Running head: MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY

My Nursing Philosophy
Jessica Foster
University of Saint Mary

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My Nursing Philosophy

Throughout my years in critical care nursing I have experienced, encountered and learned
different things from each client and organization. My nursing philosophy has always stayed true
to core concepts. I believe in having high sensitivity to clients concerns, using evidenced-based
practice and educating each client to his or her specific health needs. My nursing philosophy still
consist of the American Nurses Association definition of nursing, "the protection, promotion, and
optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering
through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, advocacy in the care of individuals,
families, communities and populations" (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2010, p. 66) but
expands beyond the illness to have a holistic care approach.
Two theorist have always remained at the core of my holistic care approach: Jean
Watson's The Philosophy and Science of Caring and Patricia Benner's Novice to Expert:
Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Watson's theory includes 10 carative factors
that are "caring needs specific to human experiences that should be addressed by nurses with
their clients in the caring role" (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 184). The nurses priority is the client.
The client can consist of a person, family, community or a specific population (McEwen &
Wills, 2014). My experience has shown me that each client is unique to their own cultural and
spiritual beliefs. They are also unique in their health and financial concerns. Nurses should
advocate for the clients health needs but cultural, spiritual, and financial concerns are also high
priority. The nurse will also advocate for the safety, and protection of the clients rights
(American Nurses Association [ANA], 2010).
With streamlining informatics and high patient turnover into healthcare, clients are
sometimes devalued and forgotten. "It is crucial in today's society to sustain human caring ideals

MY NURSING PHILOSOPHY
and caring ideology and a caring ideology in practice, as there has been proliferation of radical
treatment and "cure techniques," often without regard to costs or human consideration"
(McEwen & Wills, 2014).
Benner's theory focuses more on the nurse and his or her skill acquisition. The nurse
holds a professional obligation to advance in the profession with knowledge and education. A
prudent nurse stays educated by reading journals and evidence-based practice guidelines.
Benner's theory has "five stages of skill acquisition: novice, advanced beginner, competent,
proficient, and expert" (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 230). Educating the client when he or she is
misinformed or uneducated on health and wellbeing is a part of holistic care. All nurses need to
be knowledgeable of the clients internal and external environments that could delay optimal
outcomes. A nurse has a duty to maintain and progress his or her education while educating
nurses of lower skill levels. With Benner's theory nurses can excel to expert through
"competence, skill acquisition, experience, clinical knowledge, and practical knowledge"
(McEwen & Wills, 2014, p. 232).
The nursing's metaparadigm is encompassed with these two theorist and the American
Nurses Association definition of nursing. My nursing philosophy extends to lifelong learning,
patient caring, evidence-based practice and ethical considerations.

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References

American Nurses Association. (2010). Guide to the code of ethics for nurses: Interpretation and
Application [reissue of 2008 with new cover]. Silver Spring, MD: Nursebooks.org.
American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (2nd ed.).
Silver Spring, MD: Nursebooks.org.
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2014). Theoretical Basis for Nursing (4th ed.). Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.