Nursing Philosophy Reflection

Andrea DiMartino, RN

Delaware Technical Community College

 Nursing Philosophy Reflection

Viewing a personal nursing philosophy through the lenses of ongoing experience as well

as the struggles of the past year that have turned the world upside down thanks to the COVID-19

pandemic, I realize how vital several of the points were within the philosophy which was posted

as a culmination of the first Nursing course during my bachelor's degree journey. Within the

document, I discussed that a career in nursing should be defined by a commitment to learning,

following a nursing theory that resonates with the ideals of the individual nurse, prioritizing self-

improvement and wellness, seeking positive conflict resolution, committing to patient safety and

ongoing improvement of care practices, and pursuing improved community wellness outcomes

by serving as a nurse leader. This resonates with the timeline of the pandemic by demonstrating

that the philosophy I set forth aligned well with the goals of caring for the community through

following evidence-based practice, being a leader in the community through my own actions and

focusing on my own mental and physical wellness while abiding by the mandates and

requirements of my position, as well as continually seeking new information and adapting to

change as the information became available.

Through my career thus far I have continually sought new and innovative ways to address

the health of my patients to contribute to their ongoing independence and safety. Even during the

difficult transitions introduced by social distancing and the isolation of the elderly patients that

has gone with that, I have encouraged families to remain in contact with their family members

and encourage them to find new ways to interact that may be outside of their normal to ensure

that they weren’t closed off when they needed social support more than ever. As a nurse leader I

sought support for my own social support system through regularly scheduled but appropriately

distanced activities such as zoom knitting nights. I worked with patients on proper handwashing
techniques to ensure they would be safe after they left the hospital and returned to the

community where they were at a high risk of complications should they contract COVID-19.

After seeing how well my nursing philosophy has continued to support my continued

growth as a nurse and member of my community, I intend to continue down the path I’d set for

myself all of those months ago. Trusting the information but verifying, ongoing research, a thirst

for knowledge, and caring for myself so that I can continue to care for others are models that will

serve me well as a seasoned nurse and through my lifetime even after I retire.