Nursing Philosophy of an Oncology Nurse
Oncology nursing is a science that is practiced as an art. It is the combination of delivering patient-centered care, applying scientific knowledge, and most importantly, mastering the art of genuine caring through the application of carative factors. Being an Oncology Nurse means being a part of a profession that is not only highly skilled, but also exceptionally caring. The Oncology Nurse administers complex chemotherapy regimens, guides patients through daily radiation treatments, and cares for those whose bodies and minds are forever changed by cancer. Oncology nurses often participate in prevention and screening programs, educate the newly diagnosed and support patients through their treatment
…show more content…
The Oxford Dictionary (2014) defines a profession as “a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.” Oncology nurses are trained in many areas of cancer care including chemotherapy and biotherapy administration guidelines, radiation therapy, and palliative care. They are registered and regulated by their State’s Board of Nursing and may also obtain National Certification in their specialty. Members of the nursing profession may also be advanced practitioners, researchers, theorists, and professors. Public opinion of nurses is top-ranking year after year. Nurses repeatedly have the highest ratings for honesty and ethical standards, rating higher than teachers, medical doctors, police officers and clergy (Gallup, …show more content…
Acute care of the cancer patient often includes physical assessments, complex medication administration, central line management, and condition monitoring. Although it is important for the nurse to provide skilled care in managing chemotherapy infusions and coordinating radiation treatments, it is just as important to be caring. Patients do not tend to appreciate the way the nurse titrates a Rituxan infusion per protocol. Instead, patients remember the nurse who takes the time to sit down at the bedside, offering a warm hand or listening ear.
Summary
Oncology care has changed tremendously in the past decade. At the heart of cancer care are oncology nurses applying nursing science to the art of nursing. Growth in the nursing profession has made it difficult to clearly define differences in medical and nursing practice, but public opinion consistently values nurses’ honesty and ethical standards. It is important for nurses to provide patient-centered care and act as patient advocates. Implementing evidenced-based research into nursing care has improved patient outcomes while the application of Watson’s carative factors to nursing practice provides nurses the opportunity to develop the art of genuine
The nursing profession is constantly in a state of change becoming more complex over time. Registered nurses work to prevent disease, promote health and help patients cope. They develop and manage nursing care plans, instruct proper outpatient care, and help improve and maintain health within their community. They are educators of health governed by state laws. Registered nurses can work in many different settings which determine their daily job duties. Depending on their level of training a RN could work with geriatrics, in intensive care units, as an educator, as clinical study observers, a midwife, oncology, or palliative care. Hospital nurses make up the majority of the RN group. They work as staff nurses who carryout medical regimens and provide bedside care. Most registered nurses work in well-lighted comfortable facilities, work nights, weekends, and holidays, and spend a considerable amount of time on their feet. They have to be available at a moment’s notice. Nursing also has its hazards all employees of care facilities are at risk for infectious disease, radiation poisoning, back injuries, shocks from electrical equipment, and hazards posed by compressed gas. Nurses are the link between doctors and patients.
My personal advanced practice nurse philosophy is to provide the best care to my patients primarily by staying up to date on current practices. Staying up to date allows for the patient to receive care based on evidence. Through assessing, diagnosing, managing and treating patients I plan to take on all functions of a nurse practitioner to the best of my ability. Advocating and educating patients are two words that I will live by as a practitioner. I plan to be inspiring to my patients by developing a therapeutic relationship with each patient that is centered on trust and understanding. I want to be a practitioner for families that helps people to understand the change that needs to take place in their lives in order to live the healthiest
In today’s society nursing meets all the requirements of being a profession. To be considered a profession, one has to be dedicated to their career, abide by standards and a code of ethics, and have a higher education and a body of knowledge, duty to provide service, have autonomy and be part of a professional organization. Nurses take the traditional role of caring for loved ones to a whole new level of care.
Often time, nurses has been viewed by patients, their family members and the medical team as basic emotional care givers, pill crushers or cart pullers and not as healthcare professionals who are more interesting in health promotion, disease prevention and better patient outcomes. They also often forget the emotional, physical, mental, and caring part that is involved with the profession. And to make matters worse, nurses are continued to be viewed as a threat by doctors more than ever before especially with the opening of Nurse Practitioners programs.
The job of a professional nurse today is one that requires high intellect, accountability, expertise, selflessness, dedication, and a compassionate heart to help those who are hurting. In past years, nursing has been regarded as a job and not a profession. Today, professional nurses assume the vital responsibility of upholding the moral and ethical principles of nursing in order to better advocate and care for their patients. These principles include autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, justice, and veracity (Zerwekh and Garneau 2015, 423). Nurses today work autonomously to assist patient and write appropriate care plans, mentor student nurses, and facilitate communication between families, patients,
The American Nurses Association (ANA) developed a foundation for which all nurses are expected to perform their basic duties in order to meet the needs of the society we serve. The ANA “has long been instrumental in the development of three foundational documents for professional nursing; its code of ethics, its scope and standards of practice, ands statement of social policy.” (ANA, 2010, p. 87) The ANA defined nursing as “the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” and used to create the scope and standards of nursing practice. (ANA, 2010, p. 1) These “outline the steps that nurses must take to meet client healthcare needs.” () The nursing process, for example, is one of the things I use daily. Other examples include communicating and collaborating with my patient, their families, and my peers, and being a lifelong learner. I continually research new diagnoses, medications, and treatments for my patients. As a nurse of ...
Nurses are an equally important part of each client’s life. Nurses provide stable care to each client, answers their questions, gives medications and treatments, and assists with medical procedures. They also have the responsibility to explain to clients and family members what they should and should not do as they go through treatment and recovery. Nurses must quickly respond to patients needs. Every individual nurse has his or her own unique way of caring. There are so many ways to show caring that the possibilities are never ending. Nurse’s support, comfort, and help allow the patients to recover to the best of their ability. Their experiences in dealing with different patients that have unique situations on a daily basis helps the nurses become better caregivers. Therefore, every nurse is capable of demonstrating care in their respective environments.
This paper explores the personal philosophy I have as a nursing student and what I intend to convey throughout my nursing career. A philosophy is “an analysis of the grounds and concepts expressing fundamental beliefs (Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary, n.d.). Before entering into any profession it is important to evaluate your personal philosophy about the profession, as it pertains to values and principles in which believe in to guide your practice. The field of nursing is more than treating a physiological ailment, but it involves providing quality care for the individualized needs of each patient, hence being client centered. My philosophy of nursing integrates the importance of knowledge base practice of medicine, combined with addressing holistic needs of the patient and family, including the physical, psychological, cognitive, emotional, spiritual and social care (Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, 2010). Additionally, a vital aspect of nursing is effective interpersonal relationships with other healthcare professionals to promote quality patient care. Moreover, my philosophy includes the importance the client-nurse relationship to aid in health promotion to prevent illness and increase the level of health of clients.
Nursing is considered one of the most trusted professions in the world. It is an essential part in the caregiving of sick, injured, and even healthy individuals. Developing a philosophy with any profession is the beginning basis of any practice. The nursing philosophy is usually incorporated from the science of nursing. That is because the field of health care is constantly changing, which causes the need of better competence in the health field of providing caring (Flagg, 2015). With nursing it starts by the science behind it. Then along with knowledge and experiences, that is when the nursing philosophy is developed. Researching differences between new ideas and cultural differences can then expand the viewpoint into a bigger picture.
Nurses use evidence based practice and research to develop knowledge needed to practice in the nursing profession. Nurses use practical knowledge and theoretical knowledge in the many roles that nurses perform. As a provider of care and manager of care, nurses should use evidence based practice, research, and theoretical knowledge to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient. Lifelong education in nursing is necessary to keep up with the changes in nursing practice and to reinforce ethical knowledge and the core values that nurses use in their everyday practice. The professional value of caring as a nurse is one of the most important values. The caring attitudes of nurses will carry over to all other values that nurses should possess,
A state of being and becoming an integrated whole that supports the person and environment reciprocally (Roy, 2009; Parse, 1987). As previously mentioned I look at the person as a whole and not only what the patient was admitted for but how their cancer diagnosis affects their life and the impact it has on their family. Social justice addresses human rights, equity and allocating fair distribution of resources and responsibilities (CNA, 2009). This is also important in my nursing practice in ensuring all patients receive the best possible care equally and to eliminate biases. The concept of nursing as a discipline develops and enhance knowledge about human experiences through research and theories, which is the “scientific guide to living the art of nursing” (Parse, 1999, p.275). Nursing is viewed as a science and art, a profession and discipline (Selanders & Crane, 2012). Nursing as a profession has a social obligation to treat and provide healthcare to the public at times of health or illness and with modifications in diverse practice settings, “through living the art of science” (Parse, 1999, p.275; Hinshaw, 1989). According to Pearson (2013) nursing science provides scientifically proven knowledge that results in theories that is measured, this helps in the comprehension of person’s condition and targets nursing care delivery. The art of nursing
The medical field is filled with many rewarding jobs and one of those jobs is being a nurse: the job of taking care of people who are sick, injured, or old. Seems like a pretty easy task doesn’t it? Nursing takes time and skill to learn, but a lifetime to perfect it to the best ability anyone can. Being a nurse is one of the
I chose nursing as my profession because nursing is my ideal profession. In nursing, I can provide others with the care and the knowledge they need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I can also give others the love and attention they need to be proud of the life they live. I think that society is very vulnerable and I want to make great contributions to the world of nursing. I don’t just want to be a nurse. I want to be a great nurse who is looked up to because of my experience, knowledge, and competence as a healthcare professional.
Nursing is a profession that blends the rich traditions of the past with the ever changing realities of today's health care industry. Nursing is not simply an assortment of special skills and the nurse is not simply a person proficient in performing these specific tasks. Nursing is a profession. I believe this statement to be true because of several factors. The Title 19 Code for Nurses is titled "Standards for Professional Nursing Practice". The status of nursing as a profession reflects the values that society places on the work of nurses and how central nursing is to the good of society. "By being a professional we imply that the person is conscientious in actions, knowledgeable in the subject and responsible to self and others." (Potter & Perry, 1993, p. 27)
Nursing is defined as simply caring for an ill or injured individual. It takes years of schooling to become a nurse, but patience, compassion and the ability to care are needed to be a good one. Although Nursing seems like an excellent profession, it is believed that “the ability of the health system to deliver consistent quality health care continues to be debated on a national level, and nursing’s moral obligation is not only to be a part of the debate, but also to advocate for communities and as individuals deserving quality health care” (Pope, B., Hough, M. C., & Chase, S. 2016). It is highly important that the professionals in the nursing field keep an ethical and moral perspective within the community. It also takes having respect for