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Katrin Larusson
Philosophy of Nursing 2014
Before embarking on the journey of becoming a baccalaureate registered nurse, my idea
of a nurses responsibility was basic and centered around the idea that a nurse was to care for a
patient, and to be a source of comfort during a difficult and often frightening time. While I still
believe this to be true, I am more aware of all the additional responsibilities of a nurse and my
knowledge and philosophy of a nurses role, now has more depth and reason to behind it. My
philosophy is by no means final, but an ever-evolving part of who I am and who I strive to be as
a nurse.
The four pillars of nursing are health, environment, patient, and nurse; how I define and
understand them helps to create my nursing philosophy. In the following pages, I will discuss
each core value of nursing and my interpretation of how they are important.

The first pillar, patient, is the center of everything. It is important to recognize that a
person and a patient are one in the same and must be treated and cared for as such. I do not
believe in using the term client; I find it to be callous, it lacks the core aspect of compassion that
nurses possess. The terms patient and resident are acceptable, but even better is the use of the
word person. When caring for a person one must take into consideration not only his or her
diagnosis, but also the patients being as a whole, his/her history, personal beliefs and family.
Patient-centered care is essential; involving patients in their own care is vital in providing the
best care possible. While a patient is the center of the nursing discipline, all the other pillars are
needed to help support each other; each one is vital to the success of the patient and the care a
nurse provides.

Health is the next core value; how a nurse views health influences how he/she treats a
patient. Health and wellness are key terms to define, in order to understand my own stance on
health. Health is the standard all people strive to achieve; it is to be both physically and mentally
free of illness. Whereas, wellness is the balance between mind, body and spirit within a person as
well as the balance of the environment around them. Wellness is a persons own perspective on
his/her health. As a nurse it is important to be aware of both a persons health, as well as their
wellness. Each individual patient has a different definition of their wellness, just as each person
must define and understand their own quality of life. Improving a patients health and wellness is
the end goal many nurses have for their patients, but it is not the only aspect of a patient to be
considered in order to provide the best care.

The next core value is the environment; this connects and links each of the pillars to one
another. The environment in a healthcare facility is influenced by the nurses at the facility, which
in turn influences the patients and their comfort and quality of care. A positive working
environment improves nurses attitudes. Good care from nurses improves the patients
experience and health, which leads to improved nurse attitude and a healthy working
environment. The environment in a healthcare facility is a continuous cycle, which builds on
itself, connecting and linking the core values of nursing together.

The final pillar to be defined is the nurse. How nurses view and define their own role has
a huge impact on how they care for their patients. Nursing, is not just a profession but also a
lifestyle; there is a unique type of person who is able to be a nurse. It is a nurses job to provide

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the best possible care, to treat a patient as a person, to leave all prejudices at the door, giving
total attention and all one has to give while with the person. Acknowledging personal and
professional beliefs along with areas of knowledge and care that need improvement is vital to
being capable of providing the best care possible. By being aware of ones weaknesses, mistakes
and poor quality of care can be avoided. A nurse must also strive to have their actions match
their philosophy. Another important aspect to the nurses core value is having a calming, caring
presence that allows patients to feel safe. Providing the best care and support a person needs is
essential to the core value of being a nurse.

In conclusion, I believe that it is a nurses role to provide the best possible care to a
person, being aware that a person is multi faceted. While I have limited clinical experience, and
my philosophy is still growing and adapting with each new situation I encounter. My nursing
philosophy in the simplest form is the belief in whole person centered care.