care. Nurses show professionalism by respecting other health care team
members recommendations for a patient’s care plan. I addressed my concern about a patient’s
high blood pressure. The doctor chose to prescribe the patient nitroglycerin because she was
concerned about lowering the patient’s heart rate. I suggested hydralazine because it is a
systemic vasodilator and does not lower the patient’s heart rate.

Professionalism

 Applies an ethical decision-making framework and legal guidelines to clinical situations

that incorporate moral concepts, professional ethics, and advocacy for patient well-being and
preferences.
I utilized the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics for Nurses to develop my own
personal definition of nursing. According to the American Nurses Association’s Code of Ethics
under provision 1 it says, “the nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent
dignity, worth, and unique attributes of every person” (American Nurses Association [ANA],
2015, p. 17). I use this to guide my practice as a nurse by showing compassion and respect for
every patient. I utilize honesty as a moral concept with my patients to help create a positive
nurse-patient relationship. I advocate for each patient’s well-being and preference by asking
every patient if it is fine if the family is in the room while I complete their admission assessment.