Introduction
The development of a personal philosophy of nursing is important for each nurse to determine what values and attitudes provide the background for a nurse’s professional actions and choices (Masters, 2015). Those nurses who work in different healthcare facilities usually follow not only standard nursing principles but also their visions and beliefs regarding the nursing practice. The purpose of this paper is to present my philosophy of nursing concerning my visions, values, and beliefs, as well as my professional experience.
Definition of Nursing
Nursing can be defined as a practice of offering care and support to persons who suffer from certain diseases and require the assistance of a healthcare professional. In this context, nursing includes the prevention of disease development, the provision of the appropriate treatment, and the protection of patients’ interests. From this perspective, the practice of nursing exists to guarantee the efficient delivery of care, the promotion of health care principles, and the support for patients and their families (Hood, 2013). I practice nursing because I understand the significance of supporting each member of a community when he or she suffers from an illness. I am interested in helping people become healthy while providing them with the best care they need.
Assumptions and Beliefs
While discussing my assumptions and beliefs regarding nurses, patients, healthcare providers, and communities, I should state that the building of trusty relationships with patients is my priority. Thus, I believe that nurses should do all possible to guarantee that patients receive efficient care and support. In this context, patients should trust those nurses who work with them. Furthermore, nurses should cooperate with healthcare providers to ensure that the proposed treatment and care are balanced and most appropriate in a concrete case (Masters, 2015). The work with patients also means the work with communities, and nurses should contribute to the wellness of the whole community.
Domains of Nursing
The major domains of nursing are the person, health, and environment. In the context of nursing, a person is an individual who has one’s own needs and interests and who thinks and makes decisions. For example, while working with patients, I perceive them as persons whose visions, interests, and decisions regarding treatment should be respected. If views of healthcare providers and patients regarding treatment are different, I should focus on proposing alternative options. Health is another domain that I can define as a state of physical and psychological comfort, and my goal is to guarantee that my patients will achieve this state. In my philosophy of nursing, the environment consists of external factors that can affect a person and his or her health. Therefore, I am always focused on making environments comfortable to promote a patient’s recovery.
Summary
The discussed domains of nursing are directly connected as a person’s health depends on environments, and a person’s decisions can influence his or her environment and physical and mental state. Therefore, these aspects should be taken into account while providing care. It is possible to assume that, in the future, the practice of nursing will become even more focused on a person and his or her needs because there will be more resources to improve people’s health. Still, currently, nurses face such challenges as the lack of time and resources to build strong relations with patients and their families. Shortages observed in different spheres related to nursing influence the quality of the provided care, and the goal is to overcome these barriers without affecting patients. Furthermore, my goals for further professional development are to become more patient-oriented, to develop leadership skills, and to concentrate on decision-making and problem-solving strategies.
References
Hood, L. (2013). Leddy & Pepper’s conceptual bases of professional nursing (8th ed.). Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Masters, K. (2015). Role development in professional nursing practice (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Publishers.