2 Values
The four key values that shaped my fundamentals of nursing practice are accountability, altruism, empathy, and professionalism. These elements are the ones that shaped my character as a person and how I interact with my patients, their families, and colleagues. Some of the key values are
Accountability
Altruism
Professionalism
Empathy
Accountability
The principles of compassionate care and nursing leadership are natural extensions of my philosophy. At its core, being a leader is not only about influencing others but rather one’s interaction guided by ethical principles and values. The moral value of accountability is defined by nurses delivering safe and quality care and being responsible for one action. It ensures nurses foster trust and transparency with the patients and the nursing profession (College of Nurses of Ontario, 2023) Moreover, I believe accountability extends beyond providing care; it holds the element of being responsible for growth and openminded, and I will be updated with education such as evidence-based practice. Ultimately, being accountable allowed me to reflect on my practice by upholding patient dignity and leadership, and this is done by asking questions, seeking constructive criticism, and accepting mistakes to prevent mistakes. Fostering these values allowed me to stay informed and open-minded to acceptance and growth and stay consistent in providing care with efficiency and efficacy.
Altruism
Altruism is another value that I would integrate into my nursing philosophy. Altruism is defined as being selfless and prioritizing what patients need before themselves, and one of its key attributes is the authenticity of being passionate and providing care where the patient feels supported and valued. Additionally, altruism also plays a key role in other ethical principles, and one of its key roles is providing care with fairness and respecting one’s autonomy. At its core, it allows nurses the opportunity to reflect on their care and their own values and beliefs (Chen et al., 2022). From my perspective, altruism became a driving force on why I became a nurse in the first place. An example can be being a caregiver to my brother, always prioritizing his needs over mine, making sure he is healthy, and following up with all his appointments and care. I would also participate in his care, such as supporting him with his daily activities of living and always encouraging him to be independent. This experience of being a caregiver allowed me to foster some of the elements and implement them in my professional practice. It allowed me to build my foundation and guided me to understand patients from their perspective and the importance of safeguarding their rights and dignity.
Professionalism
Professionalism is another meaningful value that I believe in. Professionalism is defined by the determination to deliver care at the highest standard and to conduct oneself and others with respect and dignity. Professionality enables nurses to stay updated with the current practice and how to communicate with other interdisciplinary teams to prioritize the best outcome for the patient. Nurses demonstrate professionalism by upholding the standard of care by following specific guidelines from the RNAO on professionalism in nursing and ethical principles such as promoting autonomy, doing no harm and justice. Some moral values nurses adhere to are maintaining patient confidentiality, their right to care, consent, and, importantly, delivering care with safety and safeguarding their dignity and independence (Grinspun & Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, 2007.) I believe the value of professionalism has guided me to deliver my care with compassion and be a competent caregiver, and I see it being implemented in my practice. One example is during my clinical placement, where I was taking care of a patient who was dealing with grief after being in a family altercation that ended with his son committing suicide. I professionally helped in this situation to communicate with the patient and build a relationship by prioritizing what was needed for the patient, the grief he was feeling, and his fear of communicating with another health worker. I understood his situation and communicated with other interpersonal professionals to provide him with a better outcome. This allowed me to care for my patient by metting the standard of care needed while considering the patient was whole and providing care where his feelings are valued and heard.
Chen, Y., Xie, C., Zheng, P., & Zeng, Y. (2022). Altruism in nursing from 2012 to 2022: A scoping review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.1046991
College of Nurses of Ontario. (2023). Practice Standard: Code of Conduct. In College of Nurses of Ontario. https://www.cno.org/globalassets/docs/prac/49040_code-of-conduct.pdf
Grinspun, D. & Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. (2007). Professionalism in Nursing. In A. Baumann, A. Moorhouse, J. M. Andrew, B. Brunsdon-Clark, C. Burke, H. Campbell, J. Costello, A. Danaher, M. Keatings, M. MacLeod, M. Mayrand Leclerc, M. Neves, A. Rhéaume, M. Seawright, J. A. Shannon, C. Van Berkel, & K. Cleverley, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. https://rnao.ca/sites/rnao-ca/files/Professionalism_in_Nursing.pdf
Grinspun, D., RN, MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), Dr(hc), FAAN, O. ONT., Paech, G., RN, MScN, Risling, T., RN, PhD, Booth, R., RN, PhD, Wilson, R., RN, MN, MEd., Bennett, J., RN, MScN, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, & AMS Healthcare. (2020). NURSING & COMPASSIONATE CARE IN THE AGE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Engaging the Emerging Future. https://rnao.ca/sites/rnao-ca/files/RNAO-AMS_Report Nursing_and_Compassionate_Care_in_the_Age_of_AI_Final_For_Media_Release_10.21.2020.pdf