Professional Values: Sewa, Mudita, and Ubuntu
In reflecting on my experiences in nursing and attempting to frame my nursing practice, I have discovered three values that influence who I am as a nurse: sewa, mudita, and Ubuntu. Sewa, or seva, is a Sanskrit word that describes service performed without any expectation of award (“BBC,” 2014). Sewa entails physical, mental, and material service, and unlike altruism, which removes the self from the service of others, sewa allows me to embrace my role in service (“BBC,” 2014). The Buddhist virtue of mudita describes the delight and joy derived from the well-being of others, and achieved through active encouragement and affirmation of others (Steinberg, 2017).…