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Personal Philosophy and Reflection Paper

Holly Longest

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

NUR 4140 SYnthesis for Nursing Practice

Dr. Williams

April 1, 2023

“I Pledge”
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Definition of Nursing

I believe the definition of nursing is to provide therapeutic and supportive care to

individuals, families, communities, and populations throughout the world. It represents providing

care and offering help to those that need assistance with their health. A personal favorite is

ANA’s definition stating, “Nursing integrates the art and science of caring and focuses on the

protection, promotion and optimization of health and human functioning; prevention of illness

and injury; facilitation of healing; and alleviation of suffering through compassionate presence.

Nursing is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses, and advocacy in the care of

individuals, families, groups, communities, and in recognition of the connection of all humanity”

(Zagula, 2022). This definition covers all aspects of nursing including the healing of not only the

physical, but emotional and spiritual wellbeing of the individual. The reference to the art and

science of caring is astonishing in the fact that there is more to nursing than what meets the eye.

What individuals are able to accomplish through nursing is extraordinary. The college’s

philosophy of nursing states that, “The practice of nursing is philosophically rooted in holistic

care designed to address multiple dimensions for individuals, families, and communities in an

effort to maintain, improve, or restore optimal health” (BSMCON Faculty, 2020). Both

definitions mention that nursing not only focuses on the care of the patient, but their families and

communities as well. They also recognize that nursing aims to achieve the optimal health of the

individual. I believe that this accurately displays the overall objective of the definition of

nursing.

Personal Philosophy

I strive to provide the best care for my patients and to treat them as if they are my own

family. A charge nurse once explained to me that she views everyone as family because the
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patients have their own families and these families and loved ones would want the best care for

them. It would be very upsetting to go and visit family and notice they are not getting the care

that they deserve or need. My interprofessional collaboration is to connect with and learn as

much information and tips from other healthcare workers so that I can continue to improve my

care and achieve the optimal health of my patients. Throughout my immersion experience, I have

learned valuable information from other nurses and healthcare workers that can not be learned

from reading a textbook or watching a video. The one-on-one experience that is provided in the

clinical setting is far more valuable than anything else and has truly made a difference in my

nursing career thus far. As my patient's nurse, being their advocate will always be a top priority

along with treating everyone equitably and individually. This is key to remember that not

everyone is the same and we need to individualize our care that we give to ensure the patient can

reach their optimal health and state of well-being. As patient advocates, it is imperative that we

ensure that patients receive all medical information, education, and options in order to choose the

option that is best for them. Beneficence is also utilized to ensure I am acting for the good and

welfare for my patients by including such attributes as kindness and charity. I also incorporate

the principles of justice and normalefence into my work to promote fairness and by selecting

interventions and care that will cause the least amount of harm to achieve a beneficial outcome.

Values and Beliefs

Values are “the freely chosen principles, ideals, or standards held by an individual, class,

or group that give meaning and direction to life” (Black, 2017). Most values are relatively stable

and do not change and it can also be a representation of what is right. Values are constantly

applied to day-to-day life, which means they are also used in how a nurse practices their

profession. Nurses must have clear nursing values including, but not limited to, promotion of
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patient self-determination and patient preferences, empathy, and respect for each person’s dignity

and worth. Beliefs represent the “intellectual acceptance of something as true or correct and are

based on attitudes that have been acquired and verified by experience” (Black, 2017). Like

values, beliefs are also resistant to change. Beliefs can also be organized into belief systems that

are used in nursing philosophies. Most people are not actively aware of it, but belief systems are

a set of beliefs that guide their decision making and thinking. My beliefs and values from the

beginning of this journey were that everyone should have their vaccinations, provide quality

care, and be compassionate and respectful to patients and their families. I still hold these values

and beliefs to be true, however, have expanded upon these throughout the time I have been in

nursing school. Everyone has the right to govern what enters and leaves their own body, but as a

population we need to consider what may be harmful or helpful for the optimal health of future

individuals and populations. Without the enforcement of regulations and rules, overall health

may decline. This is where I believe a holistic approach to healthcare and medicine should be

shared so that individuals have the information and knowledge to promote an optimal health.

Values differ from beliefs because they are the standard for what is right, while beliefs are the

views or ideas that people hold to be true. Both are used throughout nursing and will constantly

evolve during my nursing career.

Nurse Patient Encounter

Working as an immersion student in a critical care unit has allowed me to experience

many different unique situations that I have been able to learn and grow from. One encounter

that I experienced took place on this unit not long ago. An incarcerated patient, unfortunately,

was found unresponsive in their cell and was immediately brought to the hospital where they

were intubated and put on the ventilator. The patient was eventually able to come off of sedation
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meds, however, their lungs remained too weak to be extubated. For weeks, the patient was aware

of everything happening around them and was only able to communicate to staff through writing

on a notepad. The patient showed fear and signs of anxiety throughout their stay because of scary

and unfamiliar procedures that were taking place. Family and friends were not allowed to come

and visit this patient during their stay because they were incarcerated. One day while caring for

this patient I stepped back and placed myself in their shoes. I realized it must be so scary to have

to undergo this high level of care while being ventilated and not being able to reach out to family

and friends for advice and comfort. This is where my personal philosophy kicked in and

influenced me to treat them as if they were a part of my own family. I made sure to advocate for

this patient and be their voice so that they felt heard and understood. Although it was sometimes

difficult, I would sit with the patient and have conversations with them by writing back and forth

on the notepad. The patient always thanked me and felt reassured when I explained what we

were doing and how it would affect them. I felt like I was making a difference in this patient’s

life when I noticed their signs of anxiety disappear by just being there for them and offering my

support. This situation made me realize how big of an effect I can have on someone's life no

matter how small that action seems. By incorporating this into my everyday practice, I know I

will be able to make a huge difference in the lives of many people.

Change Agent

My EBP/QI project focuses on a new and improved orientation for new-to-practice

registered nurses. The goal is to provide and extend the support that is offered to these RN’s so

that they feel comfortable and confident in their practice. The new orientation would include a

limit on the amount of preceptors a nurse follows so that the preceptor can follow the progress of

the nurse to ensure they are getting the most out of their time together. It would also include
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weekly check-ins to ensure that information is discussed and questions are addressed while the

information is fresh on their minds. Lastly, a mentor would be assigned after the initial

orientation so that the new-to-practice nurse has an individual they are familiar with to reach out

to with questions or information they may want to discuss. The proposed solution is designed to

provide the needed transition support beyond the critical peak stress experienced at 3-6 months.

By supporting this change, it would not only affect me as a new-to-practice nurse but many other

generations of nursing to come. NUR 4140 has allowed me to understand the level of impact I

could have on other people for suggesting alternative methods or improvements for an

organization. Before this class I did not believe that someone like myself could have a little

impact, let alone any at all, in the healthcare field. “Nurses can be in a powerful position to

improve the quality of care and patient outcomes when they use the nursing models guiding them

about what questions they can ask, how they can process the information that is learned, and

what nursing activities can be included in their care practices” (Ozdemir, 2019). This powerful

position can provide many opportunities for growth and change in a forever evolving workfield.

Someone once told me that I should always try to make a difference and the worst I could be told

was no. Between that and the valuable information I have learned from this class, I will strive to

make a difference and offer my insight into changes that could greatly impact this field.

Benner’s Theory

Patricia Benner’s theory, “From Novice to Expert”, explains that nurses develop skills

and an understanding of patient care over time from a combination of a strong educational

foundation and personal experiences. “Benner’s model stands on how a nurse develops nursing

knowledge, skill, clinical competence and comprehension of patient care through complete

theoretical training and experiential learning from novice stage to expert stage” (Ozdemir, 2019).
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The theory identifies five levels of nursing experience, including novice, advanced beginner,

competent, proficient, and expert. Each level builds on the previous level as principles are

refined and expanded by experience and clinical expertise. The stage of Benner’s Theory that

best matches my level of skill would be an advanced beginner. I believe that I am in this stage

because I show acceptable performance and have gained prior experience in actual nursing

situations. From being a PCT for a few years to working as an immersion student on the CCU, I

have gained valuable information on the characteristics and attributes of being a nurse. The

novice level would have had no experience and the competent level would have two to three

years of experience on the same unit. With that information, I believe I belong in between those

two levels as an advanced beginner. I am grateful for the experience I have already gained and

hope to continue advancing through the levels until I am considered an expert nurse. An expert

nurse can be defined as, “Expert nurses respond in a fluid automatic manner to come to a

judgment unlike proficient nurses. They make critical clinical decisions while grasping the whole

by means of having intuitive ability or combining technical and existential skills for innovative

solutions” (Ozdemir, 2019). Becoming an expert nurse is an attainable goal as long as I proceed

to further advance my knowledge and expertise in the field of nursing. I will not only be doing

myself a favor, but will be able to share my skills and mindset with other novice and advanced

beginner nurses.

Action Plan

In order to progress from an advanced beginner to a competent nurse, relating to the

Benner’s Theory, I would need to stay in one unit for two to three years. These nurses are more

aware of long-term goals, and they gain perspective from planning their own actions, which

helps them achieve greater efficiency and organization. “Competent nurses better plan
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individualized nursing care for patients according to novices and advanced beginners as they can

predict immediate likely events and changing needs of them. They now have little anxiety when

they learn and perform well without making mistakes during care” (Ozdemir, 2019). Strategies to

obtain this goal could include working on time management skills and planning out my workday

by incorporating tidy to-do lists and attainable goals. My plan for the future includes getting my

CCRN and going back to school to either become a NP or CRNA. My ultimate goal is to provide

the best care as a nurse and to further advance my career in the nursing field. Self-care strategies

I plan to use throughout this process include getting adequate sleep, exercising, and taking time

to myself. At the start of nursing school I did not have many self-care strategies to set me up for

success. It took trial and error to learn that I needed to take care of myself in order to accomplish

what I wanted and succeed throughout the program. Once I took the time to figure out what

helped me, I have religiously adapted them into my everyday life. I need to remember to care for

myself, so that I am able to care for others. I believe I am on the right track to becoming the best

nurse I can be courtesy to this amazing nursing program and the wonderful staff that are

affiliated with it.

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References

Black, B. (2017). Professional Nursing; Concepts and Challenges (8th ed.). Elsevier.

9780323431125

BSMCON Faculty. (2020). BSMCON College Philosophy. BSMCON. Retrieved March 30,

2023, from https://learn-us-east-1-prod-fleet02-xythos.content.blackboardcdn.com/

Ozdemir, N. (2019). The Development of Nurses’ Individualized Care Perceptions and

Practices: Benner's Novice to Expert Model Perspective . International Journal of Caring

Sciences , 12(2), 1279–1285.

https://doi.org/https://internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org/

Zagula, S. (2022). What is a nurse and how is the definition evolving? Gebauer Company.

Retrieved March 30, 2023, from

https://www.gebauer.com/blog/what-is-a-nurse-and-how-is-the-definition-evolving