Guest Contributor: Rachell Nguyen
PhD Student at Texas Woman’s University

As I continue my nursing scholarly journey in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), I realize more and more how much of our profession I still do not know. I can certainly understand why Albert Einstein quoted, “The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” When I got my Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree, I thought I had a solid foundation of nursing…until I pursued my PhD. I understood I had solidified my comprehension of practical nursing, but theoretically, I was still a novice. This recognition aligns with contemporary understanding of nursing knowledge development, which emphasizes the continuous evolution and complexity of theoretical foundations that underpin professional practice (Fawcett, 2005; Reed & Shearer, 2018).

As a child, one method I used to understand concepts more clearly was to employ metaphors I could relate to. One night, I thought to myself, “Why don’t I just use symbolism to further understand the things I am learning?” Therefore, as I push forward in this endeavor, my goal is to correlate a concept with a metaphor for a clearer understanding of nursing theoretical foundations. Using metaphors in nursing education and theory development has been recognized as an effective method for comprehending abstract concepts and facilitating a more profound understanding of professional practice (Smith & Parker, 2015).

After my first Nursing Philosophy session, I realized the vast unknown space I had about the very profession I have been in for almost 20 years. As I pondered this concept, I suddenly thought of the olive tree. Historically, the olive tree has been a symbol of peace, healing, compassion, and strength. I realized how similar these characteristics were to those of a nurse!

Historical Account of the Olive Tree

Across cultures and throughout history, people have long recognized the olive tree’s symbolism. In Greek mythology, Athena’s gift of the olive tree represented wisdom and peace. The Bible refers to the olive branch as a symbol of God’s mercy and a symbol of renewed hope. In Islamic tradition, the olive tree is considered blessed, mentioned in the Quran as a source of light and healing. These themes resonate with aspects of nursing, including the pursuit of peace amid turmoil, the healing of patients, and the resilience gained through enduring service. This symbolic framework aligns with Watson’s (2008) philosophy of nursing as caring, which emphasizes the nurse’s role in creating healing environments and promoting wholeness within human caring relationships.

The Foundation of Nursing Care

Nursing, like the olive tree’s sturdy root system, has a strong foundation. Nursing’s roots go deeper than just skills or clinical protocols. They include the evidence-based knowledge that guides practice, the ethical principles that influence decisions, and the personal values that drive the commitment to patient care and healing (Institute of Medicine, 2011). When nurses establish deep roots through ongoing learning, reflective practice, and a connection to their professional purpose, they cultivate the stability necessary to deliver consistent, compassionate care despite external pressures. This foundational approach aligns with Benner’s (2001) description of the progression from novice to expert, where deep understanding and intuitive practice develop through continuous engagement with both the theoretical and practical aspects of nursing.

Peace and Healing

Among all known symbols, the olive tree is the most universally recognized as a symbol of peace. This is also similar to the nurse’s role, as we are often referred to as the “peacekeeper” by our patients in chaotic healthcare environments. Hospitals and clinics can be places of fear, confusion, and overwhelming emotion for our patients. Nurses often act as translators between the chaos and the patients, helping them navigate uncertainty more clearly. This peacekeeping role embodies what Boykin and Schoenhofer (2001) describe as nursing as caring, where the nurse’s presence and intentional actions create an environment of safety and healing.

Furthermore, olive branches can symbolize healing from conflicts. Nurses often care for people affected by turmoil, such as violence or accidents. We serve as a peaceful presence during the whirlwind of storms. No wonder nurses have been the number one most trusted profession in the United States for 20 years (Gallup, 2024)! This enduring trust reflects the profession’s consistent demonstration of ethical practice and compassionate care across diverse healthcare settings.

Resilience

Olive trees are renowned for their resilience in the face of drought, strong winds, and even fire, often emerging stronger after periods of adversity. This resilience reflects what nurses experience daily in healthcare settings marked by high stress, emotional demands, and constant change (Hart et al., 2014). The challenges we face vary in severity; for example, being a patient advocate means being willing to question hospital protocols or standing for 12 hours or more during grueling shifts. No matter how fierce the winds are, the olive tree does not bend to them. Nurses develop this strength and build the ability to persevere through hardships.

Nursing resilience is characterized by adaptive coping mechanisms that enable professionals to manage workplace stressors while maintaining effectiveness in patient care (McDonald et al., 2012). This resilience is not merely individual strength but reflects the profession’s capacity to adapt and thrive despite challenging circumstances, much like the olive tree’s ability to endure harsh environmental conditions (Connor-Smith & Flachsbart, 2007).

Cultivating the Next Generation

As olive trees mature, they produce fruit and provide the nutrients necessary for growth, contributing to new development. Just as in nursing, we help cultivate the next generation by assisting them in establishing the same principles that we ourselves learned throughout our growth. This mentorship process reflects Benner’s (2001) model of skill acquisition, in which expert nurses guide novices through the complex journey of professional development, sharing both theoretical knowledge and practical wisdom gained through their own experience.
We do not know the exact trajectory of our profession; however, to ensure we reach the “utopia” of our field, I encourage us to continue cultivating future nurse leaders who will uplift our profession. The Institute of Medicine (2011) emphasizes the critical importance of nursing leadership development and educational advancement in shaping the future of healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.

The Legacy of Nurses as Olive Trees

I find the olive tree to be an excellent representation of a nurse. Both have similar characteristics, including being symbols of peace, healing, and resilience. Nurses are fortified after years of experience and knowledge, just as the olive tree strengthens over time. Even if I do not fully understand the theoretical foundations of our profession, reflecting on this metaphor has helped clarify many of the foundational core principles. This metaphorical understanding supports the broader recognition that nursing knowledge encompasses multiple ways of knowing, including empirical, aesthetic, personal, and ethical patterns that collectively inform professional practice (Fawcett, 2005).

However, that is the beauty of nursing philosophy; as nursing is ever-evolving, so too is our understanding of it. The dynamic nature of nursing knowledge reflects the profession’s commitment to continuous growth and adaptation, much like the olive tree’s capacity for renewal and sustained productivity across generations (Reed & Shearer, 2018).

References

Benner, P. (2001). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in clinical nursing practice (Commemorative ed.). Prentice Hall Health.

Boykin, A., & Schoenhofer, S. O. (2001). Nursing as caring: A model for transforming practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Connor-Smith, J. K., & Flachsbart, C. (2007). Relations between personality and coping: A meta-analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(6), 1080–1107. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.93.6.1080

Fawcett, J. (2005). Contemporary nursing knowledge: Analysis and evaluation of nursing models and theories (2nd ed.). F. A. Davis Company.

Gallup. (2024). Honesty/ethics in professions. Gallup News. https://news.gallup.com/poll/1654/honesty-ethics-professions.aspx

Hart, P. L., Brannan, J. D., & De Chesnay, M. (2014). Resilience in nurses: An integrative review. Journal of Nursing Management, 22(6), 720–734. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2834.2012.01485.x

Institute of Medicine. (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12956

McDonald, G., Jackson, D., Wilkes, L., & Vickers, M. H. (2012). A work-based educational intervention to support the development of personal resilience in nurses and midwives. Nurse Education Today, 32(4), 378–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2011.04.012

Reed, P. G., & Shearer, N. B. C. (2018). Perspectives on nursing theory (7th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Smith, M. C., & Parker, M. E. (2015). Nursing theories and nursing practice (4th ed.). F. A. Davis Company.

Watson, J. (2008). Nursing: The philosophy and science of caring (Rev. ed.). University Press of Colorado.

About Rachell Nguyen

Greetings! I work full time as a nursing professional development specialist (NPDS) in evidence-based practice (EBP), research, and nursing practice. Additionally, I practice as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) part time. Since 2006, I’ve worked as a registered nurse (RN) and became an FNP in 2012. I obtained a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) in 2018 to ensure I practiced nursing with the utmost expertise. I am pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) to strengthen my understanding of research. My professional passions include improving the quality of patient care; population health; EBP and research; patient and staff education; nurse empowerment; nurse advocacy; and diabetes and prediabetes management.