Compassion and Caring: My Philosophy of Nursing Practice In nursing, it is important to have a personal philosophy of the profession. It dictates how a person deals with the day-to-day tasks and obstacles that nurses will face. Patient populations are ever-changing, with some much sicker than others, and various lengths of stay expected. The nurse will encounter different cultures and beliefs in their practice, some contrary to their own. Their philosophy of nursing will be evident with how they handle the various aspects of the job. One thing that all patients have in common is that they are in a vulnerable situation. They are in the hospital, many confined to their room or bed. Some have family with them. Others must face their sickness on their own. They are in the hospital for nursing care, and that is what should be provided for them. A nurse is a caregiver and advocate for the patient. A nurse is not there only to pass medications and take vital signs. A nurse is there to not only take care of their physical needs, but also to help them when they are at a vulnerable time. A nurse should not only be knowledgeable about healthcare, but also be compassionate and caring to the patient.
Choice of Nursing For me, nursing was not something that I had initially thought about doing, even though both of my parents were in and out of hospitals for various ailments and surgeries. I liked history, and was going to study it at a university. Shortly before I left, I had an epiphany. I realized that I wanted to spend my career not studying the past, but helping people when they are at their worst. I started thinking about the times my mother and father were in the hospital. Sometimes, I could remember their nurse. They stayed in the room and talked, and took their mind off of the fact that they were in the hospital in pain, if only for a little while. Unfortunately,