PHILOSOPHY OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
The following statements contain my beliefs regarding my professional nursing practice. The most important aspect of nursing is the profession’s commitment to healing, education, and clinical judgment. Most important to the professional nursing practice are the attributes of respect, caring, critical thinking, and leadership. The highest influence in my nursing practice is my belief that physical, mental, and spiritual health is paramount to the welfare of every individual. As a result, I strive to contribute to the healthcare system through providing and promoting each of these to my patients as well as members of my community. According to the RCNI journal The Nature and Scope of Nursing Practice, “Nursing is a professional discipline complementary to other health care professions” whose purpose is to “help people adopt a healthy lifestyle, to enable people to cope with their health problems and to care for people during illness in ways which promote health and healing and minimize disability” (1992). The nature of nursing, as explained in the above definition, is one which I strongly identify with in my own nursing practice. I believe nursing should be practiced in accordance with this definition in the community, healthcare facilities, schools, and all other places of nursing care. Nursing should be practiced in a clean, organized, and scientific environment. As a result, I expect the outcomes of my nursing practice to reflect that my patients demonstrate improved health as evidenced by their decreased disease, increased health education, and discharge from my care. My nursing practice is exemplified by the health education which I try to incorporate into all my patient care, as well as the evidence-based nursing technique I use. My practice is also characterized by empathy and concern for the mental, physical, and spiritual well-being of my patients. I value integrity, evidence-based practice, compassion, and leadership in my nursing practice as well as my Christian belief that all human beings are deserving of the highest care and concern.
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