Being an emergency room nurse is often challenging, but the focus on one’s philosophy of nursing can guide the healthcare professional through the complexity of their practice. The metaparadigm universally accepted and utilized by nurses involves such areas as nursing, person, health, and environment. It is noteworthy that the four pillars of the metaparadigm make it complete, and no other element can be added to this structure. These components are interrelated and integrated into each healthcare practitioner’s work. For instance, nursing as the core of professional practice encompasses caring for a person (having certain traits and cultural backgrounds) with the focus on their physical and mental health in a given environment. At that, a nurse is a person (having a set of traits and backgrounds) whose environment (resources, organizational culture, and so on) and physical, as well as mental, health can affect their practice.
This interrelation is specifically apparent in the context of emergency rooms. The environment is often brought to the fore as nurses should respond quickly to emergency situations that are unique in each patient’s case. At that, patients find themselves under certain pressure as they often go through life-threatening conditions. However, the staff and the patients’ close ones contribute to the creation of the environment necessary for a fast healing process. For instance, a man who had a severe condition (heart failure) had to go through harsh moments and was absolutely devastated by his condition and the entire situation. He was an athlete who had to change his life considerably, which caused substantial distress in addition to the physical pain and discomfort he had to endure. The nurse tried to appeal to spirituality, which proved to be an effective strategy that was facilitated by his family’s support.
It is also necessary to add that personal values and beliefs inform each nurse’s personal philosophy. The central beliefs affecting nursing practice and helping medical staff provide high-quality care include the focus on best outcomes, respect, dignity, knowledge, and the right to choose. It may seem that some beliefs come to the fore in specific areas, but they are universal. Moreover, every nurse practitioner, for example, an emergency room nurse, should also have the skills of a hospice or mental health nurse. Being a mental health nurse, to a certain extent, is a must for any healthcare professional. The beliefs guiding such professionals are equal to the ones mentioned above. At that, the focus is on the mental health and emotional stability of the patient. In the abovementioned case involving the male patient, the focus on his mental health contributed to his healing.
On a global scale, nurses, irrespective of their backgrounds, tend to have similar values and principles. Religious beliefs or the level of proficiency can hardly affect a nurse’s willingness to assist patients in soothing their pain or explain their condition to help them regain confidence. The Covid-19 pandemic unveiled the universality of basic beliefs and principles. Nurses provided healthcare services with little rest and tried to support patients and communities. They were at the edge of societies’ struggle against the new health-related threat. Nursing is the backbone of the healthcare system of any country, which should be acknowledged by governments, communities, patients, and nurses themselves. Having a strong personal philosophy will help in becoming committed to nursing practice as well as changing the status quo that is apparent in many countries, including the USA. It is important to further develop the nursing practice by giving nurses more responsibilities and opportunities.