The profession of nursing can yield many different meanings to many different people. Each nurse has their own philosophy of nursing in terms of what the nursing profession means to them, and what beliefs are important within the profession. To develop a nursing philosophy is important to each person’s individual practice, because it is difficult to practice with consistency without understanding the motivation that enables us as nurses to practice in the ways that we do. My nursing philosophy is based on seeing the patient population as unique people individuals, and clients. My philosophy also involves first understanding that health is a subjective experience of the client.

The person, the individual, & the client

Before all else, the profession of nursing is primarily about the people. Human beings are a complex entity, with each person encompassing a vast variety of traits, values, and experiences that all play a contributory role in making that person who they are. While other medical professions tend to focus on specific and particular areas of interest with regard to a person’s state within the health-illness continuum, the profession of nursing uses a holistic perspective to consider multiple facets of a person’s life, and how it all applies to their health status. A holistic approach to care entails viewing the whole person as a unique individual, with distinct and individual characteristics and experiences. Each individual is also regarded as a client within the realm of nursing, with whom client satisfaction is, and will always be a priority of paramount importance.

Health

One of the most cited definitions of health comes from the World Health Organization, who define health as, “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” (WHO, 1946). Although this definition was offered over 60 years ago, it remains valid in determining how health is conceptualized in the nursing profession. Individuals can be experience varying degrees of health during periods of illness, and inversely, others can experience illness during periods of overall health. I believe that the perceptions of health and illness are largely subjective experiences, which makes it essential for nurses to make every attempt to understand each client’s unique perception of illness and wellness. Nurses need to understand that no individual is always healthy or always in a state of illness, and nursing plays a vital role in helping clients navigate comfortably through the health illness continuum by the use of primary, secondary and tertiary interventions. 

Nursing: A science & an art

Nursing is a science-based profession that uses evidence-based practices to promote optimal health to the patient population. The science of nursing is growing, and will continue to grow, as there has been a recent push for nurses to continue to pursue advanced degrees in nursing, such as baccalaureate and Master’s degrees. I believe that accepting lifelong learning within nursing will help the profession advance in status, along with the other medical professions.

While empirical evidence aid nurses in taking care of the needs of clients, scientific methods and evidence by itself cannot make someone a complete nurse. It is with this thought that I consider the profession of nursing to also be an art, because there is no one way to practice nursing effectively. The way nursing is practiced is by no means black and white; there are many unique and creative approaches that nurses take to yield positive outcomes for the client population. Much like no two artists paint or draw alike, no two nurses practice their profession exactly alike. To complete the analogy, unique methods of practice and creativity help to create a “colorful” picture of outcomes, which is very different from other professions with “black and white” principles. 

Ethics

Aside from being based on scientific and evidence based models, the nursing profession is also based on several ethical principles. There are times when interventions may conflict with ethical principles, and nurses have to balance theoretically appropriate care with interventions that may be best for that client’s particular situation. Nurses must always exercise practices that potentiates the best outcomes, avoids or minimizes harm, and promote morality when taking care of the client population. I feel that it is a nurse’s deontological obligation to maintain the highest level of ethical responsibility when servicing their patients.

Nurses must also remember their roles as advocates for clients and their families / caregivers. When trust is established during the nurse-client relationship, clients often rely on the expertise of nurses to guide them in making health care decisions. Nurses must take their roles as advocates very seriously and recognize the impact that their roles as advocates can have on the outcomes of clients’ health.