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NURSING PHILOSOPHY AND PROFESSIONAL GOALS STATEMENT

Nursing Philosophy and Professional Goals Statement

Makenzie A. Bradley

Grand Canyon University: NSG-310

04/14/2019

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Nursing Philosophy and Professional Goals Statement

Nursing is more than a career. It takes dedication, compassion, hard work, and

responsibility. These attributes are not characteristics that can be taught. Often it is either in the

person or it is not. I knew I wanted to be a nurse ever since I was 12 years old. Now that I am in

the process of pursuing my dream, it is important for me to consider the steps to take to be the

best possible nurse. I can learn and grow by identifying my philosophy of nursing, reflecting on

my clinical experience and previous courses, and setting goals to improve on or achieve by the

end of this program.

Philosophy of Nursing

The foundation of nursing is caring for the patient as a whole person. Not only

responding to their needs, but also building a relationship off of trust with them. My philosophy

of nursing is based off of Watson’s caring theory. Aspects of Watson’s theory include

establishing a caring relationship with the patient, showing unconditional acceptance, using a

holistic approach that involves treating the mind, soul, spirit and body, spending uninterrupted

time with the patients and promoting health through knowledge and intervention (Jean Watson

Nursing Theory, 2016). Encouraging the patient to open up by creating a comfortable and

nonjudgmental environment will help me understand the patient better so I can treat them with

the best possible care surrounding their culture, values, and individual preferences. I believe

building good rapport with patients will increase their motivation to follow their regimen and

comply with the care plan we created and agreed on together. The objective of this is to

ultimately help the patient reach their goals and expected outcomes that were created in their

care plan, in a timely manner.

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Clinical Experience

My clinical experience contributed to the development of my philosophy of caring

because I saw the impact it has on the patients. Being placed in a long-term care facility, I saw

how the patients were treated and it was a direct reflection on their health status. Doing what I

would consider a simple task, such as helping a patient get dressed, meant the world to some of

these patients. They were brought to tears and could not thank me enough for helping them. It

showed that even the little acts nurses do with a good attitude to make a patient more

comfortable are valued among patients and demonstrate that you care for them. I have learned

that a patient’s happiness and motivation to get better plays a big part on their recovery. As a

nurse, showing that you care for them and exemplifying it by helping them, when it is necessary,

might motivate them to engage in activities that promote healing. Additionally, it may encourage

patients to take control of their health and participate in preventative actions to avoid future

complications. I also have learned that nurses have a big impact on their patients because they

spend the most time with them, therefore building that relationship is so important in a patient’s

recovery.

Personal Goals

Setting goals are not only important for patients, but for students and nurses as well. It

gives you a focus and allows you to measure progress. By the end of this program, I have set

goals to be confident in my skills in knowing what to do in unexpected situations, improving my

critical thinking, and communicating with patients and their families. Having confidence plays a

big part in role performance. Unexpected situations are going to arise and being on your toes,

remaining calm and confidently making decisions can separate a patient from life and death.

Being prepared and thinking ahead of time exemplifies critical thinking. For example, if you
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suspect your patient is going to need a medication, call the doctor ahead of time so you can give

the medication before the symptoms worsen. Although having skills is important, nursing is

about caring for the whole person. Communicating with them and their family provides comfort.

Patients are in a vulnerable state when they are in the hospital therefore, showing compassion,

being honest with them, and advocating for them can help them feel more secure. These skills

are not going to unfold overnight. It takes time to develop and will come with practice and

experience. Nursing school is the foundation of knowledge, but there is an exponential growth

once you graduate and begin working bedside consistently within a unit. Reflecting back on

these past four months, I have already learned so much; I cannot wait to see where I will be a

year from now.

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References

Jean Watson Nursing Theory. (2016). Retrieved April 14, 2019, from http://www.nursing-

theory.org/theories-and-models/watson-philosophy-and-science-of-caring.php