Department of Nursing Philosophy

The Department of Nursing philosophy derives from, and is consistent with the Mission/Vision/Values Statement of Huntington Hospital.

Professional nurses assume leadership roles within the hospital and the Department of Nursing by managing patient care, collaborating with each other, as well as with members of other healthcare disciplines within the agency and the community, and by supervising, guiding and directing professional, technical and nursing support personnel. They practice autonomously, consistent with professional standards and the New York State Nurse Practice Act.

Professional nursing is both an art and a humanistic science which provides essential service to society by promoting the health of individuals, families and communities. Health is viewed as a dynamic process which exists on a continuum from wellness to illness to death. The scope of professional nursing, along the health continuum, is the diagnosis and treatment of human responses to actual or potential health problems. The focus of professional nursing is assisting patients to achieve maximum wellness or, when this is not possible, a peaceful and dignified death.
The Department of Nursing strives to fulfill its social contract with society by promoting the health of the community which it serves. This is realized by a commitment to the following values and beliefs, with THE CORE BELIEF BEING THAT THE PATIENT COMES FIRST:

• Patients have the right to informed consent and autonomy in health care decision-making.
• Patients have the right to maximum comfort and the adequate management of pain.
• Patients have the right to respectful, knowledgeable, safe, and therapeutic nursing care rendered in a healing environment.
• Professional nursing provides a caring relationship that facilitates health and healing.
• Nursing care must be evidence-based and its quality is improved by rigorous and continuous
• measurement, evaluation, and research.
• Professional nursing expertise and representation is essential in all activities that impact the practice of nursing and patient care.
• Professional nursing regulates itself by defining its practice base and providing the structures through which nursing services will be delivered. Nurses have the right to practice in an environment that allows them to act in accordance with professional standards and legally authorized scopes of practice.
• Professional nursing practice must be congruent with ANA Standards of Practice and the ANA Code of Ethics.
• Recruiting and selecting nursing personnel at the highest possible level of competence promotes quality care and our becoming the employer of choice. To the extent possible, workforce diversity must mirror patient population diversity.
• Supportive and professional work environments reflect the fourteen “forces of magnetism” and enhance the retention of nursing personnel. Direct care nurses must be involved in shared decision-making as it impacts their practice and they have the right to freely and openly advocate for themselves and their patients without fear of retribution.
• Caring relationships between self, patient and others are essential to personal and professional satisfaction and growth.
• Commonality of purpose for all nursing personnel promotes quality patient care through team spirit.
• Orientation, in-service and continuing education programs are essential for assuring initial and continuing staff preparation and competence. Additionally, they facilitate our evolution into a learning organization by assuring that employees grow and change.
• Professional nurses are legally and ethically accountable to patients, their families, the community, society and the profession of nursing for the quality of care provided.
• Professional nurses have a responsibility to impact public policy pertinent to the organization, delivery and financing of health care in our society.

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