The unfolding of My Personal Nursing Philosophy
As the field of nursing undergoes constant changes regarding both theoretical and practical knowledge, it has become more crucial than ever to solidify people’s beliefs and convictions about the profession. To me, articulating personal values and defining the roles and focus of practice is no more a formal procedure but a step towards finding my life purpose. In the field of nursing, it is impossible to make progress, combat self-doubt, and practice compassion without clearly understanding the “why.” This personal philosophy statement discusses the most thought-provoking ideas, elaborates on implementing philosophy in daily practice, and seeks to move closer to finding my vision.
Challenging and Conflicting Ideas
Nursing requires constant learning and reassessing ideas that shape one’s daily practice. One of the ideas that I found dubious at first but later revised and embraced is the notion of intuition in the medical field. It appeared that first and foremost, medical practitioners needed a knowledge base and made decisions directed by a clear understanding of objective facts, as opposed to intuitive leanings that I could only describe as “supernatural intervention.” However, I discovered that there is extensive research on intuition in medical practice that might be rendered as increased sensitivity towards patients’ needs and leadership in decision-making (Holm & Severinsson, 2016). I seek to develop the said traits as part of my philosophical approach.
Personal Nursing Philosophy in Practice
Within eight weeks, I managed to overcome the seemingly intractable split between philosophy and practice. One may rightfully argue why philosophy is necessary for such a field as nursing as well as point out that contemporary academic philosophy is detached from real life (Norris, 2014). However, I see the same connection between philosophy and practice as that between thought and action. In my practice, I attempt to deepen my understanding of a nurse as a compassionate and caring professional that deals not only with illnesses and diseases but with complex human beings. Scientific knowledge may guide my decisions, but my vision of the discipline and field governs my interactions. Furthermore, a clear understanding of the “why” in the profession helps overcome my struggles and reminds me of the nurse’s higher purpose, even in times of trouble.
Nursing Philosophy Concepts
The nursing metaparadigm encompasses four concepts that may be interpreted differently depending on a person’s philosophy. I find defining the phenomenon of person fascinating as to me personally is not only the recipient of care but also a unity of mind and body. Health is very subjective; furthermore, the concept includes physical, psychological, mental, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual health. To me, it seems reasonable to describe the metaparadigm of health like wellness and comfort. The environment can be defined as the sum of all factors that influence a person’s health. Lastly, nursing is technically the actions and interventions that nurses undertake, or generally, what nurses do, which entails skills and knowledge application and patient care.
Comparison to the First Week
In my first week assignment, I discussed the possible split of the notion of nursing into medical expertise and social influence. I stand by my initial idea; however, now I find it crucial to attribute a nurse’s numerous roles to them, be it a caregiver, a case manager, a leader, a health educator, and so on.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is necessary to emphasize once more that to mature as a specialist one needs to work regularly on one’s philosophy. As the field requires flexibility, so does one’s vision. It is only possible to practice one’s ideas if one clearly defines them. I make a conscious effort to make my actions congruent with my understanding of care, compassion, and deep respect for my patients, whom I see as more than just a physical body. Thus, within this philosophy, my practice encompasses many roles and is defined as physical, social, and spiritual.
References
Holm, A. L. & Severinsson, E. (2016). A systematic review of intuition – A way of knowing in clinical nursing? Open Journal of Nursing, 6, 412-425.
Norris, C. (2014). Talking to ourselves? Academic philosophy and the public sphere. Think, 13(37), 57-72.