My thoughts about what a nurse is and what he/she does have changed over time. How I view myself and others now has contributed to this change, as well as my philosophical view of nurses and nursing. Tesh (2020) defines philosophy as the study of the principles beneath nature, through and conduct of the universe, which can be translated into a deeper search for the universe’s meaning (p. 192). Numerous philosophers who conducted research and explorations only did so to find and understand the underlying principles of truth and reality. It follows then that a nursing philosophy is often started when an individual wonders or contemplates something, and it is not exclusive to philosophers only because every person has their own philosophy of life, which they value and treasure as unique. Therefore, I believe in nursing as my philosophy because God chose me to be a nurse and bring change in the nursing sphere while helping out patients and anyone in need. In essence, it is essential to explore my reasons for selecting the nursing profession, the underlying beliefs in nursing, and a detailed analysis of my role as a nurse while incorporating Florence Nightingale’s timeless theory, which has always played a role in my daily aspirations to work in patient care and interact with families in my lifelong role as a nurse chosen by God.
Reason for Choice of Nursing as a Profession with Background Information
Some may say that they chose to nurse, but I believe God chose and called me to be a nurse to serve and help those in need. I love math and was a math and science major all through school, initially thinking I would teach high school trigonometry and calculus. My high school math teachers steered me from teaching and toward mechanical engineering. In my senior year in high school, I received numerous scholarships to pursue engineering; however, to get out of classes one day, I attended an open house with a friend at Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing. Although I had no intent of being a nurse, the experience and motivation I got from Baptist Memorial Hospital School of Nursing heightened my desire to join the nursing profession, and I believed God had a purpose for directing me toward that path. Caring is challenging in the nursing profession even though it is essential because the value of caring for patients’ positive outcomes and improved well-being cannot be underestimated (Akansel et al. 3). I have always conducted myself in a caring way, which also contributed to my desire for the nursing profession.
As I reflect, I realize several missed signs directing me to nursing. The first sign occurred at the beginning of my life because a nurse delivered me. My parents explained to me how the nurse was so caring and dedicated to ensuring safe delivery and the healthy child I was born to be. Hearing about this nurse’s story made me want to be a nurse so that I could also help more people and make an impact in the nursing profession. The priorities for education among postpartum nurses include ensuring a safe recovery from giving birth not only for the mother but also the newborn through infant feeding, parenting techniques, feeding the infant, newborn care, and family bonding (McCarter et al. 5). Nurses face numerous challenges in ensuring that they achieve the best outcomes for their patients, but they never lose hope in their work. My passion and belief that nursing is a profession bestowed upon me by God has kept my candle shining and increased my desire to join nursing.
The second sign occurred later when I had my tonsils removed. Although I was looking forward to just eating popsicles and ice cream, I was afraid of being put to sleep and having someone cut my throat. The nurses talked to me in a soft and convincing tone, and I felt relaxed and energetic while going through the operation. The tonsillectomy process, which is the surgical process conducted with or without adenoidectomy that entirely removes tonsils, such as its capsule, through a dissection of the peritonsillar space between the muscular wall and the tonsil capsule, was scary at first (Mitchell et al. 1). I was shaken and did not know if I will manage to go through the process on my own. However, with my parents’ words and the nurse’s heartfelt consolation and belief in my strength, I was able to go through the procedure, and I fully recovered. After that, I was completely attached to nursing and wanted to inspire more people to believe in the nursing role.
Additionally, another sign I missed occurred as a teenager when my maternal grandfather and paternal grandmother were both diagnosed with cancer, and both died in the same year. While staying with them in the hospital, I was not impressed with the nursing care they received, and it made me realize there must be better ways to be sensitive to the needs of those who trust you to care for them. Psychological support is among the essential patient care needs that cancer patients need because they often feel stressed and depressed after the cancer diagnosis as they are in shock and still processing the news (Hassankhani et al. 10). Due to the poor care and attention that my grandparents were given, I believed that I could be a better nurse who will be there for the patients and ensure they get the best services that will keep them strong through the process. The feeling that some people have joined the nursing profession yet are not giving their best has always encouraged me to be more enlightened in nursing. Although I missed these signs, my maternal grandmother did not. When I told her I would be an engineer, she stated, “I do not know what that is, but if it is not a nurse, you are about to do the wrong thing” (L. Ford, personal communication, 1978). Afterward, I made a vow to myself that I would do all it takes to join the nursing profession so that I can give my best and make others recognize that there are still caring nurses who are not in the profession just because it is their source of income but rather because of the passion and dedication in the profession.
Beliefs Regarding Core of Nursing
The core of nursing values is essential in service delivery and recovery of patients. Nursing is a caring profession that needs advanced connection and empathy for people. Care can be characterized by the ability to portray and practice nursing values such as human dignity, autonomy, social justice, altruism, and integrity as directed by the baccalaureate education (Poorchangizi et al. 1). The core ethical values of the nursing profession are shared within the international community, and they present a crucial reflection of the spiritual and human methodology to the nursing profession. Patient care values are impacted by social, cultural, religious, and economic conditions that are constantly dominant in the international community, thus calling for the need to identify such values personally. I may or may not have all the answers, but because of my professional relationship with my patients, I hope to change their perceptions and instill hope in not only the service they are getting but also the nurses offering the services.
Beliefs Regarding the Focus of Nursing
The focus of nursing is caring about the nurse-patient relationship, which tremendously influences clinical practice, patients’ decision-making ability, and the general quality of care. The role of nursing can be described as empirical, meaning it is a profession wherein behavioral, cognitive, beliefs, values, and integration of skills are relegated to an extremely secondary level (Molina-Mula and Gallo-Estrada 2). As a result, nursing focuses on the nurse-patient relationship, which is entirely based on compliance, relationship quality, power, empowerment, and impotence. People seek health care because they believe it is a step towards recovery or avoiding any harmful effects on their health. They believe that the nurses and the healthcare professionals can stop their pain or prevent them from pain and suffering. The services people get from healthcare institutions could encourage them to seek more help in the future. A nurse can make patients feel safe and build trust in the healthcare institution. In most cases, the patient’s first contact when they enter the healthcare institution is the nurses (American Nurses Association, n.d). Instilling the patients’ trust in their nursing team guarantees that they feel supported, confident, and safe in the care offered to them, and the bond results in improved patient satisfaction and enhanced general results.
Envisioning Myself as a Nurse
When I envision myself as a nurse, I see an intelligent, caring professional dedicated to improved patient care, attaining more knowledge in nursing for the guaranteed difference in the profession. I see myself acquiring advanced knowledge and skills in nursing every time while constantly adhering to and advocating for the general principles of patient-centered care. As a registered nurse, I intend to diversify my nursing goals to address every aspect of patient care. I will ensure that the patient’s environment allows them to feel respected, heard, and actively involved in their care because that is the necessary step towards ensuring that the patients have confidence and trust in the system. Nursing should be centered around respecting the dignity of the patient’s personhood (Kwame and Petrucka 6). I envision myself as a nurse who will advocate for improved patient care and instill morale and passion for nursing among professionals.
Thoughts to Remember Daily
Daily Thoughts about Patients
In daily preparation, before I go to work, I will remember that my patients need me to focus on the task. As their nurse, I must remember that they are depending on me to help them recover and take away their pain. I will keep my thoughts on the patient’s hope that I am the only hope they have in restoring their health and walking out proud of the services.
Daily Thoughts about Patients’ Families
I will remember daily that not only will I encounter my patients, but I will encounter their families as well. I will remember what it was like to be concerned about my parents when they were hospitalized at the same time but in different hospitals. I will remember what it was like to be concerned about my sisters and brothers when they were hospitalized, at times hundreds and even thousands of miles from me. Remembering these difficult times will help me be sensitive and dedicated to patients’ needs and ensure I offer them the best care ever.
Daily Thoughts about Fellow Health Care Professionals
Since nurses do not work in silos, I need to remember that I am a part of the healthcare team, and I am accountable not only to my patients and their families but to my colleagues as well. I must remember daily that my fellow healthcare professionals look up to me for motivation and inspiration in the healthcare system. Rather than being limited by the lack of silos in the healthcare profession, I will focus on collaborating and working with team members for the best care quality.
Daily Thoughts about Own Health
I must remember daily to care for myself. A friend of mine who is a nurse told me that while teaching a patient about eating right and exercising, the patient asked her if she followed her teaching. This bothered my friend because she did not. Eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep are all essential aspects for my body to be strong and well cared for so that I have the energy to serve others. In addition, having a healthy work-life balance also improves my health and avoids issues such as obesity and the inability to serve in the profession. I intend to fully care for my health through exercising, eating right, and having a healthy work-life balance to serve others effectively.
Daily Thoughts about Lifelong Learning
According to Fearrington (2020), “lifelong learning is a term used to describe ways in which nurses maintain expertise during their professional careers” (p. 89). As a nurse, I must remember that every new day comes with a new opportunity to grow in my field. I intend to actively seek knowledge and remain focused on improving my skills and the continuous development of the nursing practice.
Nursing Theorist Related to My Values and Beliefs
I can relate to the tenets of several nursing theorists, but the one helping to shape my professional identity the most is Florence Nightingale. My values and beliefs may be closely related to Florence Nightingale because she was a trainer and manager of nurses, and I believe that is where God has called me to practice.
Tenet One: Environmental Theory
Nightingale’s environmental theory reflects upon the initiatives of the nurses to configure the numerous settings of the environment that are essential for the gradual restoration of the patient. The external factors often linked to the patient’s environment are crucial as they influence the biological or life and physiological activities and the patient’s development (Gonzalo 15). The patient’s healing process is based on the conducive nature of the patient’s environment, which comprises both the physical and emotional environment.
Tenet Two: Personal and Social Health Determinants
The personal and social determinants of health are crucial for the patient’s recovery and instill a sense of well-being among individuals. Nightingale considered social supports, housing, access to health, education, and employment as essential and correlated to the well-being and health of an individual (Matthews et al. 10). I will constantly advocate for equity, social justice, and empowerment among the people to improve the healthcare journey.
Tenet Three: Role of the Nurse as a Change Agent
Nightingale viewed nurses as change agents, innovators, leaders, and influencers in the healthcare system (Matthews et al. 9). Nurses are crucial in influencing systems change, participating, and leading in improving quality and safety initiatives in the nursing profession. My intense aspirations to improve nursing as a transformative and dynamic profession align with Nightingale’s approach to the role of nurses as change agents.
Conclusion
As a Christian, I believe God has given us all a purpose that is revealed to us if we seek Him. As stated above, nursing is more than a choice; it is my calling that God has revealed to me. I take this calling very seriously, often reflecting on St. Paul’s admonition to “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called” (King et al., 1769/2017, Ephesians 4:1). To walk worthy of my calling, I must first get equipped. Developing my nursing philosophy has allowed me to get equipped with the necessary skills to instill change in the nursing profession. Incorporating Florence Nightingale’s aspects of the environment, personal and social health determinants, and nurses as agents of change will certainly equip me with the needed knowledge and skills to ensure improved patient care.
References
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