The philosophy of nursing provides the framework for the delivery of nursing care to patients. The values and beliefs included in this philosophy represent the fundamental beliefs and values on which nursing care is planned, implemented, and evaluated.
Nursing believes:
Human beings, either individually or in groups, are the focus of nursing care. Each human being is unique. This uniqueness is determined not only through their genetic and biologic composition, but also through their life experiences. As such, each individual will have different perceptions, understandings, responses and needs in nursing care. These individualities are expressed and accounted for in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of care.
Human beings may be characterized as biological, social, psychological, sensing, feeling, and
communicating. When seeking or receiving nursing care, human beings are generally exhibiting a
disturbance in one or more of these dimensions of the self. Alternatively, they may be seeking
consultation or guidance on means to achieve a higher level of functioning or wellness.
Environments co-exist with human beings in a reciprocal relationship. Environments are in direct
contact with human beings. Environments are not limited to the physical space, but may also include
the social environment, spiritual, and cultural environments. Each environment may co-exist with
the human being in a peaceful or disruptive relationship.
Each individual is a member of one or more social structures. These individual social structures
form society as a whole. The norms, rituals, and customs arise from the social structure and guide
the behavior of individuals in their various roles. Health and illness are also socially defined,
and the role behaviors of recipients and providers of care are socially defined.
Society has demonstrated a need for nursing care and has entered into a social contract with
nursing. Implicit within this social contract are ethical standards that guide the activities of
the profession and discipline of nursing.
Health is defined as the optimal functioning of all physical, psychological, social, sensing,
feeling and communicating systems. Illness is defined as less than optimal functioning of one or
more of these systems. Health and illness represent parallel dimensions, each existing on a
continuum. Health and illness may exist simultaneously in different dimensions of an individual or
group.
Since each individual is unique, health and illness will affect each person differently. Nursing
care goals and actions account for the unique nature of the health or illness state and are
adjusted appropriately.
Nursing is a helping profession. As such, nursing facilitates the movement of individuals and
groups along the health and/or illness continuum in a goal directed manner through the provision
of competent, compassionate care. Nursing care incorporates principles from the biological, social,
and physical sciences and includes physical acts, social acts, as well as presence. Nursing care
is not delivered in isolation, but rather in collaborative relationships with other professions
and disciplines. In all instances of care the patient, whether an individual or group, remains the
focus.
Nursing care is grounded in science. Nursing interventions and actions are grounded in theoretical
principles and tested through empirical research. Because of the constant presence of nursing,
outcomes of care are necessarily nurse sensitive to varying degrees. These nurse sensitive outcomes
of care are measured and evaluated. Continual refinements in the process, delivery and scientific
basis of nursing care are explored and tested in an effort to provide superlative care to our
patients.
