Army Values Essay

Words: 663
Pages: 3

The focus of nursing is to provide compassionate, competent patient care. Nursing is committed to serving the public and is entrusted with providing or restoring people’s wellbeing. Nurses assume many different roles in their practice and specific responsibilities, depending on the context of each patient care situation and all the factors that influence it (Hood, 2010, p.60). For example, in their role as health managers, nurses provide not only compassionate nursing care to their patients, but also help build a strong support network with their patients’ family members. As advocates for patient rights, nurses protect patient privacy and ensure that patients make informed choices about their treatment options. As educators, nurses teach patients …show more content…
In defining my core values I draw on the Army values instilled in me as a young soldier: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, integrity, and personal courage (Army Values, 2012). I define loyalty as a commitment to my patient and a sincere interest in my patient’s wellbeing. In my personal life my loyalty is to my family. As a nurse it’s important to remember that my patient is also somebody’s family. Duty means “fulfill your obligations” (Army Values, 2012). As a professional nurse I am morally and legally accountable for my actions, and I have a duty to perform my job to the upmost of my ability. Ideally, I must be vigilant in my care to avoid mistakes, but if I make mistakes, I must recognize them as an opportunity to learn for me and my colleagues. Respect means treating everyone with dignity, and providing compassionate care to all patients free of prejudice and judgment. This requires self reflection and awareness of what my biases are. Respect and professionalism go hand-in-hand with clear communication, where conclusions are based on facts, not assumptions. While allowing for respectful disagreement to exist, the aim is always the best possible outcome for the patient. Teamwork is essential in working as a part of the interdisciplinary team; we must communicate effectively, and work together to achieve our primary goal, the patient’s wellbeing. Teamwork