Running head: PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING
Personal Philosophy of Nursing
Pamela Johnston
UIN #00977622
Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in this course
Nurs 401- Career Pathway Assessment
OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Fall, 2013
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Personal Philosophy of Nursing
In order to be able to form and articulate a personal nursing philosophy requires one to
know what nursing means to them while analyzing and inventorying their own values and
beliefs. Through this self-awareness one is able to reflect on the guidelines that steer their
practice, thus ultimately defining what a nurse is to them. It is this definition that lays the
framework for the codes that will govern ones practice as health care providers. Another
important element that cannot be let out of this process is the how the Code of Ethics for
Nursing plays a role in guiding the standard of care in nursing practice. After 18 years of
nursing practice, my values and beliefs have been established but are not set in stone, as they
are often times challenged by experiences met within the hospital. The cycle of experience,
inner reflection and growth is never ending in the role of the nurse and is imperative for
maturity and growth within the person.
The definition of nursing has evolved over a long period of time from Rufida in the sixth
century establishing a school to teach how to treat the sick, to most recently Loretta Ford
establishing a nurse practitioner program to help the misfortunate in rural America. It was the
predecessors that forged a path by laying the foundation for which nurses have grown into a
noble profession. They accomplished this through men entering into a female dominate role,
to the nurses that set their safety aside to take risks in caring for the contagious and ill, and
lastly to those that took social norms and changed them by addressing uneasy issues in relation
to the underprivileged patient, thus steering nursing down a altruistic road (Blais & Hayes, p.
38-39). Over time the definition of what a nurse is has varied, but the one component that has
been constant is the element of care that is administered to the sick. This is the main reason I
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entered nursing, for my love of helping others. Nursing is most rewarding to me because of the
different facets of care I can provide, whether that is accomplished through physical care of
administering medicines and treatments or emotional through listening and touch. The
American Academy of Nursing (ANA) on their website www.nursingworld.org defines nursing
as, “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, 2013).
The definition by the ANA goes hand in hand with the purpose of nursing. I divide the
purpose of nursing into three areas prevention, treatment and support. Nurses play a critical
role in the prevention and spread of disease through education to their patients and the public
promoting health. Upon admission to the hospital, I have a captive audience to teach to
throughout my patient’s hospitalization up until their discharge. My unit provides a teaching
packet that is loaded with information related to prevention of injury and disease in respect to
the care of the patient. The forms range from immunization schedules, care seat safety,
storage of medication, to my favorite hand washing. The nurse plays a significant part in the
multi disciplinary team that affects the direct outcome of the patient through their skilled and
competent care that they provide during a patients hospitalization. It is through the direct
contact at the bedside that a nurse is able to provide the treatment necessary to help heal or
comfort their patients. This is where I spend a great deal of my time, administering
medications or providing treatments ordered by the doctor. If healing is no longer possible, the
nurse’s role slightly changes to now providing palliative care to their patient. I find this role
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challenging and rewarding to be able to provide the best possible care in keeping my patients
comfortable while allowing them to die with dignity and in peace. It has taken many years to
become more comfortable in this final role due to having to face the fact that we are human
and cannot heal everyone that comes into our care.
It is key to be able to identify ones beliefs and values systems both personal and
professional in order to be aware of what guides their practice of care. I believe integrity is a
core value in the public’s view of the nurse. This high moral standard our profession is
entrusted with, can be potentially tarnished or worse destroyed with actions that do not follow
good work ethics. I believe it is through the value I place in honesty, accountability, and
reliability that enables me to build upon in forming therapeutic nurse-patient relationships and
simply being the best nurse I can be for those entrusted in my care. Trust is another important
value that can be destroyed without integrity and I feel should be taken seriously. This
standard can be fostered through honesty, maintaining confidentiality and education. I believe
it is through trust that the nurse is able to care for their patients holistically. I want my patients
to be able to trust that I know what I am doing while they are in my care along with knowing
that I will not share information shared with others outside of the medical team. The title of
nurse does not stay within the confines of the hospital; therefore, living a life with integrity is a
public display of the worth of the nurse even though ones actions and behavior may be on their
personal time. I believe continuing education and staying current is one’s practice is essential
in delivering the best care possible as one takes accountability for their own professional
development thus potentially improving the outcome for their patients. A nurse that
embraces their thirst for more knowledge, not only invests in themselves but in those they care
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for as well. There is extreme value in treating the whole patient, not just their disease. In
meeting all of their holistic needs, one may find comfort and solace faster and without fear or
judgment. Ultimately, I find value in my belief that we all answer to a high being and I believe
He guides my hands and is with me as I care for the sick. It is through this that I believe that I
am fulfilled as a nurse while I carry out His work.
A code of ethics is necessary to set standards of care within this profession which could
be different than one’s personal belief and value system. Understanding and being cognizant of
ones values and beliefs is imperative in nursing due to the unique situations we encounter
within our daily tasks (Blais & Hayes, p. 49-59). The ANA does a wonderful job of listing the
Nursing Code of Ethics for Nursing on their website. Two areas that stood out to me, where the
sections related to professional boundaries and integrity within this long document. In caring
for children it is easy to cross boundaries due to the close physical contact we have with our
patients. At times we hold, swaddle, rock, feed, sing to, read books and tuck into bed, thus
making it all the more important to define boundaries to help the nurse not risk threatening the
sanctity of the therapeutic relationship. This is key to the patient’s well being along with the
survival of the nurse in not partaking in behaviors that could potentially risk their license and
risk burn out. This is not an easy boundary to keep because there are a lot of gray lines, but
through being cognizant and mindful of ones actions, it is not only possible it is essential. The
Code of Ethics recommends seeking help from superiors if the boundaries are being
jeopardized (Code of Ethics p.6). Provision 5 in the Code of Ethics speaks to the integrity of the
nurse by seeking out their own educational needs in order to remain competent and
knowledgeable in their field of work (Code of Ethic p 9-10). With nursing changing through our
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new evidence based care, it is of most importance to say current within your field of work.
After many years of my employer suggesting a group of us become certified in our field of work
(Pediatric Hematology/Oncology), I took the exam and passed. The feeling of accomplishment
was almost as exhilarating as passing the NCLEX exam. It is with great pride that I am able to
add initials behind my RN, to which I get to explain frequently to those patients or parents that
inquire as to what CPHON stands for on my badge. This knowledge I am able to pull from daily
as I teach my patients or new nurses. When there is the situation of I am unfamiliar with, The
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters (CHKD), has done a phenomenal job of writing
detailed policies and procedures that are available to all staff on the Internet. This increases
the integrity of the care provided, due to it being the most current practices in our hospital.
The greatest challenge that I have encountered in my nursing practice is in relation to
ethical issues such as a family not telling their child that they have cancer or more devastating
to me was the family that refused to tell their child that he was going to die within that
hospitalization. These situations go against my internal code of beliefs and values regarding
honesty, integrity, and trusts for the need and want to prepare the child or parents on what to
expect through this process is pressing. I am proud to report though, my team at CHKD does an
amazing job of helping to navigate the parents through this difficult experience to enable them
to come to grips with the inevitable and share with their child the news that ultimately must be
shared.
In closing, after 18 years of experience although I had not ever been consciously aware
of my nursing philosophy, I had formed one. Over the years, I have questioned others motives
of becoming a nurse because their value, beliefs and work ethic did not uphold my definition of
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what a nurse is to me. I am proud to report that these nurses I questioned their career choice
did not work on my unit. What is most interesting to me though, as I reflected was the
realization that my philosophy changed from the time I was new graduate to now, an expert in
my field of practice. While my core values and beliefs of integrity, honesty, reliability,
accountability, trustworthiness and caring have not changed, my view on education has been
revised. I have been stagnant in my formal education for many years and refused to see the
worth of a Bachelors Degree in Science (BSN) over my Diploma of Nursing, but through this
nationwide push for all nurses to have their BSN, my eyes have been opened to an entire other
world. For advancement in my career, a degree is required, thus I must surge forward in this
decision to earn my BSN. The challenge of writing papers is excruciating to me as I loathe being
a novice, but when this experience is a memory, I will be the expert helping the novice nurses
coming behind me in this journey.
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING
Works Cited
American Nurses Association. (n.d.). American Nurses Association. Retrieved November 13,
2013, from http://www.nursingworld.org/
Blais, K., & Hayes, J. S. (2011). Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives.
Boston: Pearson.
Code of Ethics for Nurses. (2010, November 15). Code of Ethics for Nurses. Retrieved
November 13, 2013, from http://www.nursingworld.org/codeofethics
Online search
http://www.nursingworld.org
http://www.nursingworld.org/codeofethics
http://www.nursingworld.org/Mobile/Code-of-Ethics
http://www.nursingworld.org/EspeciallyForYou/What-is-Nursing
http://www.aacn.nche.edu/publications/white-papers/hallmarks-practice-environment
https://www.ncsbn.org/ProfessionalBoundaries_Complete.pdf
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Honor Code:
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 my responsibility to turn in all suspected violations of the
Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned
Signature: Pamela A Johnston RN CPHON