Philosophy of Nursing: Underlying Beliefs and Domains

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What is Nursing?

Nursing is a profession that involves providing essential health care to the patients, so they are able to live a full life and maintain proper health level. There are different definitions of what it means to work as a nurse, but all of them share a common point: proper and dedicated work of a nurse is the basis of the well-being of a patient. Those who are connected to the field of nursing know that being a good nurse does not involve only knowledge of medicine. In addition to that, it requires possessing certain features such as mercifulness and a genuine desire to help those who are in trouble. This profession cannot be described in a few words as it involves many distinct activities pointed at providing the patient with necessary medical assistance and, in some cases, psychological support. Nurses can work with newborn babies, elderly people, injured people, or ones with mental disorders and psychological traumas. Due to that, they should know how to get on the right side of different people whose needs deeply vary from each other.

Underlying Beliefs

It is customary to assume that such work is connected to the set of values based on the principle of humanity. First, nursing involves a sincere love for humankind and holding in estimation the needs and the feelings of the patient. To me, the most important value that should be shared by all nurses is compassion. The latter, together with extended medical knowledge, is likely to contribute to recuperation or amelioration of signs of the patient. Thus, the underlying beliefs of ones who decide to devote their life to nursing are likely to be connected to these peoples consciousness, responsibility, and kindheartedness.

Domains of Nursing

In general, being a nurse does not involve being a very narrowly focused specialist, as nursing science has very wide implications. Nurses are not the same as consulting physicians as the first usually do not have a right to prescribe medications to the patients. Anyway, they also have to know everything about treatment procedures in order to be ready to render assistance to a doctor. At the same time, the image of a nurse who is only a doctors helper is likely to be nothing more than the stereotype. In fact, nurses work independently or with other nurses as a group. There are many domains of nursing as the work of a nurse is an essential component of any treatment. Thus, many nurses are working in the hospitals but it is not the only option for them. Besides, there are ones working with children and newborn babies and it requires an extended knowledge in pediatrics. In addition, they can work with recently delivered women, providing them and their newborn babies with care. Nurses also work with elderly people who experience age-specific changes; their work is to help to maintain an appropriate level of health for their age. What is more, there are also professions of nurse anesthetist and nurse practitioner; the latter are given a right to prescribe medications and make the diagnosis.

Summary

These domains are closely interconnected as all these professions require proper skills and advertence. As for its future, I believe that this profession will never disappear, as there will always be a need of nurses help in the hospitals and other healthcare facilities (Scott, Matthews, & Kirwan, 2014, p.23). Nursing involves some challenges that I will face in my future work such as communicating to different patients who sometimes show quite an unsafe behavior (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2013, p. 17). To me, professional development in this sphere means gaining experience, and I would like to work with complicated cases to become a skilled specialist.

References

Burkhardt, M. A., & Nathaniel, A. (2013). Ethics and issues in contemporary nursing. Stamford, ST: Cengage Learning.

Scott, P. A., Matthews, A., & Kirwan, M. (2014). What is nursing in the 21st century and what does the 21st century health system require of nursing? Nursing Philosophy, 15(1), 23-34.

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