Everyone has a “Philosophy of Life” — whether they define it as such or not. We all have morals, values, ideas, attitudes and beliefs that are deeply engrained in us and guide the decisions we make in our day to day life. Those values and beliefs influence the choices we make. Some people are more aware of the underlying beliefs and values that are influencing their actions than others. This reflective assignment will cause you to invest a little time to clarify your “Philosophy of Life” so that you can use it to guide your choices and live a life of integrity Your “Philosophy of Life” should include some soul searching and include your core belief system (values, morals and ethics) about your life, and the decision to pursue nursing as your professional journey. Consider all aspects of your life and then create your personal “Philosophy of Life”. Think about your goals (whether short term or long term), your priorities, physical and financial abilities. Include your relationships with family and spirituality (if applicable). Then discuss how these variables will be affected by your new career path and based on your goal or priorities discuss what career opportunity will be open to you. You may want to ask yourself some questions like: What is nursing? What is nursing’s role in society? What purpose do we fulfill? What characteristics are most important for a nurse to have? What values are most important to nursing? What does it mean to be “a great nurse?”
