Belief Statement
I believe that nursing is a profound act of service that is dedicated to improving the lives of others. As a student nurse, I am committed to integrating my core values of compassion, respect, integrity, and advocacy into my future practice by delivering personalized, patient-centered care.
Personal Values
The following section includes four personal values that I believe are fundamental to my future nursing practice including compassion, respect, integrity, and advocacy.
Compassion
Compassion is a personal value that I believe is a fundamental element of nursing practice. Being compassionate as a nurse means deeply empathizing with the physical, emotional, and psychological pain of your patients and being motivated to take action to help alleviate their suffering. As a nurse, it is crucial to demonstrate genuine empathy in every interaction with patients and their families. Research has shown that compassionate care not only improves patient outcomes and increases satisfaction, but it also strengthens the trust between patients and healthcare providers. (Watts et al., 2023) I believe that demonstrating compassion into my future nursing practice will help build trust in my relationships with my patients and ensure that they feel safe, valued, and cared for.
Respect
Respect is a personal value that will guide all of my interactions with my patients, their families, and my colleagues in my future nursing practice. As a nurse, respecting your patients means recognizing and upholding their dignity, autonomy, and privacy in every situation. As outlined in the College of Nurses of Ontario Code of Conduct, by honoring their beliefs, values, and decisions, you can ensure that you are always acting with their best interest in mind. (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2023) Additionally, it is essential to maintain respectful relationships with fellow nurses and other members of the healthcare team. Respect within these professional relationships fosters clear and effective communication, which is imperative for delivering high-quality patient care.
Integrity
Integrity is a personal value that is crucial in building and maintaining trust with your patients, their families, and other members of the healthcare team. For a nurse, integrity means being honest, transparent, and accountable in all aspects of care including in your decision-making and communication with patients and families. Additionally, having integrity also extends to professional relationships with other members of the healthcare team. Demonstrating integrity in your interactions with other professionals can help promote the open communication and effective collaboration that is required for providing high-quality patient care. As a nurse, you are entrusted with the health and well-being of your patients which demands being held to the highest moral and ethical standards.
Advocacy
Advocacy is a personal value that holds significant meaning for me as I envision my future nursing practice. To me, being an advocate means standing up for patients, ensuring their voices are heard, and empowering them to have their needs respected. Advocacy is especially important when supporting patients from vulnerable populations who often face barriers when navigating the complexities of the healthcare system. As a nurse, advocating for patients means truly listening to your patients, understanding their unique challenges, and actively working to ensure they receive the care and support they deserve. Being able to empower patients and be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves is one of the personal values that drew me to pursue a career in nursing and will be imperative in my future practice.