Running head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 1

Philosophy of Nursing

Siarra C. Stith

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing

Dr. Christine Turner, PhD, RN

NUR 4140

March 29, 2020

Honor Code: “I pledge”

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Philosophy of Nursing

After being a licensed practical nurse of two years, I decided it was the best time to

advance my nursing career by pursuing my bachelor of science in nursing. Now, three years

later, I am finally at the finish line. I have gained five years of indispensable knowledge mostly

through this exceptional institution, as well as through my career as a licensed practical nurse. In

my previous NUR 2100 course, we were asked to write our personal philosophy of nursing. The

purpose of this nursing paper is to revisit my personal philosophy to determine how much my

philosophy has evolved during the course of this program.

Definition of Nursing

It was difficult to condense what nursing truly is in one section of this paper, so I

reflected on my own nursing journey as a current nurse and current student nurse. Nursing is a

profession that is about more than just administering medications and performing tasks such as

giving baths or wound care. Nursing is a calling. It is the service to vulnerable patients of all

backgrounds, while maintaining their dignity, promoting their health, and holistically healing

their mind, body and soul. Nursing is critically thinking and problem solving to create a safe,

innovative, and healing environment for our patients.

Nursing is both an art and science. The science is performing those essential nursing

tasks that are supported by evidence-based practice, but the art of nursing is much more special.

The art of nursing is being empathetic and present with the patient while meeting their basic

needs. We deliver compassionate, patient-centered care in a way that makes the patient feel safe

and reassured that they will be cared for. The art of nursing is imperative for the patient to heal

not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well.

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Personal Philosophy

Initially, when we were assigned this paper in NUR 2100, I did not reflect and analyze as

deeply as I am now. This paper is necessary to recognize my personal philosophy of nursing,

because our philosophy is what powers our love for the nursing field. It is the reason we sought

out nursing as a profession. Personally, over the years, my philosophy has shifted and aligns with

my current nursing practice. A segment of my philosophy that will never change is my strong

desire to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. Helping, healing, and inspiring others

was my attraction to nursing. I will provide nonjudgmental care to the patients, families, and

communities that I was called to serve.

Along with meeting the basic needs of the patient, it is vital to care for them in a holistic

approach; healing has to take place on all levels. It is important to always be ethical, while

maintaining professionalism in every situation that I face, whether it is the patient, family

members, or even colleagues. Most importantly, I will always be an advocate to the patient I care

for. Lastly, as a nurse, I must remember to always evolve with the ever-changing nursing field.

Recently, the world has been challenged with a pandemic, coronavirus, specifically, COVID-19.

Nurses all over are having to be stewards and undergo the allocation of limited resources needed

to protect themselves and care for their patients properly. After reflecting on current events and

my personal philosophy, it is appropriate to add to my philosophy the idea of being receptive to

change and evolution within the healthcare field.

Values and Beliefs

I can justly say that my values and beliefs have not changed much since the beginning of

this program. If anything, going through this program and working as a current nurse has

enhanced my values and beliefs. I still believe in what has been instilled in me by my parents.
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Although I am not religious nor do I have a strong political stance, it is important to recognize

and respect all others’ beliefs to provide nonjudgmental care. In addition to providing

nonjudgmental care, equality continues to be my most indispensable belief. Everyone, regardless

of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. deserves the right to the same quality care.

In addition, I continue to practice humility, integrity and respect which I learned from

my father. I also continue to be the empathetic, culturally aware, kind, responsible, and the

nonjudgmental person my mother taught me to be. The core values stuck with me and groomed

me into the nurse I currently am and will continue to be. I reflected on what I was taught and

what I developed my five years as a licensed practical nurse. Through experience in practice, I

learned countless lessons and as a result, I added many ethical principles to my values and

beliefs including: justice, patient’s right to autonomy, accountability, patient advocacy, and

more. I think it is crucial as nurses we reflect on our own beliefs and values and be mindful of

those different than ours. As we grow and evolve as nurses, we will continue to add to our

personal values and beliefs

Nurse-Patient Encounter

Moreover, there is one example of a nurse-patient encounter that demonstrates the

application of my nursing practice to the Bon Secours Professional Practice model that comes to

mind. I experienced this encounter at my long-term care facility job. As a charge nurse, I oversee

the care on both the assisted living unit and the memory care unit. Many residents transition to

hospice care, especially on our memory care unit. In this encounter, I was taking care of a

memory care resident who was undergoing hospice. After receiving report on a particular

patient, the off-going nurse, discussed her frustration with this particular resident. They refused

or spit out their morphine and lorazepam despite displaying signs of shortness of breath with a
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respiratory rate in the thirties and increased agitation. The resident also continuously threw off

their supplemental oxygen. The nurse expressed that she just gave up attempting to administer

the scheduled medications. The resident was tearful and truly suffering.

Furthermore, on this type of units, it is imperative to know the background of the

residents including: their previous occupation, likes, dislikes, and hobbies. It is important to

understand that people who go through Alzheimer’s or dementia are more in tuned with their

long-term memory versus the short-term memory. I have been taking care of this resident prior to

her transition to hospice and knew that she loved music. With that knowledge, I went to our

activities closet to collect our Bluetooth speaker and turned on a Frank Sinatra playlist for her.

Although her health was declining, she could still hear and her distress decreased significantly

after approximately an hour. I was able to administer her morphine for her increased respirations,

apply the supplemental oxygen, and administer the lorazepam for her restlessness and agitation,

all with ease. A few days later she transitioned peacefully, with the help of my complimentary

intervention of music in addition to the medication administration. Applying the Bon Secours

Professional Practice model that I learned at this institution has enhanced my ability to provide

safe, patient-centered, compassionate, and healing care that all my patients deserve.

NUR 4140 Practicum Experience

The NUR 4140 practicum was unlike any other practicum in our curriculum. The

practicum allowed us to be change agents by presenting us with the opportunity to do a quality

improvement project and offer solutions to real issues the hospital organization face. These

solutions have the potential to invoke real change. As a servant leader, we are able to practice

one of Bon Secours Mercy Health’s value of stewardship in this practicum experience.

Management recognizes that as nursing students, we have a fresher outlook and are filled with
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new ideas. I appreciate this practicum course because it sparked our ability to be innovative by

utilizing safe, evidence-based practice.

Skill Acquisition

When I reflect on what stage of skill acquisition that best represents my current stage of

development, I think about nurse expert, Patricia Benner. According to Patricia Benner’s book,

From Novice to Expert, I am a novice nurse. In retrospect, it could be said that I am competent

in some components because of my five years as a licensed practical nurse. However, it is

important that I show humility seeing as how I am transitioning into a new role with entirely new

responsibilities. My skills, knowledge, and attitudes will be advancing.

Moreover, I will soon enter the workforce as a new graduate registered nurse. As a

novice nurse, I will go through an orientation process, utilizing all fundamental knowledge

obtained from the nursing school’s curriculum, and applying it to my practice as a novice nurse.

Overtime, I hope to progress into the advanced beginner stage, as my performance changes and

advances, I hope to continue to move forward.

Action Plan Moving Forward

Elaborating on Benner’s theory, it is imperative to develop an action plan that is

centralized around long-term professional development, as well as self-care. Having an action

plan is a requisite to advancing from novice to expert. Furthermore, self-care is an important

component due to the alarming number of nurses that experience nurse burnout. When nurses are

burnt out, it is nearly impossible to effectively advance in the clinical ladder because it is

difficult to take the time to genuinely learn. To combat this issue, I plan on gifting myself with

spa days on my days off from work. I want to indulge in hobbies like crafting, reading,
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exercising and so much more. I love nursing but it is important to me that I do not let nursing

take over my entire life.

Long-term professional development is essentially how a nurse transition from novice to

expert nurse. Bon Secours Mercy Health, and other hospitals, require first year nurses to

complete quality improvement projects, much like the one we are doing in our NUR4140

practicum. Completing the quality improvement project as a novice nurse promotes growth and

movement on the clinical ladder. Other ideas that are a part of my plan to facilitate my

movement through the stages of Benner’s theory include identifying a knowledgeable mentor

that is at a higher stage than myself. Eventually, I would like to experience a transition in my

career to a more advanced acuity unit. Lastly, I would like to seek preceptorship opportunities

once I feel that I am a competent nurse or proficient nurse. I would describe myself as a

motivated individual, so I am prepared to perform the interventions needed to facilitate

movement in my skill acquisition.

Conclusion

In conclusion, my personal philosophy of nursing is what will facilitate advancement in

my skills, knowledge, and attitude. According to Patricia Benner’s eloquently written theory, I

know that I am a novice nurse. The growth I experience in these three categories is what will

help me transition from novice to expert over time. Moreover, this assignment has allowed me to

deeply reflect on my beliefs, values, and philosophy of nursing. This program has done

phenomenal work facilitating my growth as a nurse. I feel more in tuned with what nursing

means to me as well as my passion for the profession. If I ever endure an obstacle in my career, I

can depend on my personal philosophy to confidently guide me back to the reason I chose this

rewarding profession of nursing.

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