What defines your Philosophy of Nursing?

underpaidrn · Oct 1, 2007

I've been a nurse for a long time and my care plan has changed over the years. I used to believe I could save everyone but now I accept that there are times when I cannot and the best and exciting thing about being a nurse is helping the patient to achieve the best goals and be comfortable and have diginity while doing it. I have watched my patient's die and the family members grieve because they did not tell that person "I love you." I never let any of my family members leave, hang up, whatever, without telling them I love you. If anything happened to me, they would know, not assume, but know. I have had the privilege of learning from my patients, my colleagues and students that I have precepted and I am still able to say that I learn something new every day. I feel that nursing has made me a better person all around because I am aware of all the human frailities we endure in this mad, wonderful life we all have.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2007

I feel that nursing has made me a better person all around because I am aware of all the human frailities we endure in this mad, wonderful life we all have.

Well said! I also find myself giving thanks that I have relatively good health, unlike the patients I see whose health may be wanig.

CraigB-RN, MSN, RN · Oct 1, 2007

My philosophy has gotten real simple.

1. The patient is the one with the disease

2. I can only do so much

3. Do what I can

4. Leave work at work when I go home.

5. Don't take anything personal.

leslie :-D · Oct 1, 2007

i'm an odd bird.

when i applied to nsg school, i took my life philosophy and applied it to nursing.

i have lived through many yrs of pure torture.

because of these experiences, i quickly learned what ea person deserved and was worthy of.

being a loner all my life, i've had much time to reflect and process.

it has never been important to me to be popular.

and i have always gravitated to the underdog.

the qualities in which i've lived my life, have been based on respect, integrity and tolerance.

bringing this to nsg, has been a natural transition.

and while i will always know someone who would love to wring my neck, i have found that my pts see another side, that enables a genuine and seamless rapport.

nsg comes very easily to me.

leslie

deeDawntee, RN · Oct 1, 2007

have you gained a certain wisdom from being the nurse you did not possess prior to becoming a nurse and something you didn't learn in or what wasn't discussed in school? definitely, i have grown so much as a person that i don't even recognize myself from when i first became a nurse. the acceptance i feel towards myself and others has increased 100 fold.

do you find your patient's and patient's families content with your care and what makes your care unique? if i had to describe my philosophy of nursing it would be "connection centered nursing". i believe that it is my connection to my patient that is the basis of my care, that i intentionally connect to my patients on as deep of a level that i can when i am their nurse. of course, what i do with my knowledge and the actions i take to advocate for their needs etc, is important, but if i am doing that without a sincere connection, it is only going through the motions. even if the patient will never get better, i still connect to them. when i leave, i disconnect enough to be able to focus on my own needs and life, but there is a part of me that remains connected.

has your philosophy changed and been modified as you would a care plan through your years of nursing? the connection has become the core.

how have others in the nursing field responded to your philosophy of nursing? i don't know.

can you describe a fellow colleague who practices a philosophy you aspire to? there is one nurse whose nursing is what i aspire to. she is an extremely good nurse, but never gets caught up in being too anal retentive about things (which a lot of icu nurses do) and is able to advocate for her patients and be a team player in a very special and caring way.

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Oct 1, 2007

while i will always know someone who would love to wring my neck, i have found that my pts see another side, that enables a genuine and seamless rapport.

From an outsider's point of view this statement would appear contradictory to the logic of good quality nursing. However, if you are advocating for good care and not the stroking of egos you're liable to run into this quite often. I know I have LOL

leslie :-D · Oct 1, 2007

However, if you are advocating for good care and not the stroking of egos you're liable to run into this quite often. I know I have LOL

there you go.

leslie

HM2VikingRN, RN · Oct 2, 2007

i'm an odd bird.
when i applied to nsg school, i took my life philosophy and applied it to nursing.
i have lived through many yrs of pure torture.
because of these experiences, i quickly learned what ea person deserved and was worthy of.
being a loner all my life, i've had much time to reflect and process.
it has never been important to me to be popular.
and i have always gravitated to the underdog.
the qualities in which i've lived my life, have been based on respect, integrity and tolerance.
bringing this to nsg, has been a natural transition.
and while i will always know someone who would love to wring my neck, i have found that my pts see another side, that enables a genuine and seamless rapport.
nsg comes very easily to me.
leslie

Leslie,

Beautifully written

HM2VikingRN, RN · Oct 2, 2007

have you gained a certain wisdom from being the nurse you did not possess prior to becoming a nurse and something you didn't learn in or what wasn't discussed in school? definitely, i have grown so much as a person that i don't even recognize myself from when i first became a nurse. the acceptance i feel towards myself and others has increased 100 fold.
do you find your patient's and patient's families content with your care and what makes your care unique? if i had to describe my philosophy of nursing it would be "connection centered nursing". i believe that it is my connection to my patient that is the basis of my care, that i intentionally connect to my patients on as deep of a level that i can when i am their nurse. of course, what i do with my knowledge and the actions i take to advocate for their needs etc, is important, but if i am doing that without a sincere connection, it is only going through the motions. even if the patient will never get better, i still connect to them. when i leave, i disconnect enough to be able to focus on my own needs and life, but there is a part of me that remains connected.
has your philosophy changed and been modified as you would a care plan through your years of nursing? the connection has become the core.
how have others in the nursing field responded to your philosophy of nursing? i don't know.
can you describe a fellow colleague who practices a philosophy you aspire to? there is one nurse whose nursing is what i aspire to. she is an extremely good nurse, but never gets caught up in being too anal retentive about things (which a lot of icu nurses do) and is able to advocate for her patients and be a team player in a very special and caring way.

dee,

you sound like a roy model maven :>>. i agree with the importance of being connected to your patients in their time of need.

deeDawntee, RN · Oct 2, 2007

Dee,
You sound like a Roy model maven :>>. I agree with the importance of being connected to your patients in their time of need.

Hey, this is going to show my ignorance, but who is Roy? I assume a nursing theorist? What!! You mean my 'philosophy' isn't original???

eee gads, guess I'd better get that BSN after all....

:lol2: :lol2: :lol2:

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Oct 2, 2007

have you gained a certain wisdom from being the nurse you did not possess prior to becoming a nurse and something you didn't learn in or what wasn't discussed in school?
i have learned not to go into great lengths defining a disease process to the patient or the family. too much information can be daunting to the general public and does nothing to enable healing really; such information keeps the patient/family focused on the disease and not on the body's manifest destiny to heal itself. when i enter their rooms i have such a feeling of optimism, i know it can't help but be contageous. a good deal of humor in the mix goes a long way. i have a gift to misinterpret what family tells me. i'll do this verbally. they'll laugh. and i'll get clarification as to what route we'll take as the "night nurse."

do you find your patient's and patient's families content with your care and what makes your care unique?
most of the time they are. just the other day i received a card from a family member. woah! do you think i didn't spend my time giving the best of care to that patient over the others as we were taught not to do in nursing school, you've got to be kidding yourself!
has your philosophy changed and been modified as you would a care plan through your years of nursing?
yes, i am much more relaxed. that really is the key to my success. the more relaxed i can be at work the more relaxed my patient's are, the better they'll sleep. works like a charm. so i can get back to night nurse paperwork. wish i could tell patients that i'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting for them to give me a request to do something for them, waiting on them on hand and foot, but that is not the case unfortunately.

how have others in the nursing field responded to your philosophy of nursing?

i'm still a new nurse relatively. perhaps in ten years i'll know the answer to this question.
can you describe a fellow colleague who practices a philosophy you aspire to?

florence nightengale. now she really knows how to keep her areas clean. she also insists upon wearing white, even if sometimes i do note coffee stains on her front lapel and i haven't the heart to tell her. she's always prompt, gets angry when she receives the easy assignments. but i honor her wisdom. some day others will no doubt; she should write a book! often times i'll find her frowning and i'll tell her to lighten up!

but truthfully, i know of many things that make that particular nurse special. and no, i haven't yet seen a nurse that encapsulates everything i aspire to become. she/he would be able to walk on water. i know! that's impossible!