Personal philosophy of nursing
The process of providing care to patients plays a significant role in seeing to it that such persons have been restored to their original state of health. As such, nurses are tasked with ensuring that they take the center stage in overseeing the provision of such services. The philosophy which an individual nurse holds regarding care provision acts as a compass which guides their beliefs and ethical stands regarding the way nursing activities need to be done. In ensuring that I have a better understanding of my nursing philosophy, it is imperative that that the meaning of nursing be well defined in addition to the concepts which identify the way I provide care to my patients. This paper will focus on the concepts which define my personal nursing philosophy, the nursing meta-paradigms which define my personal care provision philosophy currently and the already nursing established philosophy which has been aligned to my nursing philosophy.
Any care provider has got their own factors which give a clear definition of what is supposed to be contained in their bundles of care. Such bundles are essential in explaining the skills which nurses have regarding their professional obligation. As for me, the key factors which influence the development of my personal nursing philosophy are accountability, compassion and professionalism.
As regards to accountability, nurses are supposed to be at the forefront in showing a powerful sense of knowledge since they have been bestowed with the responsibility of ensuring that safety of human life is achieved. Additionally, there is the need for care providers to show team work and self control since such strategies are crucial for overseeing proper care being given to patients (Delves-Yates, 2015). Finally, it is essential that such individuals adhere to the guidelines and standards which define the profession.
Concerning compassion, it is imperative that care providers show patience, respect and kindness both to their colleagues and the patients under their care. Nurses are supposed to provide compassionate care to their patients regardless of their cultural backgrounds and lifestyles. Moreover, a patient’s religion, economic status or ethnicity should not be used by a nurse as a basis for discriminating them. Such a realization, therefore, results in nurses providing a form of care which is founded on self worth and dignity.
Finally, in regards to the concept of professionalism, nurses are tasked with ensuring that they provide their services with zero tolerance to any personal bias or prejudice. As a professional, a nurse is supposed to show proper behaviors while at work, respect for their employers and the facility in which they work and treating patients in a proper manner (Delves-Yates, 2015). All these issues are founded on the realization that in order for one to experience growth in their lives, it is essential that they strive on becoming all rounded rather than focusing on a single professionalism factor.
My personal philosophy and the four concepts of nursing meta-paradigm
My personal nursing philosophy is founded on the four components which make up the nursing paradigms of person, environment, health and nursing. As regards to the person, I believe that the core business of any nursing profession needs to be focused on the person or people. The care which individuals receive needs to be directed at addressing all the possible illnesses that an individual may be grappling with and not just a single ailment. As such, an individual ought to be treated as a whole but not as different components (Delves-Yates, 2015). Such a realization is focused on the concept of holism which defines many a nursing process. Secondly, in terms of the environment, it is crucial that nurses not only focus on their client but also the environment in which they provide their care. In this regard, therefore, a patient’s family and the community in general need to be incorporated in the care provision process since the three components are interrelated.
Thirdly, concerning the health of individuals, I believe that the health of an individual is a continuous process which moves from wellness to illness then back to wellness. All these processes have been connected to the environment and as such, it is essential that proper care be given to the wellbeing of an individual as a way of ensuring that they emerge with desirable characteristics (Bender & Feldman, 2015). Finally, as regards to the nursing profession, it is imperative that nurses be actively involved in the process of care provision as a way of realizing the significance of the things which can be felt, touched, smelled or heard by our patients and colleagues. Such a move is essential in meeting the individual needs of a patient and ultimately achieving the desired goal of patient centered care on them.
My personal philosophy of nursing can be likened to the Jean Watson nursing theory which puts a lot of focus on the fact that a human being is better cared for as a whole rather than as sum of his different parts. This theory calls for the need to respect, nurture, understand and care for patients with the primary objective of overseeing a change of their health status from illness to wellness (Alligood, 2014). Watson recognizes the fact that the nursing profession is supposed to be centered on promoting health, caring for the sick, preventing illnesses and in the restoration of health. Additionally, the theory encourages patients to build their trust and is also faith sensitive. This theory is in line with my personal theory of nursing since it recognizes the need to treat a patient as a whole in addition to ensuring that the wellness of persons has been given the required attention.
References
Alligood, M. R. (2014). Nursing theorists and their work. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Bender, M., & Feldman, M. S. (2015). A Practice Theory Approach to Understanding the Interdependency of Nursing Practice and the Environment: Implications for Nurse-Led Care Delivery Models. Advances in Nursing Science, 38(2), 96-109.
Delves-Yates, C. (Ed.). (2015). Essentials of Nursing Practice. SAGE.
