Nursing Philosophies Essay

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Nursing Philosophies: Personal Views on Nursing Nursing philosophies have evolved and changed throughout time. The importance of personal philosophies is to understand the beliefs and values that go along with them. Philosophies help guide nurses in their day to day practice and influence professional actions and decisions. By developing and living by a philosophy, a person can understand how they care for patients. This paper will explore the meaning of philosophies, how they are used in nursing and explore my own personal philosophies as it pertains to my nursing career.
Philosophies
“Philosophy is defined as the study of the principles underlying conduct, thought, and the nature of the universe” (Chitty & Black, 2007). When wondering, debating or thinking about something, philosophies are created. Six branches of philosophy exist. These include epistemology, logic, aesthetics, ethics, politics and metaphysics. All people develop philosophies over time. Some people don’t even think about or know what their personal philosophies are. Chitty and Black (2007) Philosophies are blueprints or outlines which incorporate personal values and belief systems. “Nursing personal philosophies interact directly with their philosophies of nursing and influence professional behaviors” (Chitty & Black, 2007). These philosophies influence the way nurses think and act on a daily basis. Most nursing philosophies include excellence in nursing practice, service and leadership. These philosophies can be individual or collective belief. Philosophies can be complicated and change over time. Chitty and Black (2007) Comparing philosophies over the years can show professional and personal growth. Many hospitals and schools have philosophies. By having a written or known philosophy, a person is able to identify how his or her beliefs and values come into play on a day to day basis.

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