The Power of Compassion in Nursing; My Personal Philosophy of Nursing Care
Before embarking on nursing school, I attempted to immerse myself in the culture of nursing. I first read The Language of Kindness by Kristine Watson, a nurse for more than twenty years. She worked in all subsets of nursing, from neonatal to geriatric. In a portion of her book she discussed her time as a mental health nurse at an inpatient psychiatric unit. During her time there, she encountered several patients that other nurses had labeled as ‘problem’ or ‘uncooperative.’ She found that extending them kindness and empathy was calming and elicited a helpful response. She remarked that, “a good mental health nurse is a dream catcher in a window of desperation.” This struck me, as I am especially interested in psychiatric nursing, however it can be applied to any specialty.
Traditionally, a dream catcher is used by some Native American tribes to trap bad dreams and nightmares that are believed to be floating through the air, while good dreams drift down the strings and feathers and fall gently on the sleeping person below. In the morning, at first light, the bad dreams would disappear- never to be thought of. In a hospital setting there are plenty of bad feelings in the air; concern over a loved one, a beloved patient that is not doing as well as the staff hoped, and painful choices about care options are around every corner. An outstanding nurse is able to trap these bad feelings. They can use empathy, compassion, and understanding to turn a tough situation into one that is healing. A superb nurse exudes confidence, in themselves and their care team, kindness in a smile or gentle touch, and knowledge both personally and professionally, and they are able to let these warm feelings fall on their patients and families while letting the negative feelings disappear with them.
My personal nursing philosophy centers around the nurse being a beacon of hope for patients and their families. While it is not always possible to be the most compassionate or prevent every person from having a negative attitude, it is possible to strive for excellence in care every day. Jean Watson’s Theory of Caring is the biggest inspiration for my nursing philosophy. The Watson Caring Science Institute (2010), lists five core concepts for the Theory of Caring; the most important to me are “Rational Caring for self and others based on love and values,” and the Caring Moment. The Caring Moment occurs when, “two people come together in a human-to-human that is meaningful, authentic, intentional, and shares human experiences that expands each person’s worldview and spirit.” These Caring Moments should happen at each patient interaction. Jean Watson’s theory is based around the nurse being the healing environment, not the physical place the patient is. In order to achieve this the nurse must practice self-reflection and endeavor to engage in patient-centered interactions at every encounter.
I hope to further by education by becoming a Psychiatric Mental-Health Nurse Practitioner. I am especially interested in working with the population that suffers from substance abuse disorders and associated co-morbidities. I hope to marry the fields of therapy and medicine in my nursing practice, and in doing so, a deep trusting bond must be formed with my patients- therefore Jean Watson’s theory is especially significant. The mental health field is severely underserved, and this is only compounded by the shortage of nurses currently experienced in the United States. I hope that a greater understanding of substance abuse, and psychiatric disorders in general, leads to a stronger interest in the field, and in the lives of people that are affected by these issues.