Essay On Nursing Philosophy

There are a variety of definitions that organizations create to aid in a better understanding of the importance nursing holds in providing safe, patient centered health care to the community. For example, The International Council of Nurses states that “nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups, and communities sick or well, and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health; prevention of illness; and the care of ill, disabled, and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (Potter & Perry, 2016, p.3).
Although this definition is competent, I recognize, as I reflect on my nursing education, that I have unknowingly created a set of values and beliefs that aid in the creation of my own nursing definition or philosophy. It is a product of my knowledge obtained from classroom lectures, and my interactions with a diversity of patients, family members, and healthcare professionals during my CNA clinical rotations. In my opinion nursing is a service in which efficient patient centered care is provided using core principles such as safety, professionalism, communication and collaboration,

In my opinion, ethics plays an extensive role in my philosophy because it reflects an individual 's core beliefs, values, and character. A nurse has to constantly make judgments that influences a patient’s outcomes in an ethical manner. For example a nurse has to have the knowledge of ethical principles, such as autonomy and beneficence, to have the power of being a major player in the decision-making process regarding patient care (Gonzalez, 2014). Ultimately, having a good comprehension of morality, or what one should and should not do, plays a detrimental role in providing patient-centered