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.
Specializes in Step down, ICU, ER, PACU, Amb. Surg.
When one says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "above all do no one harm" I think that the sessence is to treat others with the same caring, compassion, empathy and respect that you would want to be treated, not that a person should impose their beliefs, religious or otherwise on a person.
To monistic in nursing seems displaced to me....you can not be out for me, me, me and give quality care with all due respect to the patients needs. Being monistic is self centered, as you freely admited and yet in all my years of reading and learning, I never found Christ to monistic...after all, he fed the multitudes when they were hungry when He Himself was exhausted and when His disciples were frightened by the storm, He calmed it along with their fears, showed them where to fish and for those that are deep believers He paid the ultimate price for all........this does not sound monistic to me but rather unselfish, if you will.........He did defend the poor widow that gave her last bit of money to help in the church when others would belittle her and make fun of her and turn her away.
Nursing is a holistic profession, we minister to the body as well as the mind and the soul.....we accept others, whether we like them or not, agree with them or not, for whom they are....with respect for their beliefs and needs. Even the starchy Catholics (no offense) who are bound by the rituals of their cerimonies and services show respect for those that believe differently from them (I see it every day I work in my facility)......
Mother Theresa was not arrogant....if she were, she would have been incapable of devoting her life to the ministry of the poor, sick and destitute.....to say anything other of her would be a gross misunderstanding.
You most definitely have a different out look on the philosophy of nursing. And for your difference of philosophy (or opinion, if you will) I respect it. But do not, for one minute think that I am nurse soley for the monetary benefits. yes, the money is nice and yes, the room for advance ment is there for those that want it and yes, maybe there are some theories on the philosophy of nursing that have been written by a nurse that has been away from the bedside for more years than he/she would care to admit but the true essence of nursing is to have empathy and compassion for those that are in need whether it be physical or mental......and show them that empathy and compassion delivered with the respect that you would want someone to show you if you were in their place.
You might find more answers to your self centered way of thinking by taking a philosophy class or at a meditation center...you may find that you are not cut out for nursing at all but better suited for another career altogether (and do not think that I am saying you are unfit to be a nurse, because I am not).....you are obviously and educated person that has spent a great deal of time doing deep soul searching and that is an admirable thing.
As for caring for one's self to help ward off burn out.....well, jogging has both physical and mental benefits but sometimes one needs more to heal and nurse their own psyche such as meditation, massage therapy or something along those lines.
On your out take on an ETOH abuser in a psych ward.....he would be there if he had mental health issues in addition to his addiction but more than likely you would find a Detox nurse caring for him and if it is a medical detox, he would have prescribed medication to help ease his physical symptoms of his addiction........as well as group therapy...which would also be found on a psych ward. You have to understand giving alcohol to an Alcoholic in therapy would be like telling the burn patient that you will not debride their wounds and change the bandages so that they will heal and not become infected. Stop and give somethought to your statement.....you seem rational.....and I think that you will see the irrationality to your statement. Sometimes the treatment is not pleasant but it needs to be done.
i wish peace where ever you find it and best of everything in your endeavours where ever they may take you.
proudly contemptuous: feeling or showing proud self-importance and contempt or disregard for others
You think the above describes Mother Teresa? If so, then I don't think you know her story very well.
I own and have read two books by Mother Teresa and bought her biography video from the biography channel. Granted, I never worked with her.
Anyone who thinks they are independent from God and therefore able to serve Him is arrogant in their illusory self. My Higher Self is God; my lower self is not. It is my lower self that is arrogant if it thinks it is a separate being from God or even real to begin with. "feeling or showing proud self importance" is exactly what I mean. "Contempt and disregard for others" I reject as part of the definition, at least in the way I use the word, arrogant.
But you make an interesting observation, and I appreciate the opportunity to expand on my philosophy as a result.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Originally posted by ADNRN
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) They don't state the psychological pain of empathy as a reason for leaving the nursing field. Most of the time, they just feel pooped on by management.
Empathy involves a certain amount of detachment. You can't make prudent and logical decisions without some detachment. I think what you're describing is sympathy (or even codependency).
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.
Makes perfect sense to me.
When people give to others, when they give comfort, when they do chartable deeds, they themselves are getting something out of it. How many times have you given to another person, and gotten a warm satisfying feeling. That's because you are also giving to yourself. (I'm saying "you" not meaning you exactly, but in general).
I know when I help others, I'm getting more out of it somethings than they are.
Sounds like you're a bit more self-aware and self-honest than you might be getting credit for.
I own and have read two books by Mother Teresa and bought her biography video from the biography channel. Granted, I never worked with her.
Anyone who thinks they are independent from God and therefore able to serve Him is arrogant in their illusory self. My Higher Self is God; my lower self is not. It is my lower self that is arrogant if it thinks it is a separate being from God or even real to begin with. "feeling or showing proud self importance" is exactly what I mean. "Contempt and disregard for others" I reject as part of the definition, at least in the way I use the word, arrogant.
But you make an interesting observation, and I appreciate the opportunity to expand on my philosophy as a result.
You may have read books and watched videos, as I have, but my point is you don't understand her story very well, and did not get the point of my post. Mother Teresa didn't claim to serve God in her deeds. She claimed to care for others as though she were caring for God himself as we are all related and all one in the same. In other words, she didn't feel independent of God, she felt as though we were all the same and all worthy of love and care. It is hard to express exactly what one means on a BB, but that's the best I can offer at this time.
Empathy involves a certain amount of detachment. You can't make prudent and logical decisions without some detachment. I think what you're describing is sympathy (or even codependency).
Well, there's certainly no shortage of detatchment in the nursing field. Once I was so attached on a clinical rotation, that I told everyone who would listen that my patient had stage II pressure sores on the tops of his ears. But still, every day I came back (3 of them) his O2 tubing was firmily cinched down on the tops of his ears. Once I put gauze, because I was so attached. Silly me, the dry gauze stuck to the pressure sores and made them worse when I removed it to change it. I was an idiot. I should have used petrolium gel gauze, which I did later on. But when I came back, the gauze was gone and the tubing cinched down. Being the attached fool that I was, I put some more on, and when the respiratory therapist came in, I told her about the pressure sores, since no one was listening to me anymore, because frankly I was too attached. She checked his SaO2 and it was 97% so she d/cd the O2.
Personally, I should have detached myself long ago on this one. I mean, it broke my heart. It really did. And we all know that pain should be avoided at all costs (well, Christ wouldn't agree, but who listens to him, anyway?) Hmmm? Thank God I stayed attached though until the RT came around on my last clinical day. By now, I don't think he'd actually have any pinas left.
Oh! I almost forgot. That's the hospital where everyone has a BSN and wears it on their name badge.
When people give to others, when they give comfort, when they do chartable deeds, they themselves are getting something out of it. How many times have you given to another person, and gotten a warm satisfying feeling. That's because you are also giving to yourself. (I'm saying "you" not meaning you exactly, but in general).
I know when I help others, I'm getting more out of it somethings than they are.
Sounds like you're a bit more self-aware and self-honest than you might be getting credit for.
Dang! Thanks, 3rd Shift Guy. I'm not used to compliments. (I feel like Adrian in the pet store--you know, Rocky.)
You may have read books and watched videos, as I have, but my point is you don't understand her story very well, and did not get the point of my post. Mother Teresa didn't claim to serve God in her deeds. She claimed to care for others as though she were caring for God himself as we are all related and all one in the same. In other words, she didn't feel independent of God, she felt as though we were all the same and all worthy of love and care. It is hard to express exactly what one means on a BB, but that's the best I can offer at this time.
OK. Fine. I take it back. Mother Teresa isn't arrogant.
Specializes in Trauma,ER,CCU/OHU/Nsg Ed/Nsg Research.
Originally posted by ADNRN
Well, there's certainly no shortage of detatchment in the nursing field. Once I was so attached on a clinical rotation, that I told everyone who would listen that my patient had stage II pressure sores on the tops of his ears. But still, every day I came back (3 of them) his O2 tubing was firmily cinched down on the tops of his ears. Once I put gauze, because I was so attached. Silly me, the dry gauze stuck to the pressure sores and made them worse when I removed it to change it. I was an idiot. I should have used petrolium gel gauze, which I did later on. But when I came back, the gauze was gone and the tubing cinched down. Being the attached fool that I was, I put some more on, and when the respiratory therapist came in, I told her about the pressure sores, since no one was listening to me anymore, because frankly I was too attached. She checked his SaO2 and it was 97% so she d/cd the O2.
Personally, I should have detached myself long ago on this one. I mean, it broke my heart. It really did. And we all know that pain should be avoided at all costs (well, Christ wouldn't agree, but who listens to him, anyway?) Hmmm? Thank God I stayed attached though until the RT came around on my last clinical day. By now, I don't think he'd actually have any pinas left.
Oh! I almost forgot. That's the hospital where everyone has a BSN and wears it on their name badge.
Yet you detached yourself enough to go home every day.
And why refer to yourself as an idiot? You're being awfully hard on yourself for not being perfect. You could be a future candidate for burnout yourself. And I do speak from experience, having been through burnout myself- for all the reasons llg mentioned (in addition to being down on myself and my coworkers at times for not being able to be all things to all people). You can have a certain (not total) amount of detachment and still give great holistic care to patients. Detachment does not mean you don't care- quite the contrary. It can help disclude bias or prejudice at times when the bigger picture needs to be seen.
Personally, I should have detached myself long ago on this one. I mean, it broke my heart. It really did. And we all know that pain should be avoided at all costs (well, Christ wouldn't agree, but who listens to him, anyway?) Hmmm? Thank God I stayed attached though until the RT came around on my last clinical day. By now, I don't think he'd actually have any pinas left.
There's a difference between detaching and giving in. You care enough to give your best ever day and to be a patient advocate. But as was said, we have to detach ourselves enough to go home, sometimes knowing the one you turn them over to isn't going to be that advocate, isn't going to follow up on the care you diligently provided. Do you become like them and next time, not care about the sores on your patients ears? Is that detachment? No, you continue to be the most excellent nurse that you can be, because not only does it benefit your patient, it benefits yourself.
I know all to well the frustrations of being a consciencious nurse. Sometimes I actually envy those coworkers of mine who never have a bad day, who have time to spare, who obviously aren't spending time with their patients. Wish I could be like that sometimes, then maybe I wouldn't feel so burned out. Not that I'm better than them, but I just can't be like that. I'm not going to change. And boy do I ever beat myself up for not being perfect.
Yet you detached yourself enough to go home every day.
Going home isn't detachment. Detachment is a state of mind. it is the opposite of the state of mind described in the philosophy I started this string with.
Just because circumstances in the illusory world cause the illusion to change doesn't mean any real separation has occured (a little acosmic monism for you there).
nowplayingEDRN
799 Posts
When one says "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "above all do no one harm" I think that the sessence is to treat others with the same caring, compassion, empathy and respect that you would want to be treated, not that a person should impose their beliefs, religious or otherwise on a person.
To monistic in nursing seems displaced to me....you can not be out for me, me, me and give quality care with all due respect to the patients needs. Being monistic is self centered, as you freely admited and yet in all my years of reading and learning, I never found Christ to monistic...after all, he fed the multitudes when they were hungry when He Himself was exhausted and when His disciples were frightened by the storm, He calmed it along with their fears, showed them where to fish and for those that are deep believers He paid the ultimate price for all........this does not sound monistic to me but rather unselfish, if you will.........He did defend the poor widow that gave her last bit of money to help in the church when others would belittle her and make fun of her and turn her away.
Nursing is a holistic profession, we minister to the body as well as the mind and the soul.....we accept others, whether we like them or not, agree with them or not, for whom they are....with respect for their beliefs and needs. Even the starchy Catholics (no offense) who are bound by the rituals of their cerimonies and services show respect for those that believe differently from them (I see it every day I work in my facility)......
Mother Theresa was not arrogant....if she were, she would have been incapable of devoting her life to the ministry of the poor, sick and destitute.....to say anything other of her would be a gross misunderstanding.
You most definitely have a different out look on the philosophy of nursing. And for your difference of philosophy (or opinion, if you will) I respect it. But do not, for one minute think that I am nurse soley for the monetary benefits. yes, the money is nice and yes, the room for advance ment is there for those that want it and yes, maybe there are some theories on the philosophy of nursing that have been written by a nurse that has been away from the bedside for more years than he/she would care to admit but the true essence of nursing is to have empathy and compassion for those that are in need whether it be physical or mental......and show them that empathy and compassion delivered with the respect that you would want someone to show you if you were in their place.
You might find more answers to your self centered way of thinking by taking a philosophy class or at a meditation center...you may find that you are not cut out for nursing at all but better suited for another career altogether (and do not think that I am saying you are unfit to be a nurse, because I am not).....you are obviously and educated person that has spent a great deal of time doing deep soul searching and that is an admirable thing.
As for caring for one's self to help ward off burn out.....well, jogging has both physical and mental benefits but sometimes one needs more to heal and nurse their own psyche such as meditation, massage therapy or something along those lines.
On your out take on an ETOH abuser in a psych ward.....he would be there if he had mental health issues in addition to his addiction but more than likely you would find a Detox nurse caring for him and if it is a medical detox, he would have prescribed medication to help ease his physical symptoms of his addiction........as well as group therapy...which would also be found on a psych ward. You have to understand giving alcohol to an Alcoholic in therapy would be like telling the burn patient that you will not debride their wounds and change the bandages so that they will heal and not become infected. Stop and give somethought to your statement.....you seem rational.....and I think that you will see the irrationality to your statement. Sometimes the treatment is not pleasant but it needs to be done.
i wish peace where ever you find it and best of everything in your endeavours where ever they may take you.