Nursing Theory Application.
The importance of nursing theory to the nursing profession is extensive because it presents the scientific base of the respective profession and organizes the way in which nurses deliver health care services to patients. This foundation allows nurses to approach patient care with a structured and evidence-based framework. Nursing theory in the case of a mother who has delivered a stillborn child should focus on guiding nurses how to describe, explain, and control certain issues pertaining to their daily practice. By providing a theoretical lens, nurses can better understand the complex emotional and physical needs of the mother during this difficult time. The underlying idea of using nursing theory in practice is to improve patient care outcomes (Reed & Shearer, 2011). This improvement can be seen in areas such as reduced hospital readmissions, improved patient satisfaction, and enhanced overall well-being.
Nursing theory also defines boundaries within the nursing profession. It clarifies the scope of practice for nurses and helps to distinguish their role from that of other healthcare professionals. In fact, nurses use this theory to attain a better and more relevant perspective about their patient care. This deeper understanding allows nurses to provide more holistic and individualized care. Despite the emerging gap between theory and practice in nursing, the implementation of some nursing theories in clinical settings illustrates the importance of nursing theory as a whole. Examples of successful theory implementation can be found in areas such as pain management, wound care, and patient education. In fact, nursing theory is as important as practice because theory provides the essential principles that guide practice and help health care professionals generate adequate nursing knowledge (Marquis & Huston, 2008). This knowledge base is constantly evolving as new research emerges and our understanding of health and illness expands. This aspect should be applied in the case of a patient who has just been told he has cancer. By drawing on relevant nursing theories, nurses can provide comprehensive support to the patient and their family during this challenging time. Moreover, nursing theory enables nurses with a sense of identity in this challenging profession so that they can recognize the importance of their own contribution to the health care sector. This sense of purpose and belonging is essential for nurses to maintain job satisfaction and provide high-quality care.
In the case of a family who is unsure whether or not to place a loved one in an extended care facility, Orem’s nursing theory becomes quite applicable. Orem’s Self-Care Deficit Theory focuses on the patient’s ability to perform self-care activities and the nurse’s role in assisting when deficits exist. The key attributes of the self-care model of nursing presented by Orem include aspects of self-care, the precise agency of self-care, therapeutic self-care demand, deficits in terms of self-care, the agency and the system of nursing (Marquis & Huston, 2008). These concepts provide a framework for understanding the family’s needs and developing a care plan that supports both the patient and their loved ones. Self-care is associated with the common activities done by individuals in order to maintain integrated functioning within the surrounding environment. This can include activities such as bathing, dressing, eating, and managing medications. It is apparent that the notion of self-care is mostly about maintaining a condition of psychological and emotional wellbeing. Self-care encompasses not only physical needs but also emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Self-care agency relates to the ability of persons to determine specific requirements for regulating functioning and to perform care measures. This agency empowers individuals to take an active role in their own health and well-being.
A theory that would work best in addressing the problem of sleep deprivation is Margaret Newman’s theory of health, which uses the concept of expanding consciousness in the community and emerges as a relevant way to help individuals for whom health as the lack of disease or disability is impossible. Newman’s theory emphasizes the interconnectedness of individuals and their environment, recognizing that sleep deprivation can have a profound impact on both. Undoubtedly, nursing is one of the most challenging professions in terms of patient safety and quality initiatives (Newman, 1999). The demanding nature of the profession requires nurses to be resilient, adaptable, and committed to continuous learning. Its dynamic status continues to mandate that nurses practice from a framework of professionalism. This professionalism includes adhering to ethical principles, maintaining competence, and collaborating effectively with other healthcare professionals. The central concepts of the discipline of nursing are the person, environment, health, and overall nursing. These concepts provide a foundation for understanding the complex interactions between individuals, their surroundings, and their health status. The non-nursing theories in nursing practice come from biological, physical and behavioral sciences, which are commonly used in the practice of nursing. These theories provide a scientific basis for understanding the physiological, psychological, and social factors that influence health and illness. The non-nursing theories the theory of Maslow’s hierarchy of basic human needs, integral theory, complexity, and quality improvement. These theories can be integrated with nursing theories to provide a comprehensive framework for patient care. These non-nursing theories are often incorporated into nursing practice together with specific nursing theories such as the one of Margaret Newman.
Newman adequately indicates the competence of the nursing theory equating to performance, which is the capability to perform nursing tasks, and the second important aspect is proficiency as a psychological construct, which is mainly learnt with the help of non-nursing theories (Newman, 1999). This dual aspect of competence highlights the importance of both technical skills and theoretical knowledge in nursing practice. Therefore, the ability to effectively integrate cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities when delivering nursing care practices is essential. This holistic approach to nursing care ensures that patients receive comprehensive and individualized attention. The focus of practice in nursing has mainly been in the area of the health care practice setting. This setting provides nurses with the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world context. The practice shows a setting where nurses are guided to deal with the highest risk of harm and/or poor patient results that can be directly linked to nursing practice activities. This emphasis on patient safety underscores the importance of evidence-based practice and continuous quality improvement in nursing.
For the nursing diagnosis of caregiver role strain, Watson’s nursing theory appears relevant. Watson’s theory emphasizes the importance of human connection and caring in the nurse-patient relationship. According to Watson (1997), the main aspects of this theory are the following: the carative factors, the transpersonal caring relationship, and the caring moment that is taking place during patient-nurse relationship. These concepts provide a framework for understanding the emotional and psychological needs of caregivers and for developing interventions that promote their well-being. Viewed as the core of nursing, the carative factors illustrate the grand nursing theorist’s intention to honor the human elements of nursing job. These factors encompass aspects such as promoting a healing environment, fostering a sense of trust and respect, and providing emotional support. In general, these factors are comprised of certain elements that complete the entire picture of caring. They represent the essential qualities that nurses bring to their interactions with patients and their families. It is crucial that nurses demonstrate humanistic values and altruism when encountering different cases as well as they should ensure immense sensitivity to self and others. This compassionate approach to care is essential for building strong therapeutic relationships and promoting healing. Another significant element is that of establishing a trusting human care relationship. This relationship is built on mutual respect, empathy, and understanding. Likewise, the ability to express both positive and negative feelings in certain health care situations illustrates nurses’ realistic philosophy of caring. Authenticity and emotional intelligence are crucial for nurses to connect with patients on a deeper level. In the caring process of solving various problems, nurses need to be quite creative in order to sustain success in their daily practice. This creativity allows nurses to adapt their approach to care based on the individual needs of each patient.
Watson’s caring theory apparently emphasizes on the genuine teaching-learning experience related to the importance of being and meaning. This focus on meaning-making recognizes that patients are not simply passive recipients of care but active participants in their own healing journey. The nursing theorist discusses the significance of creating a healing environment at all levels. This healing environment encompasses not only the physical space but also the emotional and spiritual atmosphere. For that reason, exploring the transpersonal caring relationship is obligatory. This relationship transcends the boundaries of the traditional nurse-patient interaction and acknowledges the interconnectedness of all beings. According to Watson, the transpersonal caring relationship refers to a certain relationship that depends on numerous factors. First, nurses are responsible for protecting human dignity and the deeper self (Watson, 1997). Second, nurses are committed to ensure adequate communication in order to preserve the embodied spirit. These processes imply that nurses go beyond an objective assessment because they extensively demonstrate serious concerns about patients’ subjective meaning related to their own health care situation.
References.
Nasiri, M., Jafari, Z., Rakhshan, M., Yarahmadi, F., Zonoori, S., Akbari, F., … & Rezaei, M. (2023). Application of Orem’s theory‐based caring programs among chronically ill adults: A systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis. International nursing review, 70(1), 59-77.
Smith, M. J., Liehr, P. R., & Carpenter, R. D. (Eds.). (2023). Middle range theory for nursing. Springer Publishing Company.
Stanley, M. J., & Hall, K. (2024). A paradigm shift for the Nursing Education Model: A scoping review. Journal of Nursing Education, 63(3), 141-147.
Shen, M., Gao, R., Linqi, X. U., Huang, Q., Li, F. U., Cheng, S., … & Ren, L. (2024). The introduction of Theoretical Comparison and Selection Tools and its application in the field of nursing care. Chinese Journal of Nursing, 59(4), 502-506.
Fain, J. (2024). Reading, understanding, and applying nursing research. FA Davis.
