Nursing Philosophy

Faye Glenn Abdellah’s 21 Nursing Problem Theory switched the focus of caring for patients with the disease to patient care by viewing health through a physiological, emotional, and social lens (Dizdar & Kayhan, 2024). The idea that caring for the patient goes beyond treating their physical condition ensures that all aspects of health are respected. Additionally, Jean Watson’s theory of Human Caring focuses on the relationship between the caregiver and the recipient and reinforces the importance of humanizing the patient. Implementing nurturing factors in patient care improves patient experience through effective communication and trust (Watson, 2009). Integrating my values and beliefs about the responsibility given to another when allowed to provide support and adopting principles from Faye Glenn Abdellah and Jean Watson’s theories will help facilitate how I practice as a nurse.   

My nursing philosophy is that nursing goes beyond establishing a healthcare career. It is a privilege to be accepted by someone in a vulnerable position and to be trusted to utilize acquired skills to support and heal. I vow to enter each patient's room remembering the honour it is to be in a position to help those who cannot help themselves.   

  

                                                                        Human Beings  

Human beings are sensitive creatures from their instinctual paternal attachment after birth to the desire to develop strong social bonds in later life. I believe that people seek out nurture in various situations, but specifically those that elicit stress. A hospital experience is stressful regardless of the severity. Nurses' large volume of patient interaction can cause a lack of empathy towards those with less severe conditions. Remembering that every patient, regardless of the admission reason, a small laceration or life-altering trauma, carries fear and deserves attentive care.  

I believe my value of empathetic care, regardless of severity, is deserved when given the responsibility to care for patients. The way I aim to care for patients will not only improve patient satisfaction but also foster an environment for healing. Ensuring patients feel cared for creates trust and allows nurses to have a deeper understanding of their patients' health and treatment that aligns with their values to encourage adherence.  

                                                                         Environment  

A human being's environment encompasses more than their physical surroundings. A psychologically safe environment can empower an individual to feel a sense of value from others, or create isolation that can result in additional emotional distress. One-on-one patient care places nurses in a unique position to influence a patient's psychological environment by creating an inviting space where patients feel safe.   

My desire to implement nurturing patient care practices will promote an attentive psychological environment for my patients in an otherwise cold physical space. Ensuring the patient feels emotionally safe will encourage patient comfort to allow open communication to address the patient's changing needs. Patient care is not always linear, and patients who hide information due to feeling unvalued or judged can complicate care, leading to patient injury.   

                                                                              Health  

Health is a multidimensional state of well-being that goes beyond the physical condition and includes how individuals emotionally handle situations, their mental state and spiritual fulfillment (Van Druten et al., 2022). Emotional support given to patients can support their ability to process new information, create confidence in making health-related decisions, and adhere to patient education. Many patients do not have family and friends to share the emotional strain of adverse health. Patients without familiar support look towards their nurse to fill that void.  

My vow to show up emotionally for my patients through empathetic care will help heal the emotional unease that hospital admissions cause. Ensuring patients do not feel alone through active listening, kind mannerisms, and gestures will instill confidence in patients to make decisions about their health and handle potentially uncomfortable information. Patients are unique and require diverse levels of emotional care. I must approach each new patient without the assumption of what I think they need, but listen and observe before acting.   

Nursing is a multifaceted approach to healing. Advocating for patients goes beyond addressing physical needs and includes providing comfort, patient education and considering cultural beliefs and values in their treatment. It is a vulnerable position for patients to be dependent on someone they do not know and to see them in a sensitive state, and entrust their values and beliefs to be reflected in their care.   

My belief in respecting the opportunity to care for someone and my value in providing nurturing care address all aspects of their health while building trust to create a relationship where the patient feels supported and in control of their health. In my future practice, I will remember the gift patients give when they allow you to care for them. I will ensure that I care for each patient equally, continuously attempt to integrate my patients’ cultural values in evidence-based practices and empower their informed decision-making.