Running head: PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 1

Personal Philosophy of Nursing

Loretta Brogan
Old Dominion University




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Personal Philosophy of Nursing
As the oldest of twelve children, I knew at a young age that I would be pursuing a career
in the medical field. As a child, I cared for my patients (who were my younger siblings), applied
inventive bandages, and taught them how to take care of themselves within the confines of my
pretend hospital. I pursued my initial nursing degree to its completion in 1975, worked in various
clinical settings, and returned to college to obtain and receive my registered nursing degree. For
me, nursing is not just a career it is a profession. Over the years, I have re-examined and
redefined my values and philosophies within my practice. Some of my values include:
compassion, dignity, patient advocation, empathy, communication, beneficence, and veracity. I
also value continued education, diversity, and leadership. The purpose of this paper is to enable
the author to discover her personal philosophy of nursing, as it exists at the beginning of her
journey towards the Bachelor of Science Degree. My journey will encompass the values that I
have learned regarding my nursing profession and my continued responsibility as a nurse.
Definition of Nursing
As I read various theorists written works, the most resonant for me was Virginia
Hendersons functional definition of nursing. Hendersons definition clearly is a reflection of my
own, which I have developed during my education and clinical practice over the past thirty-nine
years. Hendersons definition is as follows:
The unique function of the nurse is to assist the individual, sick or well, in the
performance of those activities contributing to health or its recovery (or to peaceful
death) that he would perform unaided if he had the necessary strength, will, or
knowledge, and to do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as
rapidly as possible (as cited in Blais, K., Hayes, J., 2011, p.100).
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This brief statement to me encompasses more than patient care and bedside nursing. The
nurses role encompasses compassion, dignity, empathy, and building a trusting relationship with
our patients. Advocating for our patients whether or not they are able to advocate for themselves,
is also a critical function of the nurses role. Hendersons definition as viewed by me, also means
teaching (to patients and their families the concepts of health promotion and wellness), and
partnership with an interdisciplinary team. The nurse as an active interdisciplinary team member
shares her knowledge base on a daily basis and exchanges information with the other team
members, thereby aiding the patient in gaining their independence.
My Purpose of Nursing
From my perspective, my purpose in nursing over the years consists of several principles.
Caring for patients when their health is compromised, promoting recovery, and thereby returning
them to their highest level of functioning. Educating the patient and their family, regarding the
concepts of health management and wellness. To remain an advocate for the patient regarding
treatments, pain management, and ensuring that the right of the patient as well as their family is
respected and protected. Lastly, providing the patient with dignity at all times; especially with
declines in their general condition and death.
These principles, which I have incorporated into my philosophy, have in similar words
been noted in various other written works. The basic premise remains unchanged; I have
developed these principles over the years during my education and clinical practice and will
uphold them to the highest degree possible.
Values and Beliefs
The National League of Nursing (NLN) was the first nursing organization, which was
established in 1893. The NLN continues to be foremost in promoting excellence in nursing
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education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of our nation and
the global community (NLN, 2013). The NLNs mission of core values mirrors some of the
values that I hold and adhere to within my nursing practice. NLNs core values are as follows:
Caring- promoting health, healing, and hope in response to the human condition.
Integrity- respecting the dignity and moral wholeness of every person without
conditions or limitations.
Diversity- affirming the uniqueness of and differences among persons, ideas,
values, and ethnicities.
Excellence- co-creating and implicating transformative strategies with daring
ingenuity. (National League of Nursing, 2013).
When discussing my beliefs as a professional nurse, two that stand within the forefront
are dignity, and veracity. During my span thus far as a nurse, it is difficult to choose a finite
amount of values that I carry into my practice on a daily basis. I find at times, that there is an
overlap of my values verses beliefs. I firmly believe that values and beliefs support each other.
Principles Guiding My Professional Practice
Human dignity as defined by Segens Medical Dictionary is: respect; assurance that a
person receives the health or social care in a way that makes him/her feel respected and helps
him/her develop or maintain self-esteem (Segens Medical Dictionary, 2012). The principle of
dignity that is expressed to a patient under my care; as well as to a stranger that I may meet on
the street; is a core belief that I would want to have expressed to me in return. I have found that
in building a therapeutic relationship with my patients, the action of extending dignity and
respect enables my patients to feel in control, valued, and confident to make health decisions at a
time when they are most vulnerable. When dignity is lacking, patients feel devalued, lacking
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control and comfort. A patients confidence and decision-making ability will wane, displaying
feelings of embarrassment, humiliation, and shame. Dignity, and equal worth as human beings
applies to all. Patients will respond to care knowing that they have worth and value when the
principle of dignity is extended to them.
Several years ago I found myself working with ventilator dependent patients within a
specialized care unit. I cared for a woman, who due to a stroke was comatose and ventilator
dependent. Her prognosis was grave, and her immediate family continued to struggle with how
this could happen to a woman in her forties. Family members would visit regularly with the
hopes that their mom would wake up. On a particular day, one of the daughters commented on
how terrible her mothers general appearance was. Stating that her mom always had her hair
done, and there was never a gray hair visible. As a nurse, I took it upon myself (with the
permission of my supervisor and my patients family) to wash, color, and set her hair (using care
not to interfere with the tracheostomy or the ventilator). When the family arrived later on that
evening, they became very emotional, thanking me for giving their mom back her dignity.
Veracity as defined by Segens Medical Dictionary is: a legal principle that states that a
health professional should be honest and give full disclosure to the patient, abstain from
misrepresentation or deceit, and report known lapses of the standards of care to the proper
agencies (Segens Medical Dictionary, 2012). As a professional, I have utilized the principle of
veracity wherever I have worked. This principle is put to a daily test during patient care,
treatments, and especially when there is a difficult prognosis for the patient to bear.
Early in my career, I encountered my first experience with the principle of veracity. I
cared for an elderly woman during my employment in a skilled nursing facility. Faced with renal
failure and ongoing dialysis treatment, my patient was in a very fragile physical state. Upon her
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return from a dialysis treatment, I found her sitting on the side of her bed in tears. We sat for a
period of time, I offered myself without saying anything, which comforted my patient. Her
physician came into the room whereupon he and my patient discussed different options, as she
no longer wished to continue her present treatment plan. When we were alone again she asked
me if she would die without treatment. Upon repeating what she had been told by her physician,
my patient hugged and thanked me for explaining the truth simply regarding her situation. Two
weeks later, my patient passed with her family by her side.
Conclusion and Reflection
A philosophy of nursing is a collection of education, culture, and personal experiences
that have shaped just who I am as a professional nurse thus far. Additionally, theorists have laid
the core values that professional nurses can reflect upon and carry through to their care of
patients. As I continue in my practice as a professional nurse, I will maintain my values, beliefs,
and principles thereby delivering the best care that I can provide to my patients. Periodically, I
will reexamine and possibly reformulate the values that I have if the need arises. As I continue
on my journey towards my Bachelor of Science degree in nursing (BSN), an expanded
knowledge base will not only benefit me, but serve to benefit those who I will continue to
nurture.






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References

Blais, K. & Hayes, J. (2011). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives
(6
th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson education Inc. pgs. 100-101.
Henderson, V. (2006). The concept of nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(1), 21-
31. doi: 10.1111/j. 1365-2648. 2006.03660.x
National League of Nursing. (2013). About the National League of Nursing. Retrieved
from: http://www.nln.org/aboutnln/index.htm
Segens Medical Dictionary. (2011). Retrieved from: http://medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/dignity/veracity



I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form
of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a
member of the academic community it is responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of the
Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned.

Name: ___Loretta Brogan_____________________
Signature:


Date: 10/24/2014