C351 Paper Outline Final.docx - Running head PROFESSI0NAL...

Running head: PROFESSI0NAL PRESENCE IN NURSING 1
Professional Presence in Nursing
Tara Garofalo
Western Governors University

Professional Presence in Nursing 2
Professional Presence in Nursing
In this paper, I will discuss the differences between the two models of healing and how
one of them relates to my thinking and focus in my nursing career. I will also address my Jung
personality test results. I will compare my results with my actual personality. I will also discuss
what it means to be a mindful nurse and how professional presence can affect my patients and
myself. I will lay-out goals for myself to help me become a more “whole” person and give
examples of how I plan to achieve those goals. In conclusion, I will discuss what an optimal
healing environment (OHE) is and how I can help my current work environment become a better
OHE.
Models of Health and Healing
When comparing two out of the three models of health and healing as they relate to what
it means to be human, I have decided to compare Era 1and Era 3. Era 1 came about around the
1860s and started to incorporate science into treatment. The illness was treated as a complete
physical symptom. The mind and spirit had no consideration in this era. When it came to
treatment, only the issue was treated and not the underlying cause. If it was broken, it was just
taken out.
In the most recent era, Era 3, reasoning that healing encompasses the mind, body, and
spirit was adopted. By encompassing the body as a whole being and not just the physical aspect
of the illness, they incorporate the healing of the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual
aspects. By encompassing those four aspects, I feel that Era 3 coincides the most to what it
means to be human.
When it comes to Era 1, my beliefs greatly differ from this way of thinking. My thinking

Professional Presence in Nursing 3
aligns more with Era 3. As a Labor and Delivery nurse, I do not agree with just treating the main
issue and ignoring the underlying issues. I believe that the person should be treated with all
aspects addressed. Just treating the “main diagnosis” could do a huge injustice to my patient
especially when they have precious cargo on board. I deal with high-risk OB, and we get many
sick moms. When we have a severe pre-eclamptic patient, treating the emotional and mental
aspects can help with their physical symptoms also. For example, having the patient play
soothing sound or music or using aromatherapy creates a calming effect. Sometimes just the use
of gentle touch can help relax patients and lower their blood pressures.
Models and Professional Presence
Professional presence is the awareness of your personality, thoughts, experiences, and
beliefs and how they can influence and affect the care of your patients. A nurse who was raised
Catholic and was taught that abortion is wrong may treat a patient who has had an abortion in the
past differently from her other patients without even realizing it. And as nurses, we need to be
mindful of those things when dealing with patients.