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A Personal to Professional Reflection
The purpose of creating this formal philosophy of nursing is to reflect on my personal and professional experiences that encompass
the practice of nursing. It is through the professional interdisciplinary and intra-disciplinary skills that we as nurses
find a personal drive to passionately engulf not only our chosen job as a nurse but how that becomes part of our life and
a calling to everything we do within our life.
Human is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary (2006) as having human form or attributes; susceptible to or representative
of the sympathies and frailties of human nature. This basic definition reminds us of the vulnerabilities that the human race
is just that human first and vulnerable within the context of human experience. This simple explanation ties into my outlook
from a nurses point of view in that, "Our art is based on a framework of caring and respect for human dignity" (American
Nurse Association, 2004, p. 12). Life is dynamic and to embrace the art of nursing is to embrace all of the aspects that affect
individual people to foster an outcome of positive health. Patients, be they individuals, families, and/or communities, have
the right to justice, autonomy, and beneficence and it is our responsibility to uphold these values within the scope of our
practice. The measures the nurse takes to care for these patients enable them to live with as much physical, emotional, social,
and spiritual well-being as possible. (American Nurses Association, 2001).
I hold a personal belief that everything in life is an art. This has not changed throughout my nursing endeavors. Like
a flower coming into full bloom, reseeding, and then growing forth again I have continued to grow and help the cycle of life
through the pollination of my mind, body, and spirit and the use of this knowledge to provide individualized care within my
home as well as nursing within the nursing profession. Each cycle of growth has added to my own self-actualization that has
expanded my actions to foster healing. I would continue on in this profession even without payment if I could sustain that
my basic human needs were met.
The core of nursing, as best described by Jean Watson, (1985) refers to those aspects of nursing that are intrinsic to
the actual nurse-patient/client process that produces therapeutic results in the person being served. Nurses must have the
intra-disciplinary skills for the particular type of nursing that they provide. They must be well versed in procedure and
evidence based practice. Nurses must also utilize interdisciplinary skills to continually shape themselves. To draw on many
disciplines holds dear to the nature that nursing is ultimately a holistic profession. Social interaction skills, cultural
awareness of self and others, teaching effectiveness, and respect for self and others only highlight a few of the many characteristics
that are intrinsic to the core of nursing.
Many theories and models outline different ways of planning a patient's care. From the onset of assessment through the
evaluation stage a nurse must build an outlook that stays within the scope of practice while redefining the profession as
an art all its own. "Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness
and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities, and populations" (American Nurses Association, 2003, p.6). It is the integration of procedural
skill combined with the multitude of environmental human factors. "The nurse owes the same duties to self as to others,
including the responsibility to preserve integrity and safety, to maintain competence, and to continue personal and professional
growth" (American Nurses Association, 2001, p.18). It is the contract that each nurse sets with his or her self and
all commitments that provide him or her the outline they need to be successful.
The profession of nursing entails a great deal of communication skills. Part of how we create a positive environment from
home life to work is through our relationships with others. I do this through maintaining an unbiased attitude. "The
nurse establishes relationships and delivers nursing services with respect for human needs and values, and without prejudice
even if the patients lifestyle and value system are not agreed as being what the nurse believes" (American Nurses Association,
2001, p.7).
Becoming a nurse has given me the satisfaction of sharing my attained knowledge with individuals, families, and communities
to broaden their horizons, to provide a common and comfortable ground for them to seek assistance and heal, and to help alleviate
potential stressors that they might encounter on their path to improved health. If I can make a difference in a few, those
few will go on to make a difference in many. I live with the belief that I never fail because I take with me the lessons learned
from every situation. I want to teach others how they can find that silver lining no matter how dark the cloud and turn it
into a ray of light to better guide their health choices.
Everything in life is an art. It is these attained arts that better my nursing practice and in turn will better the individual
patient, the family as a patient, and the community they make up as a patient. Separate goals can add up to the accomplishment
of one. Nurses can individually influence many as to better the whole of the community thus promoting a healthier society.
The pictures painted, individually, collectively make up many strokes in the world's museum of health. The material of the
canvas cannot be changed but how the strokes are put there will determine our outcome as a healthy society. I believe that
nurses supply not only the necessary paints and brushes, i.e. the tools, but also the framework for the canvas upon which
the nurse empowers their patients to paint their individual masterpieces of health. Through partnerships with coworkers, individual
patients, families, communities and self the nurse is responsible for ensuring that the body of nurses act in the public interest
in the course of providing the unique service society has rendered them. (American Nurses Association, 2003).
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