1

PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

Nursing Philosophy Paper

Cortney DeGrace
NUR 300
 2
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

As a nurse, in addition to the hands-on tasks we perform, it is our duty to educate those

around us. This could be as a supervisor to the staff or other caretakers, explaining information to

the family, or to the patient directly. The education and knowledge that I expect to obtain, as a

student in the BSN program will help me provide my patients with the best care possible. As a

teacher to my co-workers, patients and their families, it will help my staff and patients obtain

knowledge about their health, medications, steps and procedures (Healthypractice.in, 2017). It

will help my staff and I ensure that we are all working together to obtain the goal of overall

excellent patient care, health and safety.

VALUES

It is a strong belief of mine that all people be treated equally and given as much

independence as possible. Everyone should be treated the same regardless of race, religion, or

mental status. Although the majority of the cliental that I serve is developmentally disabled, it

does not mean they should be treated differently. They may not be able to understand everything

that is going on, or what we are trying to communicate to them. This does not mean that they

deserve less care than those who are able to communicate for themselves or those who are

normal. Nor should they be deprived of the independence that all other civilians have. This is

where education comes into play. Many people who are not exposed to those who are

developmentally disabled are often fearful of them, or feel that since they are not contributing

citizens they do not deserve the resources or care that a normal person would. This is an

example of how life-long learning is beneficial to all nurses.

 3
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

Lifelong long learning means the hunt for knowledge. This could mean for personal or

professional gain. As a nurse, lifelong learning is inevitable. The medical field is always

changing causing all medical personnel to learn and adapt through the changes. Technology that

supports healthcare, diagnoses, procedures and medications are just a few examples.

It has always been my goal to immerse myself in an environment that gives me the

opportunity to utilize my skills and encourages me acquire new skills or knowledge. Knowing

that the medical field is always changing and that the majority of facilities now require all their

nurses to have their BSN, starting the RN to BSN program was a no brainer. Although it does

not help me climb the professional ladder at my current job, it is the next logical step towards

achieving my goal of becoming a Nurse Practitioner.

NURSING THEORY

When studying the variety of nursing theories, Nancy Ropers Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of

Living was the one that I felt most reflected my personal nursing philosophy. The theory is a

plan of care that is based around an individuals abilities and the promotion of maximum

independence in activities of daily living. The activities listed in the Roper-Logan-Tierney

model include (Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Living, 2017):

Maintaining a safe environment Washing and dressing

Communication Controlling temperature

Eating and drinking Mobilization

Elimination Working and playing

Breathing Sleeping
 4
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

Working with and caring for those who are developmentally disabled, it is our duty to ensure that

the individuals live to their fullest potential. We try to let them be as independent as possible and

have life experiences as similar to their non-disabled peers as possible. When applying the

activities associated with the Roper-Logan-Tierney theory, having a safe environment is an

essential part of caring for those disabilities. This includes bed rails, specific toileting

accommodations, bed alarms, chair alarms, and mats around the bed for possible

falls. Communication is also essential to caring for those with developmental disabilities. At our

facility we have a speech therapist on staff during the week. She helps our clients utilize their

established skills to provide them with a form of communication that allows them to talk.

There are various devices that they use to for this purpose, for example; i.e. touch boards, I pads,

and switches. The speech therapist also evaluates all individuals ability to chew and swallow.

Their diets are adjusted as needed. This might require thickened liquids, and ground or pureed

meals. All elimination habits are monitored and promoted every two hours. All of the clients that

can walk are encouraged to use walking as their primary mode of mobilization. Those who are

wheelchair bound are encouraged to self-propel; whether it be by using their hands to roll the

wheels or utilizing switches to control an electric wheelchair. Individuals who are higher

functioning are encouraged to work and participate in day programs. This is a way for them to

earn an income, similar to other individuals in society. Independence is promoted in all activities

including toileting, bathing, getting dressed, food preparation, eating and mobilization. As a

nurse, I feel that there is much more to caring for the residents than making sure they take their

medications. These are people who require the medical staff to care for them as a whole

person. Having them do daily living activities independently will help them have the best

quality of life possible.

 5
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

PERSONAL WELLNESS

Personal Wellness effects ones professional role. An individual must ensure that they are

taken care of personally before they can take care of others. It is hard to give quality care to our

patients if we ourselves are in a need of care. To promote optimal independence on our clients,

we must be able to ensure that we can be there as a resource if they are unable to do tasks.

Physically, we must make sure that we can hold them, and/or transfer them without an

issue.

Socially, it is important to seek interaction with others besides the ones that you work

with. For the patients, the staff need to ensure that they are not stuck in the daily grind of

things. This ultimately makes the staff happier, and the clients happier in the long run.

Emotionally, it is important to have the staff members in a stable place. Although it is

hard, we cannot have negative energy surrounding the clients at any time. This can make them

feel as if they are not performing their tasks up to expectation and ultimately discourage them

from being independent.

Intellectually, it is important for all staff members to have continuing education. Like

mentioned earlier, the healthcare field is vastly changing. In order for all health care providers to

ensure that they can care for patients, they need to promote a healthy learning environment for

themselves. Not all people want to further their education at a college but they will need to adapt

with the changes that will occur throughout the field. One is not able to learn, educate or promote

independence in a stressful state.

 6
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

PATIENT SAFETY

Nursing is not only caring for the acute issues that may arise, it is also caring for the

patient as a whole. It is my belief that all people should be treated equally and given the most

independence possible, including those with developmental disabilities. It is a patients right to

be safe at all times. To ensure safety while being independent, multiple measures can be taken.

For example, to promote independence to an individual that likes to drink quickly a cup with an

inverted lid is offered. This is to promote drinking at a slower speed. Ensuring that the client is

able to drink safely without choking or aspirating. Multiple adaptive equipment is available for

dining independence. Special needs dining utensils, drinking aids and adaptive eating

equipment make dining less work and more enjoyable. They help people with a wide range of

disabilities or physical challenges and are perfect for the home, school or healthcare setting.

Cups and drinking aids have been adapted for easy pick up and holding. Plates and bowls have

built up rims and edges to capture food on the utensil. Utensils with large, angled or weighted

handles are easier to grasp and reach your mouth. Help someone eat independently and with

dignity with adaptive special needs dining aids. (Dining Aids, 2017)

Another precaution taken for independence is bed alarms and floor mats. This is a better

alternative than bedrails. The individuals obtain the opportunity to get out of bed as needed. Staff

is then warranted by the alarm to monitor the client. This is to ensure that staff is available incase

assistance is needed. The floor mat is present to prevent any injury in case the individual falls out

of bed, or falls in process of mobilization. Having the clients in a bed with bedrails, or in an

enclosed bed would be considered a restrictive environment.

 7
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

LEADERSHIP

As a leader, I feel like it a necessity to promote independence and equality. This does not

only include the clients, but the staff nurses as well. All nurses have an equal say on the plan of

care for the patients. They all individually do their assessments and have a nursing judgement

based on that. I do feel though it is permissible to ask another nurse for their opinion. This is how

they gain confidence to become leaders. They gain experience clinically with the medical staff

and the clients making them more adapt to a leadership role.

 8
PHILOSOPHY PAPER NUR 300

REFERENCES

6 Roles Nurses Play that Truly Make Them the Heart of Healthcare. (2016, October 07).

Retrieved August 18, 2017, from http://healthypractice.in/index.php/2016/10/07/6-roles-

nurses-play-that-truly-make-them-the-heart-of-healthcare/

Dining Aids. (2017). Retrieved September 24, 2017, from

https://www.especialneeds.com/shop/daily-living-aids/dining-aids.html?p=2

Disability and Health. (2017, August 03). Retrieved September 24, 2017, from

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/disabilityandhealth/people.html

Roper-Logan-Tierney Model of Living. (2017). Retrieved September 24, 2017, from

http://nursing-theory.org/theories-and-models/roper-model-for-nursing-based-on-a-

model-of-living.php