NSG 463 Nursing Philosophy Paper
NSG 463 Nursing Philosophy Paper
NSG 463 Nursing Philosophy Paper
important to them, what they believe in, and how to prioritize the two in their life to create a
healthy balance. For some, prioritizing those principles may lead to changing units or choosing
to leave the field entirely. A personal philosophy, specifically one for nursing, can help a person
focus on what is important and remember it throughout their career. Living by a personal
philosophy allows someone the opportunity to identify, clarify and place their values in order
(Denehy, 2001). The beauty in a nursing philosophy is that no two are the same. To complete the
philosophy, it is a necessary step to look back over what brought about the passion and the desire
to become a nurse.
Since I was little, I knew I wanted to be a nurse like my grandmother. Immediately after
high school, I entered into a nursing program at a 4-year private university. I was enthusiastic
about helping people and being at the bedside. Unfortunately, due to tuition costs, I had reached
my cap on the amount I could borrow for student loans. I was not financially able to afford to
pay out of pocket and withdrew. Afterward, I went on to receive my Bachelor of Science degree
logistics, and human resources, but there was always an urge to become a registered nurse. In my
late twenties, with a husband and toddler, I decided to do just that. While I doubted my abilities
to pursue such a rigorous undergraduate program, I knew that I had the determination and the
focus to accomplish this goal. Research has shown that second career nurses are not only older
but usually more motivated and shine brighter in both the classroom and in a clinical setting
I enrolled and was accepted into an associate degree program at my local community
college, specifically, a hybrid track that held all lecture classes online. While I knew this would
be a long road to my final goal of earning my Doctorate of Nursing in Education degree, this
track allowed me to work part-time as a Care Partner and support my family while in school full
time. Having already earned a bachelor’s degree, I knew that I had options once I graduated,
such as James Madison University’s RN to BSN program. During this time, I was also fortunate
enough to work at a hospital that funded my tuition, continues to do so. My idea of what it meant
to be a nurse changed while in school and working at the bedside. I realized that I was not going
to feel fulfilled every day and that there were days when I would wonder if I had the strength to
wake up and do it all over again. This was never truer than when the COVID-19 pandemic
started. Suddenly, I was immersed in an environment that not only was everchanging but was
now doing so by the day. As new information emerged concerning the virus, how it is
transmitted, and our best to keep our patients safe, we changed our practices and habits. New
ethical dilemmas presented themselves as nurses were asked, and expected, to continue
delivering care despite having adequate protective equipment and knowledge (Morley et al.,
2020). There were moments of mental and physical fatigue that I have never experienced before,
and each moment was about keeping ourselves and our patients safe. If the past year has taught
Each day I come home, see my family, and remember why I went to school with a two-year-old
at home and why I enrolled in my second bachelor's degree program while being pregnant and a
new graduate nurse. When at work, as a critical care nurse, I see patients on a rotating basis. I
treat each of them as if they were my mother, father, sister, or grandmother, regardless of when I
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receive verbal and physical abuse. Occasionally, a patient holds my hand and expresses how
much they appreciated the massage I gave them or the shoulder I lent for them to cry on. Those
moments bring me back to why I spend an entire day away from my family to take care of
someone else’s.
As a nurse, I see myself being an innovator and initiator. I believe there are at least ten
different ways to get from point A to point B, and I enjoy that part of my job means inventing
new ways to do something. I appreciate being part of a team motivated by giving those on our
unit the best patient-centered care. As a nursing student, I discovered a passion to teach, by
leading study sessions with fellow students and continue to follow that path. I have become a
nurse preceptor for new graduate nurses, and I mentor student nurses in their senior synthesis
portion of nursing school. Being able to help others understand what they like about nursing and
to figure out where they see themselves in this field is something I want to continue to do
professionally.
Resiliency and compassion despite mental fatigue, physical exhaustion, and without
expecting a show of gratitude; that is what it means to be a nurse. Becoming a registered nurse,
for me, was not a smooth path. I overcame adversity being an older student, being rejected, and
entering the field in a time of total uncertainty. However, I find joy in knowing that I have
chosen the right career and can do what makes me happy every day.
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References
Nursing, 17(1), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.1177/105984050101700101
Morley, G., Grady, C., McCarthy, J., & Ulrich, C. M. (2020). COVID-19: Ethical challenges for
Rainbow, J. G., & Steege, L. M. (2018). Transition to practice experiences of first- and second-
1204. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14726