Introduction
I believe in the provision of timely and efficient nursing services as a priority, as well as in the creation of a global community of nurses, where every participant could share their knowledge and experience so that the quality of care could improve at an increasingly fast pace. It seems to me that the needs of the patients should be the key factor determining the actions of a nurse and that the member of a nursing facility must act on behalf of the patient at all costs and in any situation.
Upbringing, Spiritual Beliefs, Experience, and Political Ideology as Crucial Factors
Although the idea of keeping the focus on the patients’ needs consistent might seem somewhat idealistic and require more thought, it is based on a rather specific philosophy built on the factors such as my upbringing, spiritual beliefs, personal and professional experiences, etc. For instance, being a Christian, I believe that providing assistance to those in need and relieving pain is a noble deed and, more importantly, the only possible course of actions: “by applying Christian values to healthcare, nurses can reassure patients that they will receive quality care by prioritizing the individual as a person and not just a function of society” (Indiana Wesleyan University, 2015, par. 3).
The atmosphere that I grew up in also contributed to shaping both my personal and professional philosophies. For instance, my parents have always stressed the significance of being responsive to other people, as well as promoting the idea of empathy as the foundation for successful communication and building strong relationships. Moreover, the importance of understanding the emotions of others has always been an integral part of my upbringing; as a result, I developed emotional intelligence skills that now help me address the patients’ needs in the most efficient manner possible (Karimi, Leggat, Donohue, Farrell, & Couper, 2013).
The nursing experience that I have received so far has also contributed to shaping my current philosophy to a considerable extent. For instance, some of the nursing cases that I had to address involved patients that were extremely reluctant to provide the necessary information (Abdi, Izadi, Vafaeei, & Lorestani, 2014). As a result, the approach involving empathy and emotional intelligence was required to make sure that the relevant information could be retrieved. Similarly, on a range of occasions, patients took their conditions far too lightly and needed guidance to change their behavioral patterns, as well as the general attitude toward their health status (Lamothe, Rondeau, Malboeuf-Hurtubise, Duvale, & Sultan, 2016).
Finally, the issue of political ideology deserves to be brought up as one of the factors that shaped my current nursing philosophy. As a member of the democratic society, I believe that all members of the population are entitled to nursing services of high quality. Moreover, it seems to me that the cost issue needs to be addressed specifically. Particularly, the provision of opportunities for accessing high-cost services for the members of the society coming from poor backgrounds must be viewed as an option. For this purpose, the funds provided for nursing facilities must be allocated sustainably, whereas the cost management approach must be based on reducing waste. Thus, the resources can be used sparingly so that everyone could have access to high-quality healthcare services (Ubel & Jagsi, 2014).
Inconsistencies between the Beliefs and the Health Policy
When considering the inconsistencies between my concept of health values and the existing policies, I must mention the issue regarding the assistance to the victims of accidents. According to the existing healthcare standards, one must stay at the scene without making any further steps until the members of the healthcare services arrive (After a car accident: first steps, 2016). The instruction above seems somewhat out of line with my idea of providing as much help as possible within the shortest amount of time. For instance, providing basic first aid to the person in distress seems the most sensible step to me in the identified scenario.
I must admit that there is common sense in the line of reasoning behind the current policy. When acting without the necessary skills and knowledge, one might unintentionally cause even greater harm to the victim, thus, triggering greater suffering or even causing death. However, having a basic understanding of what first aid must be provided in a set of accidents, including road-related ones, the scenario involving drowning or suffocation, etc., I am most likely to feel guilty for not doing anything that could supposedly help the person in need, especially in the situations that require an instant reaction.
Nevertheless, I believe that there is a way to reconcile my opinion on the discussed issue with the current standards of healthcare. Particularly, I believe that a global awareness program that will provide instructions on acting in the identified situations and providing first aid to the victims should be created. Thus, it will become a possibility to increase awareness as well as provide people with basic knowledge on offering the necessary assistance without harming the victim. As a result, the chances for the victims of accidents to survive will increase significantly.
Reference List
Abdi, A., Izadi, A., Vafaeei, K., & Lorestani, I. (2014). Assessment of patient education barriers in viewpoint of nurses and general physicians. International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences, 8(12), 2252-2256.
After a car accident: first steps. (2016). Web.
Indiana Wesleyan University. (2015). The role of Christianity in nursing. Web.
Karimi, L., Leggat, S. G., Donohue, L., Farrell, G., & Couper, G. E. (2013). Emotional rescue: the role of emotional intelligence and emotional labour on well-being and job-stress among community nurses. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 70(1), 176-186. Web.
Lamothe, M., Rondeau, E., Malboeuf-Hurtubise, C., Duvale, M., & Sultan, S. (2016). Outcomes of MBSR or MBSR-based interventions in health care providers: A systematic review with a focus on empathy and emotional competencies. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 24(1), 19-28. Web.
Ubel, P. A., & Jagsi, R. (2014). Promoting population health through financial stewardship. The New England Journal of Medicine, 370(1), 1280-1281. Web.