Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

My Philosophy of Nursing
Diana Pulido
School of Nursing

Philosophy of Nursing

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

NURS 401 Career Pathway Assessment

Purpose of Assignment
The purpose of this assignment is to enable the student to discover his or her personal
philosophy of nursing, as it exists at the beginning of the academic journey toward the BSN.
Approach to Assignment
I approached this assignment by analyzing the interaction of the family members with the
patient, the decision-making process of care chosen by the patient, the participation of the patient
in his/her overall care, the analysis of the therapeutic communication performed to my patients,
analyzing the factors that prevent the patient from reaching achievable health goals, by actively
listen for the development of a strong rapport, and the provision of empathy.
Reason for Inclusion
This assignment provides my overall philosophy in nursing care, it presents strategies currently
been used for the provision of optimal quality care. Certain examples are provided as a measure
to explain how to avoid becoming bias during the patient's decision-making process, and how to
approach family members during those difficult times. This also educates the reader in how to
differentiate between sympathy and empathy, it emphasizes the importance of becoming
empathetic in every situation as empathy is the foundation of a trustworthy relationship.
Critical Thinking

Uses nursing and other appropriate theories and models to guide professional practice
To guide my professional practice as I stated in this paper I look into the policy and
procedures, I ask for opinions from my colleagues or depending on the situation, contact
the supervisor for guidance, I contact the area of expertise (ex if is regarding a medication
I call the pharmacy, if is about diabetes management I call the educator, for wound care I
call the wound nurse, or consult RT for any changes in breathing) I do not like to take
chances and believe I know it all! I also do research (org, ed, gov) before and after the
procedure. I always question new medications that do not make sense to provide them, I
look them up first, and I also read the doctors notes for the explanation.

Communication

Uses therapeutic communication within the nurse-patient relationship

I use this therapy for the development and maintenance of trust during my shift, I educate
my patient every round to avoid misunderstandings.

Teaching

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

Provides relevant and sensitive health education information and counseling to patients,
and families, in a variety of situations and settings
I provide relevant and sensitive education via empathy, therapeutic communication, and
active listening, with dysfunctional family members, "I often ask then if I could talk to
them outside for a few minutes, without asking any questions, I give them a hug and say
I know this is a difficult moment for you to see this, but have you thought about how
your mother feels with this terminal illness?.

Culture

Demonstrates sensitivity to personal and cultural definitions of health, and how these
beliefs influence an individuals reactions to the illness experience and end of life
I demonstrate sensitivity by educating patients to the best of my abilities using evidence
base research and I evaluate understanding by asking the patient to summarize in their
own words about the benefits and the risk of refusing care.

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

My Philosophy of Nursing

But what does Nursing really mean? According to Benedictine University Is it still a
profession that is both an art and science, collaborative with all other health care professions,
autonomous yet defined by scope of practice, grounded in science where statistics provide the
basis for logic and support arguments, not limited by gender, spiritual beliefs, or values
(www.online.ben.edu, 2013). Before I started in the Nursing Field, I used to think this career
was only about performing skills and provide information, but now that I am a nurse, I learned it
is more than that; the exposure of all different types of life situations has taught me so far how to
be realistic in life and reminded me of my own mortality. I began to feel different about life, this
career has to help me mature, I became less attach to things or people, I learned how to love and
care for myself which is something I never did, I often wanted my significant other to fulfill that
area, in other terms, I am more aware of myself, my wants, my goals and my future death.
I grew up in a poor humble family where the only way to feel content and accomplished
was by eating and spending time together, I was thought to love others as Jesus does by treating
other the way He would do. Learning a little bit from all religions and often found myself
disagreeing with certain expectations, I learned how to respect rules as I knew I was part of
society. I was a very passive person who used to apologize all the time just to keep things smooth
within my environment; I would do my best to achieve everyone elses expectations while
ignoring mine. This vision made me forget about whom I was and my life purpose. While living
with my parents, the subject of death was never brought up, the future was something of no
concern as we use to live one day at the time, and I certainly felt like this all my years until I
became a Nurse.

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

Nursing is not only to provide medications, to me it means to respect, advocate and

provide dignity to those who are receiving the care, as stated by ST. Mary's website regarding
patient care "to respect, dignity, privacy, and confidentiality in a caring and healing environment.
The patient deserves to be fully informed, educated and involved in all health care decisions and
is an empowered member of a support system" (www.stmarys.org/philosophy-of-nursing). I
understand now that each of us sees life differently and base on our own believes we base our
path, with that, said, each of us must be accountable for every decision we make. One of the
ways to provide good quality nursing care is by educating ourselves about what the situation is,
perhaps do a research and go on with the ultimate decision. The medical field is a highly bias,
gray area where health management is mostly guided by the care provider perspective of the
patients complaints, an area where there is no 100% accuracy for the illness, which it makes us
to only perform care based on evidence to stay on the "safe side". I have learned some of my
caregivers ways when it comes to caring for others: I often see those who do not want to accept
death, refuse to provide palliative care (as they think is the same as hospice care) to those
patients who have to reach the end stage of a chronic illness, and put these patients through many
invasive procedures and test (especially those who do not have families and perhaps are
homeless), it is hard for them to accept it. I also believe that nursing also must remind the patient
of developing a spiritual connection to achieve internal peace. I believe that when someone is
diagnosed with a non-curable illness, their religious practice should be the priority because it
decreases patient anxiety towards the "unknown" and it prepares the family for their upcoming
loss. On the other hand, I also see those caregivers who believe the hospitals are facilitators
towards patient death (end stage illnesses), and the main goal is to provide comfort instead of
placing patients through physical pain that will provide the same end.

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

The practice I provide is based on how can I make things fair for both parties? For
instance, I see my terminal cancer patient refusing the medications or interventions I want to
perform, I educate the reason why I think is important and beneficial to their life and how risky
is to refuse it, and even if they still refuse, I do not reinforce, I respect their decision, then the
next of kin comes and tells me give that medication she is going to take it, open your mouth,
mom,!" and they try to force it to the patient, I often ask then if I could talk to them outside for a
few minutes, without asking any questions, I give them a hug and say I know this is a difficult
moment for you to see this, but have you thought about how your mother feels with this terminal
illness? then I ask the provider for palliative care consult in order to assist family to see reality
of the situation As patients near the end of their lives, nurses provide dignity in death by
advocating for sufficient pain medication and the opportunity to die at home to allow them to
spend meaningful time with family members in their final days (www.truthaboutnursing.org).
Before nursing, I used to think like the family members about doing everything it takes to keep
them alive, but I came to realize that that is a selfish way to do. We do not know how that patient
feels within him/herself regarding overall health and will never know until we are those patients.
I feel uncomfortable when my patients refuse treatment, but what helps me ease that feeling is
when the patient summarizes in their own words about the benefits and the risk of refusing care.
In order to feel fulfill in my role as a nurse, I like to build trust with my patient and the
family member, I manage pain even when they do not look in distress, I do not ignore new
complaint or symptoms, I become a little "sarcastically funny" when I see family members
bringing unhealthy meals to the patient at first but then I educate them why is best to stick with
the facility meals. I make myself responsible when I provide blood pressure medication and I
provide it based on the last blood pressure (only happens when rush times during the day, and

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

all VS machines are been used), I try my best to avoid taking verbal or telephone orders from the
physicians but because I also understand they are probably busy on other floors and perhaps is an
emergency, I take the order and I often found myself triple checking them by asking other
experienced coworkers or the pharmacy for accuracy, because of the area I work, I am realistic of
prognosis and I know palliative care is a great help to put the picture together for the family, I
also like to consult the Chaplin for those who practice a religion as I know this is a great help for
the patient to feel balanced. I am constantly learning how to manage my day every time I work, I
sometimes feel I am not providing the appropriate care I should give, I often blame the
institution for not giving us the right staff for that day which it gets me into a rush, but then my
self-dignity reminds me that there is always time to meet basic care needs, or extra needs the
patient request, but because I want to try to stay on time with my charting, I often forget to do
them. In order for me to support my decision I make at work, I look into the policy and
procedures, I ask for opinions from my colleagues or depending on the situation, contact the
supervisor for guidance, I contact the area of expertise (ex if is regarding a medication I call the
pharmacy, if is about diabetes management I call the educator, for wound care I call the wound
nurse, or consult RT for any changes in breathing) I do not like to take chances and believe I
know it all! I also do research (org, ed, gov) before and after the procedure. I always question
new medications that do not make sense to provide them, I look them up first, and I also read the
doctors notes for explanation.
Overall, I view nursing as holistic care, respecting each persons decision is essential as I
have seen no empathy from no one (to include family members) at the end of life, I often blame
this due to the lack of education and also the selfishness of family members not wanting to go
through the pain of losing someone, as they prefer to see the patient sick and miserable in a bed

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

instead of taking them to patient's favorite movie or place and help him/her forget the death
process. I have learned that in Nursing is not expected to "know it all" because this career is a
learning path where critical thinking and education is the guide, which explains why is necessary
to stay up to date with the evidence base.

Reflection
This paper took a lot of self-analysis. I found out that regardless of my culture and
background, my philosophy is to respect peoples decision whether is refusing to eat or to
proceed with medical treatment.

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

Honor Code:
This statement will be included on all work handed in for credit and signed. The Honor Pledge
states:

"I pledge to support the Honor System of Old Dominion University. I will refrain from any form
of academic dishonesty or deception, such as cheating or plagiarism. I am aware that as a
member of the academic community it is the responsibility to turn in all suspected violators of
the Honor Code. I will report to a hearing if summoned."

Name: ________Diana Pulido________________________

Signature: ______DianaCPulido______________________
Date: _________03/18/2015_________________________

Additional information regarding the ODU Honor Council, Honor Code, Monarch Creed,
definitions of cheating, and disciplinary procedures may be found at this website:
http://orgs.odu.edu//hc/.

Running Head: PHILOSOPHY OF NURSING

References

"Florence Nightingales Philosophy of Nursing: Have we met the Mark?." Benedictine

University. N.p., 1 May 2013. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://online.ben.edu/blog/health/florence-nightingales-philosophy-of-nursing-have-wemet-the-mark>.
"Philosophy of Nursing." ST. MARY'S. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.stmarys.org/philosophy-of-nursing
"What is Nursing?." The Truth About Nursing. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.truthaboutnursing.org/faq/nursing_definition.html>.

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