Nursing practice is among the most challenging and demanding professions and requires much commitment and dedication. Typically, nurses are considered the ‘heart of healthcare’ as they play significant and integral roles in the delivery of health care services. It is no doubt that most people view nurses as doctor’s assistants and people whose responsibility is to give medications as advised by the physician. For a matter of fact, nurses perform several roles, often simultaneously depending on the needs of their patients. For example, a nurse can spend time giving care or observing patients who have been hospitalized while, at the same time, making ethical decisions that would promote their health outcomes. In this case, the nurse is performing the role of decision maker and caregiver. Other roles often played by nurses include teacher, patient advocate, and manager of care. As the healthcare sector continues to advance and change, the role of the nurse continues to expand as well (Hunt, 2009). The following paper will evaluate and discuss the role of nurses as scientists, detective and as managers for the healing environment based on the philosophy of the nursing profession. It will use model elements presented in the MSN Program Conceptual Framework.
Philosophy of nursing
The philosophy of the nursing profession states the thoughts of the nurses and what they believe about the nursing practice (Brencick & Webster, 2000). Philosophy of the nursing profession also forms the basis for different nursing activities and instills ethical values that guide the beliefs of the nurse professions. It is important to note that the values and beliefs endorsed by philosophy are consistent with the values, mission, and vision of the health organization or facility within which a nurse works. The philosophy of nurses is to promote the health of their patients using evidence-based research and through working in collaboration with other healthcare professionals within the facility (Brencick & Webster, 2000).
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Role of Nurse as detective
The main role of a nurse as a detective is to find out the main reasons as to why a patient visits the hospital. In this case, the nurse should seek to find out the signs and symptoms associated with the patient’s illness and determine the necessary diagnosis or treatment options for preventing further complications. I would apply my role as a nurse detective by integrating scientific knowledge like that of genetics and genethics to know what I do not know about a certain illness presented by a patient.
I understand that playing a role of a nurse detective requires the nurse to skillfully ask questions to understand the cause, for example, of an illness. For instance, I can ask the patient and the family members about the history of a certain illness in the family to find out whether or not it’s genetic. In this case, I would apply the role of a nurse as a detective by fostering communication between me and my patients and their family members. Through effective communication, I will be in a better position to ask questions without making the patient uncomfortable and without disrespecting their values, beliefs, and preferences.
Role of Nurse as Scientist
First and for most, it is worth noting that the nursing practice requires the nurse professionals to make decisions and provide care based on research and scientific evidence about certain illnesses (Marquis, Huston, 2009). The decisions they make and the care they provide are meant to promote the health outcome of the patients. Based on my philosophy as a nurse, I would use evidence-based practice to make informed decisions concerning patient care. Using evidence-based practice involves integrating research evidence coupled with clinical expertise as well as patient values (Melnyk, 2011).Take, for instance, a health condition like obesity. For a patient who is obese, diabetic and has hypertension, I would provide care to reduce the patient’s obesity. This move is based on the research and evidence that being overweight could result in other health complications like diabetes and hypertension.
I would also play a role as a nurse scientist through the model elements of genomics and genethics. This model would help me advance my knowledge concerning the genetic basis or information of certain diseases and understand the legal and ethical issues related to genethics. This way, I would be in a better position to provide effective and quality care especially to patients with genetically-based health conditions.
Role of nurse as the manager of healing environment
According to Purves (2009), a healing environment in a hospital setting is one that is nurturing and designed to reduce the stress, pain, and anxiety of patients and their families. The healing environment is also meant to shorten hospitalizations and promote the well-being of the patients (Purves, 2009). As a nurse, I understand that my responsibility is to promote the health of my patients by providing quality care irrespective of ethnicity, financial status, disability, lifestyle choices and religious beliefs. My philosophy, therefore, is that nurse professions should provide patient-centered care that is safe and holistic.
Based on my philosophy of the nursing profession, I would apply a role as the manager of the healing environment by providing compassionate patient-centered care that respects the values, beliefs, needs as well as the preferences of my patients and their family members. Through leadership, I would identify and prioritize goals that would help achieve the desired patient outcome. As the manager of the healing environment, I would also educate the patients on diseases, treatments as well as the healthy behaviors that would help in improving their overall health. To create and encourage a healing environment, I would also collaborate with other health care professionals within the healthcare facility to promote patient care through shared decision making and communication.
References
Brencick, J. M., & Webster, G. A. (2000). Philosophy of nursing: A new vision for health care . Albany: State Univ. of New York Press.
Hunt, R. (2009). Introduction to community-based nursing . Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2009). Leadership roles and management functions in nursing: Theory and application . Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2011). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice . Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Purves, G., & Purves, G. (2009). Primary care centres: A guide to health care design . Oxford: Elsevier/Architectural Press.
