Nursing Philosophy Assignment: Developing An E-Portfolio

Question

Task: Proposed plan includes
* The purpose/aim of developing the ePortfolio is … (refer to text)
* Identifies an ePortfolio platform that they will utilize. Ie. Weebly( use weebly as tutor asked for that), Wix, Google etc.,
* Outlines what materials/artefacts will be collected/prepared- this can be in point form
I will include the following artefacts:

• Resume
• Education Certificates etc.,
• Awards
• Previous education
• Reflections – Critical thinking, decisions making, prioritising care
• Philosophy
• Person Centred Care
• Evidence Based Practice
• Goals for future nursing professional practice
• Nursing Code of Conduct/ Nursing Standards
• Hobbies/Interests
• Achievements
• Nursing specialisations
• Special project
• Languages ,

* Explains the relevance to career development in a nursing specialty
Use Text, reference to support this
* Provides a timeline for completion- this can be in a table or point form
Look at the artefacts that you need to complete every week to assist you with it’s completion

Answer

Introduction
Nursing e-Portfolio explored in this nursing philosophy assignment is an integral part of becoming a professional nurse (Bulman, Lathlean & Gobbi, 2012). It enables to record important philosophies with life’s long term and short-term goals. Nurses go through a variety of learning experiences with skill development during their course. Recollection of such learning and skills is integral for their application in real-life experiences (Andre, Heartfield, Cusack & Andre, 2017). In this current nursing e-Portfolio, my philosophy of nursing, long-term and short-term goals, depiction through the SMART acronym and 3 reflective journals have been discussed in this nursing philosophy assignment.

Philosophy of Nursing
Mission statement of nursing philosophy: As a professional nurse I will provide care to my patient’s according to idealism, naturalism and humanism philosophy
Philosophy of nursing mentioned in this nursing philosophy assignment is an attitude towards reality and life evolving from nurse beliefs as per Marriner-Tomey (1994). My philosophy of nursing determines the nature of the profession of nursing and provides a basis for nursing activities. My philosophy of nursing is focussed upon idealism, naturalism and humanism. Naturalism is considered to be one of the oldest known philosophies of nursing where naturalism arises from the natural properties and causes, asserting natural laws (Meehan, 2012). I change and direct my actions towards an action that is good with the human nature and discard actions that are contrary to the nature. As for example, I deeply follow ethical laws in health care and try and avoid actions that might lead to evil consequences. Sometimes unknowingly I might be involved in a situation which results in an evil consequence regardless of the action that I take, such as administering pain relief drug to relieve a cancer patient’s pain (Risjord, 2011). I trust on my natural instincts along with my ethical and professional learning to be able to render care to my patients. While rendering care to my patients, I would like to mention in this nursing philosophy assignment that I evaluate each case on the basis of naturalism to decide on my course of action.

I also follow idealism philosophy of nursing in which I assert that reality is mentally constructed. As per this concept of nursing, I try to align medicine with the conception of nursing (Dahnke & Dreher, 2015). I feel that the body and mind along with the influence from the environment affect patient outcome. Therefore, as per this philosophy of nursing examined in the context of this nursing philosophy assignment I try and adhere to caring for my clients according to the holistic principles. While I focus on idealism philosophy to deliver care in the nursing profession, the role of realism inevitably comes into play (Lachman, 2012). I feel that idealism can create a difference in which nurses can optimistically render care to their patients.

Humanism philosophy of nursing is another pertinent philosophy mentioned in this segment of nursing philosophy assignment that I follow, it is another category of ethical philosophy which affirms dignity and worth of all people. This nursing philosophy determines right and wrong by appealing to the universal qualities of rationalism (Sellman, 2011). As per this philosophy of nursing, the professional is described as a humanistic, professionalized way of caring for a unique person. The essence of the nursing profession is on the capability of nurse’s in providing humane and sensitive care to the sick. I believe the role of nurse’s concerns ensuring best quality of life for the patient, using of scientific method for resolving problem of the client, encouraging patients to make their choice concerning their care plan and integrating ethical and moral values to impose value system on others.

Reflection
Long-term and short-term goals
According to the investigation on nursing philosophy assignment it is stated that in the nursing profession, it is important that an individual has her long term with short term professional goals defined (Levett-Jones, Gersbach, Arthur & Roche, 2011). I have defined my long-term and short-term career goals as per the SMART (specific measurable achievable realistic and timely) acronym.

Long Term Goal 1: My long-term professional goals include becoming an intensive care nurse

Short Term Goal 2:

• My short-term goals mentioned in the context of this nursing philosophy assignment are to apply my learn skills in practicing ethical and legal nursing

What is the 3^rd short term goal discussed in the case scenario of nursing philosophy assignment?

• Another patient short-term goal in my career is to provide excellent patient-centred care.

Reflective journal
Journal 1 - Functioning as a newly appointed professional nurse: Difference of knowledge leaned and on-the job knowledge gained
In this current journal of nursing philosophy assignment, I will aim at evaluating the difference I felt in knowledge learned and on-job knowledge gained by applying Gibb’s reflective cycle (Brown & Schmidt, 2016). The Gibbs reflective cycle includes stages which can be used to depict my reflective experience that I faced in knowledge. Describing the reflective experience, I can say that knowledge in theory is much different compared to knowledge in practice. During our nursing course we had been taught several theories of nursing but while application, none of the theories came to the forefront of my mind. As for instance, we had learnt that prior to surgical procedures patients needs to be cleaned with antiseptic such as chlorohexidine or betadine solution. But when I was once actually in the situation handling surgery patient, I could not recollect the name of the solution due to my nervousness. I learnt from senior nurses that before applying any type of solution, nurses need to first assess the patient’s situation and provide emotional support. This is when I felt that there is difference between learned knowledge of nurses that knowledge actually needed in delivering patient care.

My feeling from the difference in knowledge learned and actual knowledge was rather frustrating. I felt that I would need to learn the knowledge and skills again to be able to render patient-centred care. Post feeling of frustration, I was confused for a while regarding the knowledge that I actually possessed and that which I was required to know. This led me to think that I might have to re-learn the knowledge to apply my nursing skills in delivering appropriate patient-centred care.

Evaluating the good and the bad aspects from my experience, I can say that it was mostly bad experience (Moon, 2013). While I was aiming to emerge and practice as a professional nurse, I was incapable of doing so given the fact that I actually did not know where my knowledge stood. I was apprehensive in undertaking my professional practice as I was afraid that I might end up doing something very wrong while providing care. The evaluation of my situation was that I was a novice and had to learn rapidly and tremendously to emerge as a professional in my domain.

Analysing my situation illustrated in the case scenario of nursing philosophy assignment, I can say that practising as a professional nurse was similar to struggling out in open seas, where I was unaware what might be in the water. The sentence might sound philosophical or dreamy but this was my case and I had to devise a plan to emerge from this terrible situation. Further analysing the situation in-depth led me to feel that I needed to understand the fine line of distinction or the differences in specific areas that was present between my theoretical knowledge and the knowledge that I actually knew in practice. Without realising the areas of differences, I will not be able to successfully devise a plan for success in my professional practice.

Concluding from this difference that I noted while transiting to practice as a professional nurse from theoretical knowledge, I realised the aspects that I could have done. I feel that noticing way of functioning of senior nurses can assists me immensely in developing my practice as a professional nurse. I needed to learn practical knowledge from senior nurses who were in the professional for a long time period to tune in my theoretical knowledge to professional practice.

After careful reflection regarding transiting from theoretical to professional knowledge in nursing, I need to design an action plan to understand what I actually need to do. My action plan to transition from theoretical knowledge into professional knowledge includes developing capabilities similar to a professional nurse (Jameton, 2013). I will need to take guidance from senior nurses and also follow to learn regarding the ways in which they operate to emerge as a practical nurse. This will enable me to emerge as a professional nurse in practice.

Journal 2 – Application of nursing communication skills in practice  

Nursing skills involves capability to communicate while in practice. One of the most crucial nursing skills mentioned in this nursing philosophy assignment involves communicating to patient, their families and with other healthcare professionals. The profession of nursing requires interpersonal and intrapersonal communication skills (Lauren Caldwell RN, 2013). I feel that nurses need to possess or develop capabilities in communicating with others in clear, concise and effective manner. As a professional nurse, I am the hub of interpreting, relaying information between physicians, patients and family members. A nurse who is able to effectively communicate has the capability to render best possible care to patients and enhance their health outcomes.

I feel that I possess the capability to be able to communicate in an effective manner. As a practicing professional nurse not only, I possess the responsibility to communicate but also receive feedback from patients, their family members and other healthcare professionals in an effective manner. This will ensure that I have been able to undertake my communication effectively. I generally tend to communicate in a slow and gradual manner, disclosing information; I tend to modulate my voice to stress on important and crucial information. For instance, when I want to provide emotional support to my patients, I generally stress and repeat on the health outcome that such emotional behaviour would mean for the patient (Kahn, 2014). A child had a surgery on his arm and he continuously refused to eat. When my shift came and I was assigned responsibility for the child, I gradually started by asking him what he liked doing the most, then asking his favourite dishes, then I told him regarding the importance of eating while he was being administered strong medication post his surgery. My interaction with him had a counselling effect on him and he gradually agreed to eat. Eventually he ended up eating and falling asleep after his meal. He ate almost ate and slept after one day. This made me feel that nurses have tremendous power to influence patient outcome by way of appropriate communication. 

One difficulty I would like to discuss in the context of nursing philosophy assignment that I face while communicating with patients is while dealing with aboriginal and indigenous population. Though the aim of nursing profession is to render care to a diversified population, I have not been able to learn their language or skills to be able to communicate in an effective manner with them. I feel that I need to gradually pick on language skills and prevent as much as communication barrier while communicating with aboriginal people such that I can become a professional nurse rendering diversified care. 

Journal 3-Patient centred care journal
Patient-centred care has become the heart of nursing care for quite some time. Earlier there was limited focus on delivering of patient-centred care but nursing research has given us (nursing students) with tremendous evidence suggesting that patient centred care needs to be the present and future for nursing professionals (Ganzer & Zauderer, 2013). I believe that the centre of such care is focussed upon treating a person receiving healthcare with dignity and respect, while involving decisions regarding their health. My nursing care and practice is focussed on such type of care and prior to providing care to a patient, I interact with them to check if he/ she is comfortable with the care that is being given to them. I also ask them regarding presence of any allergies or any problems they are facing in regards to medication. This ensures that I provide physical and emotional comfort while continuing my patient care. I try and provide as much possible information to my patient regarding the care that I provide, I also involve their family and friends support to get any inputs regarding the patient (Kirkham, Winfield, Ravet & Kellomaki, 2013).

The concept of patient-centred care examined in the present journal of nursing philosophy assignment ensures that the patient is involved in the care plan that is being provided to him. This acts as an emotional support in healing the pain or injury or diseases he is going through. I generally focus on the patient and try to change my interventions as much as possible according to his wishes. For instance, a patient with high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease, expressed his want to eat beef before he opted for surgery. Though he was supposed to be eating light meals and snacks between his meals, I prepared for him a light snacks of boiled beef soup and he was very happy. He also said that his stress significantly reduced and he felt that he was being listened to and care for. This eased to get his confidence and follow the diet and other nursing intervention plan that I had charted for him. Hence such type of care is in favour of getting best possible patient outcome.

Journal 4 - Meeting the educational needs of patients
The aim of the experience was to ensure that the patients are educated in an effective manner throughout their hospitalization period so that they are able to take care of themselves and does not get hospitalized for the same cause if the problem reoccurs.

Nurses today have an additional and important role for educating the patient regarding their health status. Nurses need to take up more responsibilities for providing education to the patients and making them responsible for their own health status. The patients’ needs to gather the ability to analyze their health status and work accordingly to stabilize the complications arose from any type of acute or chronic diseases. The ability of the patient to read or write has nothing to do with health education. The most ineffective step towards health care management is handing over all the medications and the ailment discussion during the time of his discharge. This might lead to the re admission of the patient in the hospital for the same issue (Blegen et. al., 2013). Preventing re hospitalization is a major task of a nurse. Certain steps which the nurses can imply on the patients and well as co staffs can help in the implementation of patient education and prevention of disease. The study analysed in the nursing philosophy assignment signifies that the main focus should be patient education. The education must begin from the patient’s admission in the hospital and with each meeting or encounter. The information which the patient knows about the disease should be acknowledged and if required should be corrected. Visual education is more impactful than audio education so nurses should improve their teaching skills. The nursing process should acknowledge the patient’s point of view of nursing strategies and act accordingly. It is the responsibility of the nurse to make sure that the patient understands their medications, administers them in the stipulated time in absence of any guidance and knows the side effects and symptoms the medications (Brock et. al., 2013). My opinion as a nurse would be we need to understand the patient at a higher level. The background and family history of the patient must be acknowledged before implementing any nursing interventions. The mental state of the patient along with all the physical tests and parameters must be known thoroughly. The patient must get engaged in active physical exercises and social gatherings so that his physical and mental well-being is flourished and maintained and does not get affect with the negative hospital implications. Motivational speeches and making them aware of their surroundings, will lead to better health outcomes. The patient should also be taught about the use and safety of the medical equipment so that they do not panic during surgeries.

Journal 5 - Functioning as a nurse in a multidisciplinary health care team
The aim of this journal examined in this nursing philosophy assignment is to define and describe the role of a nurse in a multidisciplinary team who cares for patients with chronic and acute diseases.

By considering the study examined in the nursing philosophy assignment, it can be noted that a team approach is more useful and effective in treatment of an ailment rather than single caregiver. A team enables better service provision and faster improvement of health condition of the patient. My opinion about a nurse in a multidisciplinary team should work in collaboration with the other health care specialists and provide the best service to the patient (Gibbs & Lowton, 2012). It is the duty of the nurse to inform the doctors about the condition of the patient in a regular basis to avoid any further complications. There are basically six domains in which the nurse has to act upon. Nurses need to advocate for the changes in the clinical conditions of the patient regularly and updating those information with the health care professionals. She should also act as a supporter to the patient as well as the family members and provide physical and mental therapies for faster healing of the patient. Another important role of a nurse mentioned in this section of nursing philosophy assignment should be a good coordination in language and service proficiency. She should be eager to take up responsibilities and apt in decision making strategies. She should always be open to amendments and improve herself with every case and intervene corresponding to the patient’s requirements. According to me, nurses should be highly coordinated in their skills and profession. She must have the ability to make the patient and his family understand the positive and negative consequences and implications of ailment (Epstein, 2014). The patient must be educated by the nurse regarding the medications and usage of equipment so that the patient accepts the procedure easily without any argument. A nurse should also possess the character of a good team member with a coordinating mentality. Most significantly, she should be able to identify the needs and assess the problems of the patient and address them in accordance. The main outcome of the study was that the nurses should devote quality time with their patients and discuss with them their problems and provide appropriate solutions.

Conclusion
While concluding the overall analysis done in this nursing philosophy assignment, I can say that the e-portfolio I have developed for my nursing professional will remain with me forever during my professional practice. As I have updated the portfolio on weekly, which is an online platform, I can refer to the learning and skills gained whenever I want to. I can also review and update my professional goals as per my achievements. I feel that developing this professional portfolio has helped me extend my professional accomplishment as a nurse.

References
Andre, K., Heartfield, M., Cusack, L., & Andre, K. (2017). Nursing philosophy assignment Portfolios for health professionals (3rd ed.). Chatswood: Elsevier, Australia. (Chapter 3).

Brown, J. M., & Schmidt, N. A. (2016). Service–learning in undergraduate nursing education: Where is the reflection?. Journal of Professional Nursing, 32(1), 48-53. Doi: 10.1016/j.profnurs.2015.05.001

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Dahnke, M. D., & Dreher, H. M. (2015). Philosophy of science for nursing practice: Concepts and application. Nursing philosophy assignment Springer Publishing Company.

Ganzer, C. A., & Zauderer, C. (2013). Structured learning and self-reflection: Strategies to decrease anxiety in the psychiatric mental health clinical nursing experience. Nursing Education Perspectives, 34(4), 244-247.

Jameton, A. (2013). A reflection on moral distress in nursing together with a current application of the concept. Journal of bioethical inquiry, 10(3), 297-308. Doi: 10.1007/s11673-013-9466-3

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Meehan, T. C. (2012). The Careful Nursing philosophy and professional practice model. Journal of clinical nursing, 21(19pt20), 2905-2916. Doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2702.2012.04214.x

Moon, J. A. (2013). Reflection in learning and professional development: Theory and practice. Routledge (online source).

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