Running head: PROFESSIONAL NURSING PHILOSPHY

Professional Nursing Philosophy

Julianne S

Delaware Technical & Community College

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Abstract

The field of nursing is continually changing and evolving. The nurse that strives to evolve and

change improves patient care, satisfaction, and outcomes. Understanding lifelong education is

imperative to progress and advance in the field. Personal wellness impacts the performance and

mindset of the nurse. Optimal personal wellness allows the nurse to achieve the highest quality

care and safety standards for the patient. This also helps to prevent stress and burnout on the

nurse, which in turn improves patient safety. Recognizing individual management and

leadership styles plays a role in improving communication and collaboration among healthcare

workers. By developing a personal nursing philosophy, a nurse can develop goals and a

framework to perform at their finest. All these aspects come together to not only meet the needs

of the patient, but to improve the nurse-patient relationship and aid in identifying areas in need of

improvement. Providing compassionate, devoted, and patient-centered care are among the most

honorable qualities in a nurse. These qualities provide and solid foundation in developing a

nursing philosophy to meet these goals.

Keywords: education, personal wellness, nursing philosophy, patient-centered care

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Professional Nursing Philosophy

The role of the nurse is an immensely important component in the healthcare setting.

Only through understanding personal and professional goals, can a nurse progress and grow

within the field. By developing one’s own nursing philosophy or theory, one can better identify

what drives them and allows the nurse to preform at their best. As Peptin (2016) explains, this

provides “an organized framework of concepts and purposes designed to guide the practice of

nursing” (Nursing Theory Definition, para. 1). My personal nursing philosophy is a combination

of providing dedicated, effective, and compassionate care that is patient focused. This

philosophy concentrates on patient-centered care that is provided in a kind, caring manor. This

act of compassionate care can only be delivered through dedication to the not only the patient,

but dedication to improving one’s self.

One way to better serve the patient population and improve as a nurse is to pursue a

larger knowledge base and education that challenges the nurse to enhance critical thinking skills.

This idea of furthering education and knowledge is known as lifelong learning. The concept of

lifelong learning is crucial in the field of nursing because healthcare is continually changing and

evolving. In this aspect, the nurse must change and evolve along with it. Lifelong learning is one

way that “health professionals keep up to date with the latest knowledge and advances in health

care. Substantial literature exists indicating that continuing education (CE) in the health

professions is effective in improving healthcare, patient outcomes and population health” (“The

Increasing Importance,” 2017). Obtaining my BSN is one way in which I hope to further educate

myself and maximize my performance as a patient advocate.

When reflecting upon my own nursing philosophy, I feel a strong connection to

Lydia Hall’s Care, Cure, Core Theory. In this theory the patient receiving nursing care would be
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the core, the attention that is being given to the patient by all providers is the cure, and the

nurturing role of the nurse would be the care (Petiprin, 2016, Lydia Hall Theory, para. 1). The

reason I feel so strongly towards this theory is its focus on the patient. The nurse has the role to

nurture and guide the patient to reach a favorable outcome. According to Wayne (2014), “The

major purpose of care is to achieve an interpersonal relationship with the individual that will

facilitate the development of the core” (Description, para. 1). In Lydia Hall’s theory not only is

the patient the most important aspect, but so is the care provided to the patient by the nurse. This

idea closely correlates to my own nursing philosophy.

As a nurse, the care provided shapes, influences, and ultimately determines the patient

outcome. For this reason, it is important to maintain optimal personal wellness as the healthcare

worker. “A healthy nurse lives life to the fullest capacity, across the wellness/illness continuum,

as they become stronger role models, advocates, and educators, personally, for their families,

their communities and work environments, and ultimately for their patients” (“Healthy Nurse,”

2018). Through creating my personal wellness plan, I can better identify areas of improvement

that will allow me to achieve my goals both personally and professional. My philosophy of

dedicated care is better achieved when I dedicate myself to maintaining personal wellness.

Patient care is more effective when the nurse can think clearly and feel their best because stress

and burnout are decreased. This in turn improves patient safety.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that personal wellness includes five

components: physical, spiritual, social, emotional, and intellectual. Recognizing your own

personality style can help meet these five components of personal wellness. Strengths and

weaknesses must be understood to embrace success and overcome challenges. For example, I

identify more closely with the defender personality. This personality relates to my philosophy
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because the defender tends to be dependable, enthusiastic, loyal and hardworking (“Defender

Personality,” 2011-2018).

Another important aspect to keep in mind to enhance the healthcare workflow is conflict

management. Through understanding the different styles of conflict management, a nurse can

improve communication and enhance collaboration among healthcare professionals. “Nursing

managers spend between 25 and 40 percent of their time dealing with conflict…one of the best

career strategies you can employ is to become adept at managing and resolving conflict”

(“Explore,” 2011). When keeping my personal nursing philosophy in mind, the patient is the

focus of care. By eliminating ineffective or time-consuming methods of conflict management,

patient care is boosted. The defender personality leans towards the accommodating style of

conflict management. However, through management experience I know collaborating tends to

be the most beneficial. “Collaborating is true problem solving. The goal is to find a solution

when both sets of interests are too important to be compromised…parties with different

perspectives attempt to merge their insights and work through the conflict” (“Explore,” 2011).

By collaborating among other healthcare workers, respect is shown to each other and the

common goal of optimal patient care can be reached.

As mentioned, when a nurse is dedicated to improving personal wellness and furthering

education, patient care and safety is improved. My nursing philosophy depends on these aspects

because patient care and safety are the highest priority. It is imperative that as a nurse that I can

think critically, collaborate with the team, maintain balance in all components of wellness, and

focus on patient care to minimize harm or risk to the patient. Understanding the Quality and

Safety Education for Nurses is one way to keep safe and competent nursing practice in mind, but

also a means to continue the path of lifelong learning. The Quality and Safety Education for
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Nurse(QSEN) project has the goal “to meet the challenge of preparing future nurses who will

have the knowledge, skills and attitudes (KSAs) necessary to continuously improve the quality

and safety of the healthcare systems” (“Graduate QSEN,” 2018).

This philosophy of nursing depends on advocating for patients to ensure the highest

quality care. A nurse with strong leadership skills, tends to be an effective patient advocate. A

strong leader is motivated, assertive, and strives to serve as a role model. Through nursing

leadership, the quality of nursing care received by patients is improved. A quality nurse leader

makes the other members of the team perform better and sparks their desire to advance. “As a

leader you must be committed to your passion and purpose, and have the type of commitment

that turns into perseverance…Be the resident role model; who you are is whom you will attract”

(Guyton, 2012). This means a nurse as a leader has a tremendous impact on the field of nursing

as well as patient care and satisfaction.

Finally, it may be concluded that safe, effective patient care can only be delivered by a

nurse that understands the whole picture. A nurse must successfully improve their own personal

wellness and knowledge base to be able to lead and excel in exceptional nursing care. Quality

patient care depends upon safe practices. A nurse that is dedicated to improving both personally

and professionally will be able to nurture patient care in a compassionate and effective manner.
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References

Defender personality. (2011-2018). 16 Personalities [Measurement instrument]. Retrieved from

https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

Explore the 5 styles of conflict management & resolution in nursing. (2011, July 27) The

Sentinel Watch. Retrieved from https://americansentinel.edu/blog/2011/07/27/nursing-

strategies-common-tactics-for-managing-conflict/

Graduate QSEN competencies. (2018). Retrieved from https://QSEN.org/competencies/

graduate-ksas

Guyton, N. (2012, August). Nine principles of successful nursing leadership. American Nurse

Today, 7. Retrieved from https://www.americannursetoday.com/nine-principles-of-

successful-nursing-leadership

Hancock, K. (2017, January 3). Nurses: Focus on personal health and wellness in the new year.

Retrieved from https://consulted.clevelandclinic.org/2017/01/nurses-focus-personal-

health-wellness-new-year/

Healthy nurse, healthy nation. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.nursingworld.ord/MainMenu

Categories/WorkplaceSafety/Healthy-Nurse?css=print

Petiprin, A. (2016). Nursing theory. Retrieved from http://www.nursing-theory.org

The increasing importance of lifelong learning in healthcare, and especially nursing.

(2017, June 26). EBSCO Health. Retrieved from https://health.ebsco.com/blog/

article/the-increasing-importance-of-lifelong-learning-in-healthcare-and-especially

Wayne, G. (2014, September 16). Lydia E. Hall’s care, cure, core theory.

Retrieved from http://nurseslabs.com/lydia-e-hals-care-cure-core-theory/