Nursing philosophy will vary depending upon the situation. Nurses operate under a variety of conditions, in a variety of locations, from small local hospitals to large city hospitals, from intensive care units to general wards, from pediatric units to nursing homes, and in each case the needs vary. The philosophy adopted will have to be tailored to fit the circumstances, so no one philosophy will suit all nursing situations. Even the best philosophy will have to be adjusted to meet the requirements of the particular nursing situation. Central to any philosophy of nursing must be the welfare and well-being of the patient. The author of this paper identifies chiefly with Imogene King's nursing theory of the patient as a person system within the environment.
Because of the vast number of situations in which a nurse performs her duties, many factors are involved in developing a philosophy of nursing. At the center of the philosophy is what is best for the patient, and the American Nurses Association has determined an ANA Standards of Care and Standards of Professional Performance for nurses (ANA, 2002). These include standards of practice; quality of patient care; performance of duties; education and career development; collegiality; ethics; collaboration; research; and resource utilization. All nurses are expected to perform activities appropriate for their grade or level. According to the ANA (1991), nurses should collaborate with other health professionals to maximize the benefits for their patient. The Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations also advises nurses to provide interdisciplinary collaboration in treating their patients. (JCAHO, 2001).
The nurses at the Self Memorial Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina have devised a philosophy of nursing that states "Nursing is a human service that assists patients in meeting their self-care needs in both health and illness" (Conner, 1994). Th...