Running Head: SUMMARY REFLECTION 1
Personal nursing philosophy essay
Summary Reflection
My personal nursing philosophy is to use my practice to better underprivileged communities. This philosophy is important to me because it guides all my actions, decisions and reactions. This personal nursing philosophy unfolded as a result of my personal beliefs that all people deserve access to quality healthcare. The level of income or wealth that one has should not determine the level of care they receive. Health is basic needs for all just like food and shelter. Other factors that influenced my perception include my interactions with patients during various hospital visits that I made during my course, and the knowledge that I gained in the classroom.
Throughout my journey as a nursing student, there are ideas that have challenged my personal values. When I first made the decision to become a nursing practitioner, my main motivation was to get help people and build my career. My main drive was not to become rich but to care for patients and to have a positive impact in the field of healthcare. This motivation has been hard to achieve due to the many shortcomings in the healthcare industry. My interest in leaving a positive impact in patients’ lives has never changed.
Some ideas have brough about personal conflict in my life. I plan to deconstruct these dispositions through being open to new ideas and expanding my knowledge base and expertise. I plan to always keep my knowledge up to date with current trends so that I can serve my patients better. As the common saying goes “Knowledge is power.” This means that having sufficient knowledge about a health issue gives you control over how to tackle the issue successfully.
The actions that I have taken to illustrate my personal nursing philosophy include starting a health education program in my local community to empower the members of the community on the benefits of acquiring health insurance. I also sensitize them on the importance of getting vaccinated against certain diseases to reduce their risk of infection. In future, I would like to start a home-based care program to take care of chronically ill patients at the comfort of their homes and at more affordable rates. This way I will be able to impact their lives positively.
The meta-paradigm of nursing involves various concepts. These concepts are the foundation of nursing. They include health, person, environment and nursing. Health is the most important concept because it summarizes the goal of nursing which is to ensure quality of care and wellness to the patient. The concept of person focuses on the individual receiving the care which is the patient. The concept of environment outlines the Nursing theories affect the choices that nurses make in their practice
My first written philosophy of nursing has not changed much. I still hold the same values I had when I first started the course. I am more informed now which means I have more grounds to support my ideas and enhance my beliefs. Through this course, I have been able to action my personal philosophy as I have been equipped with knowledge that is useful and valuable. I have been able to experience a deeper connection with my first written philosophy and enhance it to become a better representation of my current ideas and beliefs.
REFERENCES
Watson, J. (2018). Unitary caring science: Philosophy and praxis of nursing. University Press of Colorado.