Posted: September 30th, 2024

Nursing Theory Application Essay

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 scientific base is crucial for the development of evidence-based practice in nursing. 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 applying nursing theory, nurses can provide more effective care to patients experiencing complex and sensitive situations. The underlying idea of using nursing theory in practice is to improve patient care outcomes (Reed & Shearer, 2011). This improvement in patient care outcomes is a direct result of the application of theoretical knowledge to real-world situations. Nursing theory also defines boundaries within the nursing profession. These boundaries are essential for establishing the scope of practice and ensuring that nurses work within their area of expertise. In fact, nurses use this theory to attain a better and more relevant perspective about their patient 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. This gap can be bridged by increasing the use of theory in practice and encouraging nurses to reflect on their experiences. 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). By applying these principles, nurses can develop a more nuanced understanding of their patients’ needs. This aspect should be applied in the case of a patient who has just been told he has cancer. A thorough understanding of nursing theory can help nurses provide more effective support to patients receiving a life-altering diagnosis. 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 identity is crucial for nurse retention and job satisfaction.

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 theory emphasizes the importance of self-care and patient autonomy, which is particularly relevant in situations where patients require ongoing support. 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). By understanding these attributes, nurses can develop targeted interventions to support patients’ self-care needs. Self-care is associated with the common activities done by individuals in order to maintain integrated functioning within the surrounding environment. This includes activities such as exercise, nutrition, and stress management. It is apparent that the notion of self-care is mostly about maintaining a condition of psychological and emotional wellbeing. This is particularly important for patients experiencing chronic illness or disability.

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 importance of considering the broader social and environmental factors that impact health. Undoubtedly, nursing is one of the most challenging professions in terms of patient safety and quality initiatives (Newman, 1999). This is due in part to the complex and dynamic nature of healthcare environments. Its dynamic status continues to mandate that nurses practice from a framework of professionalism. This framework includes a commitment to ongoing education and professional development. The central concepts of the discipline of nursing are the person, environment, health, and overall nursing. These concepts are interrelated and form the foundation of nursing practice.

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 highlights the importance of integrating nursing theory with other disciplines, such as psychology and sociology. Therefore, the ability to effectively integrate cognitive, affective, and psychomotor abilities when delivering nursing care practices is essential. This integration is critical for providing holistic care that addresses patients’ physical, emotional, and social needs. The focus of practice in nursing has mainly been in the area of the health care practice setting. This setting is characterized by a high degree of complexity and unpredictability. 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.

For the nursing diagnosis of caregiver role strain, Watson’s nursing theory appears relevant. Watson’s theory emphasizes the importance of caring and compassion in nursing practice, which is particularly relevant for caregivers experiencing role strain. 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. By understanding these aspects, nurses can develop targeted interventions to support caregivers. Viewed as the core of nursing, the carative factors illustrate the grand nursing theorist’s intention to honor the human elements of nursing job. This includes factors such as empathy, kindness, and compassion. In general, these factors are comprised of certain elements that complete the entire picture of caring. 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.

Watson’s caring theory apparently emphasizes on the genuine teaching-learning experience related to the importance of being and meaning. This theory highlights the importance of creating a supportive learning environment that fosters personal growth and development. The nursing theorist discusses the significance of creating a healing environment at all levels. This includes the physical, emotional, and spiritual environments. For that reason, exploring the transpersonal caring relationship is obligatory. 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). This requires a deep understanding of the patient’s values, beliefs, and cultural background.

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.

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Tags: Caring Theory, Nursing practice, Nursing theory, Patient Care, Self-Care