Running Head: NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 1

Selina Dykes

Nursing Philosophy and Professional Goals Statement

November 26th, 2019

NSG310 Professor Christophersen

I initially wanted to become a nurse in order to give patients the best care possible and

that is expected from all nurses but is not consistently delivered. However, this first block of

nursing school has taught me that there is much more than the surface level of caring. Being

a level one nursing student has brought on the seemingly impossible task of balancing

exams, friends and work but has become one of the many things I have learned throughout

this first semester. Through exploring my personal philosophy of nursing care, hands on

clinical experiences as well as developing skills, I have uncovered the fascinating first

stepping-stones of what it takes to become a nurse. Although I have acquired many skills in

lab in addition to an abundance of knowledge in didactic, I have continually provided myself

with attainable goals in order to succeed in both clinical and lectures.

Personal Approach and Philosophy of Nursing Care

After learning about the many theorists that contributed to the formation of nursing and

care, I have identified Florence Nightingale as a historical figure in the esteemed career that

nursing has become. Each theorist produced concepts that aid in the explanation and

sensation that is known as nursing. Nightingale consistently advocated for women to practice

nursing, “…a nurse achieves “the moral ideal” whenever he or she uses “the whole self” to

form relationships with “the whole of the person receiving care” (Arnold & Boggs, 2020, p.

186). Caring has become a central topic that holds such great importance of emulating a

nurses’ attitude. Nightingale harmonized both the science and art of this phenomenon and

cultivated three relationships that dealt with this overwhelming yet humbling practice.

Included in these three paths are the relationship between the nurse to the environment, the

environment to the patient and the nurse to the patient (Friberg & Creasia, 2016). Nightingale
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determined that it was of the utmost importance to manifest all three relationships at once

rather than only one alone. The relationship between the nurse to the environment displays

that hospital and rooms being staffed adequately, appropriate equipment and set policies. The

relationship between the environment and the patient describes the room being clean, tidy

and inviting for the patient to feel as comfortable as possible in a hurting time. Lastly, the

relationship between the nurse to the patient is arguably the most crucial due to the personal

relationship a nurse makes with a client allowing a positive connection both physically and

mentally. All three relationships permit and promote a patient to heal in a quicker amount of

time as explained by Nightingale. Furthermore, I personally agree with these three

interpersonal relationships and strongly relate with them. This is something that I can relate

with because Nightingale advocated for women to not just settle for being the stereotypical

housewife, but to work alongside men by creating schools of nursing.

Clinical Experiences

My clinical experiences and what I have learned in level one of nursing school has

greatly contributed to my personal philosophy. Being given the opportunity to aid successful

nurses and CNAs has become a memorable part of level one. Being immersed into the

clinical setting allows for me as a nursing student to witness the direct and first-hand healing

that nurses provide and are capable or providing. This understanding provided comfort and

contentment knowing that this is something I believe in and am passionate about. Through

this experience I have determined that nursing is something I wish to make a career of and

confirmed my love for helping others. On the other side of the program is didactic and has

equally brought me more information than I thought was possible to learn in the short

amount of time given but has shown me that it is important to be aware of my own
Running Head: NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT 4

philosophy as well as develop personal connections with each theorist. Being in this new

learning environment has shown me that mental skills are just as crucial as physical skills

when it comes to holistic caring. Developing a philosophy this semester has additionally

taught me how to handle clients specific to their needs through the shadowing of other

caregivers. Confirming the relationship between didactic and clinical reinforced my

connection with Nightingales theory. Through her three correlations, I have witnessed that

sustaining a clean environment aids in the healing process of a patient. Moreover, I have

observed that being respectful to clients’ wishes, no matter the age, has promoted patients

into wanting to get better. Furthermore, I was able to understand the importance of having

supplies and equipment available in facilities to better accommodate patients’ needs as

Nightingale described, thought out and carried into action in the medical field.

Goals for Professional Nursing and Skill Development

To become a successful nurse, I have noticed that there needs to be constant goals in

place to continue the progression of the career. These goals need to be personal as well as

achievable. Of the many goals I have set for myself, the first is being able to confirm and

recognize a patients’ spirituality as well as religion, seeing as they slightly differ. This is

important for me to attain because I find this as an important yet looked over assessment of a

patient and their care. Additionally, this is a holistic approach to caring: the mind, body and

spirit. I feel as if I can elicit a conversation about ones’ spirituality, I would create a personal

connection with my client that truly describes who they are. A second goal that I have set for

myself is to be able to care for all patients no matter the background or history. I find it very

hard to be able to care for a patient who has previously been in jail or has wronged others,

but it is my job as their nurse to know my own limits in terms of care as well as be able to
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treat patients unbiasedly. This will be a challenging goal however, I feel with more exposure

to the clinical field, I can determine how a patient needs to be treated. The last goal I have

given myself is to make time for myself and ensure that I am in the best condition to not only

learn in class but to care for others. This means that I give myself time to eat, sleep and not

overwhelm myself as best as possible. Although this seems like a basic goal, I find it

important to take care of myself so that I am able to give my full attention and focus to each

patient to the best of my ability knowing the responsibilities I carry as a student nurse and

eventually a nurse.

Throughout the first level of nursing school I have come to terms with the determination,

amount of effort and hard work that comes with this tough yet rewarding profession. With

this, I had realized that my own thoughts, preferences and beliefs are just as important as the

patients and are relevant in terms of care. Clinical experiences as well as didactic have

imparted knowledge that has become essential to my personal nursing philosophy. I have

also realized that it is vital to establish goals to assist with the constant learning and

accomplishments that are related to health care field and to be able to acknowledge the many

theorists who contributed to this fulfilling career.

References

Arnold, E., & Boggs, K. U. (2020). Interpersonal relationships: Professional communication

skills for nurses. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Friberg, E. E., & Creasia, J. L. (2016). Conceptual foundations: The bridge to professional

nursing practice. Maryland Heights, MO: Elsevier/Mosby.