Beliefs & Values
As a student nurse, I believe that it is important to learn how to care for all aspects of the patient. Providing exceptional care goes beyond caring only for the physical aspects of the patient and also focuses on the emotional, mental, and spiritual needs of each patient. By caring for all patients with a judgement-free, compassionate, and positive attitude, I believe that I can make an extremely positive impact as a nurse throughout my career.
My Values:
- Respect: Respect is a value that I believe is important to live by in everyday life, and especially important to practice as a health care professional. Nurses come into contact with many different people from various backgrounds. Socioeconomic status, race, culture, age, and other factors that should never influence the respect that is shown to others. I believe that it is always important to be respectful to others no matter what, and respect is a critical foundation of successful relationships, whether they be at work or in our personal lives. Respect promotes trust, kindness, and a lack of judgement.
- Accountability: Accountability is one of my core values in my personal and professional life. To me it means owning my mistakes, admitting when I do not know something, and displaying a great sense of responsibility and ownership over my actions and behaviour. Accountability is a value that I admire in others, and I am always impressed when someone is able to hold themselves accountable for their mistakes or wrongdoings, as well as keep their promises. Accountability is extremely important as a nurse, as there will be many times when we need to hold ourselves accountable for our decisions or actions when reflecting on the care we have provided. Being accountable helps foster trustworthy relationships, which is also critical in a healthcare work environment.
- Empathy: Empathy is a great example of providing care that goes beyond the physical aspects and relates to the emotional needs of a patient. Empathy is a value that I hold close to me in my personal life, as friends and family members always show me empathy when I am struggling, and I do the same for them. This improves and strengthens my relationships in my life consistently. Being shown empathy in a difficult situation can make things much easier to process while feeling supported and understood. As a nurse, empathy will prove to be an extremely important value to bring to the bedside. Showing understanding, kindness, and sympathy for patients and families who may be going through some of their worst days can make a massive difference in the way they feel cared for.
- Leadership: Leading by example with strong, positive ethics and values is a core value for me. I have grown up with family and friends who have taught me the importance of good leadership and being able to share ideas that would benefit others. Being a good leader can provide inspiration for others and bring about motivation to make positive changes in society, the workplace, or in our personal lives. As a nurse, we have the responsibility to show leadership in our field and promote social justice, advocate for our patients, and help to develop new procedures or policies. Leadership is a value that I will ensure to bring with me into my career as a nurse and will hopefully help me make positive change in the field of health care.