Post on 10-Jul-2020
Running head: PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 1
Personal Philosophy of Nursing
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING 2
The theory that Describes Nursing in my Way of Thinking
Defining a personal philosophy of a profession, including nursing, enables a person to
uncover their passion towards the profession, providing a mental and emotional connection with
the profession. Such a connection enables one to relate to the values, important skills and other
important traits required for the profession. Personal philosophy on nursing enables a nurse to
keep up with the demands of the nursing profession, such as long working hours and working
under high pressure.
The theory of human caring by Jean Watson describes nursing in my way of thinking. In
my way of thinking the primary role of nursing is to provide care to those who need it. Caring
forms the nursing foundation. The human caring theory focuses on care for patients and how the
aspect of caring progresses into better health plans promoting individual health and wellness,
illness prevention and restoration of health. Major concepts of the theory include society, human
being, health and nursing. Society determines the behaviour of a person as it provides values and
goals that are transmitted through the culture. Health entails the harmony and unity of the mind,
body and the soul of a human being, who is valued and should be cared for, understood nurtured,
assisted and given the required respect. Carative factors outlined by the theory form important
values are significant to my practice as a nurse. The factors include sensitivity to ones-self and
others, developing helpful relationships based on trust and driven by caring for humans, and use
of the scientific method of problem-solving systematically in decision making. Other factors
include promoting transpersonal teaching and learning and creation of a healing environment
(Gonzalo, 2020).
In my nursing practice, the greatest responsible if caring for the patient. Such a way of
thinking enables the provision of patient-centred care to my patients. It improves the quality of
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care that the patients receive. Caring for patients allows one to fully focus on enabling the patient
to recover and attain their wellbeing. It encourages the use of other strategies, such as patient
education that boosts the wellbeing of the patient. As a nurse, one is able to fulfil other roles such
as advocating for the right of the patient, respecting their dignity, confidentiality and ensuring
their safety. Such care increases patient satisfaction and improves outcomes as patients can take
an active role in their healing process.
How one can utilize the Theory to Organize Personal Thoughts for Critical Thinking and
Decision Making
Critical thinking is a necessary skill for the provision of safe and quality care necessitated
by the growing research body, patient acuity and complexity of care needed by patients. The
critical thinking skills are emphasized by the nursing education, nursing profession and the
regulatory bodies. Critical thinking is defined as a deliberate and nonlinear process of collecting
information for interpretation, analysis, and drawing of conclusions on the presentation of the
evaluation of information that is factual and belief based. Critical thinking influences decision
making as it impacts clinical judgement based on the available evidence, use of intuition, and
recognition of patterns.
Watson theory is founded on humanistic aspects, ethical directions and spiritual
dimension of care given to patients and puts characteristics of individuals into consideration, thus
contributing to holistic critical thinking. According to Watson, caring enhances regeneration of
energy and increases the potential of personal capabilities (Gonzalo, 2020). This leads to self-
actualization at a professional and a personal level. Caring invokes a sense of awareness and
intuition, which are essential in critical thinking and decision making.
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Watson’s theory can also be used to organize personal thoughts for the process of critical
thinking and decision-making as the process shares similar and other aspects related to the
nursing process provided in theory. Some of the curative factors stated, in theory, play a critical
role in critical thinking and decision making. One way one can organize personal thoughts for
critical thinking is through information. Watson theory acknowledges the use of the creative
problem-solving process in caring. It promotes creativity arising from the possession of
knowledge. Practice care, as stated by the Watson theory requires critical thinking as the nurse is
expected to develop care plans for patients based on the interpreted results after the collected
data is analyzed (Gonzalo, 2020).
Personal Definition of Nursing, person, health and environment
Nursing
Personal definition of nursing is inspired by other definitions of nursing, the role that
nurses play and personal experience in the nursing field. According to Watson, nursing involves
health promotion, illness prevention, caring for the ill and health restoration (Gonzalo, 2020).
The American Nursing Association defines nursing as protecting and promoting optimization of
abilities and health, illness prevention, alleviating sufferings through diagnosis and provision of
treatment, and acting as an advocate for the patient, families, communities and the population as
a whole (The International Council of Nurses, 2020). Other definitions include the act of
promoting health, illness prevention and caring for the mentally and physically ill, and disabled
people. Personal definition of nursing involves self- dedication to caring for the ill, those affected
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by the illness and to promote health. The definition two aspects, which are caring and health
promotion. Caring involves showing concern and looking after others; hence it encompasses
various responsibilities, including issuing medical attention, ensuring safety, advocating, and
upholding the rights of the patients. The nursing need to be a choice made by the individual to
care for the ill, their families and the population as a whole.
Person
Since Watson’s theory influences my way of thinking towards nursing, a person can be
referred to a human being, who according to Watson is a valued person and should be respected,
understood, and nurtured (Gonzalo, 2020). A person is, therefore, an individual or a human being
with certain capacities such as reasoning and morality, and hold legal rights and responsibilities.
The definition is wide enough to include persons who may have lost certain capacities and are
entitled to their legal rights. A person is, therefore entitled to treatment that upholds their dignity
at all levels.
Health
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Personal definition of health is also influenced by various definitions and the existing
critiques. The World health organization defines health as a state in which an individual has
attained physical, mental and social wellbeing and not just the absence of disease. The definition
differs from the traditional models, biopsychosocial health model and other definitions that
defines health as the absence of disease. The approach given by the WHO definition of health
has been termed as unhelpful as it classifies many people as unhealthy (Svalastog, Kristoffersen,
& Gajović, 2017). Personal definition of health is the absence of diseases and a state of physical,
mental and social wellbeing characterized by healthy relationships, positive emotions, and other
sustainable characteristics.
Environment
Watson defines environment as the society (Gonzalo, 2020). Other existing definitions
from Merriam Webster dictionary include objects, conditions or the circumstances surrounding a
person; socio-cultural conditions that influence life; factors such as physical, biotic and chemical
factors, which act upon an ecological community determining survival (Tsekos, & Petsiou,
2018). Personal definition of the environment is the entire set of factors surrounding individuals
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impacting their survival. Individuals view their environment as all factors surrounding them such
as other people, institutions, and other factors of legal, political and economic surroundings.
Nursing Beliefs and Values that Guide Personal Practice
Values and belief provide a framework for evaluating activities that influence personal
goals and functions. For nurses to fulfil their role of caring for patients, their actions must be
guided by values that enable them to act ethically, especially when confronted with ethical
dilemmas. Compassion is the value that guides my practice. Having compassion towards the
patients have proven effective in fulfilling my role as a nurse. With compassion, it becomes
easier to treat patients with dignity and grant them the privacy they require. Being compassion
has enhanced the listening skills; hence I can pick up some unspoken concerns that may be
affecting the health of the patient. Compassion to patients increases the participation of patients
in their health as they easily open up on and ask questions concerning their treatment plan.
Patients always look satisfied with the care offered and interacting with the patients in a
relationship based on respect and concern increases their willingness to corporate to the
treatment plan.
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The value of accountability also guides my practice as a nurse. With the emphasis being
on providing quality care, being accountable for every action is significant in achieving quality.
The nurse has a role in providing safe care to patients. Being accountable enhances keenness and
creates pressure for one to well updated with recent standards, new practices, and other
expectations hence chances for medical errors and other unethical acts are reduced.
Accountability has also been helpful in the utilization of resources. Accountability has increased
the sense of responsibility and trustworthiness, facilitating the delivery of effective and efficient
care. In clinical decision making, accountability is always the driving force, and it facilitates
taking all factors into consideration before making any final decision. The value has been
effective when administering medicines, recording patient information, and in providing patient
with the necessary information.
Communication Style
Communication is an essential aspect of healthcare. As a nurse, one has to establish
effective communication with the patients and with other health professionals. Communication
determines major clinical decisions and judgement made in diagnosis, treatment plans and other
areas of care delivery. Proper communication enhances teamwork, collaboration and
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coordination. It saves time and costs since unnecessary delays are prevented. After carrying out a
self-assessment, the results indicated that my communication style is style 3. I tend to focus on
people, their needs, motivation, values, expectations, being sensitivity, self-development,
corporation and feelings.
Strengths and Weaknesses Associated with the Communication Style
Before the self-assessment, I never understood why it is easier to connect with some staff
members and patients and difficult with others. Major strengths include the ability to connect
with people, especially when working as a group. The communication style is effective in
improving morale, and it increases engagement levels in various activities. It also results in
increased efficiency as people can easily connect and create a pool of resources and ideas.
Weakness includes it may cause a delay as people may concentrate too much on the people and
how they feel and fail to achieve the set objectives. Apart from being distracted, being emotional
can hinder the purpose of the communication being fulfilled. Some aspects, such as sensitivity
and empathy, may become barriers to effective communication.
Impact on the Ability to Collaborate
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The communication style enhances my ability to collaborate with as part of an
interdisciplinary team since being able to connect and build a good rapport with the team
members. I find pleasure in working in such a team, becomes motivated, and my productivity
increases in such a setting. I can learn from another professional. Being able to listen to others
and being sensitive and patient with others helps one to establish relationships that are based on
respect and mutual trust. Although the communication style boosts my ability to collaborate
with others, it may become exhaustive focusing on people depending on their communication
style and their behaviour.
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References
Gonzalo. A. (2020). Jean Watson: Theory of Human Caring.
Svalastog, A. L., Donev, D., Kristoffersen, N. J., & Gajović, S. (2017). Concepts and definitions
of health and health-related values in the knowledge landscapes of the digital society.
Croatian medical journal, 58(6), 431.
The International Council of Nurses. (2020). Nursing Definition
Tsekos, C. A., & Petsiou, T. (2018). Environment and Philosophy: The Aesthetics and the
Natural Environment.