PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

Personal Philosophy of Nursing

As I begin this new path as a nursing student, I have been asked to consider what

a philosophy of nursing is and to explore my own personal philosophy of nursing. This is

an exciting assignment for me. With each graduate program I have been in, the first

assignment has been to write a personal philosophy or theology statement. As with any

philosophy, value, or belief, each are shaped and formed through our experiences and

what we deem is most important. I was raised in a hard-working, immigrant family. I was

taught to help those who were struggling in our community. Struggling was defined in a

broad way. Whether it was someone looking for a job, putting food on a table, helping

people get in to see a doctor, these were all needs that needed to be addressed. Problem
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solver, caregiver, emotional and spiritual comforter, these are the strengths that form my

personal philosophy of nursing.

Philosophy has been defined for us as the study of the principles underlying

conduct, thought, and the nature of the universe (Chitty & Black, 2011, p. 262). Having

a written philosophy is very important to any institution and especially in the health care

setting. To take it further as a Philosophy of Nursing, this written document informs

patients, families, doctors, and other personnel, by setting a clear expectation of the

standard that needs to be met.

A belief represents the intellectual acceptance of something as true or correct.

Beliefs can also be described as convictions. . . Beliefs are opinions that may be, in

reality, true or false. They are based on attitudes that have been acquired and verified by

experience. . . Beliefs are organized into belief systems that serve as road maps for

thinking and decision making (Chitty & Black, 2011, p. 256-257).

The book discusses several areas that nurses need to consider. For example,

abortion, advance directives, right to refuse treatment, alternative lifestyles, these are all

issues that people have opinions about and have strong convictions. As described in the

reading, most of our beliefs have been formed over time from generation to generation, or

by people who have had a strong influence on us. Luckily for me, I come from a family

of strong willed, individual thinkers. I was exposed to many view points and I was

encouraged to think for myself and form my own opinions. That being said, I have a very

different view of most of these topics than my family of origin.

The pillar of my ministry is nonjudgmental care to all. My fathers instilled a

passion for the underserved populations in our community. From a young age, I was
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making brown bag lunches and taking them to the streets around DC. We would hand out

about 20 sandwiches, ask about other needs, but we would also take the time to listen. It

was important to my father to know people, not just address an immediate need of

hunger. This directly translates into my views on nursing. I do not know the

circumstances that bring people into my ER, but they are here to receive treatment and

care. It is not my place to judge their journey. It IS my place to listen, assess, and provide

the best care possible to help start them onto a path of good health. People find

themselves in unimaginable circumstances where they are faced to make quick decisions

about abortion, organ donation, or removing life support on a loved one. Some people

have never thought about their options until the moment they are asked for their decision.

As a nurse, I want to be there to hold someones hand and support the decisions of my

patients and families.

Values are freely chosen principles, ideals, or standards held by an individual,

class, or group that given meaning and direction to life. . .Values define ideal modes of

conduct and reflect what the individual or group endorses and tries to emulate (Chitty &

Black, 2011, p. 258). When I think of values, I immediately go to the ethical values like

honesty, integrity, fidelity, but values are much deeper than the sometimes scandalous

issues. I feel like values can be broken down into two categories: personal values and

values to empower our patients. My personal values, which drive me to be a better person

and a harder worker, are compassion, concern, empathy, kindness, knowledge, and

sensitivity. The values directing me to help my patients are being respectful,

individualizing each patients care, being flexible when deciding on a patients care plan,

listening and validating patients concerns, honoring a patients privacy, giving the
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highest quality care possible regardless of the patients social standing, and when needed,

advocating for the patients rights. Allowing our values to help empower patients gives

them a sense of control when it comes to their care.

In regards to nursing, the book states the difference between beliefs and values in

this way: beliefs influence nursing practice and values influence how nurses practice their

profession (Chitty & Black, 2011). Beliefs deal with the larger process and our values

control the personal response. I appreciate that differentiation. I agree with the beliefs of

the Bon Secours Health System, because it is based on bringing compassion to healthcare

and providing good help to those in need. My personal values, expressed in the level of

care I provide my patients, help the health system carry out those beliefs.

A personal philosophy is not something that can be Googled. There is no right

or wrong philosophy, because we are all driven by different forces to fulfill our calling.

The book says, Values, like beliefs, are relatively stable and resistant to change (Chitty

& Black, 2011, p. 258). I challenge that statement by adding, unless these ideas are

challenged in a way that causes you to look at them in a new light. What I believed

before I entered seminary was wrong. And what I valued when I started my Chaplain

Residency has changed. And Im not saying that I was too naive when I started those

programs, but as I experienced new scenarios and encounter new people, I was forced to

look at situations through a lens I had never looked through before.

As I think about my personal philosophy of nursing, I am reminded that everyone

has their own philosophy and that is something that makes us unique. The experiences

that brought me to this point, and as my beliefs and values have evolved, I know I place a

strong emphasis on holistic nursing care. Holistic care deals with the entire person
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body, mind, and spirit. To address the body, we need to ensure that the mind and the spirit

are in a healthy frame. That is where my beliefs and values play a strong role. I believe in

nonjudgmental care for all people. People feel valued and they feel like a person of worth

when their caregivers take the time to show respect and listen to their concerns and

understand their illness. The belief in building a relationship with a patient is another key

element in the healing process. When a patient is being offered the values of respect and

kindness, they can move from the defensive to developing a trust with the people on their

healthcare team. Nurses are on the front line of first impressions and we have the skills to

make a patients hospitalization successful or counterproductive by the way our values

impact our actions.

The readings and this exercise has been helpful to understand the differences

between philosophies, values, and beliefs, but more importantly it forced me to think

about my core beliefs and values. Much of what I do has been inspired from the negative

experiences where I witnessed people being mistreated. Being aware that I have a passion

for the underserved, believing in respect for all, and valuing a patients right to have an

active role in their health care, gives a framework for my nursing practice. Where this

provides a guide, I will still incorporate the beliefs and values I listed to provide the best

nursing care possible. Finding the right words to describe why I want to be a nurse has

been a challenge. I was called from a young age to help people. Over the years, this

calling has taken many shapes and I have been blessed to serve others in many ways. I

see this awareness as affirmation that Im on the right track and I trust God has brought

me to this point.
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I am so excited to be in nursing school. I know my time at Bon Secours Memorial

College of Nursing will pass very quickly. I know as I meet patients, they will each touch

my soul on a variety of levels. My personal philosophy, beliefs, and values, will evolve as

I encounter new ideas and situations that are too far down the road for me to even

consider at this point. I see this as a time of growth. I pray that I am open to the mission

that is set before me and that I am never too busy that I am closed to the needs in front of

me.
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References

Chitty, K., & Black, B. (2011). Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges (6th ed.).

Maryland Heights, MO: Saunders.