Hello, need help with a Nursing Philosophy assigment

Miami Dade College

NUR2811C

Professor Olive May Thorne

11/29/2020

Nursing Philosophy

A nursing philosophy is usually a written declaration that announces a nurse's convictions, values, and principles concerning their care and handling of patients while they are in the nursing profession (Whitfield, n.d.). In search of the best way to defining my nursing philosophy, I began by asking myself two fundamental questions of 'what nursing means to me' and 'what the guiding principles for my practice are.’ In line with the Miami Dade College mission of providing their diverse students with the best multicultural education that prepares them to practice nursing skillfully. I, therefore, base my nursing philosophy on four meta-paradigm concepts of person, environment, health, and nursing as defined and described by Watson (1997) in human caring theory. I hold the same sentiments and views.

Person

According to Watson (1997), a person is embodied in three dimensions: the body, mind, and soul in the human caring theory. Therefore, I believe for a person's wholeness comprises of both the spiritual and physical being. In offering care to people, I think that an individual's wholeness is essential and deserves respect, assistance, and care to the best of one's ability. Through the provision of the best care possible, an individual will achieve inner healing and physical healing.

Health

Health refers to the perfect existence in the body, mind, and soul (Watson, 1997). Therefore, healing in a person encompasses an individual regaining the harmony between the mind, body, and soul before the balance was disrupted by a disease or physical injury (Watson, 1997). However, as a nurse, I believe a role nurse helps the patient regain the balance between their physical, mental, and social beings to achieve healing.

Environment

The environment refers to both the internal and external elements that can help an individual attain self-healing (Watson, 1997). I believe that a nurse is an important external factor capable of offering aid through the Caritas processes that encompass offering love, understanding, trust, and learning experiences.

Nursing

Nursing can be described as both an art and science with a heart and mind of its own. The heart encompasses respect for life, human dignity, and awareness of patients' needs (American Nurses Association, n.d.). On the other hand, the mind involves aiding the heart through the various learning and experience a nurse acquires (American Nurses Association, n.d.). Therefore, nursing care should be a patient-oriented process where care is administered based on individual needs. Thus, in giving care, nurses should not depend on tests and use their judgment on patients regarding their physical, biological, and behavioral needs. My nursing philosophy is also in line with the Jackson Memorial hospital philosophy, which states that nursing is a science and art that integrates knowledge, critical thinking, and caring in enhancing family-centered care.

Key Concepts of My Nursing Philosophy

Based on the above nursing domains, I believe that the nursing profession should be all about the care of people. For this reason, I think that care should be for the whole patients rather than taking care of an illness or a physical injury. Therefore, a nurse should ensure that all the patients' needs are satisfied, including their physical, mental, and social requirements. People are influenced by the environment in which they come from; the environment affects their beliefs, values, language, culture, and way of thinking. However, I believe patients are different and should be treated with significant consideration of the environment in which they come from.

References