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Jeremy’s Nursing Philosophy
Nursing is a unique blend of art and science, serving as a backbone in patient care. The
nursing profession not only demands a profound understanding of medical science but also
requires aspects of compassion and empathy to address the emotional and physical needs of
patients and coworkers. Nurses are the advocates, the caregivers, and the foundation of the
healthcare system, providing essential services that significantly benefit humanity. This paper is
a review of my nursing philosophy and highlights the nature of nursing, a personal practice
framework that guides my career, and the profound impact of altruism, education, and leadership
in shaping my professional journey.
The profession of nursing
Nursing is considered the glue that holds a patient’s healthcare voyage together
(American Nurses Association [ANA], 2021). Considered both an art and science, nursing
incorporates aspects of healthcare science while simultaneously providing quality care for our
patients. Initially, a comprehensive understanding of anatomy and physiology and the
pathophysiology of the body systems is critical in understanding the interventions nurses carry
out daily. The sciences only make up half of the nursing profession with the other half being its
art form. Our patients' emotional and physical needs are understood through compassion and
empathy. The nursing profession fundamentally respects human dignity and an understanding
into a patient’s needs. I believe the art outweighs the science to an extent because of the
importance of establishing relationships with the patients we promise to protect. There is no fear
in love, but flawless love casts out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and whoever
fears has not been perfected in love (Bible English Standard Version, 2012, 1 John 4:18). I
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strongly believe the nursing profession holds the ability to steer fear away and guide the sick
through a journey destined for a better place.
Society values professions because the services provided benefit the members of society
(McEwen & Wills, 2017). Such benefits include a defined and specialized knowledge base,
standard training and education, credentialing, altruistic services, a code of ethics, formal
training within higher educational institutes, and autonomy. As a profession with multiple roles
and degrees, nursing could be considered the Swiss army knife of healthcare. Nursing
professionals hold roles in clinics, emergency rooms, critical care units, operating rooms,
neonatal intensive care units, obstetrics, and more. The variety of jobs they perform is immense
including health promotion, disease prevention, and delivering direct patient care in various
settings. The nursing profession is ultimately an advocating platform for nurses to stand up for
their patients in for them to receive the best care they can get. We are individuals on the ground
level, seeing every course of treatment relayed through medical orders. We implement treatments
directly to the patient and also have the ability to stop treatments that may be harmful to the
patient. These certain actions practiced by nurses to act on behalf of patients are provided
through compassion, empathy, integrity, and respect.
Personal practice framework
My nursing career has consisted of eight years in Active-Duty military medicine within
the Air Force branch. I’ve served initially as a floor nurse on a medical-surgical unit at Keesler
Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and have spent the last five years as an Aeromedical
Evacuation (AE) flight nurse. As a flight nurse, I’ve spent over 700 hours within various military
aircraft caring for an array of patients worldwide. I’ve transported fallen soldiers to be home with
their families, evacuated refugees to escape turmoil, and cared for the family members of our
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troops to keep them healthy and safe. The actions I have conducted as an AE flight nurse have
shaped the framework for my personal practice. As a flight nurse, I utilize the following concepts
of altruism, education, and leadership to guide my nursing practice.
Altruism
Altruism involves helping others without expecting any direct or indirect reward. It is
defined as prioritizing the best interest of patients. In medicine, altruism is an ethical value that
motivates nurses. We should do nothing from selfish ambition, but in humility count others more
significant than ourselves (Bible English Standard Version, 2012, Philippians 2:3-4). The
patients we are committed to helping are the members of society we should be selflessly
defending. I believe it is crucial to emphasize this matter because it is the priority of the nursing
profession to place the sick above ourselves and to guide the weak into a brighter future.
Altruism not only includes patients but also includes team members and yourself. I believe
practicing altruism involves empathizing with coworkers to help them succeed or cope in times
of need and to also self-reflect and keep myself in check. There are many moments in the nursing
career when self-care is necessary in order for us to commit our service to care for others.
Education
Education has a momentous impact on the knowledge and competencies of the nurse
clinician (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2024). I strongly believe
education is a foundational pillar for all healthcare workers as well as all professions. Without a
solid base of knowledge, nurses would not be able to establish a framework for their practice. As
a nurse, I believe formal education drives the legacy of our vocation and sets a precedence for
expectations. We receive education to provide the correct care and treatments for the patients we
treat. Education also sets the nurse up to properly advocate for patients who need the guidance of
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a professional. I’ve been instructing for three years as an AE flight nurse cadre, and formal
education is necessary to safely incorporate nursing practice within altitude while in austere
locations. Teaching the next generation only benefits our future workforce and patient
population.
Leadership
Leadership is the third concept that drives my nursing practice. Integrity, respect, and
collaboration are the foundation of my leadership philosophy. I strive to keep my team and
organization morally grounded to avoid unethical behavior and consequences. Integrity forces me to
be honest to followers and myself and develops trusting relationships. Those trusting relationships
are also cultivated by respecting and treating others with kindness and loyalty, and that respect has a
ripple effect outside of the healthcare environment. To earn people's trust, an organization's leaders
must first treat them like people, so to earn trust, they must extend trust (Sinek, 2017). Lastly,
collaboration plays an exponential role in building great domains. No great nation or organization
was created solely due to one individual. Teamwork drives productivity, but cooperation requires
friendship. Allowing leaders and members to be friends and to know one another on a human level
liberates the tension between adversaries by creating strong bonds. These three attributes are the key
to my leadership philosophy, and they cohesively work to establish a healthy, ethically robust
organization and institute welcoming relations.
Philosophy encounter
When I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan I would fly missions that exceeded an average
workday due to the sheer fact that our teams traveled across five time zones to get from Asia to
Hawaii. Many times, we assisted NICU teams in order to transport newborns to a higher level of
care. One particular mission lasting over 20 hours consisted of accompanying a NICU team to
help transfer a newborn from Guam to the Tripler Army medical facility in Hawaii to gain
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treatment for congenital heart disease. As the Medical Crew Director of the flight, I collaborated
with two other coworkers in setting up an aircraft to accommodate all necessary medical
requirements for a NICU transport. This included logistical matters such as transportable oxygen
and medical-grade air, a flight-worthy incubator, and configuring the aircraft for comfort and
ease. I applied several practices that I learned during my foundational education as an AE nurse
and used it to the best of my ability to safely take care of the patient and the entire team. I
worked very closely with my team members to establish safe and efficient courses of action to
ensure an expedited airlift for baby and the NICU team. This mission was one of my first flights
and is a strong example of how I apply altruism, education, and leadership within my practice.
Conclusion
Nursing is a multifaceted profession that touches the lives of nearly everyone involved.
My journey in military medicine as an AE flight nurse has shaped the importance of altruism,
foundational and continuing education, and effective leadership in delivering high-quality care to
both patients and team members. The experiences and principles guiding my practice are a
testament to the impact nurses have on individuals and society. I will seek the lost and I will
bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak (Bible
English Standard Version, 2012, Ezekiel 34:16). My commitment to these core values will
ensure that nursing remains a vital and respected profession, dedicated to improving the lives of
those we serve.
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References
American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2024, June). The Impact of Education on
Nursing Practice . AACNNursing. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from
https://www.aacnnursing.org/news-data/fact-sheets/impact-of-education-on-nursing-
practice
American Nurses Association. (2021). What is Nursing. Retrieved July 2, 2024, from
https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/workforce/what-is-nursing
Bible English Standard Version. (2012). Holy bible: English standard version. Collins.
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2017). Theoretical basis for nursing (Fifth, International ed.).
Wolters Kluwer Health.
Sinek, S. (2017). Leaders eat last (Unabridged ed.). Brilliance Audio.
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