Nursing is an ever-evolving and growing profession. Tools such as the Scope and Standards for Nursing, State Nursing Laws, Code of Ethics, and General Principles of Philosophy are used to establish standards and promote growth within the profession. I use these principles and standards daily in my career as a registered nurse (RN). In this article I will discuss the importance of these factors in my career and how they all contribute to positive outcomes for everyone involved. American Nurses Association Scope of Practice There are six established standards for nursing practice; assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation (ANA, 2010; pp. 9-10). During a typical shift on the unit I work for, I set the tasks I should complete to advance patient care and keep the patient safe. I begin my shift by completing my patient's initial assessment. During this time, I am getting to know my patient and assessing whether there are any new problems that require my immediate intervention. From here, I am able to discuss appropriate goals for the day with my patient. This can come in the form of increased mobility by walking around the unit, decreased pain, or simply taking a bath. Next, I plan when and how these tasks can be accomplished and coordinate assistance with appropriate team members; such as nursing assistants and physiotherapists. Evaluating the patient after each procedure helps discover what works and what doesn't for the individual. “The nursing process in practice is not linear as often conceptualized, with a feedback loop from assessment to assessment. Rather, it relies heavily on the two-way feedback loop… in the middle of the paper… patient. If the patient is unable to do so, the patient's power of attorney must do so. While the line is being placed I must ensure that the patient's privacy is respected and that proper techniques are used to keep the patient free from infection. This is just one example of how ethical principles and theories are used in my nursing unit. Without these principles and guidelines, I am unable to grow as a nurse. The daily decisions about the care I provide to my patients will be guided by basic philosophy and ethical standards. I feel that in my four years of nursing my practice has been consistent with these standards. As an RN, I believe it is important to always seek improvement in all aspects of my career. Taking a step back and self-reflecting will allow me to find areas of improvement needed to improve the care I provide to my patients.