The Personal Philosophy Of Nursing Is A Formal Paper Written
The personal philosophy of nursing is a formal paper written
The personal philosophy of nursing is a formal paper written in first person (I) and must include perspectives on the metaparadigm concepts of client, health, nurse, and environment. Include a statement of personal values and beliefs, and perspectives on other concepts or issues such as health care policies, community issues, individual and/or cultural health care practices that may define, guide, or impact your practice as a nurse. Incorporate nursing, science, and liberal arts theories to support your philosophy. The essay should have an introduction and conclusion, be in APA style with a title page, include citations and a reference page for any quoted or paraphrased published authors or theorists, and be limited to three pages (excluding title and references).
Paper For Above Instructions
Introduction
I write this personal philosophy of nursing in the first person to articulate the beliefs, values, and theoretical foundations that will guide my practice as a registered nurse. Nursing, to me, is a humanistic science and moral practice rooted in caring, evidence, and advocacy. My philosophy integrates the nursing metaparadigm—client, health, nurse, and environment—while acknowledging how policies, community structures, and cultural practices shape clinical decisions and patient outcomes (Watson, 2008; Leininger & McFarland, 2002).
Client
I view the client as a whole person embedded in relationships and contexts—physiological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Clients are partners in care with rights, values, and unique narratives; they are not merely diagnoses. This aligns with Watson’s emphasis on person-centered caring and Leininger’s focus on cultural context in understanding patients’ meanings of health (Watson, 2008; Leininger & McFarland, 2002). I commit to listening actively, honoring autonomy, and co-creating realistic health goals with clients.
Health
I define health as a dynamic state of physical, mental, and social well-being rather than simply the absence of disease. Health involves resilience, adaptive functioning, and the capacity to pursue meaningful life activities (Pender, 2011). I emphasize health promotion, prevention, and restoration informed by evidence-based practice; this view is consistent with the public-health orientation recommended by the World Health Organization and the Institute of Medicine’s vision for a health system centered on patient needs (WHO, 2018; IOM, 2010).
Nurse
I see the nurse as an advocate, clinician, educator, and collaborator. Nursing practice blends scientific knowledge, clinical judgment, and moral presence. Drawing on Benner’s novice-to-expert model, I value experiential learning and reflective practice that deepen clinical judgment over time (Benner, 1984). I also adhere to the ethical obligations articulated by the American Nurses Association to promote dignity, justice, and professional accountability (American Nurses Association, 2015).
Environment
The environment includes physical settings, social systems, cultural norms, and policy contexts that influence health and care delivery. I recognize that environments can either enable or constrain healing: safe, culturally sensitive, and resourceful spaces foster recovery, whereas fragmented systems and social inequities perpetuate poor outcomes (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2016). Therefore, I prioritize environmental assessments and systems-level thinking when planning care.
Personal Values and Beliefs
My core values are compassion, integrity, equity, and lifelong learning. I believe in treating every person with respect and advocating for vulnerable populations. I value transparency in communication, cultural humility, and a commitment to reduce disparities through education and policy engagement. These values shape my daily choices—from bedside interactions to advocating for systemic change—and are informed by ethical and humanistic theories in nursing and the liberal arts (Watson, 2008; American Nurses Association, 2015).
Theoretical Integration
I draw on multiple theoretical lenses to ground my practice. Watson’s theory of human caring provides an ethical and relational foundation emphasizing presence, intentionality, and transpersonal caring (Watson, 2008). Orem’s self-care deficit theory informs my focus on empowering clients to achieve self-care abilities (Orem, 2001). Pender’s health promotion model supports interventions that increase health-directed behaviors (Pender, 2011), while Leininger’s transcultural theory guides culturally competent care (Leininger & McFarland, 2002). I also value evidence-based practice principles for translating best available research into clinical decision-making (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2015).
Health Care Policies and Community Issues
I believe nurses must engage with health policy and community systems because clinical care exists within broader social determinants of health. The Institute of Medicine’s recommendations underscore nursing’s role in leadership and policy to advance health equity (IOM, 2010). I will advocate for policies that expand access, support preventive services, and address social determinants such as housing, food security, and education. At the community level, I commit to outreach, interprofessional collaboration, and population-based approaches to reduce disparities (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2016).
Cultural and Individual Practices
Cultural beliefs shape health behaviors and expectations; thus, cultural humility and competence are central to my practice. I will seek to understand patients’ cultural frameworks, incorporate culturally meaningful interventions, and negotiate care plans that respect traditions while ensuring safety and efficacy (Leininger & McFarland, 2002). I recognize that cultural competence is a lifelong process that requires self-reflection and active learning.
Professional Development and Lifelong Learning
I commit to ongoing professional growth through continuing education, reflective practice, and mentoring. Benner’s emphasis on developing expertise through experience encourages me to pursue opportunities that expand both technical skills and moral imagination (Benner, 1984). I will integrate research evidence regularly and participate in quality improvement to enhance care delivery (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2015).
Conclusion
My personal philosophy of nursing is an integrated framework that centers respectful, evidence-informed, culturally sensitive, and ethically grounded care. By attending to the metaparadigm concepts—client, health, nurse, and environment—and by engaging with theory, policy, and community contexts, I aim to provide holistic care that promotes health equity and human flourishing. This philosophy will evolve as I gain experience, learn from patients and colleagues, and respond to changes in healthcare systems.
References
- American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses with Interpretive Statements. American Nurses Association.
- Benner, P. (1984). From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Prentice Hall.
- Institute of Medicine. (2010). The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health. The National Academies Press.
- Leininger, M., & McFarland, M. R. (2002). Transcultural Nursing: Concepts, Theories, Research, and Practice (3rd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
- Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2015). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice (3rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
- Orem, D. E. (2001). Nursing: Concepts of Practice (6th ed.). Mosby.
- Pender, N. J. (2011). Health Promotion in Nursing Practice (6th ed.). Pearson.
- Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2016). Public Health Nursing: Population-Centered Health Care in the Community (9th ed.). Elsevier.
- Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring (Rev. ed.). University Press of Colorado.
- World Health Organization. (2018). Closing the gap in a generation: Health equity through action on the social determinants of health. WHO.