My Personal Definition of Nursing: a Reflection on the Metaparadigm of Nursing
In this reflective piece, the author explores their personal definition of nursing and its alignment with the metaparadigm of nursing. The essay will delve into the core concepts of nursing – person, environment, health, and nursing – and how they interconnect in the practice of nursing. The overview aims to offer an introspective look at the philosophical underpinnings of nursing and the author’s beliefs about the role and responsibilities of nurses in healthcare. On PapersOwl, there’s also a selection of free essay templates associated with Cognition.
How it works
Contents
Introduction to My Nursing Philosophy
Philosophy puts effort into discovering knowledge and truth and attempts to recognize what is valuable and important (McEwen, 2-14, pg. 7). I’ve been a nurse for two years, and I haven’t spent much time thinking about what my philosophy of nursing is; no one has asked me this question before, so as you read this paper, you will see a nurse evolving and finding her philosophy in nursing through her experiences. Every person holds a set of values and beliefs that guides their decision-making.
That’s why it’s important to identify them. I’ve wanted to be a nurse since I was four years old; being a nurse means everything to me. My patient always tells me, “You really love what you do, and it shows.”
Developing a Personal Philosophy in Nursing
My philosophy in nursing is to follow your gut or intuition and that you can only go off of what you know, and if you don’t know, ask. I’m whatever that patient needs that day. If they need me to be strong for them, I’m strong; if I need to be assertive and take control of the situation, that’s what I’ll do. If I need to be their voice or advocator, then that’s what I am on that day. I build connections, rapport, and trust with my patients. It’s my goal or philosophy to take care of the patient as a whole, and to me, that includes taking care of their family too. W
Understanding the Metaparadigm of Nursing
hen understanding my philosophical outlook includes theories and paradigms. I will be focusing on the metaparadigm of nursing, which is comprised of four areas: person, health, Environment, and nursing. The meta paradigm is important because it guides us in focusing on these four parts when providing patient care.
The Four Components of the Nursing Metaparadigm
The purpose and function of the metaparadigm are to summarize the intellectual and social missions of the discipline and place boundaries on the subject matter of that discipline (McEwen, 2014, pg.41). The first is the person, the focus of the nurse’s attention and can be expanded to their family, the nurse must be caring, culturally sensitive, empathetic, empowering, and respectful. The care that the nurse provides needs to be considered based on the patient’s needs, whether it’s spiritual, social, or healthcare-related. If the patient has positive experiences with his nurses and good rapport, he can have better outcomes. Secondly is health, a patient’s wellness; it’s also important to assess their access to healthcare. I find this one a bit confusing and would eliminate it because I feel that everyone has a different definition of health or what healthy is.
Third is Environment, which focuses on the patient’s surroundings. This is very important because the patient’s Environment needs to be conducive to healing or safe. If a patient doesn’t feel safe in their Environment or in their interactions with family, this can have a negative effect on the patient. Lastly is nursing, the purpose of nursing is to place the patient in the best condition for nature to restore health (McEwen, 2014, pg. 42).
Importance of Collaboration in Nursing
The nursing component is the delivery of prime healthcare with good health outcomes by utilizing nursing skills and interventions in a caring and safe environment. Although the meta paradigm is important when providing patient care, I feel that it is missing one very important part, which is collaboration. Interprofessional collaboration is pivotal for patient-centered care. It improves patient experience and the health of the population and reduces costs. When a patient is admitted, they see and work with so many different people, from doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and case managers. It puts the patient at the center of the healthcare team’s focus and allows all health professionals to improve patient outcomes. Knowing your philosophy is important because it’s what guides your decision-making, and using something like the meta paradigm can help us focus on certain parts of patient care to focus on.
Works Cited
- McEwen, M. (2014). Theoretical Basis for Nursing. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health.
- Benner, P. (2001). From Novice to Expert: Excellence and Power in Clinical Nursing Practice. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
- Chinn, P. L., & Kramer, M. K. (2017). Knowledge development in nursing: Theory and process. Elsevier Health Sciences.
- McCance, T., McCormack, B., & Dewing, J. (2011). An Exploration of Person-Centredness in Practice. Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 16(2).
My Personal Definition of Nursing: A Reflection on the Metaparadigm of Nursing. (2023, Jun 19). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/my-personal-definition-of-nursing-a-reflection-on-the-metaparadigm-of-nursing/
