Worldview And Nursing Process: Personal Reflection

Fundamentally, a worldview can be determined by an individual’s knowledge, emotional intelligence, experiences and values/morals. Essentially, worldviews are created by each individual and are specific to their life. The happenstances that make up one’s worldview can also determine their future and their contribution to society as a whole. This can be executed in education, career and further life choices. My personal worldview has shaped my life and career and has also created opportunities for me with in the nursing profession. In the information to follow, I will discuss the derivatives of my personal worldview, a specific nursing theory that aligns with my personal philosophy and how both of those factors will play a role in my future nursing development and practice.

Personal Worldview

From a very young age, I had learned to self-sufficient and proudly independent. My mother was a ‘teen-mom’ and was left to raise me alone, with the help of our family. My mother later married and had two more children and since I was not my stepfather’s child, I was treated differently than the sons that he now had. I soon learned to do most things independently and it wasn’t before long that my parents decided to “start-over” and leave our close-knit Catholic community in Philadelphia and move to a Southern Baptist region of Phoenix to be with my stepfather’s family. This coincided with my freshman year of high school were again, I was forced to learn and grow independently since I literally didn’t know a soul. I believe because of my base foundation of Catholicism and then the shift to Christianity, I am truly able to love others as I was taught that Jesus had loved me. I have always had the desire to help others that were in a similar situation with the understanding that if I could persevere, then they could too.

Additionally, there has always been a call to serve those that ‘less fortunate’ than myself. Mostly because I grew up in a very low-income household and really didn’t know anything else other than to share what you have with the next person, as we were all struggling just to make it through. Throughout the years, I have adopted a philosophy, like most in the nursing profession, to not only treat others how you would want to be treated, but to treat others as if it was my own family member that was sick or dying. To essentially treat my patients how I would want someone treating my ill family member. It is also through the diversity of the different parts of the country that I have lived in as well as the different religions that I have been affiliated with that has given me the ability to appreciate and adapt to alternative lifestyles, religious beliefs, culture, and ethical differences.

Nursing Theory

Studying nursing theories and how they are applicable to practice is crucial to understanding the foundation of nursing as a whole. Virginia Henderson introduced the ‘Needs Theory” in 1966 and its main focus was understanding that all humans have 14 basic needs and that these are individualized with regards to nursing care and treatment. This theory is one that I can find most applicable to my personal philosophy of patient care in that not all people are the same and they must be treated and cared for as such. Having developed an understanding that treatment should be catered to the patient and their particular needs has given me the chance to form deeper and more meaningful relationships with my patients.

Application

Application of Henderson’s Needs Theory can be utilized in practice when treating patients as well as the management of employees. As a nurse leader, it is important to take the 14 basic needs and apply them to the individuals that I am leading and will lead. In my opinion, it is in that treating the personal holistically instead of specifically that creates the best outcomes. This can also be applied to the ability to successfully lead a group of people while focusing on them as individuals at the same time.

Conclusion

The evolution of nursing theory, regardless of who the theorist is, comes from their worldview and perspective on nursing as a whole. It is with the application of these theories to our own worldview and philosophy that shapes who we are as nurses and nurse leaders.