Some people may believe that nursing is concerned with certain clinical procedures and communication with different stakeholders. Nursing theories, models, and frameworks are sometimes regarded as superfluous and irrelevant. However, nurses understand the relevance of the theoretical component and often have their own philosophies that guide practitioners and mainly define the way the care is provided (Bruce, Rietze, & Lim, 2014). This paper includes a brief description of my nursing philosophy and my views on nursing practice.
First, I would like to share my view on the individual person. Some practitioners and scholars see a person as a set of biological, cognitive, and sometimes social functions (Lappin, 2017). In my opinion, the individual person is more complex as each human being has certain biological and cognitive features. However, these peculiarities are accompanied and often shaped by cultural, spiritual, and emotional aspects. I never focus on a specific feature or need of a person as I try to address a set of needs and expectations or appeal to various beliefs or concerns. I believe an individual is a universe that has some channels used to interact with other universes.
This worldview shapes the way I approach patients. Stein-Parbury (2017) notes that one of the most effective ways to develop effective communication with patients is associated with the recognition of their needs and views. I agree with this assumption, and I always try to discern patients’ major features. Of course, I get the information concerning the health status of the person and some biological peculiarities. However, I also pay attention to patients’ cultures, family status, personality types, emotional states, and so forth. Some data can be gained from records, but I often get the most valuable insights during observations and communication. I always try to make the person feel relaxed and positive as such emotional states are instrumental in achieving the most beneficial patient outcomes.
My perspective on people is quite similar to my views concerning the environment. The environment is often regarded as an important and multidimensional component of the healing process (Murray, 2017). Such aspects as physical, psychological, spiritual, social, and behavioral are taken into account. This is a good definition I use in my practice. However, the social element needs to be deciphered. For me, the social environment consists of people who are in contact with the person, patients’ culture, the media, people patients see around them. All these details have a substantial effect on the healing process.
The way people interact with the environment is another factor to consider when providing care. For instance, some people are very active and open. They interact with many people; they use various devices to access information (read news, gossips, watch videos). Some patients may focus on the physical environment and pay attention to the temperature in their wards, cleanness of the furniture and neatness of the staff, and other similar details. In contrast, some people are more concerned with their spirituality. They have little communication with others. They meditate, sleep, and read. It is essential to understand the way patients interact with their environment to provide high-quality care.
It is also important to address my view of health. Riner and DeRose (2017) use the definition of the WHO when considering the essence of health. Health is regarded as an individual’s well-being in such areas as social, physical, and mental. I agree that health is not equivalent to the absence of diseases. I also see health as a specific state that ensures people’s proper functioning. I believe it is difficult to estimate the relevance of each element for every patient. However, it is rather important to understand which component is more influential in helping patients overcome illnesses. For example, some patients can get better sooner if they are close to their relatives, while others need a specific psychological state to heal.
As has been mentioned above, health is not the absence of illnesses. The relationship between the two concepts is quite complex as well. Illness can be regarded as a breakdown of some functions or processes (Kub, 2016). People’s well-being is undermined to a certain extent. However, the illness does not mean a complete failure of some or all systems. I regard it as a deviation from the normal state, which means that the healing process depends on the patient’s ability to go back to the initial state during the shortest period. Emotional and spiritual components of health play a central role in this process.
In conclusion, I would like to note that my nursing philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that the human being is a complex system. When considering health, illness, health care, and nursing practice, I pay attention to various aspects, including but not confined to physical, social, psychological, spiritual, and cultural. My firm belief is that the major reason for the existence of nursing is the need to maintain the balance during a crisis or ensure the proper functioning of all systems. Nurses can and should help people maintain healthy lifestyles, which will contribute to the overall well-being of individuals and communities.
References
Bruce, A., Rietze, L., & Lim, A. (2014). Understanding philosophy in a nurse’s world: What, where and why? Nursing and Health, 2(3), 65-71.
Kub, J. (2016). Public health ethics and social justice in the community. In C. Robichaux (Ed.), Ethical competence in nursing practice: Competencies, skills, decision-making (pp. 209-232). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.
Lappin, M. (2017). Models of nursing. In I. Peate & K. WIld (Eds.), Nursing practice: Knowledge and care (pp. 129-146). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
Murray, E. (2017). Nursing leadership and management: For patient safety and quality care. Philadelphia, PA: F.A. Davis.
Riner, M. E., & DeRose, B. (2017). Nursing in the global health community. In G. Roux & J. A. Halstead (Eds.), Issues and trends in nursing (pp. 461-490). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Stein-Parbury, J. (2017). Patient and person: Interpersonal skills in nursing (6th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier Health Sciences.