Below is my philosophy of nursing. I welcome any criticism or discussion. And maybe you could post your own philosophy of nursing. All nurses should have one, right?
Monistic Nursing
"The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."
-- St. John 17:22-23 (NRSV)
When I think of myself as a solitary being in a world full of other solitary beings I am a victim of my own illusion. The multiplicity of individual beings is an illusion. There is only one being, and we are all it. Therefore, when I care for others, I care for myself; when I fail to care for others I hurt myself. In short: I am the other person, as much as I am me.
I call this philosophy of nursing "monistic nursing," and it centers on the idea that there's no real separation between the caregiver and the one receiving care; there's only the illusion of separation or differentiation. Nursing, in this regard, is a selfish act but with a twist: the definition of the self is extended outward to include other selves, and in so doing, the natural force of self-interest becomes the driving motivation to provide comprehensive and quality care.
In addition, monistic nursing doesn't stop at the patient; it includes everyone the nurse comes in contact with. It includes the patient's family, the nurse's coworkers, the management, and personnel from other departments. Monistic nursing considers all persons to be just one person. I am the housekeeper. I am the woman at the bedside suffering anticipatory grief. I am my coworker who's having a hard day.
So, the definition of nursing becomes an act whereby we demonstrate the belief that the word "I" is universal rather than solitary. "Nursing" and "Love" become synonymous.
I'm curious where you got the idea that Christ believed we are all one? I know we are made in the image of God but we are all unique individuals with unique strengths and weaknesses. I don't think we are all one. I don't wanna be one with some of the sick individuals who unfortunately populate our world. I don't even wanna be one with my best friend . . . I love her and we love to spend time together but it is nice to go home too. I love my husband but wouldn't want him around 24 hours a day and I adore my two year old but I am glad for a chance to get out of the house and jog or workout when my husband comes home.
My nursing philosophy . . . . I'm my patient's advocate. I do my very best to give my patient the best care. That's it.
steph [/b]
In the beginning of my philosophy I quote Christ's prayer. It implies that he was monistic in His thinking. There are many other such verses in the gospel that imply the same thing. So, I infer that Christ was monistic. When I infer that, the Gospels make sense, when I don't, the Gospels seem ridiculous, and I don't think Christ was ridiculous.
I understand you don't want to be one with some of the sick individuals of the world, but it's not in an earthly form that we are one; obviously we are not. But in a monistic sense, everything is one (and that One, is God), therefore it is only an illusion that we are separate individuals. I often refer to God or Christ as the "Higher Self." It is in this higher self that we are united. The hardest thing to accept in monism is that even the sick individuals in society are part of the higher self, though they are more deluded than others that they are not. This is hard to accept, because we think God is perfect, more like ourselves.
You say you want to remain separate. I understand that, but you see only the lower self of your husband and friend and children, and even yourself. The higher self is God, and see's only God. That's why Christ says we have to hate our parents and children and spouses and even ourselves or we are not worthy of Him.
But I'm a hypocrite. Most of the time I go around thinking with the illusory mind of my lower self. It's so hard to let that lower self cease to exist and just be the Higher Self.
You're philosophy is fine: But why? Why do good for your patients? Where is the drive? With me it's selfishness, because I am monistic. But what about you?
Very interesting points brought up here by all. I always think of Mother Teresa's point of view which is that when she is caring for another human being, she feels that she is caring for God and should give care as though she is caring for God Himself. Meaning that we all come from the same place, we're all related, and we should always give our very best to our fellow beings.
The above happens to be one of my favorite things to live by. It has a 'do unto others' thing happening, yet doesn't have the Catholic oppression feeling to it.
Mother Teresa was arrogant. She felt she was serving God. She felt that innocently, but she was still arrogant. If one considers the nature of God, one realizes we can't "serve" Him. One realizes we have no will of our own. We are not separate, independently existing beings parallel to God. The only way that makes sense to me is that all there is is God. Love is the ultimate act of selfishness. Love of your neighbor is God loving God.
I'm not surprised that you like the Wiccan saying. It does have that "Do unto others" thing happening. I suppose the Catholic oppression feeling is the part about treating them like you treat yourself. But that's where the love is. You can't really love others and hold on to yourself. Love for others forces you to reduce yourself. Love, I suppose, is a little suicidal, in that respect. The Wiccan saying: "Do as you will, but harm none" requires no love at all.
But love and the death of the self is freedom. It is the Kingdom. It is home. And it took me until age 37 to realize it. What a gift that I can be a nurse and practice love for others and still make a living. Who would have thought that such a priceless gem existed in this world. And a nursing shortage to boot!
So, Larry, if I'm a psych nurse and my patient is going through ETOH w/d and wants a shot--of rum--I should go and get that for him? Do unto others as they would have me do unto them? I found it interesting that you edited the Golden Rule; that doesn't mean I think your edition stands up under scrutiny.
As for not grasping the fundamentals of my own philosophy, since you can see that I have not grasped them, I suppose that means you have grasped them. Otherwise, you wouldn't really know if I had grasped them or not. So, by all means, teach them to me...
So, AD, if you're a psych nurse and wish to present a ridiculous example, do you really expect someone to take the time to address it?
You've given me way too much credit. I'm not responsible for the paraphrase (known as the "Platinum Rule") mentioned in my earlier post. (Wish I would've been it's originator though.)
If you're interested, do a little research. You might learn something. I don't hold myself out as a teacher.
I actually thought the same thing about Larry's take on the Golden Rule. If I live my life by doing what I think others want me to do to (for) them, I think I might just become slave.
That is sort of a weird twist on the Golden Rule but hey, if it works for Larry, so be it
Interesting point of view for a nurse. I'll leave it there.
Please see my previous post concerning the "Platinum Rule."
Oh, and BTW, it's worked great for me. Thanks! Perhaps you might wanna give it a shot.
I belong to a bioethics organization and was reading on their web page this afternoon and came across the following article that I thought might interest ADNRN . . . .it has the word monistic in it.
Seriously, it is a long and serious attempt to look at the historical evolution of thought regarding personhood.
I belong to a bioethics organization and was reading on their web page this afternoon and came across the following article that I thought might interest ADNRN . . . .it has the word monistic in it.
Seriously, it is a long and serious attempt to look at the historical evolution of thought regarding personhood.
Interesting point of view for a nurse. I'll leave it there.
Please see my previous post concerning the "Platinum Rule."
Oh, and BTW, it's worked great for me. Thanks! Perhaps you might wanna give it a shot.
----------------
So, AD, if you're a psych nurse and wish to present a ridiculous example, do you really expect someone to take the time to address it?
You've given me way too much credit. I'm not responsible for the paraphrase (known as the "Platinum Rule") mentioned in my earlier post. (Wish I would've been it's originator though.)
If you're interested, do a little research. You might learn something. I don't hold myself out as a teacher.
Yes, I expect you to take the time to address it. You brought up the platinum rule, and giving an alcoholic alcohol would fit into the dictates of that rule. If you can't defend that rule that you say has worked so well for you, then you should admit it and not belittle me. But maybe you can't help it. Maybe your pride is so deep you'd rather hurt someone else than change or admit error. I find that an interesting point of view for a nurse, and I suppose I'll leave it there, yes/no?
I belong to a bioethics organization and was reading on their web page this afternoon and came across the following article that I thought might interest ADNRN . . . .it has the word monistic in it.
Seriously, it is a long and serious attempt to look at the historical evolution of thought regarding personhood.
Hey Steph, I like that site. I added it to my favorites. I'm a rabid anti-abortionist, anti-euthanasia, human dignity and animal rights advocate. I also happen to believe in socialized medicine for America--god forbid. How we treat our fellow living creatures be they human or animal is the prognosis for our spiritual development.
Thanks for the tip. I printed the article you suggested and I'm going to read it in bed.
Specializes in Med/Surg, ER, L&D, ICU, OR, Educator.
Originally posted by ADNRN
As for not grasping the fundamentals of my own philosophy, since you can see that I have not grasped them, I suppose that means you have grasped them. Otherwise, you wouldn't really know if I had grasped them or not. So, by all means, teach them to me. I am more than willing to be your student if you understand my philosophy and I don't. [/b]
Perhaps you should be sequestered. Your strong beliefs may serve yourself more than "your" patients, I'm afraid.
It does make for interesting reading and argument though.
When I serve my patients, I am serving myself. That's the whole idea. The separation, the differentiation between me and the patient is only an illusion. The reality is that we are one and the same. That's what my philosophy is all about.
Over-involvement is one of the major causes of burnout? Perhaps that is written somewhere, but if you go over to nurseweek and read those posts (half of which seem to be written by burnouts)
Everyone's so afraid of burning out for caring too much that it's a wonder a call light ever gets answered.
Yes, over-involvement is one of the major causes of burnout -- but it's not the only cause. I never said it was the only cause. Also, there is a big difference between reading the comments of people who MAY be burned out ... or who are using a public forum to vent their frustration ... and the scientific literature, which you should be reading as well.
About the call light never being answered ... I never suggested that people should not answer a call light or should not appropriately treat a person in pain. I am simply suggesting (as have many scholars) that even though we may genuainely care about people, we psychologically need a little distance sometimes in order to refresh our inner energies.
Please don't assume that I mean that nurses should behave in uncaring ways toward their patients. That is not fair to me -- and if you care about me as much as you say you do, then you should not want to injure me in that way.
ADNRN
143 Posts
In the beginning of my philosophy I quote Christ's prayer. It implies that he was monistic in His thinking. There are many other such verses in the gospel that imply the same thing. So, I infer that Christ was monistic. When I infer that, the Gospels make sense, when I don't, the Gospels seem ridiculous, and I don't think Christ was ridiculous.
I understand you don't want to be one with some of the sick individuals of the world, but it's not in an earthly form that we are one; obviously we are not. But in a monistic sense, everything is one (and that One, is God), therefore it is only an illusion that we are separate individuals. I often refer to God or Christ as the "Higher Self." It is in this higher self that we are united. The hardest thing to accept in monism is that even the sick individuals in society are part of the higher self, though they are more deluded than others that they are not. This is hard to accept, because we think God is perfect, more like ourselves.
You say you want to remain separate. I understand that, but you see only the lower self of your husband and friend and children, and even yourself. The higher self is God, and see's only God. That's why Christ says we have to hate our parents and children and spouses and even ourselves or we are not worthy of Him.
But I'm a hypocrite. Most of the time I go around thinking with the illusory mind of my lower self. It's so hard to let that lower self cease to exist and just be the Higher Self.
You're philosophy is fine: But why? Why do good for your patients? Where is the drive? With me it's selfishness, because I am monistic. But what about you?