Philosophy of Nursing

When I first started nursing school, my philosophy of nursing was honestly pretty simple. Growing up in Southern Iowa with my older brother, who has developmental delays and complex medical conditions, I saw firsthand the physical and emotional toll that chronic illness takes on a whole family. Because of that experience, I just knew I wanted to be a nurse so I could care for people in their most vulnerable states and hopefully bring a little bit of light into their lives. But as I progressed through the Heritage University BSN program, my mindset completely evolved. I realized that nursing is about so much more than just doing tasks or treating an illness; it's a complex, holistic practice rooted in family systems, deep self-awareness, and fierce advocacy.Early on, I viewed patient care mostly through a scientific, empirical lens. But during my clinical experiences—especially my time at Camp Korey and doing family assessments—I had a huge realization. I learned about Denham's Family Systems Theory, and it just clicked for me. I saw that you really can't treat a patient in isolation because a patient's health directly impacts their whole family's functional ability, and vice versa. My philosophy now is that true nursing care has to involve an ecological perspective, treating the individual, the family, and the community as one interconnected unit.Another major turning point for me was learning about Barbara Carper's Fundamental Patterns of Knowing, especially Personal Knowing. I used to just go through the motions, but I learned that to give truly holistic care, I have to actually know and understand myself first. Through journaling and mindfulness, I discovered that practicing self-care isn't selfish; it’s an absolute requisite for building the inner resilience I need to safely care for others. In my practice, I want to embody the "I-Thou" approach, which basically means treating my patients as unique, whole human beings with inherent dignity, instead of just seeing them as a room number or a diagnosis.Finally, my philosophy is deeply grounded in justice and the ANA Code of Ethics. Analyzing heartbreaking ethical situations, like the case of Maya Kowalski, really fired me up. It solidified my belief that nurses have to be unwavering advocates for their patients' rights, safety, and autonomy. Whether I am advocating for a patient who is being ignored by the system, fighting for rural health access in places like Keokuk, or demanding safe staffing ratios, my philosophy is that nursing extends way beyond the bedside into the realm of social justice and policy change.Ultimately, my philosophy of nursing is that it is a beautiful balance of art and science. It requires blending empirical knowledge with ethical, personal, aesthetic, and emancipatory knowing. As I transition into my career as a BSN Registered Nurse, I am carrying with me a promise to keep learning, to continuously reflect on my own biases, and to be a courageous advocate for my patients. I truly believe that by maintaining my own inner resilience and treating every family with empathy, cultural humility, and evidence-based care, I can fulfill my calling to make a real difference.

References

  • American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements.
  • Carper, B. A. (1978). Fundamental patterns of knowing in nursing. Advances in Nursing Science, 1(1), 13-23.
  • Denham, S. A. (2021). Family-Focused Nursing Care. Springer Publishing Company.
  • Robinson, K. M., & Padgett, D. K. (2021). Family Health Care Nursing: Theory, Practice, and Research. F.A. Davis Company.