A personal philosophy of nursing is a concise statement that summarizes a nurse's values, professional role, and beliefs about patient care. It can also include the nurse's intentions regarding career development. A nursing philosophy strengthens professional interactions and guides a nurse’s approach to patient care.
Nursing is both a science and an art. It blends evidence-based practices with a code of professional ethics, soft skills, and personal values, all of which influence how nurses provide care, interact with patients, and support their fellow providers. As you progress through nursing school, take time to reflect on your personal values as they apply to nursing and use that framework to develop your personal philosophy of nursing.
At Concordia University, St. Paul, we infuse Christian values into our nursing curriculum, encouraging our students to become compassionate healthcare providers who prioritize professional ethics and personal values. Concordia University, St. Paul’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program will enable you to become a nurse sooner than you’d think. You can graduate in as few as 16 months with our Accelerated BSN and be ready to take the NCLEX-RN and provide competent, compassionate care.
Before you become a nurse, however, spend some time thinking about what a nursing philosophy means, why it matters for your career, and how you can develop one.
What a Personal Philosophy of Nursing Really Means
A philosophy for nursing is a statement, ideally written down, that explains your motivation for joining the healthcare field, as well as your personal values, ethics, and beliefs as they pertain to nursing. A personal philosophy explains what this profession means to you, how you approach patient care, and how you intend to uphold high standards of professionalism. It can also guide your plans regarding continuing education, career growth, and engagement with the community.
Core Elements That Shape a Nursing Philosophy
Before developing a personal philosophy of nursing for yourself, it’s important to know the main elements that comprise it. These include the following:
- Role: This refers to your role in the nursing field, influenced in large part by the nursing specialty you choose. For example, a large part of the role of a hospice nurse is to provide emotional support to patients and their loved ones.
- Personal and professional values: Your personal and professional values may be influenced by your cultural and social experiences, relationships, and needs. In turn, your values will influence your attitude, moral judgment, and behavior in your role as a nurse.
- Knowledge: Your personal philosophy toward nursing will also be influenced by your nursing education and clinical training.
- Beliefs: Your beliefs will shape how you approach patient care. What do you believe is essential for quality care? Think about concepts like therapeutic communication, holistic nursing care, and cultural competence.
These components will shape your personal philosophy, while also taking into consideration factors such as:
- How you can best meet the needs of your patients
- The qualities you believe are critical for good nursing practice
- What nursing means to you
- Your motivation for becoming a nurse
- Your nursing career goals
Why Creating a Personal Philosophy Matters for Your Growth as a Nurse
Nursing is an exciting career because growth in this field is endless. A good nurse is never done learning and changing over time. A nursing philosophy supports this continual growth and change.
Having a personal philosophy is crucial for your career and can improve your nursing skills. Some of its top benefits can include the following:
- Articulating and adhering to your values as a nurse can help improve your interactions with your colleagues, your patients, and their family caregivers.
- Being guided by a personal philosophy can sustain your motivation and fuel your emotional resilience as you navigate various challenges in the workplace.
- Your personal philosophy can support your work to provide ethical, competent, and evidence-based nursing care.
- Understanding the impact you would like to make on patient care can help guide your career development decisions.
- You’ll be able to use your personal philosophy as a framework for writing a meaningful objective or summary statement on your nursing CV.
- Nursing job applicants are sometimes asked questions about their values, ethics, and soft skills during interviews. A personal philosophy can provide a reference point, better equipping you to answer these questions.
How Your Values and Beliefs Influence the Way You Provide Care
Nursing is about more than health science and evidence-based treatment modalities. Treating others with respect, acting with integrity, and working toward justice and equity are also key. Nurses are advocates who must adhere to high standards of professionalism, and their personal values often manifest in the care they provide.
For example, a nurse who values dignity for all will go the extra mile to help patients preserve their modesty. A nurse who values inclusivity will work to recognize their own implicit biases and overcome them, treating all patients with respect. A nurse who values empathy will develop a strong rapport with patients, helping patients feel seen, heard, and supported. Each of these values, among others, can help you become a better, more effective nurse who champions the rights and needs of your patients and helps create a more positive work culture.
Discover the critical importance of cultural competence and inclusivity in nursing.
Nursing Philosophy Examples to Help You Reflect and Write Your Own
Before you start to develop your own written statement that captures your personal philosophy, it can be helpful to explore some nursing philosophy examples. Consider the following:
“As a current nursing student, it’s my duty to refine my clinical skills and learn as much as I can about nursing practice so that I can provide good patient care. My values include being hardworking, honest, and accountable, and keeping an open mind regarding feedback and instruction.”
“In my role as a hospice nurse, I apply compassion and empathy to every patient and family interaction. I affirm the right of my patients to live out the remainder of their days in comfort, and I work to preserve their dignity and fulfill the needs of patients and families for emotional support.”
Steps to Write Your Own Personal Philosophy of Nursing
The first step to take when writing your own nursing philosophy is to spend some time in honest reflection. It’s a good idea to brainstorm your ideas on paper or in a digital document. Write down everything that comes to mind when you think about your values, beliefs, career development, professional role, and other aspects of the nursing profession. Think about why nursing is important to you and what motivated you to become a nurse. Speak to other nurses about their own philosophies and find what resonates with you as well.
After reflecting and brainstorming, organize the concepts you’ve written down. Create a list of your personal values and a separate list of your strengths as a nurse or as a nursing student. Then, write down your goals as a nurse, both for your career and for your approach to patient care.
Next, write a statement that concisely summarizes the most important and relevant concepts.
Keep in mind that your personal philosophy will evolve over time. If you’re currently a nursing student, for example, the statement you write now may guide you through the rest of your time in school. After you’ve graduated and gained some clinical experience as a licensed RN, you may discover that it’s time to revise your philosophy. Revisit it periodically to ensure it still accurately captures your approach to nursing.
Select strong nursing student competencies when developing your CV.
Shape Your Future as a Nurse at CSP Global
Concordia University, St. Paul’s ABSN program can be your pathway toward pursuing a rapid transition into the nursing field. After completing any needed prerequisites, you could earn a nursing degree in as few as 16 months. Along the way, you’ll benefit from practical training at our ABSN learning centers, as well as immersive, clinical learning experiences and thorough NCLEX prep resources.
You may be eligible to apply if you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 54 non-nursing college credits. Contact an admissions advisor at CSP Global to learn more about the admissions process.