Personal Philosophy
Personal Philosophy on Nursing
The profession of nursing is centrally focused on the provision of care using artistic and scientific skills to improve the health of human beings within their environments. This meta-paradigm concept as postulated by Fawcett defines the profession as a correlation of these terms: the environment, the human being, health and nursing; to bring out an integral perspective of wholesomeness. This opening statement may seem technical but in its simplistic construction, it basically means that nursing is more than just administering treatment to the sick. I do believe, therefore, that any philosophical underpinning must be able to capture all these correlative aspects of the profession.
Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary (2012), defines philosophy as “An analysis of the grounds of and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs”. Every professional would tell you of some beliefs undergirding his or her profession. Soldiers will always obey the chain of command. It is a philosophy of the army. Mine as a nurse, incorporates professional knowledge of medicine, compassionate care, respects of the dignity of the patient and continued refinement of all these. In taking care of my patient, I try to break the walls of indifference and despair to cultivate a bioactive relationship that is kind and benevolent.
Historically, from the time of Florence Nightingale (1820-1910) the knowledge required to become a nurse was passed through apprenticeship. As time went by, there developed a shift to formal training leading the profession to increasingly focus on objectivity. But in doing so the fundamental bastion could have been lost. Nightingale and U.E Nissen (1834-1892) sought to metaphorically compare nursing to art. This was a realization that the ultimate mastery of the profession required patience, dedication and passion; to enable one to rise to excellent levels of practice (Austgard, 2006). Benner in her book Novice to Expert couldn’t agree more, and she asserts that care is the equivalence of art in nursing. While the professional training that has developed over the years has been phenomenal, emphasis on it over the more subtle art may undermine the holistic connection that should exist between the patient and the nurse.
Human beings
The physical body of any sentient being is not merely an expression of his external dimension but rather a carrier of his inner spirit. It is the physical body that helps a being to connect to his social web. This, therefore, calls for utmost care in its healing process, a care that vastly connects with the person’s feelings. I believe, therefore, that any inappropriate treatment will lead to a relationship of despair and damage to the patient.
Health considerations
The relationship that would exist between a nurse and a patient would be dependent largely on the patience needs in order to get better. The approach that would be applicable would vary from a patient who is terminally ill, to a victim who has lost a limb and that who is on a path to recovery. This essentially means that the level of care and professionalism required may vary.
My Perspective of Nursing
This profession to me is a way of helping humanity. It is a profession that calls for slightly more than a medical background. A nurse’s true preoccupation should be the patient’s peace of mind because this provides better stead for recuperation. There should be a personal relationship between the nurse and the patient. This in retrospect will provide a therapeutic environment for complete healing. There need to be a continued refinement of skills and adherence to high levels of professionalism.
I would conclude by stating that my philosophy of nursing is not something that hibernates as soon as I step out of the ward. I purpose to live my life according to the principle of care for others. It is the only way to develop instinct that helps any medical practitioner to act faster when faced with emergencies.
References
Sullivan-Marx, E., McGivern, D., & Fairman, J. (2010). Nurse Practitioners: The Evolution and Future of Advanced Practice. (Illustrated, Ed.) Chicago: Springer Publishing Company.
Erol, R., & Orth, U. (2011). Self-Esteem Development From Age 14 to 30 Years: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 607-619. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/psp-101-3-607.pdf
Fulton, J. S. (2009). Foundations of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice (Illustrated ed.). New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Higgins, T. E. (2007). Social Psychology: Handbook of Basic Principles. New York: Guilford Press.
Kassin, S., Fein, S., & Markus, H. (2011). Social Psychology. New York: Cengage Learning.
Neff, K. (2011). Self-Compassion, Self-Esteem and Well-Being. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 1-12. Retrieved from https://webspace.utexas.edu/neffk/pubs/SC,%20SE,%20Well-being.pdf
Nevid, J. S. (2008). Psychology: Concepts and Applications. New York: Cengage Learning.
