My Philosophy of nursing is that every nurse has a professional responsibility to provide competent, kind, and respectful care to every patient in need regardless of economic status, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation.  Nurses are often the front line staff patients see when they come enter a medical facility or hospital, and it is up to the nurse to provide a great first impression and build trust with such patient.

            I am a mother, daughter, sister, great friend, and a nurse.  I go out of my way to help others and I am constantly aware of my surroundings.  My personality is easy to get along with and my funniness makes laughing contagious.  I practice nursing at New York Presbyterian Hospital in the Infectious Disease med surgical unit.

            Nursing is one of the most important professions led by formal education and lifelong experiences and journeys.  Nursing exist to help those in need of emotional, physical, and psychological assistance.  Nursing also exists to care for those who are ill and need to be nursed back to their optimal state of health.  I practice nursing because I absolutely love to engage and communicate with people.  I love to be needed and to help those who are in need.

            My assumptions about nurses are that they are competent and caring.  They are often underpaid and overworked.  Even on their hardest days the majority of nurses focus on doing the right thing for their patient.  Nurses are advocates, counselors, healers, and confidants.  They play many different roles and deep inside they know their career is very rewarding.  Patients are complex and vulnerable when they are sick.  They look for that one person they can connect with and trust with their care.  They can see right through their nurses and often times they put those feelings to the test.  Patients seek to get help without being judged and being accepted and treated fairly regardless of color, sexual orientation, religion, or race.  Health care providers are people who have one common goal which is to provide care for those in need.  Health care providers and nurses also need to work as a team so the patient has the best possible outcome.   A community consists of a social unit that shares common places, values, or beliefs.  Communities can be close knit and very guarded, as well as very safe or very dangerous.  As health care professionals, we must begin and continue the process of understanding the community we work with.

            Every person is unique in their own way and should be treated as an individual who can make choices and be respected.  For example, if a person is in pain you must respect their perception of pain and treat them with empathy, compassion, and respect.  Health is when a person has reached their personal optimal level of health.  For instance, a person could have a double below the knee amputation and still be at their optimal health physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Health is perceived differently by everyone. The environment plays a big role in someone’s health. People who live in an apartment that is mice infested and full of mold, result in having a worse health outcome then people who live in a suburb and in a well maintained private home. 

            The person, environment, and health are connected because the person’s beliefs, values, culture, environment, and social support system ultimately define a person’s health status.  Nursing is a wonderful field full of excitement, sadness, courage, wisdom, and knowledge that is acquired through education and personal experiences.

               In conclusion, I face challenges on a daily basis as a new nurse.  It is difficult to manage my time and to provide patient education with the small time frame we are given.  I also struggle with lack of experience.  I am still at the stage where I don’t have enough experience to know what I don’t know.  My manager always tells me that not knowing is a good thing. In fact, she believes she is more afraid of nurses that believe they know everything because you must always second guess yourself to keep you on your toes.  My first goal is to continue to grow and learn every day.  I am currently working to complete my BSN, and then I intend to apply for and complete my MSN.  My second goal is to practice bedside nursing without ever losing my passion for it. The most rewarding part of my career, is receiving thanks from patients under my care. 3 Not a day goes by where I regret the career I chose.