My Explication of Nursing
Reginea’ Alexander
Northwestern State University
NURB 3030-01N
Dr. Theresa Kyzar PhD, RN
November 9, 2017
What Is Nursing and What Makes It Unique?
Nursing is defined as the protection, promotion, and optimization of clients’ health and abilities, the prevention of disease and illness, and the alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response to disease and injury (American Nurses Association [ANA]). Nursing is a unique field of study and there are many factors that gives it this remarkable distinction. The most unique thing about nursing is the fact that it follows a holistic approach. When caring for patients, nurses look at the whole human not just their physical disease or injury. Nurses want to get to the “root” of the problem. This means that they take into account psychological, environmental, social, and sometimes spiritual factors that may contribute to the patient’s affliction. They do this by connecting with patients. When patients form strong connections with nurses, they start to trust them more which helps with the restoration of their health.
Furthermore, nurses are advocates for their patients. They realize patients’ potential when they are caring for them, making care plans that are patient-centered.
Why Nursing Is a Profession?
Nursing is a profession that is sometimes looked down upon & questioned about whether it is actually a profession. Many people see nursing simply as a job or occupation; however, there aspects that say otherwise. According to Catalano (2015), a profession is “a type of occupation that requires prolonged preparation and formal qualifications and meets certain higher level criteria that raise it to a level above that of an occupation” (p. 4). Additionally, Catalano gives traits that make a profession from three social scientists, Abraham Flexner, Elizabeth Bixler, and Eliza Pavalko. The traits that considers a profession are: high intellectual level, high level of individual responsibility and accountability, specialized body of knowledge, knowledge that can be learned in institutions of high education, public service and altruistic activities, public service valued over financial gain, high degree of autonomy and independence of practice, well-organized and strong organization representing the members of the profession and controlling the quality of practice, a code of ethics, strong professional identity and commitment, and lastly, demonstration of professional competency and possession of legally recognized license. Nursing complies with every one of these characteristics, which makes it a profession.
Another aspect that backs nursing as a profession are values associated with the field. Values of professionalism include autonomy, altruism, human dignity, integrity, and social justice.
Altruism
Altruism is defined as the concern for the welfare and well being of others (Shaw & Degazon, 2008). The value of altruism is significant in the field of nursing because it shows the selflessness of nurses. Nurses are described as altruistic because they are beneficial to their patients. Nurses put themselves in risk daily with the all of the different diseases and illnesses they are exposed to nonetheless, they continue to do their jobs to promote their patients’ health.
Autonomy
Autonomy is said to be crucial to successful practice in nursing. Autonomy is “the right to self-determination and self-direction, even amid challenges and obstacles, and disadvantages” (Shaw & Degazon, 2008). Nurses provide support to patients as they strive to relieve them of troubles. As stated earlier, nurses are patient advocates. They aid patients in decisions, making sure that they are aware of all of their options, as well as understanding them.
Human Dignity
Human dignity is very important in the profession of nursing. Respecting individuals’ uniqueness is essential. Nurses should never judge or make assumptions during their practice because every one person is not the same. Though some patients may come from the same background or culture, it doesn’t mean that they should be cared for in the same manner. In the nursing profession, reverence to human dignity is a part of the ethical standards. Not honoring one’s dignity could lead to misconception or malpractice.
Integrity
Integrity is acting in accordance with the code of ethics or other guidelines (Shaw & Degazon, 2008). Integrity sort of goes hand in hand with the value of human dignity in the way that it could also lead to malpractice and misconception if not followed accordingly. Nurses who follow this value goes with what is right and they do what they were taught to do. When achieving this value, patients are put in a better perspective when they are being cared for.
Social Justice
Social justice refers to treating patients and other individuals equally and unbiased. In the nursing field, services and resources should be allocated impartially. Social justice also gives light to “upholding moral, legal, and humanistic principles” (Shaw & Degazon, 2008).
Nursing Theorists
Nursing theorists are vital to continuum profession of nursing. Nursing theorists are those who develop theories and concepts that contribute to the nursing profession. There are many theorists who paved the way for nurses, but two in particular that stand out the most to me are Florence Nightingale and Jean Watson.
Florence Nightingale
Florence Nightingale is known as the “philosophical founder of modern nursing and the first recognized theorist” (Dossey, 2010, pg. 16). Nightingale’s theory is based upon the environment which is “interpreted as all external conditions and influences that affect the life and development of an organism capable of preventing, suppressing, or contribute to disease and death” (De Almeida Medeiros, Cruz Enders, & De Carvalho Lira, 2015, pg. 519). Nightingale believed, and has now been proven, that unsanitary conditions pose as a hazard to individuals’ health. Nightingale’s theory follows the four metaparadigms of nursing—person, environment, nursing, and health.
In the future, I hope to model my career as a nurse behind Nightingale’s theory. Nightingale’s theory has advantaged not only nursing, but the health care field as whole, to be more aware of environmental circumstances and not the physical nature of the patient. The impact that her idea of nursing has made on the profession undoubtedly changed the profession for the better, and her theory continues to evolve. In 2013, Masterson states, “Florence wanted nurses to continually learn… she noted that the practice of nursing should be changing constantly for the benefit of the patient’s health” (Masterson, 2013, pg. 16).
Jean Watson
Jean Watson’s theory is based upon caring. Watson view caring as a “set of universal humanistic altruistic values” (Watson, 2007, pg. 132). Watson (2007, pg. 132) also states that humanistic values consists of kindness, empathy, concern, and love for self and others. Watson’s theory of caring is an art and science, like many other theories in nursing. Besides that, she also insists that the art and science of nursing intertwines with spirituality and humanities. Watson’s theory is comprised of three elements: carative factors, transpersonal relationships, and caring occasion or moment (Cara, 2003, pg.51)
The carative factors of Watson’s theory serve as a guideline for affective caring practice. The carative factors of her theory features 10 core values in which Watson named it the “10 Caritas Processes”. This process is as followed:
1. Sustaining humanistic-altruistic values by practice of loving-kindness, compassion, and equanimity.
2. Being authentically present, enabling faith/hope/belief system; honoring subjective inner, life world of self/others.
3. Being sensitive to self and others by cultivating own spiritual practices; beyond ego-self to transpersonal presence.
4. Developing and sustaining loving, trust-caring relationships.
5. Allowing for expression of positive and negative feelings—authentically listening to another person’s story.
6. Creatively problem-solving-‘solution-seeking’ through caring process; full use of self and artistry of caring-healing practices via use of all ways of knowing/being/doing/becoming.
7. Engaging in transpersonal teaching and learning within context of caring relationship; staying within other’s frame of reference-shift toward coaching model for expanded health/wellness.
8. Creating a healing environment at all levels; subtle environment for energetic authentic caring presence.
9. Reverentially assisting with basic needs as sacred acts, touching mindbodyspirit of spirit of other; sustaining human dignity.
10. Opening to spiritual, mystery, unknowns-allowing for miracles.
The second element of Jean Watson’s theory is transpersonal relationships. Transpersonal relationships goes beyond the self in an inductive matter (broader perspective). To affectively, care for a patient on a transpersonal level, one must be in a positive and reflective state with oneself. This element is vital to caring for promoting patient health because nurses must form a trusting, authentic relationship with patients. Transpersonal relationships between nurses and patients “allows one to reach deeper spiritual connections to promote the patient’s comfort and healing” (Cara, 2003, pg. 53). Successfully establishing a transpersonal relationship increases the chance that the goal of the patient will be reached.
The last element of Watson’s theory is caring occasion or moment. This element is when the nurse comes together with another individual and values of caring are reached. Watson calls this a “human-to-human transaction” (Cara, 2003, pg. 53). During these moments, nurses share their “story”.
I aspire to apply Watson’s theory toward my clinical practice as a nurse by following her concepts of caring in order to promote the health of the patients I will be caring for. By forming connections with patients, I hope to give them a sense of assurance when aiding them.
My Definition of Nursing
There are many different definitions nursing, and I do believe there should be many different definitions because I think every nurse has their own personal definition because of what they may believe in or have experienced. Personally, my definition of nursing is the caring and assisting of patients with the goal of enhancing their health to the highest possible degree. I also feel that as a nurse, you are responsible for making patients and their families feel hopeful and confident in the care they are receiving.
My definition of nursing is influenced by personal encounters. My grandmother was a diabetic, a dialysis patient, an amputee of both of her lower extremities, and a cancer survivor. Nurses were a part of her daily and as a young child, I could feel the positive connections and relationships between the nurses and my grandmother. The nurses not only made my grandmother comfortable & encouraged her, but they also gave my family a sense of encouragement through her fight with the illnesses. Until the time of her death & even after that, the nurses consoled us and empathized during our grieving.
Concept of Caring
Caring is, if not the most important component of nursing, then it is definitely one of the most important components of the profession. There is no one specific definition that is assigned to the term “caring”; there are many meanings that defines the term. My personal definition of caring is as follows: Caring is acting with kindness, compassion, empathy, and devotion.
Caring is important to nursing in many ways. When nurses care for patients in a precise and genuine manner, it gives patients assurance and encouragement. By doing this, patients will be more engaged and active in the process of healing. Nurses play a large role in caring because of the amount of time spent with patients and in that time, bonds are formed in which patients start to trust the nurses.