Introduction
Amid the existed books about nursing, it is not always easy to find out the truth and realize that it is closely connected to many personal principles and norms. However, the source where the ideas of Florence Nightingale about the definition of nursing as art that “requires as exclusive a devotion, as hard a preparation” are given was helpful enough (Dossey & Keegan, 2009, p. 102). Such definition is closely connected to many students’ personal and professional goals and norms which help to realize that nursing is what can make them better, more professional, and more confident in personal skills and knowledge. The idea of a moral compass is rather important in this case because such a device should help to define the necessary direction and clear up all morals and virtues that are crucial in nursing. Ray Cziczo (2004) defines a moral compass as a helpful device that may allow any captain to find the necessary way, and a student’s personal moral compass should help to define the way in nursing and the goals to be achieved.
Cultural, Spiritual, and Personal Norms and Values
It is known that “values and validities are made and unmade from age to age” (Taylor, 2007, p. 36); and it is time to define these values and norms in this life with its difficulties and challenges. In nursing practice, many different values should be developed and aim at clarifying what is good, wrong, obligatory, and contradictory. Some cultural norms are all about God and his power. Some people may believe that human death depends on God’s will, and some representatives of different cultures believe that God also promoted the possibility to study human health and make everything possible to overcome death, or at least, make human suffering easier. Spiritual and personal norms play an important role in the decision to apply to nurse and are devoted to this sphere of life because nursing is a good chance to help other people, to fulfill personal demands, and to overcome fears that make this life more complicated.
Values and Nursing Practice
Human obligation to nursing practice may be better explained through the oath that has to be given by all future doctors and other people who are dreaming to devote their life and skills to the health care field. The idea to perfect nature (Kaas, 2003) seems to be rather amazing and available for many people. However, shaping nursing practice properly is not always easy: different people have different points of view, and it is necessary to be powerful and aware enough to achieve the desired balance and understanding. This is why personal values help to shape nursing practice the way people like the most: God has the power, and this power cannot be always understood by ordinary people. But still, nursing is one of the spheres that is closely connected to God’s wish, and if people can comprehend this power and its peculiarities, they will never regret their choice to be in nursing.
Ethical Dilemmas in Health Care
In the oath, it is also said “into whatever houses I may enter, I will come for the benefit of the sick” (Kaas, 2003, para. 22). Unfortunately, it is not always easy and possible to come in time and provide the sick with the necessary treatment and suggestions. This is why a number of dilemmas may appear and develop in order to confuse people or make them believe in personal inabilities or weaknesses. People may be aware of nursing basics and rules properly, but still, be unable to control their actions and outcomes. It is one of the first reasons why ethical dilemmas appear in nursing and frustrate human plans. Though it is difficult, people still have to evaluate their knowledge and skills in order to find out proper answers and explanations. Human intentions are not always equal at the spiritual level and the ethical one: on the one hand, spiritual norms help to close the eyes and do something unconsciously, and on the other hand, ethical values make people remember the rules and obligations which are crucial for those who want to be connected to nursing.
Conclusion
Nursing practice is a unique possibility to comprehend how human actions may be evaluated and understood by others. It is always necessary to work, to train, and to improve personal knowledge with the help of which people are able to define their places, their aims, and their purposes. Nursing is the sphere where human trust, awareness, and readiness to act are the main sources of human success that makes other spheres move properly. Human lives are priceless, and nursing is a good way to grasp the essence of human life as well as the things which make this life better and more captivating. As has been already mentioned, nursing is an art, and it is not too late to become closer to such art and even become a master in the chosen sphere.
Reference List
Cziczo, R. (2004). With Liberty and Justice for All. St. Victoria: Trafford Publishing.
Dossey, B. M. & Keegan, L. (2009). Sudbury: Jones and Bartlett Publishers.
Kaas, L. (2003). To Heal Sometimes, to Comfort Always. Being Human: Readings from the President’s Council on Bioethics. Washington: President’s Council on Bioethics.
Taylor, H.O. (2007). Human Values and Verities. Read Books.