Helping Students Develop Personal Nursing Philosophies

Helping Students Develop Personal Nursing Philosophies

A person's ability to adhere to their own set of self-imposed values is greatly enhanced by having a personal philosophy to guide their daily actions. A nurse's personal philosophy can help you better communicate with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals. Informed, ethical, and scientific medical practice can benefit from incorporating individual ideologies.

As a means of guiding their practice, educators can assist students in developing their own philosophies. According to American Nurse, the publication of the American Nurses Association, a personal philosophy can also be used to pinpoint the guiding theories and values that inform day-to-day decisions.

Your philosophy sums up your core values and professional aspirations. By articulating your guiding principles, you strengthen your bond with your core values. It can guide your development as medical staff and show you where to put your energy and attention. According to "What is a philosophy of nursing" author Lydia Kim, "your philosophy will play a part in every medical job you have." Aspiring educators who are RNs need to recognize the need for essays on nursing to build a personal philosophy, whether they enroll in a traditional or online MSN program. Writing a personal philosophy paper may be required coursework for several master's programs. Educators often find themselves in the position of guiding pupils through a potentially dangerous situation.

Importance of Creating a Developing a Personal Nursing Philosophy

Everyone comes to nursing school with their own set of assumptions. Individuals' behaviors, attitudes, and choices are all affected by these convictions. The foundation of this philosophy is a set of core values and principles.

What, why, and how you do your profession in accordance with your own personal values and views constitute your philosophy. You are not obligated to speak or feel what you think other people want you to. According to the article "Nursing Philosophy – Why Do We Do It" by the healthcare staffing agency Nursco, this "must stem from authentic feelings and principles from the heart."

As a personal philosophy develops and adapts over time, so do changes through the course of a career. The personal philosophies written by bachelor's degree students will vary from those written by master's degree students. The ability to articulate one's own philosophy is evidence of a commitment to patient respect and continuity of care. The personal philosophy of nursing example is highly regarded and typically required coursework in nursing programs. Some students have difficulty writing a philosophy because they try to please their teachers instead of writing from the heart.

Facilitating the Development of a Unique Philosophy in Students

Before starting to write their personal philosophy, American Nurse suggests that students take some time to contemplate and answer the following questions. As you contemplate a future in nursing, it's important to ask yourself why and what kind of person you want to be.

  • Why did I want to become a nurse?
  • What qualities make a great nurse?
  • Why is this important to me?
  • What values are important to nurses?
  • What are my beliefs about nursing?

Define What Nursing Means to You?

Find out what your profession means to you before you start writing your philosophy. In comparison to other careers, what made you pick nursing?

Add a Personal Story that Expands on Your Values and Skills?

You can want to include a personal anecdote that demonstrates why you're so enthusiastic about the work you're applying for. Incorporate an understanding of the relevant characteristics and ethics of medical staff.

Include How You Plan to Impact Society Through Nursing?

Do you hope to effect positive social change through your nursing career? In that case, how so, and in what ways? Think about the long-term goals you have for your life and the world.

Fourth, emphasize the importance you place on particular values and abilities.

Describe which abilities are the most significant to you and why. Think about how you might apply these insights in the future.

Outline your personal values

Describe the core beliefs that inform your medical practice. Values that may be considered are:

  • Integrity 
  • Service
  • Innovation
  • Patience
  • Community 
  • Equality 
  • Teamwork

Discuss the relevance of your personal values to your nursing practice. Here's how you may link your values of service, teamwork, and accountability in your guiding philosophy:

  • Working as a nurse is a way to give back to those outside of your immediate patient care circle.
  • To deliver the optimal treatment, you need to work as part of a unified healthcare team.
  • For a nurse to be accountable, she must be able to demonstrate that she is adhering to the highest professional and ethical standards in the field.

Consider the positive impact you want to have as a nurse

Include your professional aspirations in your nursing philosophy statement to serve as both inspiration and direction as you go forward in your chosen profession. Your beneficial influence could consist of providing health education to the local population or making the healthcare experience more pleasant for those with long-term conditions.

Tips to Write a Nursing Philosophy

Here are some more ideas to help you write your own philosophy statement:

Keep it brief: Write your statement in one to three sentences to keep it short. This can help you remember it and use it in your resume or interviews.

Make it something you can do: Use active verbs to encourage yourself to follow your philosophy through specific steps.

Place a copy where you can see it often: Think about writing it down and putting it somewhere you'll see it every day, like your locker or desk at work.

Using a Nursing Philosophy as a Career Guide

Nurses could benefit from adopting a guiding philosophy in order to set and achieve loftier professional objectives. Nursing Educators should push their students to use their skills and knowledge to the greatest extent of their profession.

If you have a strong philosophy, it can also motivate you to strive for excellence in your professional life. "NurseBuff" claims that doing so can help you rekindle your enthusiasm for your career and motivate you to constantly advance.

Registered staff who want to go into the good ranks should think about becoming teachers. The educators are responsible for providing excellent training to the future generation of nurses. They explain to novice students why a particular philosophy is vital to their profession.