Stipulations and Expectations of the Nursing Professio

Although many stipulations and expectations of the nursing profession are predetermined through regulatory authorities and organizations, there is a deeper meaning to this profession and the care that it provides. For decades, nursing theorists have had an impact on the care that this profession delivers; however, it is also important for every practicing nurse to explore themselves and their personal thoughts and feelings on the profession they have chosen. As a nurse, I have been able to search myself and determine what nursing means to me and apply it in my daily interactions with my coworkers, patients, families, and the community in which I serve. The nursing metaparadigm serves as a framework on discovering and exploring these thoughts and values as it introduces four concepts: nursing, health, person, and environment. Nursing care is a delicate and integral balance of various components within these concepts. Nurses provide care to others during some of the most difficult times of life. Because of this, it is imperative to understand the meaning and application of these concepts and be able to apply that knowledge to the care we provide as a profession. As a nurse, it is important to realize that the care we provide is an extension of what we learn from textbooks; nursing care encompasses an understanding and acceptance of others as well as a continual willingness to help and improve society.

Nursing

Nursing encompasses the compassionate, holistic, and virtuous care that nurses deliver to patients, families, and communities in order to assist with achieving optimal health and wellness or attaining comfort and acceptance. Compassionate care encompasses the empathy and drive to help others that the nursing profession pos...

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...r over 12 years now, I have only been a nurse for 15 months. Within my short nursing career, I have been able to realize and define personal concepts and thoughts on the nursing profession and the care it provides. However, I also recognize that my personal philosophies may slightly change dependent on professional and personal experiences that I encounter throughout my lifetime. The nursing care that I continually strive to provide encompasses compassion, honesty, and empathy. I feel that it is important to remember that people are people, not just diseases and illnesses and should be treated as such. The idea of person encompasses not only self, but also individuals, families, and communities; the person is the true focus of the nursing profession for me. The main goal of nursing care is to assist others in achieving optimal health or comfort and acceptance.