Your philosophy of nursing is personal and subjective. It is the bewailing of core beliefs and values within a profession. It guides you in everyday care for patients, providing you with much-needed focus on what really matters within nursing. Having a well-defined approach, be it as a new student nurse or years into your practice as one, will better equip you to do so with compassion and competence in the delivery of care. Formulation of a personal nursing philosophy is important to outline what nursing most values. Maybe this would include patient-centeredness, advocacy, appreciation of cultural diversity, or commitment to lifelong learning on the list.
When you have named these essential elements, you will then find it easier to put into practice both in your daily contacts with patients and contacts between colleagues, to ensure that your values are kept in order. Consideration of the different examples of nursing philosophies can result in some useful tips and impulses. Pediatric nurses, psychiatric nurses, managers in nursing, and educators face unique challenges as well as rewards. One would, therefore, be able to come up with their two cents, that is, reflective thought, to being a more thoughtful and impactful nurse upon reflecting on them. This would have both the effect of improving the outcomes for the patient but also positive contributions towards influencing the profession at large.
Personal philosophy of nursing : what is it ?
What a personal philosophy of nursing is, is simply a set of beliefs and values that guide the approach to their work by a nurse. This defines what the nurse considers as important in patient care and contributes to their professional behavior. Every individual’s philosophy differs and reflects one’s experiences, values and goals as far as the nursing profession is concerned. One can include many aspects in his/ her personal philosophy of nursing such as providing compassionate care, respecting patient autonomy and committing to lifelong learning. This makes it easier for nurses to hold on tight to their core values while keeping their actions consistent with their own professional standards. A clear cut philosophy therefore facilitates informed decision-making and boosts patient engagement.
Understanding your personal philosophy of nursing and developing it is crucial for growth in the career field. It helps not only in maintaining consistency but also leading fulfilling careers in nursing. Creating strong foundations for practice through stating what you stand for improves the whole nursing profession generally speaking.
Why is personal philosophy of nursing important ?
A personal philosophy of nursing is important since it clearly defines how a nurse will go about the job. It describes the core values and beliefs that guide practice. This philosophy guides how they treat patients and go about making decisions. It ensures consistency of care and alignment to professional standards. It also allows nurses to make right ethical decisions and pass through harsh circumstances. When in trouble, a clear philosophy shows a direction to move. It becomes easier to provide good care to the patients and generate positive outcomes from the care. Furthermore, personal philosophy helps in the growth and development of a nurse. It promotes continuous reflection and learning. Through the support of adhering to one’s philosophy, nurses can enhance their performance and advance in their field.
Writing a personal philosophy of nursing
To create your own personal nursing philosophy, follow these basic steps:
Reflect on Your Core Values
Identify Your Motivation
- Reflect on what brought you into nursing and what motivated you in your chosen profession.
- Think about experiences that moulded your nursing career and values.
Understand Your Beliefs
- Reflect on your beliefs about patient care and nursing practices.
- Assess how these beliefs align with the general goals of nursing.
Outline Your Key Values
Define Your Core Values
- List essential values such as empathy, integrity, commitment to patient welfare.
- Describe how these values influence your everyday nursing practice.
Link values with actions
- Explain how you apply these values in real-life scenarios with patients.
- Provide examples of how these values help you to handle challenges in nursing.
Create a Summary Statement
Develop Your Philosophy
- Compose a small statement that summarises your personal philosophy of nursing.
- The statement should clearly articulate your professional goals and values.
Patient-Centeredness
- Your statement should address how you will provide compassionate, competent and quality care to patients.
- Make sure that it explains explicitly how you will engage in practices that focus on the needs and outcomes of the patient.
Include Professional Standards
According to Nursing Codes
- Use existing codes and standards of nursing that support your philosophy.
- Incorporate how your personal philosophy fits with the larger mission of the nursing profession.
Demonstrate a commitment to improvement:
- Include how you will take responsibility for continued learning and professional development;
- Describe how you will stay current with changes in nursing practice.
Review and Revise Your Statement
Seek Feedback
- Ask peers or mentors to review your philosophy.
- Take their feedback and revise and improve your statement.
Revise for Clarity
- Be sure it is clear and understandable.
- Revise where it is not clear or needs special emphasis.
Examples of philosophy of nursing
Here are few examples for you to start writing your own nursing philosophy:
Nursing Student Philosophy: “The three most important qualities in nursing in my opinion are honesty,dedication and compassion. I will aim to practise with these values in mind: applying lifelong learning to have positive impacts on my patients and their families.”
Registered Nurse Philosophy: “I am committed to providing quality, patient-centred care. I do respect each patient as an individual and work toward improving their well-being and the advancement of nursing.”
Pediatric Nurse Philosophy: “Caring for kids requires empathy and communication with the parents. I work to build trust in order to achieve better health outcomes and care for the well-being of my patients and families.”
Bottom line
Your personal philosophy encompasses, sums up, and gives meaning to your core beliefs and values about nursing. It is a guide to daily interactions with patients, and will help you stay focused on what matters most in nursing. Developing a clear philosophy—whether you are a student or experienced nurse—is the key to delivering compassionate, competent care. A personal nursing philosophy is grounded in your values, motives, and beliefs regarding patients. There is the existence of clear professional goals and values that avoid discrepancies in treatments with such a statement. It also helps in making ethical decisions in problematic situations. By reflecting on the examples and constructing the philosophy, you contribute a great deal towards your practice and nursing as a profession.
FAQs
Nursing philosophy is based on five basic principles. Empathy, honesty , accountability and dedication to continuous improvement .Understanding and providing care for patients with emotions are examples of compassion.Integrity is honesty and ethical behavior.
Respect is the value accorded to every patient by virtue of his dignity. Accountability means being responsible for what you do. Commitment to lifelong learning pertains to continuous professional growth. These values help shape the nurse in giving excellent care.
First, consider what you feel to be the most important thing in nursing. Reflect on your experiences and your values. Write a statement of commitment to the care of patients and to professional standards that is clear and concise, and this will guide your practice and development in nursing.
