Abstract
The work provides an elaboration of a personal nursing philosophy, which reflects some critical professional considerations that serve as the guiding points for individual career standing. In the work, eight major points are emphasized. Primarily, the explication of nursing as a personal, occupational choice is given. Secondly, the core and the essential focus of the discipline, in personal interpretation, is provided.
Furthermore, a personalized nursing vision is developed. In this sense, the ideas of the principal medical conceptions are listed. Finally, the professional nursing attitude to four primary subjects of the profession is provided. Specifically, the perception of a patient, family partnership, fellow specialists, and personal health is emphasized. The nursing philosophy integrates the conceptions, which shape a professional nurse as a responsible and well-educated individual. Mainly, a nurse as a caregiver, an excellent negotiator, and a fast decision-maker is described. The paper may be used as a personal code of ethical and professional responsibilities, which can guide a specialist through clinical practices.
Outline
- Nursing as a Personalized Vocation
- The Essence of Nursing
- The Focus of Nursing
- Self-Identification Vision
- The Role of a Patient in Nursing
- The Positioning of Patients’ Families in the Healing Process
- The Attitude towards Fellow Specialists in Nursing
- Personal Health in Nursing
Nursing as a Personalized Vocation
Every professional occupation is reflected in the views and individual perceptions of the work type by the employee. Therefore, loving one’s profession equals performing its challenges in the most decent way. For me, nursing is not only a noble occupation but a matter of personal adoration as well. I have never separated this profession from my life since my existence feels incomplete without assisting people. In the attitude to my job, I am guided by the principle, which was voiced by Merleau-Ponty: “the world is not what I think, but what I live through” (Bishop & Soudder, 2008, p. 5). Therefore, living through nursing gives me the strength to be helpful for people, who require my assistance as well as to remain satisfied with my job.
The Essence of Nursing
Due to my personal experience, the code of nursing is a system of professional principles, which serve as the guiding statements for my practices. Specifically, I consider that a good nurse is obliged to provide medical assistance, advocacy, and care for every patient. In other words, nursing is not only about performing direct duties in clinical environments but providing a high-quality human response, support, and efficient treatment for the clients. This code of nursing was built by me from the general principles, which are emphasized by the American Nursing Association as the primary nursing keys. Thus, according to the recommendations of ANA, a nursing code is an integration of knowledge, caring relationships, scholarly inquiry, and assurance of safe practices (The essence of nursing: Knowledge and caring, 2007).
The Focus of Nursing
The explication of nursing focus is a subjective designation of one’s personal opinion about delivering clinical assistance. The identification of the principal core of the profession is sustained through the unitary-transformative operations by multiple scientists (Newman, Sime, & Corcoran-Perry, 2001). In my opinion, however, the unique focus of nursing encircles a human need as an essential dedication to the profession. In this sense, any requirement, which comes from the patient, has to be reviewed as the highest priority for me. Moreover, the conception relates to several subsidiaries focuses that root in advocating the rights of the clients, sustaining social justice rights, etc.
Self-Identification Vision
My self-identification as a nurse stems from the requirements of my profession as well as from my persuasions, which form my vision as a specialist. In this sense, I identify myself as a three-fold worker since, within my job, I have to perform three functions. Primarily, I envision myself as a caregiver, who is supposed to deliver both medical and emotional assistance to the patients. Secondly, I am bound to use my critical thinking in multiple situations such as clinical intervening and client assessment. That is why I also perform the role of a decision-maker. Finally, my responsibilities extend to that of a communicator since my profession often implies the employment of complex communication skills so that to improve the healing environment.
The Role of a Patient in Nursing
The health of a patient is an absolute priority in every clinical process. That is why I always keep in mind the idea that satisfying the needs of my patients is the highest virtue of my profession. Nevertheless, it often happens that the real health requirements of a person contradict his/her will. Consequently, I accept the fact that my mission includes not only promoting cure but also careful instructing of the clients on the most appropriate methods of therapies as well as masterful negotiating and establishing a sense of trust between me and the patients.
In my practices, I am usually guided by the theory of patient response, according to which the accomplishments of a nurse might be measured only through the feedback from the clients (Rasooli, Zamanzadeh, & Rahmani, 2013). Thus, I am always striving to take into account the visions of my patients, who express their opinions on my job.
The Positioning of Patients’ Families in the Healing Process
Family support and engagement contribute to the process of effective curing. A patient always reveals a feeling of special trust towards his/her close people. Therefore, in my work, I am optimistic about establishing the relations of partnership not only with my clients but with their families as well. The idea is inspired by the Nursing Alliance for Quality Care, which established the guiding principles for patient care engagement (Sofaer & Schumann, 2013). Since the principle of family cooperation became one of my operational activities, I noticed that the level of trust between me as a professional and my patients increased.
The Attitude towards Fellow Specialists in Nursing
Since I consider medical involvement to be the noblest human dedication, I have a deep respect for people, who choose the professions of doctors and nurses. In my environment, I constantly meet numerous people, who long for assisting patients and spend much time as caregivers. My special admiration belongs to the individuals, who perform their duties out of love and genuine interest in providing care rather than financial reward.
Personal Health in Nursing
The essential aim of nursing is to inspire a healthy and healing environment around citizens. Therefore, for me, taking care of my health is not only my individual but my high professional interest as well. Consequently, such procedures as taking medical consultations and going through regular clinical procedures are involved in my monthly schedule. Finally, I am deeply persuaded that every nurse should lead a life, which would serve as a decent example for the patients. Otherwise, no professional medical practitioner has moral rights to encourage people to care about their health if he/she does not provide a respective model of behavior, which could be followed.
Referencing
Bishop, A., & Scudder, J. (2008). The practical, moral, and personal sense of nursing. New York: SUNY Press.
Newman, M., Sime, M., & Corcoran-Perry, S. (2001). The focus of the discipline of nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 14(1), 1-6.
Rasooli, A., Zamanzadeh, V., & Rahmani, A. (2013). Patients’ point of view about nurses’ support of individualized nursing care in training hospitals affiliated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Journal of Caring Science, 2(3), 203-209.
Sofaer, S., & Schumann, M. (2013). Fostering successful patient and family engagement: Nursing’s critical role. Healthcare Research Journal, 2(4), 45-67.
The essence of nursing: Knowledge and caring. (2007). Web.