The Nursing Ethic and Spirituality

“My Nursing Ethic”

Response to “My Nursing Ethic” Questionnaire

The completed questionnaire has identified specific sources of motivation and values that support my nursing philosophy. My passion has always been to promote the experiences and outcomes of many people. My childhood dream was to become a health worker to provide apposite support to different individuals. I am always motivated by the desire to promote the health outcomes of different patients. Some values such as accountability, desire to support others, integrity, duty, and commitment encourage me to act in an ethical manner (Tran, 2015). My philosophy focuses on the best career and personal goals. I always work hard to empower more individuals. I also have several role models and mentors who inspire me. Such aspects always support my nursing philosophy. I believe that every good thing done on earth will eventually be rewarded. My religious obligation is to support more people and make the world much better.

I have developed specific values to achieve my nursing goals. For instance, I believe strongly in commitment, integrity, duty, responsibility, and accountability. These values make it easier for me to have a powerful nursing philosophy. The philosophy supports the needs of different clients. My culture also supports specific values such as responsibility, ethics, empathy, sympathy, teamwork, and diversity. I always use these aspects to develop new competencies that can support my goals. My religious background has equipped me with strong spiritual values that support my career objectives. Positive spiritual backgrounds “encourage people to support one another, give alms, volunteer, and promote God’s duty on earth” (Warelow, 2012, p. 41). These values have contributed reshaped my philosophy and worldview of nursing. My goal is to support the health outcomes of many individuals from different backgrounds. I embrace integrity, empathy, diversity, and accountability to deliver evidence-based care (Butts & Rich, 2010). These values explain why I have become a leading provider of culturally-sensitive, patient-centered, and evidence-based care.

Values are strong principles that guide a person’s actions. Morals are “obligations aimed at encouraging people to do what is acceptable or right” (Butts & Rich, 2010, p. 18). Human beings should use such morals to deliver appropriate support to others. Ethical values also promote various acceptable behaviors. I always use the best values and principles to achieve my nursing goals. However, some of my values, worldview, and philosophy of nursing might “encounter specific conflicts with certain obligations to practice” (Butts & Rich, 2010, p. 18). For example, I might encounter a patient who does not accept a specific form of medication. The dilemma might occur due to cultural or spiritual differences. Such a conflict will affect my decisions (Butts & Rich, 2010). However, I always examine the nature of the situation to promote the correct approach. This is done to promote the health outcomes of the affected patient.

Ethical dilemmas will always occur in different healthcare settings. Healthcare practitioners should therefore use the best ideas to make the best decisions. More often than not, my personal views tend to affect my decision-making processes and behaviors. For example, I always focus on the best practices to deliver quality medical care (Jarrin, 2012). However, an ethical dilemma proves otherwise, especially when my critical goal is to get the best outcomes. This scenario encourages me to empower, inform, and educate my patients and their relatives about the best approaches towards getting quality health results.

Spirituality

Possible Meanings of “Spirituality”

Spirituality is a word that has numerous meanings. Human beings “use spirituality to reshape their philosophies, goals, and worldviews” (Jarrin, 2012, p. 17). Some people believe strongly that spirituality is the concept of participating in a specific religion. However, I treat spirituality as an intrinsic force that equips people with new energies to achieve the impossible. Spirituality is also “the duty to serve others through continued wisdom, service, joy, and peacefulness” (Warelow, 2012, p. 39). This approach has the potential to promote a person’s worldview.

The Concepts of Pluralism, Postmodernism, and Scientism

According to Warelow (2012), pluralism means that the world is characterized by numerous groups, religious worldviews, and principles. The important thing is ensuring that such groups and views coexist. Scientism presents a powerful worldview that supports all the other aspects of life. A proper understanding of scientism can make it easier for individuals to embrace the power of human knowledge (Warelow, 2012). This knowledge encourages more people to respond positively to different problems (Warelow, 2012). Butts and Rich (2010) argue that “postmodernism is a form of thinking that focuses on the skeptical analysis and interpretation of different cultural aspects to produce the best results” (p. 47). These three concepts can play a significant role in supporting a person’s philosophy.

Basic World View Questions

My religious views encourage me to embrace the best ideas, principles, and concepts that can make the world a better place. The worldview questions presented below play a significant role in supporting my spiritual, religious, and career goals (Warelow, 2012). The answers presented below also explain why I will always focus on the best practices and actions to achieve my objectives.

Prime reality

The prime reality in the universe is God. As well, God is all-knowing thus being able to determine the fate and outcomes of many events in the universe. This knowledge encourages people to act by God’s guidelines and teachings. The practice will make it easier for more people to achieve their goals and potentials on earth (Tran, 2015).

The nature of the world around us

The world around us is autonomous. The world around us is also characterized by both ordered and chaotic forces that reshape the experiences of every creature (Tran, 2015). That being the case, human beings cannot ignore their relationships with the world around them. The relationship should therefore reshape their behaviors (Ulrich, 2014). As well, human beings should develop the best relationships with the world to support God’s teachings.

A human being

The human being should be identified and treated as a highly-complex and intelligent machine created in the image of God. This kind of intelligence equips humanity with the best abilities to judge and make informed decisions. Such decisions define people’s relationships with their immediate environments (Ulrich, 2014). People’s intelligence makes it easier for them to differentiate and understand what is wrong. The ultimate goal in life is focusing on what is good to have a new paradise on earth (Butts & Rich, 2010).

What happens to a person at death?

It is agreeable that human beings do not clearly understand what happens to every creature after death. However, it is appropriate “to believe that such kind of transformation occurs” (Ulrich, 2014, p. 248). This “process transforms people to a higher state” (Ulrich, 2014, p. 249).

Why it is possible to know different things

Since human beings are created in the image of their God, it becomes easier for them to make accurate judgments and decisions. They are usually conscious and informed about the world around them. Human beings are rational and capable of understanding the issues taking place around them (Jarrin, 2012). This knowledge eventually dictates a person’s worldview and spirituality.

How people know what is wrong or right

Human beings borrow a lot from their creator. God is also all-knowing thus empowering more people to make rational choices. Human beings can use this ability to determine what appears to be wrong or right. People’s decisions and choices, therefore, focus on the goodness of the things surrounding them. The “knowledge of wrong and right plays a significant role towards supporting people’s survival on earth” (Ulrich, 2014, p. 252).

The ultimate meaning of human history

The purpose of God has always been to create a new paradise and make it the best place for human beings. This understanding of human history encourages people to focus on the teachings of their loving God. They should also embrace the power of love to support the meaning of human history (Butts & Rich, 2010). Every past and present human action should therefore be completed in the best manner possible (Tran, 2015). The approach will bring more people closer to their God (or gods). This achievement will make it easier for human beings to have a better universe.

Reference List

Butts, J., & Rich, K. (2010). Theories of Advanced Nursing Practice. New York, NY: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Jarrin, O. (2012). The Integrality of Situated Caring in Nursing and the Environment. ANS Advanced Nursing Science, 31(1), 14-24.

Tran, P. (2015). Nursing Starts with a Caring Heart. The Alaska Nurse, 1(1), 8-11.

Ulrich, B. (2014). The Responsibility and Accountability of being a Registered Nurse. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 41(3), 241-254.

Warelow, P. (2012). Changing philosophies: a paradigmatic nursing shift from Nightingale. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 30(1), 36-45.