Chelsea Acree
A career in the profession of nursing has been my lifelong dream, in which I am excited
to soon fulfill. I am truly passionate about caring for others and contributing to their wellbeing,
especially during some of life’s most vulnerable times. This paper serves a purpose of conveying
Merriam-Webster defines the term philosophy as “the most basic beliefs, concepts, and
attitudes of an individual or group.” It is essential to reflect upon my own values and beliefs as
they influence and guide my nursing practice. My nursing philosophy embodies evidence-based
medical knowledge integrated with compassionate care that is individualized to meet the unique
needs of each patient. I value delivery of nursing care that upholds patient dignity, autonomy and
emphasizes holistic wellbeing of each individual. I also feel it is vital that nursing efforts extend
beyond the hospital setting. I value commitment to community service, such as collaborating
with populations as equal partners to focus on primary prevention and health promotion.
Additionally, nurses fulfill an important integral role in political and social realms in the United
States. I feel nursing is a unique profession that is well-positioned to highly influence positive
changes within the healthcare setting, as well as beyond the facility walls.
meaning of wholeness and entirety. Holistic nursing care is a philosophical approach to the
treatment of illness, addressing domains of an individual beyond the mere physical, such as the
spiritual and psychological components. I firmly believe that optimal health does not equate to
the absence of disease and unpleasant physical symptomology. I view optimal health as a
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dynamic state of equilibrium and harmony among mind, body and spirit. The aforementioned
experiencing painful oral lesions due to hand, foot, and mouth disease. My patient’s mother told
me that her daughter had refused rinsing with magic mouthwash, as the patient felt afraid that it
would cause even more pain. To facilitate compliance with the prescribed treatment, I compared
a pink, star-shaped oral sponge submerged in magic mouthwash to a princess wand. I reassured
my patient that the princess wand would alleviate the “owies” (pain), and I allowed the patient to
self-administer the medication with supervision. To further encourage compliance, I had warm
pancakes nearby for my patient to enjoy after the magic mouthwash decreased the pain of her
oral lesions. My patient was able to eat breakfast soon after, which provided a great relief of
anxiety that my patient’s mother was experiencing as her child had refused to eat for days.
Unfortunately, the anesthetic properties of the magic mouthwash did not last long for my patient,
which created an obstacle to administering PRN oral Tylenol when my patient developed a fever.
I inquired about switching the medication order to IV Tylenol. It was communicated that IV
Tylenol costs significantly more than oral Tylenol. I collaborated with members of the healthcare
team to opt for IV Ketorolac, which is a less expensive option that addresses both pain and fever.
individualized and tailored to address the unique needs of each patient that are identified through
detailed assessment. When caring for an elderly individual diagnosed with terminal cancer and
nursing care that allowed for extra time to be spent with the patient. I provided quiet presence
while holding my patient’s hand, as they did not feel well for much conversation. I noticed cards
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by the window that were delivered by visitors, in which I complimented on. I read the cards to
my patient with their permission. Demonstrating awareness and sensitivity to the influence that
the surrounding environment has on an individual, I asked my patient if they would prefer their
window shades open to allow natural sunlight to shine in the room, in hopes of uplifting their
rewarding profession that is profoundly unique. I feel there is not an established definition of
nursing that holds true to each and every nurse; however, to me, nursing entails the delivery of
the ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with all members of the interdisciplinary
healthcare team, with a goal of optimizing patient outcomes. Nurses possess great flexibility to
adapt to changes in the continuously evolving healthcare profession. The nursing profession
upholds patient dignity, promotes patient autonomy, strives to extend efforts beyond the clinical
setting (i.e., communities, political reform, etc.), exercises emotional intelligence, appreciates the
diverse human experience of each patient, imparts knowledge, works toward increasing the
safety and quality of healthcare provided, and implements evidence-based interventions within
the scope of practice to nurture each patient in a holistic approach. Nursing is comprised of
values, ethical responsibilities, clinical skills, medical knowledge, all applied in a holistic
manner.
perception of the profession of nursing has expanded. Beginning nursing school, I pictured
nursing to be a profession within a hospital setting, which in retrospect, is a very limiting picture.
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The profession of nursing transcends the walls of the hospital. Nurses fulfill leadership roles that
bring about transformational changes in healthcare, communities, and within political and social
realms. Throughout the program, I have achieved a deeper understanding of the profession and
attribute greater value to the original components of my nursing philosophy. My deeply rooted
possess a greater motivation to uphold this delivery of nursing care. I feel better prepared to
fulfill my philosophy as I have gained a great deal of holistic assessment skills, emotional
intelligence, and knowledge of safe, evidence-based interventions within the nursing scope of
practice.
Nursing theorist and author, Dr. Patricia Benner, discusses her model of skill acquisition
in her book “From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice.”
Benner’s theory suggests that nurses acquire clinical competence over a course of time through
background. The author supports the idea that learning is situation-based and experiential. A
nursing student progresses through five distinct stages of clinical competence, from novice to
expert.
The first stage is referred to as novice, an entry to situations without prior experience. It
is expected that individuals in the novice stage possess a limited ability to foresee outcomes in a
given patient scenario. Rules are necessary to provide guidance in the novice’s clinical
performance. Entry into the second stage, advanced beginner, occurs after the nurse has
encountered enough experiences that allow for recognition of meaningful and recurrent
components of a scenario. A nurse transitions into the third stage, competent, when he or she
possesses conscious awareness of their initiatives in terms of distant plans. A competent nurse
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experiences feelings of mastery and has the ability to deliberately plan to achieve organization
and efficiency; however, lacks the flexibility and speed of a nurse at the proficient level. In the
fourth stage, a proficient nurse is capable of perceiving a situation as a whole, rather than in
parts, and possesses the ability to modify their plans in response to various events. The final
stage, expert, is characterized by a nurse that no longer relies on rules and guidelines to navigate
situations appropriately. An expert nurse possesses an intuitive hold on the scenario as a result of
their profound knowledge and vast experience, and is fluid and very proficient in their practice.
student nurse has provided exposure to an array of patient situations that have provided excellent
opportunities for learning and building upon my clinical competence. I refer to rules and
guidelines when navigating patient situations; however, I do not feel that I require assistance
with establishing patient priorities. I value the presence of a mentor to turn to in times of
To facilitate my transition to the next stage of skill acquisition, competent, I can develop
a plan for my learning process. I feel meaningful reflection and discussion can assist in fostering
actions, enhances practice, and allows for identification of areas for improvement.
Communication with experienced nurses as mentors can fulfill an important role in facilitation of
the learning process. Additionally, I can request a variety of patient assignments and seek new
opportunities for exposure to scenarios that allow me to build upon my clinical competence and
skills.