PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING PAPER 1

Philosophy of Nursing Paper

Madelyn McLain

Synthesis for Nursing - NUR 4140

3/25/19

Dr. Turner

“I Pledge”
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Definition of Nursing

The definition of nursing to me is practicing the art and science of nursing in a holistic and

compassionate manner, using evidence based practice as a foundation for knowledge and skills

caring for those vulnerable and in need. This one sentence in itself does not embody all of what

nursing is, but gives a broad ovestament of what it should be. It is hard to define when so many

elements make up nursing. In the Bon Secours Memorial College of nursing philosophy

statement it talks about how nursing is a science and an art (Bon Secours Memorial College of

Nursing, 2017). This speaks to me about what nursing is because it takes knowledge and skill as

well as the attitude of a nurse who cares, advocates, and feels for her patients. The Bon Secours

nursing philosophy also talks about how nursing is holistic to promote wellness, prevent disease,

restore health and promote comfort (Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing, 2017). Holistic

care is essential to nursing, because while our immediate response may be to fix one's physical

ailment, we also have to attend to the spiritual, emotional and cultural needs of our patients.

Evidence based practice is also important as a the Bon Secours nursing philosophy states it is the

foundation of knowledge, skills and attitudes for students (Bon Secours Memorial College of

Nursing, 2017). Without all the countless hours spent studying to become a nurse we would have

a hard time deciphering disease process or understanding the pathology of medications and

performing basic nursing skills. Caring is essential in defining nursing, because when you care

you practice safe nursing and facilitate an environment that allows for healing. The final tenet

that I would like to mention from Bon Secours Memorial College of nursing philosophy

statement and included in my definition is serving the vulnerable and those in need (Bon Secours

Memorial College of Nursing, 2017). This embodies how nursing is about service to those in the
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community who are suffering. We have a huge burden and responsibility to help those in need

who cannot help themselves.

Personal Philosophy

My personal philosophy of nursing is that nurses have a responsibility to do the most good

and holistically care for the needs of others. It encompasses my definition of nursing stated

above that says nursing is an art and science and requires a compassionate manner, using

evidenced based practice to improve knowledge and skills that help caring for the vulnerable.

My interprofessional and nurse-patient relationships display this as I treat my coworkers and

patients with respect and integrity always seeking to do the best and most good for them. I also

try to always be reliable and dependable as a coworker showing up on time and offering help to

everyone on the team. My personal ethics are rooted deeply in my christian faith and guide me to

treat others how I would want to be treated and to do no harm.

Values and Beliefs

When I wrote my original Personal Philosophy of Nursing paper in NUR 2100 I stated that

my values and beliefs played a major role in my personal philosophy of nursing. My beliefs are

my personal faith in Jesus that make me want to be the best nurse possible and my values were

being honest and working hard. These beliefs and values are not changed in fact, my experience

in nursing school has made my past statements more real to me now. My belief that my faith is

what would make me a good nurse is still true today. I am not a compassionate person naturally,

my sin nature is selfish and naturally looks inward instead of looking outwards to others.

However, my faith in Jesus changes me, Jesus makes me see others as He sees them, and the

compassion I feel I know comes from Him. In fact, I’m sure that’s why I became a nurse,

because Jesus cares for the hurt and the broken. I am so thankful for the compassion God gives
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me to feel for others and the desire to help them in anyway possible. My values in honesty and

hard work are also unchanged as I belive nursing school as showed me how difficult nursing is

and that it takes a determined and hard working person to be a nurse. I also believe that honesty

is what makes a good nurse - a nurse who doesn't lie to her patient, but keeps her word. Now, I

think I other values are also important to me like reliability, responsibility and determination.

Reliability is important to me, because as a nurse I want to be person my patients and coworkers

can count on and trust. Responsibility is also important, because I have a heavy responsibility as

as nurse to perform my duties well and safely with my clients best outcome in mind. Finally,

determination is important, because it is what fuels me everyday to work harder and be better as

a nurse and as a person.

Nurse Patient Encounter

The Bon Secours Professional Practice Model is reflected in a call to caring. In my clinical

immersion I had a nurse - patient encounter that I was really able demonstrate the Bon Secours

professional practice model. The patient I had was a thirty seven year old female with a

diagnosis of shortness of breath. She had a past medical history of breast cancer that she had

been battling for over ten years. Her present physical symptoms were extreme dyspnea and

tachycardia at rest with a high requirement of oxygen. At the beginning of the day we got report

and we headed in to meet the patient. When we walked into her room I immediately noticed that

the patient was crying. She explained that the doctor had given her bad news and the doctor’s

delivery had been abrupt and uncaring. My heart immediately went out to her and along with my

preceptor we immediately went to her and put our arms around her to comfort and calm. We then

went and got her one of her PRN medications for anxiety and continued to offer self and be a

presence with her until her family arrived. Throughout the day we continually checked in on her
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and made sure she was emotionally supported and that she had recovered from the poor delivery

of the doctor. This patient interaction impacted me as it made me realize how much more nursing

is then just treating physical symptoms. I felt that we did more holistically by meeting this

patients emotional needs that day then anything we did to treat her medical condition. When we

reported off that night and went to say goodbye, she thanked both of us for being there for her

during a dark day. By exhibiting a compassionate attitude and showing loving kindness to our

patient I felt like I was acting on my call to care and exhibiting characteristics of the Bon Secours

Professional Practice Model.

Change Agent

As a result of my NUR 4140 practicum experience I was able to observe a lot of behaviours

by nurses that I want to portray in my own practice and a lot of behaviours that I do not want to

do. As a new graduate nurse I hope to continue to grow in my skills and experience and always

be willing to learn and change my practice. A willingness to adapt to new environments and new

evidenced based research and be apart of implementing these practices is what being a change

agent means to me. In practicum I saw a lot of older nurses telling me that they still did things

the same they had always done even with new practice changes being rolled out. My instructor

was super passionate about evidenced based care and even told me how the protocol on blood

transfusions had changed and went and printed out the policy so she made sure to follow it. This

to me was an example of how to be an agent of change by leading by example and personal

practice.

Skill Acquisition

In Patricia Benner’s book “From Novice to Expert” she talks about a novice being someone

who has no experience in situations that they might be expected as a nurse to perform
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interventions (Benner, 2001). She also describes that an advanced beginner is someone who can

perform marginally and has seen and experienced enough real situations and has coped well

(Benner, 2001). Based on these definitions I feel comfortable in stating that I am at the advanced

beginner level in skill acquisition. This determination is based on my seven years of patient

technician experience and the feedback I have received from my clinical instructors as a nursing

student. I know that I am not competent or expert, but I know that I have had enough experiences

that have allowed me to apply the knowledge I have received to interpret data and act

appropriately.

Action Plan for Moving Forward

Benner describes the next stage of skill acquisition as competent and having spent two to

three years on the job as a nurse and is able to plan and see long term goals. To get to this point I

think will take time and experience. What will help me to facilitate moving forward to the next

stage of skill acquisition will be my overall long term professional goal development. My goal

development in the first couple years include successfully completing my orientation process as

a new nurse, my nurse residency as a new graduate, and taking advantage of opportunities to

grow professionally. My orientation process will be a time where I will be mentored and guided

to the point of independence as a nurse, and as a new nurse I will also be able to rely on my

fellow nurses for support and reference. Nurse Residency will grow me to the next stage as I

consider my role as an agent of change on my unit and in my healthcare system. Taking

advantage of opportunities to grow will involve me seeking mentorship to gain certification in a

specialty and to challenge the clinical ladder as well as letting my voice be heard in a unit or

hospital based committee.

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My plan for self care as a new nurse include taking advantage of time outside the hospital to

grow as an individual and develop hobbies that relax and improve me. I am excited to build my

relationships with friends and family that have paused during my nursing school journey. I also

plan to socially engage with my fellow nurses outside of work so we can encourage and destress

as a unit. I also plan on working on setting boundaries that allow me time to recover physically

and emotionally after shift work at the hospital. The plan looking forward is bright and I am

excited to move forward as a new graduate nurse.

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References

Benner, P. (2001). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice

(commemorative ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

Bon Secours Memorial College of Nursing. (2017). BSMCON faculty handbook. Retrieved from

https://bsmcon.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/pid-275450-dt-content-rid-

3633615_1/courses/201819SPRING-NUR4140-

GAGB/Spring%202019/Module%20III/Assignment%20Guidelines/CON%20Philosophy

%20Statement.pdf