Nursing Values Essay

“Values form and develop in interaction with close others, while the surrounding environment contributes to variability across cultures and changes across time.” (Brosch, T., Sander, D., Clément, F., Deonna, J. A., Fehr, E., & Vuilleumier, 2016) Values can remain consistent in one’s current professional life. But, if they do it might mean you are not evolving as a nurse. Because as one ages, one often matures as well, therefore, your values mature with you. For instance, when this writer originally went into nursing the values she holds now were not the values she held then. As a twenty-year-old young woman, money was a major motivating factor for this writer. As her career has progressed and she has worked with many patients, it has

When you have family members, cry on your shoulder because they are losing their loved one, it is hard not to realize that your job as a nurse has meaning. Another thing a nurse should be aware of is that there will be times where your personal values and professional life conflict. When this happens, it is important to assess the situation and always try to do what is best for your patient, not what you deem right because of your personal values. Because, as a nurse you should always be committed to what is going to provide the best outcome for the patient. The values and beliefs that collectively formulate a personal philosophy of nursing is, in this writer’s opinion, one that is wrapped in what it means to be an effective and accomplished nurse. Yet, accomplished does not mean the same thing to everyone. This writer feels accomplished means having your patients better off after you have crossed their path. Being the person that could help them by providing an ear to listen, excellent care or even a shoulder

“Health care providers must realize that addressing cultural diversity goes beyond knowing the values, beliefs, practices and customs of African Americans, Asians, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans/Alaskan Natives, and Pacific Islanders.” (Campinha-Bacote, J. 2012). It involves taking that knowledge one step further and integrating you values in the treatment of the patient. Ultimately, the goal is to make sure you patients feels heard and respected. Otherwise, ethnocentrism can affect your nursing practice. Ethnocentrism is defined as evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture by Webster dictionary. A perfect example is assuming you cannot look at a patient with Asian descent in their eyes because they view this as rude. You have assumed prior to interacting with the patient only by their appearance. Then you learn that the patient was born here and this is not a part of their culture. As a nurse working in a what is considered a big city, this writer is exposed to people from all walks of life, cultures, and ethnicity. But, even with the exposure to so many different people sometimes it can be difficult to remove pre-conceived notions. Fortunately, this has never been a factor or issue in my professional career. This writer is able to view individuals as just that, individuals. Each person is unique, therefore, when this writer approaches a patient I