Running head: MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY 1

My Nursing Philosophy

Ellen Gilliam

Old Dominion University

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Definition of Nursing

Nursing is a health care profession that is committed to advocating for and serving

patients with compassion and competency as they encounter a decline in their holistic health.

Through my experience as a nursing student, I have developed this original philosophy from in-

class learning and hands-on clinical experience. Nursing is more than just taking care of a

patient’s physical health diagnoses such as diseases, accidents or routine care, but it also includes

caring for their psychological, social, and spiritual health, otherwise known as holistic care.

“Holistic health care is an integrated approach to health care that treats the ‘whole’ person, not

simply symptoms and disease.” (New York College of Health Professionals, 2018, para 1).

Serving others with compassion means going the extra mile to ensure comfort, being

patient, understanding, empathetic and willing to hold their hand when they need it most. This

aspect of nursing is often referred to as good “bedside manner.” Serving others with competency

is shown through the ability to critically think, make the clinical decisions within your scope of

practice that are necessary for your patient at the time, and understanding the what, why, and

when of each intervention you perform. My instructor made a comment that stuck with me, “in

order to be an extraordinary nurse you should have both compassion and competency lacking of

either is a disservice to your patient” (A. Hobbs, personal communication, February 15, 2018).

Purpose of Nursing

The purpose of nursing is to aide in healing or comfort by providing care for others. In

order to provide care for others you must be compassionate. Nurses are often a light for others in

their dark times and their advocate when they cannot advocate for themselves. Nurses provide

relief and support when a patient does not feel there is any. I do what I do as a student nurse

because I have an immense love and care for all people from all walks of life. I like to comfort,
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motivate and inspire people to be, do, and feel their very best. If they are not at their very best, I

like to find out why and help them reach their best. I am fascinated with health, science, and the

human body.

The main influences that affect my nursing practice are my own experiences with nurses

throughout my life due to my congenital heart disease (Coarctation of the Aorta) and my

relationship and belief in God. I am certain aiding in others healing is my calling, strengthened

by my personal experiences which allows me to connect with people. My spirituality and belief

in God also plays a huge role in my decision to be a nurse and resonates with the Holy Bible

verse, Peter 4:10: “God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use

them well to serve one another” (Peter 4:10, New Living Translation, p. 2082). Nursing is my

way of serving, my experiences act a gateway to human connection, and God is my strength.

Nursing relationships

A great model that discusses the significance of nurses and their clients in a culturally

diverse setting is Madeline Leininger’s Transcultural Model. Leininger summarized the method

of providing “Culturally Congruent Care” is a nurse’s understanding of the cultural differences

and making decisions for the patient that are respectful and sensitive to that patient’s cultural

values (Alligood, 2018, p. 344). It is imperative for a nurse to provide efficient care to all people

in their community. This model is especially important for me as I hope to travel the country or

world and provide nursing care within different cultural backgrounds than my own.

Nurses play a huge role in their community by promoting health, spreading information,

caring for citizens within the community, and being a trusted individual. I also believe nurses

are responsible for being an example of good health. If we are to preach health within our

communities, we must practice good health ourselves. Furthermore, nurses are essential team
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members when it comes to working with other healthcare providers. Nurses are expected to be

the patient’s advocate; therefore, they have the most knowledge concerning a patient’s current

status and are most reliable when a patient’s status and information is needed. Nurses are

typically respectful and compassionate people in all relationships, including the professional

relationship with their team members.

Two Moral and Ethical Principles

There are two ethical principles that guide my professional practice. The first principle

is: “the nurse practices with compassion and respect for the inherent dignity, worth, and unique

attributes of every person” (American Nurses Association, 2015). I utilize this ethical principle

every single time I set foot into the hospital as a student nurse. I talk to my patients respectfully,

practice understanding when they are expressing their concerns, as well as listening without

interrupting. When they are hurting I express empathy. I ask if there is anything they need

before I leave the room each time and try to provide as much comfort and moral support as

possible. My very first patient was recovering from a stroke so she was confused and scared, I

held her hand as she wept to show compassion and let her know I was there for her if she needed

anything. Although she did not know what was going on, I tried my best to ensure her that she

was getting the best care possible.

The second ethical principle that resonates with me is: “the nurse promotes, advocates

for, and protects the rights, health, and safety of the patient” (American Nurses Association,

2015). This is an important quality I am getting more confident at executing as I never want to

overstep my boundaries as a student nurse. I have learned to report both major and minor

findings to the patient’s primary care nurse in order for the patient to have the best possible care

and experience. I report clinical significant findings to the nurse and educate the patient as much
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as I can to ensure they are not clueless and anxious. I promote and advocate for my patient by

relaying their current vitals and status to my assigned nurse and suggesting interventions I

believe will be most beneficial for my patient. I had a patient who was experiencing nausea but

was not scheduled to take nausea medicine as it was prescribed as needed, so I informed the

nurse and we collaborated until we came up with the conclusion that Zofran was the patient’s

best option. The Zofran was administered and my patient felt relief and was able to eat.

Conclusion

Nursing is the commitment to provide excellent healthcare through serving the patient

holistically, while being loving, compassionate, and competent. It is also the ability to stand up

for the patient and advocate for their best interest. Nurses play a major role in culturally diverse

settings, the community, and collaborating with other healthcare providers. It is important to

provide exceptional and appropriate care for a patient’s culture, be an example in the community

through healthy living, and be respectful and compassionate towards your team of healthcare

providers as we are all working together for the betterment of our patient. Finally, following

ethical rules and principles is the best approach for providing safe and effective care.

Reflection

I have learned that my philosophy of nursing and reason for pursuing nursing comes from

a very pure intention. I am driven by loving and caring for others in my everyday life. I also am

a huge advocate for the holistic caring of an individual, not just the physiological. I believe a

person needs to be cared for as a whole; physically, mentally and emotionally. Although I would

never push my religion or beliefs on anyone, I feel I have a calling to spread God’s love and

healing through the blood, sweat and tears of a nurse.

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References

Alligood, M. R. (2018). Nursing theorists and their work (9th ed., pp. 344-345). St. Louis,

MO: Elsevier.

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics with interpretative statements. Silver

Spring, MD: Author. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/

EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of- Ethics-For-Nurses.html

New York College of Health Professionals. (2018). Our Holistic Approach. Retrieved from

https://www.nycollege.edu/health-care-clinics/our-holistic-approach.php

“I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form

of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a

member of the academic community it is responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the

Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned.”

Ellen Gilliam