1

Nursing Philosophy

Kara E. Kiscadden

School of Nursing, James Madison University

NSG 463: Professional Role Transition

Dr. Kile

September 25, 2022

 2

Nursing Philosophy

Compassion, empathy, kindness, and trust; all words that come to mind when describing

a nurse. I remember the first time I was asked why I wanted to be a registered nurse (RN), as I

pondered, it didn’t take long for the answer to come to me: to provide the best possible care to

people in what could be their hardest moments. During difficult times, having a person to truly

listen, empathize, or just hold a hand, can make a world of a difference, and I wanted to be that

difference for my patients.

As an emergency room RN, I see patients and families who are dealing with high stress.

Some of the reasons of stress include being in a lot of pain, afraid of what sort of diagnoses may

lay ahead, or patients/families who are receiving difficult news. It is the responsibility of the

nurse to be there for patients in that time of need. I have experience with being a patient, and the

unknown is one of the most frightening experiences of a hospital stay. I have found that keeping

patients informed of what is going on in their plan of care, can help to alleviate some stress.

As a former patient, and family member of patients, the nurses have always been the ones

that had the biggest impact on the hospital experience. While the providers can be great, patients

have the most face time with the nurses. When a nurse has the ability to create a good rapport

with kindness and professionalism, it helps to instill trust in their care for the patient. A first

impression is created in seven seconds. Having trust in a healthcare professional will improve the

overall care of patients (Beres, 2022). I believe my experience as a patient and the family

member of patients, has influenced the type of nurse I have become. I remember being a child in

the hospital, and I was terrified. To this day, I still remember the nurse’s name because of how

amazing she was to me, and I knew as I got older, I wanted to be that type of nurse and have that

effect on my patients. Every time I walk into a patient’s room, I put any personal problems to the
 3

side, and make sure to treat that patient with the respect and compassion they deserve (Beres,

2022). While some days are harder than others, I know that my day at work isn’t as bad as what

the patient may be experiencing.

When I first imagined becoming a nurse, I just thought it to be medication administration,

assessments, and documentation. I did not consider all the other aspects it takes to be a great

nurse. Whether it be assisting providers with procedures, explaining tests/results, or being a

soundboard for patients, the nurse plays a huge role in caring for the patients and their overall

satisfaction. On top of patient satisfaction, there are many other responsibilities of a nurse. Some

of these responsibilities include assessments, documentation, interdisciplinary communication,

recommendations, medication administration, IV insertion and labs. It’s important to continue

upholding our responsibilities as a nurse, but to not forget about the therapeutic communication,

and empathy with our patients. Nursing is truly an art.

Conclusion

My goal as a nurse is to establish trust, practice with compassion and empathy, and to

always further my education in order to provide the best patient care. To carry out these goals, I

will continue to treat each person as I would want a loved one to be treated. I will continue to use

research and evidence-based practices, and I will always learn from mine and others’ mistakes. I

will continue to be professional and always remember not to take things personally at work with

patients as it could be one of the worst days that they are experiencing.

Nursing Philosophy: As a nurse, I promise to treat all patients with compassion, empathy, and

respect. It is my duty to always advocate, instill trust, and practice nursing safely.
 4

References

Beres, K. (2022). Addressing compassion fatigue in trauma emergency and Intensive Care
Settings: A pilot study. Journal of Trauma Nursing, 29(4).
https://doi.org/10.1097/jtn.0000000000000666

Black, B. P. (2020). Professional nursing: Concepts & challenges. Elsevier.

Denehy, J. (2001). Articulating your philosophy of nursing. The Journal of School Nursing,
17(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1177/105984050101700101