The Role of Philosophy in Guiding Healthcare Organizations

Philosophy plays a pivotal role in shaping the core principles of every healthcare organization and educational institution in the United States. This includes the formulation of a mission statement and a vision that acts as a compass, directing the purpose of service and practice. The significance of this philosophy is evident not only in the healthcare sector but also in colleges and universities, where a clear understanding of beliefs and values is deemed essential during project formulation.

An exemplary illustration of such a philosophy can be found in Baptist Health of South Florida (BHSF), where the mission and vision statements are intrinsically linked to the goal of aiding the community in meeting its healthcare needs.

Moreover, BHSF proudly upholds a faith-based guiding principle, a tradition that has endured for numerous years.

Mission and Vision of Baptist Health

The mission of Baptist Health revolves around enhancing the health and well-being of individuals, concurrently promoting the sanctity and preservation of life within the communities they serve.

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This faith-based organization is guided by the spirit of Jesus Christ and the Judeo-Christian ethic, committing to maintain the highest standards of clinical and service excellence rooted in integrity and moral practice.

Baptist Health stands resolute in providing high-quality, cost-effective, and compassionate healthcare services to all, irrespective of religion, creed, race, or national origin. Additionally, the organization, within its resource capacity, extends charity care to those in need, showcasing a commitment to social responsibility (BHSF 2014).

Guiding Principle

Embracing a guiding principle, Baptist Health seeks to reveal the healing presence of God through its compassionate healthcare services (BHSF 2014).

Vision

Baptist Health envisions itself as the preeminent healthcare provider in the communities it serves—a trusted destination for healthcare needs. The vision extends to offering a broad range of evidence-based clinical services, provided with compassion to ensure patient safety, superior clinical outcomes, and the highest levels of satisfaction with a patient- and family-centered focus. Furthermore, Baptist Health aspires to be a national and international leader in healthcare innovation, setting a standard for excellence (BHSF 2014).

BHSF Nursing Philosophy

The nursing philosophy of BHSF is rooted in the framework of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring/Caring Science. This theoretical foundation provides lucidity to the development of a nursing philosophy, emphasizing the maintenance of high standards of nursing care and service excellence.

The primary purpose of nursing at BHSF is to provide culturally congruent, non-discriminatory, safe, and beneficial care to patients, families, and significant others. The nursing process is intricately woven through assessment, diagnosis, identification of outcomes, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

The nursing staff at BHSF firmly believes that the essence of nursing lies in providing culturally congruent care, while simultaneously fostering healing through competent staff. This involves educating patients, families, and significant others in the caring process, ultimately promoting independence, self-care, and bio-psycho-social healing.

Nursing Services at BHSF advocate for participative management, emphasizing shared responsibility and accountability. The organization fosters and encourages nursing autonomy and professional development through competency development, education, and training. Recognizing nursing as a transcultural caring discipline, BHSF promotes clinical excellence through evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary collaboration, essential elements in the holistic healthcare approach (BHSF 2014).

However, the creation of a nursing philosophy is not exclusive to hospitals; it serves as a guiding beacon in setting clear standards of care for patients. The importance of a nursing philosophy becomes evident when comparing it with the philosophy of institutions like Phoenix University.

Philosophy of Phoenix University

Phoenix University, in contrast to BHSF, has a philosophy centered around meeting the needs of working and underserved students. The core goal is to provide these students with the opportunity to earn a college degree through flexible scheduling, faculty with real-world knowledge, and a consistent and effective curriculum design, ultimately making higher education accessible to everyone (University of Phoenix 2014).

The contrast between the two philosophies is unmistakable. While BHSF's philosophy is deeply entrenched in patient care theory, Phoenix University's philosophy is designed to cater to the needs of working individuals, helping them obtain a degree or advance in their careers. Phoenix University places a strong emphasis on integrating learned material into the working environment and promotes flexibility in scheduling.

BHSF's framework, based on Jean Watson’s theory, focuses on providing ultimate care for patients, regardless of their race or cultural background. It encourages nurses to practice in a culturally diverse environment, promoting an autonomous working environment and motivating nurses to advance in their careers.

Such distinct differences in philosophy underscore the essence of having a philosophy to guide the core of a program or work environment. Whether consciously acknowledged or not, everyone possesses a philosophy that inevitably influences their career and educational choices. Some individuals actively seek and formulate their beliefs and values, providing them with a more profound understanding of their career and educational aspirations.

Therefore, it is imperative for everyone to engage in self-reflection, analyzing and searching for their beliefs and values to formulate their own philosophy. This philosophy becomes a guiding light, steering individuals through the intricacies of education and career, ultimately shaping their personal and professional journey.