Philosophy of Nursing Paper

NURS 431- Transition to Professional Nursing Practice

Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to address the students attainment of all eight behaviors and/or
competencies that are specific outcomes of the program in relation to the Philosophy of Nursing
paper including: critical thinking, nursing practice, communication, teaching, research,
leadership, professionalism, and culture. The purpose of the Philosophy of Nursing assignment
was to enable the student to rediscover his or her personal philosophy of nursing as it exists upon
the completion of the baccalaureate nursing program.

Student Approach to Assignment

This paper summarizes the progression that I have made from my sophomore to senior year.
Specific examples provide insight into exactly how I grew in the eight core curriculum
objectives. I am able to highlight my personal progress as I move towards becoming a registered
nurse. This paper is an excellent reflection of my experiences in nursing school. The approach to
the Philosophy of Nursing assignment was to prepare a statement reflecting my own personal
philosophy of nursing.

Reason for Inclusion of the Assignment in the Portfolio

This assignment is included in the portfolio because it showcases my progress in the eight core
curriculum behaviors of: critical thinking, nursing practice, communication, teaching, research,
leadership, professionalism, and culture. It is a required component in my portfolio that
highlights how I fulfilled a number of the end program outcomes.

Critical Thinking
Uses decision-making skills in making clinical or professional judgments.
Example: page 5 paragraph 1 (Senior year):
Through nonmaleficence, nursing care decisions such as pain control can be
established. I have seen this demonstrated while enrolled in the nursing education
program through the re-evaluation of the wishes of a woman with stage 4
metastatic liver cancer. Her health status had changed and her abdominal pressure
was causing her pain control to become inadequate. New evaluations of her pain
and assessment data utilized this guiding principle.

Nursing Practice
Performs therapeutic interventions that incorporate principles of quality management
and proper safety techniques based upon assessment findings.
Example: page 4 paragraph 2 (Senior year)
 Nurses are able to act on these issues through patient advocating,
interdisciplinary collaboration, being empathetic with patients, and staying
informed on patient care techniques and individual patient status

Implements traditional nursing care practices as appropriate to provide holistic health

care to diverse populations across the lifespan.
Example: page 4 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
The underlying set of beliefs and values that I hold about the relationship
between the nurse and the patient in a culturally diverse sense are that the
professional nurse must take environment into account in the care of any client.
Individuals are molded by their environment and therefore family members,
living situations, and culture are factors in care.

Communication
Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship.
Example: page 2 paragraph 3 (Senior year)
Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Environment, and Cultural Competence
alongside the Holistic Caring Process is the basis of my person nursing definition.
Assessment of the patient is a strong provision in holistic care, as the
identification of interrelating factors and communicating dimensions of health all
interact with each other in the span of one patient.

Teaching
Uses information technologies and other appropriate methods to communicate health
promotion, risk reduction, and disease prevention across the lifespan.
Example: page 4 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Through the dissipation of information and formation of public classes,
healthcare can be brought to clients who would not otherwise gain specific
knowledge on topics from vaccinations to depression management.

Evaluates the efficacy of health promotion and education modalities for using a variety
of settings with diverse populations.
Example: page 4 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Individuals are molded by their environment and therefore family members,
living situations, and culture are factors in care. The underlying set of beliefs and
values that I hold about the relationship between the professional nurse and the
community are that community health is a vital preventative health initiative.

Research
 Applies research-based knowledge from nursing as the basis for culturally sensitive
practice.
Example: page 4 paragraph 2 (Senior year)
Nursing is cemented in theory and evidence based practice, grounded by ethical
principles. Ethical principles are met by the healthcare team with every patient,
and utilization of moral principles are routine. Nurses are able to act on these
issues through patient advocating, interdisciplinary collaboration, being
empathetic with patients, and staying informed on patient care techniques and
individual patient status

Leadership
Assumes a leadership role within ones scope of practice as a designer, manager, and
coordinator of health care to meet the special needs of vulnerable populations in a
variety of practice settings.
Example: page 4 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Through the dissipation of information and formation of public classes,
healthcare can be brought to clients who would not otherwise gain specific
knowledge on topics from vaccinations to depression management. Patient health
is dependent on environment, and nursing practice can influence that through the
milieu.

Professionalism
Demonstrates accountability for ones own professional practice.
Example: page 5 paragraph 2 (Senior year)
The purpose of nursing is to provide close observation and compassionate
guidance in healthcare in order to heal fragments of a patients health ranging
from physical trauma to psychological trauma. My personal philosophy will drive
my career as I graduate and enter the healthcare community as a RN in the sense
of viewing the patient as a whole. Holistic nursing also is a commitment to
furthering myself as a nurse by surrounding my professionalism with journal
article reviews, medication studies, advanced practice information, simulations,
and furthering education. I will pledge to engage the patient community as
completely as possible to better serve as a source of healing.

Advocates for professional standards of practice using organizational and political

processes.
Example: page 4 paragraph 2 (Senior year)
ANA Standards of Professional Practice incorporated in my personal philosophy
include sections from the Standards of Holistic Nursing Practice that guide
nursing care which enhances healing of the whole person across a lifespan. It is
 not described as a client type or disease grouping and is therefore practiced in all
forms of care. Holistic Communication, Therapeutic Environment, and Cultural
Competence alongside the Holistic Caring Process is the basis of my personal
nursing definition

Culture
Considers the impact of research outcomes and, the effects of health and social policies,
on persons from diverse backgrounds.
Example: page 4 paragraph 1 (Senior year)
Through the dissipation of information and formation of public classes,
healthcare can be brought to clients who would not otherwise gain specific
knowledge on topics from vaccinations to depression management. Patient health
is dependent on environment, and nursing practice can influence that through the
milieu.