Nursing Theory and Philosophy invigorated my outlook on the field of nursing. This course truly took what I perceived nursing to be, a primarily bedside-care and patient-nurse interaction, and elevated it to a new level prestige and scientific expansiveness. Even though I had been exposed to some nursing theorists in my ADN program and Betty Neuman’s Systems Model was the main focus of the program, I had no idea the myriad of theorists, philosophies, patient-care models, and point of views that are dedicated to the art and science of nursing. Who knew that Florence Nightingale would lay such a solid foundation for inquiry, inspiration, and insight into the nursing universe! She along with her many influential successors have taken nursing from the bedside to the classroom and now into a new era of research. This transition into the world of academia and research has created a profession that is regarded with high esteem, respected by other professionals, is influential in healthcare policy, and innovative in clinical application. Being educated on the different nurse theorists and the journeys that each of them took to become the professionals that they are today is inspiring and makes me hopeful for my future endeavors in the field.

Being a student of nursing theory has given me the gift of being a better nurse. There were too many theorists have impressed on me ideals that will guide my career to just pick one to consider the most influential. From Florence Nightingale’s keen perceptions on sanitation and the use of fresh air, sunshine, rest, and nutrition in healing patients; to Hildegard E. Peplau’s Theory of Interpersonal  Relations and the connection between the nurse and patient; to Marilyn Anne Ray’s Theory of Bureaucratic Caring explaining caring within a formal organizational structure;  to Patricia Benner’s stages of knowledge development of the clinical nurse from Novice to Expert ; to Martha E. Rogers’ Unitary of Human Beings philosophy; to Dorthea Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory of Nursing; and to Madeleine M. Leininger’s Culture Care Theory of Diversity and Universality- they all have influenced my nursing perspective.   I have gained the gift of expanded knowledge and better understanding of the possibilities of nursing theory, application, research, and the global impact of nursing (Alligood, 2014).

Throughout this course, I had the chance to be a part of many discussions with my peers concerning nurse theorist and our personal point of views on nursing theories. It culminated in skits to display our particular nursing theorists point of views. My group called our skit Nurse Theorist Survivor Island, taking cues from the popular television show, and provided a fun way for our peers to understand our nurse theorists. Being a part of group that uses creativity to relay its points was not only fun but educational as well.  I will forever keep the lessons learned from this course as integral pillars of my own nursing philosophy and professional perspective.

References

Alligood, M. (2014). Nursing theorists and their work. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.