My Nursing Philosophy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

My Nursing Philosophy - Essay Example For me to develop my nursing practice, I contemplated on what nursing means to me as well as factors that guide my nursing practice. In the course of my nursing studies, I have encountered different situations, which have enabled me develop my personal nursing philosophy. Additionally they have changed and molded my assumptions regarding nursing practices. However, they have at times challenged my assumption and personal value but for the better. Developing a personal nursing philosophy required me to reflect on my assumptions about nursing and compare them with the facts I had learned, particularly from the different philosophers accredited for developing different concepts that shaped nursing practices. Nursing practices entails giving patient-centered care and maintaining the different ethics that guide nurses in their practice. My nursing philosophy is based on my experiences, nursing education, principles, and theories that guide nursing, as well as my goals as a nurse. It addresses the aspects surrounding nursing practice, which include the society, environment, the patient of recipient of nursing care, health, and nursing care. I have always been compassionate about giving professional caring towards patients. For me, nursing is not just about me as the nurse and the patient, it comprise the patients family and the society. This is because of the roles that may pray in preventing occurrence of certain diseases as well as their contribution in enhancing healing of patients. Additionally, they are an important source of information regarding patients and other health related problems. The American Nurses Association definition of nursing (2004, p. 7) as â€Å"Protection, promoti ng, and Abilities, prevention of illnesses and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations† clearly describes what nursing entails. I find this definition very comprehensive since it clearly defines the roles of a nurse. Additionally, it demonstrates the need for continuous knowledge acquisition as key to proficient nursing. For quite some time the issue on whether nursing is, an art or a science has been debated. Being a nurse entail taking care of the patients, this is considered as an art. Therefore, the definition of nursing is a clear depiction of the components of nursing. Being a successful nurse requires one to seek knowledge, which is then applied in the daily activities. This necessitates clear understanding of diseases, their causes, diagnosis, and treatment. This makes nursing a science since it involves seeking knowledge. According to Philips, science is â€Å"an original body of knowledge concerning human beings and their world,† (2006, p.43). Nursing is thus multidimensional, and involves acquiring knowledge in addition applying the theory of behavioral and natural sciences in defining the skills and professional values used in care giving (Warms & Schroeder, 2009; Phillips, 2006).  However, nursing goes beyond understanding the disease progression and treatment. It entails enhancing the healing process through giving care. When Nightingale (1820-1910) and Nissen (1834-1892) wrote a about nursing, they metaphorically compared it to art. They were considering the quality of care given by nurses (Austgard, 2006, 16). The aspect of care giving requires nurses to connect with the patient and their family and is thus an art. Nursing is thus both a science and an art. That is why I consider knowledge crucial for successful nursing. Additionally, applying the knowledge learnt in class is crucial since it enables one to understand different diseases and disease processes. Knowledge acquisition is the scientific component of nursing. It entails learning how to use