Few noble professions exist today. Nursing is among these vocations. Nurses are altruistic individuals who dedicate their lives to promoting the health of others. Ethical knowledge is undeniably vital in this profession due to the critical role it plays in enabling nurses to offer safe, appropriate, and ethical care. Notably, these individuals act based on the values and beliefs they hold. The former and the later influence their career goals, strategies, as well as performance. A scrutiny of the various views and values held by each nurse is critical for understanding what motivates their actions.
Section One: Nursing Values and Beliefs
Several values and beliefs guide my nursing practice. My first core value is respect for human dignity. Treating patients and their families courteously is a significant ethical value. I tend to create a good rapport with my patients since I consider their intrinsic value’s, keep clinical procedures confidential, and respect their beliefs, as well as those of their families. Indeed, the value has enabled me to connect on an emotional level with my clients, which is critical for adequate diagnosis and treatment.
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Altruism is also another core value. I believe that human beings are not only equal, but each is special in his/her own right. As an altruist, I help my patients to bath, walk, and eat, among other essential functions. I am also their confidant in times of need and also read them stories during my free time. I practice selflessness and self-devotion which is critical for the promotion of health ( Schmidt & Mcarthur, 2018 ). My final value is patient autonomy in decision making. I believe that all nurses have the right to accept or reject recommended treatments, interventions, or care, especially if they are, they are not in the patient’s best interest. I ensure that I provide my clients with comprehensive and simplified information regarding their health so that they can make the most effective decisions. I also give them a chance to make independent treatment choices by giving them the required information. Altruism, respect for human dignity, and patient autonomy are therefore my key values.
According to Duţă and Rafailă (2014), l ife-long learning is critical for the acquisition of knowledge and skills required in a particular profession. The medical profession is highly dynamic. Hence, extensive education is necessary to impart in these professionals the skills and knowledge required to handle different medical conditions and issues. Notably, one of the main impacts of life-long learning is the acquisition of cultural competency. The skill enables nurses to provide quality care since they understand the different beliefs and practices that can affect a patient’s treatment. Culturally competent nurses can deal with issues that may arise when handling different patients from various cultural backgrounds. Life-long learning is therefore beneficial for this profession.
Section Two: Theory
Florence Nightingale's environmental theory profoundly influences my nursing philosophies. The theorist contends that the environment dramatically impacts patient outcomes. The approach motivates me to become an exceptional nurse, one that prioritizes the needs of patients. It posits that effective nurses should ensure that the environment surrounding patients is hygienic since any contamination can jeopardize a patient’s health ( Medeiros, Enders, & Lira, 2015). I believe that I have met all these requirements and so much more. I spend each day in my profession trying to become the best version of myself by doing all that is required of me. The theory reminds me of my core goal which is to provide care to as many individuals as I can.
Section 3: Personal Wellness
The provision of quality healthcare is contingent on a nurse’s wellness. Personal wellness refers to an individual’s ability to maintain their health by avoiding the stress that may arise in the course of nursing practice. It further enables professionals to make sound judgments regarding the most effective health interventions for their patients. Conversely, when a person’s wellness is jeopardized, they are unable to perform as required and mistakes which can significantly undermine the quality of a patient’s life arise. Nurses are prone to behaving unprofessionally especially when they are under immense stress. Stress may result from the lack of sleep, work-related pressures, the loss of patients, and personal issues, among others.
When a person’s wellness is jeopardized, he/she may manifest unprofessional behaviours. Notably, it can result in a person’s inability to recognize that they are practising in an impaired state, the provision of detached, clinical care, a lack of commitment to the institution's cause, as well as tension during the attempt to balance personal and professional life. Moreover, it can also inhibit collaboration between medical practitioners due to the hostile nature of a person whose wellness is jeopardized, which is detrimental to the patient’s health. Personal wellness enables people to think critically before taking specific actions. In addition, it allows nurses to have a clear focus and to define the goals that they want to attain. It also fosters collaboration which is critical for making the best medical decisions. Undeniably, personal wellness results in the development of skills and traits that define a competent nurse in Florence Nightingale’s theory.
Section Four: Conflict Management
The compromising strategy is the best for conflict management. The approach enables the two conflicting sides to share their positions and establish an acceptable solution. It is best for solving conflicts that arise between two people that hold equal levels of power. I believe that each should have equal opportunities to voice their opinions. Likewise, every person should be listened to despite the positions they hold in the workplace. The compromising strategy aligns with this belief. Immediate and effective conflict resolution is the main impact of employing this tactic. In my practice, the approach helps me to maintain professional relationships with all my colleagues, since I do not exhibit any form of bias.
Section Five: QSEN Competencies
QSEN competencies guide me on how to provide quality and safe care to my patients. Nurse competent in QSEN for instance, remember to wash their hands and remind patient families to do the same when walking in and out of the patient’s room to reduce the risks of contamination or infection. Undeniably, these competencies encourage medical practitioners to maintain high standards when handling patients. Additionally, it also motivates nurses to think like visionaries and develop solutions to problems in healthcare systems. My philosophies centre on patient needs and how they can be adequately met. I ensure that patients access comprehensive information on their medical treatments so that they can make the best decisions regarding their health. In this case, the philosophy of autonomy in decision making ensures that patients make sound and safe decisions.
Section Six: Leadership Qualities
Several leadership qualities are attributed to effective nurses. As a competent nurse, I collaborate with my colleagues to perfect my skills and gain further medical knowledge. In addition, I consult other medical practitioners when faced with various medical dilemmas, so that I can make the best decisions. Aside from this, I am honest and provide my patients with genuine information about their health so that they can decide on the treatment options that they prefer. I am also a self-driven individual who performs the assigned tasks with minimal supervision ( Aydin, Sehiralti, & Akpinar, 2017). My nursing philosophy has transformed me into an exceptional leader, one who has immense respect for human dignity and patient autonomy. It has enabled me to develop favourable relationships with others in my respective organization which is vital for collaboration and health promotion.
Nurses are critical health promotion agents. They are altruistic individuals who exhibit great levels of selflessness. Each nurse has their unique nursing philosophy which guides their practice and enables them to become what they aspire to be. The performance of these individuals is highly contingent on their existing values and belief systems. Each person has several factors that motivate them to be the best versions of themselves. Nursing values and beliefs are among these crucial factors.
References
Aydin Er, R., Sehiralti, M., & Akpinar, A. (2017). Attributes of a good nurse: the opinions of nursing students. Nursing Ethics , 24 (2), 238-250.
Duţă, N., & Rafailă, E. (2014). Importance of Lifelong Learning for Professional Development of University Teachers–Needs and Practical Implications. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences , 127 , 801-806.
Medeiros, A. B. D. A., Enders, B. C., & Lira, A. L. B. D. C. (2015). Florence Nightingale’s environmental theory: A critical analysis. Escola Anna Nery , 19 (3), 518-524.
Schmidt, B. J., & Mcarthur, E. C. (2018, January). Professional nursing values: A concept analysis. In Nursing forum (Vol. 53, No. 1, pp. 69-75).
