Personal Nursing Philosophy
Nursing Philosophy: Musings on a Personal Practice
Tiina Allen
University of Texas at Arlington
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Transition to Professional Nursing
NURS 3645
Jeanean Boyd, MSN, RN
October 05, 2012 Online RN-BSN
Nursing Philosophy: Musings on a Personal Practice
We often hear that nursing is an art and a science, and I firmly believe that. The way a nurse blends those aspects of care defines the nurse. As nurses, our roles in our patients’ lives vary depending on their needs. We are teachers as well as technical experts, and our ultimate goal is to ensure our patients and families are ready to take over when the patient no longer requires our care.
Why I Chose Nursing
I have known that I wanted to work with children since I was a young child myself. Before the age of ten, I thought I might be a teacher. As I enjoyed math and science, several of my aunts, nurses themselves, encouraged me to consider nursing. As a sibling of a disabled child, I was probably exposed to more medical knowledge than average, and I took my first CPR class when I was eight years old. I liked the nurses and therapists that worked with my sister, but I also had respect for the teachers that worked so tirelessly with her. I can pinpoint the moment I decided that nursing was for me, though it was a long time before I could act on that decision. My sister had contracted hepatitis A at school. That lowered her seizure threshold enough that she ended up in the intensive care unit. As it was winter, I was not allowed to visit her. At ten, I didn’t understand the concept of RSV restrictions. I only knew that she’d been hospitalized many times and I’d always been allowed at her bedside. Somehow I interpreted that to mean she must be dying, and no one wanted to tell me.
I was in the waiting room outside the ICU while my mother was in with my sister, crying my heart out.
Tiina Allen
University of Texas at Arlington
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
Transition to Professional Nursing
NURS 3645
Jeanean Boyd, MSN, RN
October 05, 2012 Online RN-BSN
Nursing Philosophy: Musings on a Personal Practice
We often hear that nursing is an art and a science, and I firmly believe that. The way a nurse blends those aspects of care defines the nurse. As nurses, our roles in our patients’ lives vary depending on their needs. We are teachers as well as technical experts, and our ultimate goal is to ensure our patients and families are ready to take over when the patient no longer requires our care.
Why I Chose Nursing
I have known that I wanted to work with children since I was a young child myself. Before the age of ten, I thought I might be a teacher. As I enjoyed math and science, several of my aunts, nurses themselves, encouraged me to consider nursing. As a sibling of a disabled child, I was probably exposed to more medical knowledge than average, and I took my first CPR class when I was eight years old. I liked the nurses and therapists that worked with my sister, but I also had respect for the teachers that worked so tirelessly with her. I can pinpoint the moment I decided that nursing was for me, though it was a long time before I could act on that decision. My sister had contracted hepatitis A at school. That lowered her seizure threshold enough that she ended up in the intensive care unit. As it was winter, I was not allowed to visit her. At ten, I didn’t understand the concept of RSV restrictions. I only knew that she’d been hospitalized many times and I’d always been allowed at her bedside. Somehow I interpreted that to mean she must be dying, and no one wanted to tell me.
I was in the waiting room outside the ICU while my mother was in with my sister, crying my heart out.
References: Black, B. P. (2007). Nursing theory: The basis for professional nursing. In K. K. Chitty, & B. P. Black (Eds.), Professional nursing: Concepts and challenges (pp. 328-348). Retrieved from http://ereserves.uta.edu/APcourse/NURS3645BOY002.pdf Killeen, M. L., & Saewert, K. J. (2007). Socialization of professional nursing. In J. L. Creasia, & B. J. Parker (Eds.), Conceptual fountations: The bridge to professional nursing practice (4th ed., pp. 49-80). Retrieved from http://ereserves.uta.edu/APcourse/NURS3645BOY003.pdf