Your journal this week will help you get started on developing your personal Philosophy of Nursing Statement. You will continue to develop this statement over the next six weeks through these journal assignments.

In this week’s journal, construct your initial draft of the opening statement and assumptions sections of your philosophy of nursing. In this first draft, you will reflect on the elements below:

Introduction: Open your statement with a few sentences about the importance of a philosophy of nursing practice. How does such a philosophy shape your identity and role as a nurse?

Assumptions: Discuss your assumptions about patients, health, environment, and nursing and the relationships among these variables. How does your nursing philosophy guide your interaction with patients, their families, and other healthcare professionals? How do professional integrity, equity, ethics, and the potential for bias factor into your assumptions?