The conceptual models contain values that underlie nursing, views on health, roles, functions, tasks, and ways to determine patients needs. An effective nursing model should be focused not only on illness but also on a person (Lim-Saco, 2019). It must pay attention to maintaining human health, improving the quality of life, and solving problems related to the health of a person, family, groups of people, and the whole society.
The Theory of Integral Nursing is a holistic worldview that includes all aspects of human existence: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, physiological, and social. Using a personalized approach that takes into account the patients unique internal and external factors, this theory offers the most appropriate methodology (Smith & Parker, 2015). This model can benefit society since it aims at restoring and supporting health and wellness throughout a persons life. It considers all factors that affect health, including body, mind, spirit, and community. The advantage is given to effective, more natural, and less invasive therapies. Along with the treatment concept, the concepts of health promotion and disease prevention are of great importance (Smith & Parker, 2015). With an increased integral awareness and a holistic worldview, nurses who practice this theory have new opportunities and ways to strengthen their abilities.
The Theory of Modeling and Role Modeling in nursing focuses on the clients needs and respects the uniqueness of every person. The patient is viewed as an individual with a certain set of behavioral subsystems. This theory helps to restore the balance in the disturbed subsystem of behavior by influencing the internal and external factors, and the environment surrounding the patient (Alligood, 2017). Using this model, a nurse aims at achieving a change in the persons behavior to lead him or her to recovery and social adaptation. This approach is the key to responding to the patients unique conditions and circumstances.
These theories in the integrative-interactive paradigm focus on the person as an active participant, as well as on his or her self-esteem, the ability to communicate, and perform certain roles. Nursing assistance plays an important role when the self-perception of a person associated with the state of his or her health cannot be easily adapted. The goal of these conceptual models in nursing is to achieve a state of health through a holistic approach and therapeutic interaction between a nurse and a patient.
References
Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing theorists and their work (9th ed.). St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.
Jean Watsons theory of human caring in nursing is a methodology of transpersonal caring developed concerning human nature. Jean Watson argues that humans cannot be treated as objects and that humans cannot be separated from self, other, nature, and the larger workforce (Gunawan et al., 2022). In her framework, the entire nursing is incorporated by pressing more on the interpersonal procedures that happen between the deliverer of health services and the patient on the other side. Therefore, it can be said that Watsons theory is based on the centrality of human care and the transpersonal links between the person offering clinical care and the other receiving the same.
This paper is a critique of a research work that focuses its study on Jean Watsons theory of human caring. The main article for critiquing is Effects of nursing care based on Watsons theory of human caring on anxiety, distress, and coping when infertility treatment fails: A randomized controlled trial by Ozan and Okumus (2017). The article was published in the Journal of Caring Sciences and conforms to the structure of a research paper in various ways. The paper used a randomized controlled trial study, and the results show that intervention and control groups may significantly differ regarding anxiety and coping rates. The article recommends using Watsons theory in nursing patients with infertility issues as one way of lowering stress levels and increasing the coping style among infertile women.
Critiquing the Article Based on the Elements of the Study
The Articles Main Study Areas
The work concerns infertility in Turkish women and the accompanying mental health issues that may come when treatment fails. The authors have provided a descriptive part of their study background by establishing data that 10-15% of couples in Turkey fight infertility (Ozan & Okumu_, 2017). The study further reveals that 9% of the married women fail to get a child, which translates to almost 1.5 million population in the study place. By introducing the concept of infertility in their paper, the audience is expected to understand the relationship between fertility, anxiety and distress. This paper credits Ozan and Okumus (2017) work since it has given the connection between infertility and the life crisis of mental unhealthiness that couples find themselves in their marriage. The solution of assisted reproductive technology (ART) is sought as an alternative. When it does not succeed, there is a high possibility that the affected groups will have anxiety, stress and fear-like feeling that need to be contained.
The authors have expressed their viewpoints on incorporating Jean Watsons human care theory. The article puts that the purpose of theory in nursing infertile women is to move away from treatment-centeredness and focus on caring as the alternative to boost the welfare of the affected group. The paper has given an exemplary notation of the relationship between human and nursing paradigms in that the authors have argued there is a need to include transpersonal caring, which is integrated with caring occasions and caring-healing modalities (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019). The articles research factor is evident because of the evaluation of the effectiveness of the nursing programs that involve Jean Watsons theory in managing distress among infertile women (Ozan & Okumu_, 2017). The paper focuses on Turkey, and women are the key group being studied which shows the authenticity of their research. Therefore, from the above metrics, the article has been presented in academic and professional prose.
Critique of the Type of Study and Design Used
The papers study type is experimental-based as it covers randomized group investigational research. The reason is that the authors aimed at getting intervention for the anxiety and stress among infertile women in Turkey. The group was randomly selected, as the authors note in their abstract, where 86 infertile Turkish women were used. Among the participants, the study focused on bringing an intervention and controlling the group to ensure they can cope with anxiety and distress as they cope with infertility (Ozan & Okumu_, 2017). Thus, Ozan and Okumus researches on how nursing care grounded on Jean Watsons theory can modify the psychological inconsistency for infertile females.
The experimental study can be justified by using a randomized controlled trial research design where women who took part in the study were blinded to the intervention or control group assignments. The article has given a broad description of the various metrics involved in the experiment by drawing randomization using various tests (Dang et al., 2021). Although the study may seem clinical trial, there is no mention of a medical setting that the researchers used. Hence, the study was experiment-based.
By looking keenly at the paper, the article has employed a scientific design that complements the randomized controlled trial. The reason is that authors have applied an inclusion criterion in terms of primary fertility, age factor, fluency with the Turkish language, and reproduction techniques. The study design was meant to be credible by excluding the patients with chronic illnesses, hence, showing a lower probability of getting wrong results from the design study (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019). The work utilized NCSS-PASS software to determine the reliability range, which means they considered the randomization method key in randomized controlled trial study design.
Quality of Study and Rationale
In research, the quality of study is measured by the credibility, dependability and conformability with other research indicating the same results about the subject matter. The credibility of the authors research is seen through the use of materials and methods that can give sufficient results that can be useful to give a rationale for the study (Dang et al., 2021). For example, the article has based the design phases on the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) (Ozan & Okumu_, 2017). In this case, the quality can be evident using the CONSORT diagram that elaborates on the participant flow throughout the study. Using figures in research is recommended since it adds to the audiences conceptualization of the subject matter in that they can contemplate what they see rather than what they assume or hear.
The other quality measure is seen in how the research conforms to the scientific framework of Jean Watsons theory of human care. The authors have established humanistic-altruistic values where sensitivity to oneself and others was highly captured (Ozan & Okumu_, 2017). The trustworthiness in the human care relationship was seen in the article alienation to the study population. This subject conforms to the scientific frameworks used to study a given societal problem. The authors research is dependable since it includes clinical measures that are well-put to control anxiety and distress among the Turkish population of infertile women.
The reason is that for women who can follow the internal metrics, in theory, they will likely cope with infertility and curl any mental challenges that could be brought by the same. The studys rationale is clearly seen by the authors intent to provide an intervention for infertile women which focuses on reducing distress and anxiety levels, hence bringing well-being to society (Gunawan et al., 2022). The authors discussion also presents the rationale factor by presenting the relationship between anxiety and infertility based on other scholarly sources. The authors agree that there is a need for guided intervention to solve mental health issues brought about by infertility among women not only in Turkey but in other parts of the world.
Implications for Further Research
The study opened the eyes of the audience and probed the readers to explore more on the subject matter due to the research gap that may be evident in the current studies. The study implicates further research on why it is difficult for women to cope with mental health issues when faced with the reality of infertility (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2019). Additionally, researchers may want to explore more on why women have a high rate of distress and anxiety compared to men. These two aspects of research will address the gap left in human care by applying Jean Watsons theory.
Conclusion
The paper has critiqued an article that employed Jean Watsons theory in human care for infertile women who need to cope with stress and anxiety in Turkey. The authors have applied randomized-controlled trials to experiment with the participants based on the subject matter. Infertile women face challenges in coping with anxiety, and the application of human-centric care can assist them in combating mental health issues and lead to clinical wellbeing. The quality of study in the article is seen through the use of scientific methodologies and tools that help boost the research interventions regarding anxiety issues. The authors have used figures for conceptualization purposes. From the study, researchers may want to explore why it is hard for infertile women to cope with anxiety. Generally, the authors article shows a well-thought and considered research that can be useful in getting a solution for people who have experienced natural bodily problems.
References
Dang, D., Dearholt, S., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J., & Whalen, M. (2021). Johns Hopkins evidence-based practice for nurses and healthcare professionals (4th ed.). Sigma Theta Tau International.
Melnyk, B., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare (6th ed.). Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
A theoretical framework helps the researchers structure the study and move the investigation forward, using principles and terms grounded in the existing body of scientific literature. In nursing, theories allow one to imagine a problem under examination from a certain viewpoint and focus on its specific details (Gray et al., 2017; McEwen &Wills, 2019). For example, in the study Analysis of the UCSF Symptom Management Theory: Implications for Pediatric Oncology Nursing, Linder (2010) uses the Symptom Management Theory (SMT) in the field of pediatric oncology. To ensure that this theory is suitable for research, a theory evaluation is necessary.
As stated above, Linder (2010) chose the Symptom Management Theory to investigate issues in pediatric oncology nursing. SMT was developed published in 1994, although it has been re-released with revisions later (Landers, 2014). According to the basic ideas of SMT, the process of symptom management can be systematized to ensure the best patient outcomes. The theory comprises three elements symptom experience, symptom management strategies, and symptom status outcomes (Landers, 2014). These concepts are interconnected, and they influence one another; for example, a persons response to a symptom can influence their perception of that symptom (Landers, 2014).
Linder (2010) selected this theory for oncology as symptom management is a large part of dealing with cancer. The author suggests that the multidimensional description of symptoms makes SMT a suitable approach to assessing pediatric oncology nursing research. Linder (2010) appraises the theory using Walker and Avants method and determines that SMT is a good fit for their investigation sphere. In particular, SMT origins are related to conditions such as diabetes, cardiac disease, chronic pain, and cancer. Thus, as SMT was initially developed with cancer patients in mind, its suitability for cancer-related research is significantly increased.
The assumptions in SMT address a wide variety of scenarios of symptom management. For instance, the gold standard is the perception and self-reporting of patients symptoms (Landers, 2014). SMT considers cases where people are nonverbal or cannot describe their symptoms, and the interpretation given by the guardian or caregiver is treated as valid (Landers, 2014; Linder, 2010). Here, the theorys authors demonstrate how it can be used in a pediatric setting.
Linder (2010) states that the meaning of SMT and its main concepts are limited to the middle range theory, which grounds it in practice. The three components of SMT raise some questions when using it in pediatric nursing. For example, parents can be less perceptive of the childrens symptoms, thus lowering the quality of perception-based evidence for treatment; technology and observation can mitigate this risk. Linder (2010) argues that symptom outcomes are underdeveloped in SMT, as the relationships between different dimensions of the outcomes are not specified.
Nevertheless, Linder (2010) finds SMT to produce consistent results in other studies. Cwiekala-Lewis et al. (2017) and Linder (2010) show that both adult and pediatric studies can benefit from using SMT as the framework. The several logical fallacies that Linder (2010) documents deal with applying the theory in pediatric settings. The author believes that parental reports may be insufficient for initiating treatment (Linder, 2010). SMT has limitations in describing the plurality of symptoms in cancer and similar conditions (Linder, 2010). Therefore, it may be necessary to test SMT with such symptom clusters in mind further.
Overall, SMT is an empirical middle-range nursing theory used for various conditions; it has shown positive results in its applicability. Its basic concepts are grounded and clear, although some statements raise questions when applied in pediatric nursing. SMT has limitations in this area and its inability to capture changing and multiplying symptoms characteristic of cancer. SMT has the potential for being helpful in pediatric oncological nursing if it addresses these problems.
References
Cwiekala-Lewis, K., Parkyn, B. H., & Modliszewska, K. (2017). Analysis of University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) symptom management theory and theory implication for persons with neurological disorders/diseases. The Journal of Neurological and Neurosurgical Nursing, 6(2), 55-65. Web.
Gray, J.R., Grove, S.K., & Sutherland, S. (2017). Burns and Groves the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (8th ed.). Saunders Elsevier.
Landers, M. G. (2014). Symptom management theory. In J. Fitzpatrick & G. McCarthy (Eds.), Theories guiding nursing research and Practice: Making nursing knowledge development explicit (pp. 35-50). Springer Publishing Company.
Linder, L. (2010). Analysis of the UCSF symptom management theory: Implications for pediatric oncology nursing. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 27(6), 316-324. Web.
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2019). Theoretical basis for nursing (5th ed.) Wolters Kluwer Health.
In fact, the nursing theory for a nurse is the exact cornerstone of education as for a doctor a complex of morphological disciplines. Nevertheless, Martha Rogers is the person that laid down and expanded the critical components understanding of this theory. Due to her talents, abilities, and efforts, a modern specialist sees science and art in nursing, comprehensively covering a patients body, mind, and spiritual sphere. In addition, this sphere supports mental and physical health through training and focuses on maintaining health and helping patients. Rogers concept is also aimed at the individual in man following natural phenomena and processes, as well as human development.
Exactly, health and condition are one of the most significant values that a person has. However, due to certain external conditions and circumstances, people may forget to consider such moments. Everyone is equal in their rights and privileges, and it is entirely incorrect to determine the working conditions of nurses and opportunities for patients due to regional or other conditions. Following this, both the government of the state and regional hospital managers should take significant measures to minimize and eliminate such troubles.
Undoubtedly, the work and contribution to the development of nursing by Jean Watson are challenging to underestimate and overestimate. The concepts of the science of care developed by this theorist are mainly based on those aspects of nursing that go beyond the usual knowledge and ideas. For example, both philosophical and ethical elements are touched upon here as the foundations of the cosmic infinite field of universal love (Turkel et al., 2018). According to the expert, it is love and kindness that are the starting points for creating an energy source of all healing and the realization of care at the highest level.
Moreover, nursing is a significant business, and the work of a professional nurse is extremely valuable. Especially if this specialist thinks broadly and deeply, sees the hidden essence of phenomena, and can analyze from the point of view of global scales and levels. Moreover, there are no borders and intercontinental frameworks in this profession. Especially when a persons health and life are at stake, as the most important human elements, specific internal and external criteria and indicators do not matter.
One of the most valuable lessons Ive learned in this nursing theory course is that healthcare professionals can actively develop evidence-based practices wherever they work. According to Hoeck and Delmar (2017), nurses can begin this process by collecting or recording information about their work and using the data to navigate different situations in their work settings. This approach can help nurses save significant amounts of time spent trying to control tiny or mundane variables. Nurses can then complement universal theories and information in nursing with their in-house data to make the best resolutions and conclusions in any given situation within their practice. This strategy is vital in nursing practice because universal theories in nursing cannot be applied comprehensively across the board since nurses do not have control over every factor around them.
Developing evidence-based practices in nursing practice can require a lot of information gathering. In this nursing theory course, I have learned that this process is a constant cycle of gathering and analyzing evidence, synthesizing it into practice recommendations, disseminating the information to other healthcare practitioners, and evaluating its impact on nursing practice. According to Hoeck and Delmar (2017), since evidence-based practice is a resource-intensive activity that takes time and resources to create, implement and evaluate, nurses must find ways to make this process as efficient as possible. Additionally, the scholars state that it is essential that nurses identify and use an appropriate information system to gather the data needed to develop evidence-based practices. In this case, nurses need a tool to facilitate the rapid retrieval of recorded information and new data collection. In the end, I reckon that the purpose of collecting all this information to develop relevant evidence-based practices is to improve patients health and well-being, which makes the time spent in research worth every minute.
References
Hoeck, B., & Delmar, C. (2017). Theoretical development in the context of nursing-the hidden epistemology of nursing theory. Nursing Philosophy, 19(1).
The initiative on improving patient outcomes requires the use of theoretical approaches to the problem. They are frequently provided by other fields when applicable to nursing and used by scholars for researching the ways to modify the patterns of healthcare services provision (Ryan, 2009). The lack of thereof might result in the impossibility to use their findings in practice due to their ambiguity, and this fact defines the need to adopt various frameworks. Therefore, it is vital to examine the application of social and behavioral theories to the operations of healthcare facilities in practice by considering the case of the 65-year-old woman admitted for a mastectomy.
In the situation under consideration, the principal factors, which should be examined for selecting applicable theories, are the effects of the condition on the patient. According to the information, the woman expressed fear and depression as the main obstacles to providing medical services (McEwin & Wills, 2019). Hence, the most suitable concepts include symbols as per symbolic interactionism, a social position as per the role theory, age appropriateness as per the developmental theory, and cognitive restructuring as per the cognitive theory.
The planning of care should start with assessing shared meanings stemming from the patients belonging to her population group defined by gender and age. In other words, the reported feelings should be viewed through the lens of their connection to symbols reflecting their basic perceptions (McEwin & Wills, 2019). They will be complemented by analyzing her social position with corresponding beliefs contributing to the negative attitude towards the proposed interventions (Conrad & Barker, 2010). In turn, the inclusion of age appropriateness and cognitive restructuring will allow assessing her behavior concerning her development stage and reveal possible bias in the perspective.
In practice, it is possible to incorporate the concepts stemming from the corresponding theories described above in the plan of care for the woman. They will be useful in acquiring sufficient information regarding the obstacles to her well-being and finding methods to overcome them as per symbolic interactionism. First, the symbols typical for female patients over 65 years include the increasing concerns about health typical for this population group alongside their worries about negative consequences of interventions (Conrad & Barker, 2010). Even though the creation of such shared meanings is critical in terms of survival in society, it can become exaggerated with age, as follows from the developmental theory (McEwin & Wills, 2019). It means that a nurse should start communicating with the patient by debunking the myths of lower quality of life, which is the main womans fear.
Subsequently, the attention to the persons social position and cognitive restricting will help avoid misinterpretation of the information provided by healthcare employees. The former will be useful in revealing the impact of the womans family and friends on her attitude towards the proposed intervention in accordance with the critical social theory and the role theory (Carnegie & Kiger, 2009). In turn, the latter will be advantageous for ensuring that the woman understands the actual meaning of mastectomy for her and does not rely on distorted facts (McEwin & Wills, 2009). The information regarding these two aspects should be included in the initial conversations with the patient so that they are not overlooked in the process of treatment.
If the woman were 25 years old or 45 years old, the provision of care to her would have changed dramatically due to the difference in circumstances. First, she would have shared different convictions deriving from belonging to another population group. They will be less likely to view the situation as critical in terms of complications, and their more positive perceptions will facilitate the work of nurses (McEwis & Wills, 2019). Second, the patient would have been considered from the perspective of her characteristics, such as younger age, varying beliefs, and other personal factors. Their combination allows for addressing other concerns deriving from different views. In this way, the nursing approach should have been readjusted following these conditions.
Social psychology theories are helpful in this case because they have been widely used for promoting breast cancer awareness. Their effects can be clearly seen from the adoption of social constructivism as an instrument to inform people and predict their reactions based on ones culture (Conrad & Barker, 2010). Hence, the woman expressed negative feelings because she was already aware of the significance of this intervention for her future well-being from the shared meaning of this event while realizing its inevitability. In this way, applying theoretical approaches allowed revealing the source of the patients concerns while acknowledging the information available to her.
These theories have also been suitable for my clinical practice area. Thus, examining sociological and behavioral factors as per the commitment to health theory and the critical race theory helped understand the patients better (Kelly, 2008; Ford & Airhihenbuwa, 2010). In other words, their evaluation helped me determine the probability of behavior change for active participation as well as the impact of race, among other characteristics, on the outcome.
To summarize, the case under consideration can be successfully addressed when using various theories. They can demonstrate the significance of personal and external factors for care provision and adjust the plan of interventions accordingly. In this way, it can be concluded that sociological and behavioral factors have a tremendous impact on ones health and affect the overall process of rendering medical services in a clinical setting.
Nursing practice can be based on empirical evidence from the past or nursing theories describing an integrated approach to nursing. For this critique, an article by Yip has been selected in which an advanced nurse used practice based on Orems general self-care deficit patient care theory (SCDNT) (2021). The author explains the choice of this theory by the fact that previously only certain aspects of this theory were studied, but not its complex application. This fact can be singled out as a research problem.
The study aimed to find out the global understanding of the philosophy of this theory and how the theory is applied to patient management in practice. The literature review of this article confirms the positive impact of selected aspects of SCDNT on patients with migraines and multiple sclerosis (Yip, 2021). In addition, these experiments create a theoretical foundation for this study to obtain practical recommendations based on positive dynamics. Using the example of an asthma patient and a nurse using SCDNT, questions are raised about using the strengths of this theory, monitoring patient compliance with all prescriptions, and presenting the patient as a representative of the wider family and society.
The nursing framework is reflected in the nurses many years of experience dealing with similar conditions. The variables were taken as indicators of the four primary operations of this approach: diagnosis, prescription, treatment, or regulation, and case management (Yip, 2021). In addition, the patient had to monitor his health indicators with particular devices, such as a peak flow meter, and administer the dosing of the inhaler.
The account also includes the social aspects of the case, for example, the patients dependence on his own family, which is not described in detail in Orems original theory (Yip, 2021). Consequently, the relevance and validity of this study are supported by a review of the literature, which has proven the usefulness of this approach in the management of patients with chronic lifestyle-related diseases. Efficiency is achieved by an integrated approach, partly expanding this theory. The nurse showed more responsibility, was able to find an approach to the patient that began to look after herself better the issue was resolved.
The legal and ethical issue of this study is not addressed directly in the article. The involvement of the patients wife paid off. Preliminary and subsequent negotiations made it possible to arrange the use of the patients wifes time and energy in advance. As representatives of the same family, their mutual concern is not discussing rights and obligations since this is their own business, and they are not strangers to each other. The nurses competence can be noted in the fact that she found the necessary lever of pressure on the patient through his social dependence, which is fully justified by the results of treatment. The cultural aspect of the study also lies in the complex consideration of each case from the point of view of the sociology and psychology of the patient.
The sample patient with asthma was initially unable to answer the essential questions of self-esteem and recognition of the disease. Nurse procedures aimed to transfer relevant knowledge and skills of health control to the patient, while dialogues developed the patients own management decisions (Yip, 2021). Finally, the involvement of a wife allowed for the creation of a coordinated care system. The results showed that the patient successfully applied the acquired skills and improved his health indicators.
For nursing practice, these research results bear a confirming nature of the positive influence of this theory. In addition, this case reveals one of the needs of patients, which is not spelled out in the original text of Orem. Given the growing concern about the increase in chronic disease, this kind of humanistic, holistic care will implications for future practice. Such research allows students to take a fresh look at practice, allowing them to consider the social aspects that improve the positive results of the theory.
Reference
Yip, J. Y. C. (2021). Theory-Based Advanced Nursing Practice: A Practice Update on the Application of Orems Self-Care Deficit Nursing Theory. SAGE Open Nursing, 7. Web.
It is important to note that nursing theories were essential in shaping modern nursing practices and the delivery of health care. The given critique will primarily focus on Florence Nightingale and Dorothea Orem with their corresponding conceptual frameworks of the environment theory and self-care theory, respectively. Florence Nightingales environment theory is among the most influential theoretical notions about the provision of necessary conditions for patient recovery. The five major elements of the conceptual framework include access to light, sanitation, fresh air, cleanliness, and water (Alligood, 2017). The critique of Nightingale can be targeted at the failure to include diet or food as a core aspect of basic patient necessities.
Although she addressed diet in her chapters and writings, her emphasis was not on what is healthy but on what the patient prefers. She wrote that the patients stomach can assimilate or derive nourishment from, and of this, the patients stomach is the sole judge. Chemistry cannot tell this. The patients stomach must be its chemist (Oerther & Oerther, 2020, p. 141). Considering the abundance of unhealthy processed foods responsible for many modern metabolic diseases, among other factors, the personal food preference of an individual uneducated in nutrition might not be the best option.
In addition, Dorothea Orems self-care theory focuses on enabling a patients self-care agency and demand. The core emphasis is put on the ability to faster recovery if a person is given self-care independence (Younas, 2017). The theorist can be critiqued for the poor applicability of the concept in the most deficient situations. Patients are unable to have an agency over their care in cases where they need an enhanced recovery the most.
References
Alligood, M. R. (2017). Nursing theorists and their work E-book (9th ed.). Elsevier.
At least once in life, every person experiences existential vulnerability caused by the loss of meaning or a life-threatening event. In this regard, the self-transcendence framework is one of the most effective approaches to dealing with such conditions. It is especially of great importance for medical workers, including nursing practitioners, who may encounter people who experience vulnerability every day. As such, under the paradigm of holistic healthcare, medical personnel should strive to ensure the physical well-being and provide psychological comfort. For this reason, the current essay intends to review the self-transcendence theory and show how it may be applied in advanced nursing practice by describing and analyzing a hypothetical patient vulnerability situation.
Theory Review
The idea of self-transcendence as a structured theoretical view first appeared in the middle of the 20th century. Victor Frankl the first major thinker in this sphere argued that true happiness might be achieved when a persons locus of attention is directed outside of oneself towards the outside world (Worth & Smith, 2021). The latter, in this case, may include other people or the surrounding environment. In order to achieve that, Frankl asserts that an individual should construct a meaning that would transcend oneself.
As for the realm of healthcare, the most prominent framework was proposed by Reed, who postulates that human development occurs as a result of experiences that make a person reevaluate ones life. The author notes that as individuals become older, they enhance their emotional and psychological maturity, which helps them to develop a broader view of the world and, consequently, achieve self-transcendence (McCarthy et al., 2017). However, some events earlier in life that make people aware of their vulnerability and mortality may sometimes lead to an increased self-transcendence earlier in life (Fiske, 2019). The latter, in turn, is associated with the construction of meaningful systems that help cope with difficulties and problems and achieve greater well-being.
Vulnerable Situation and Self-Transcendence Promotion Plan
Liza, a 47-year-old single woman, has recently been diagnosed with inoperable breast cancer. This news has led to deep depression, eventually resulting in heart problems due to constant stress. As a result, one day ago, Liza was brought to the emergency room after she fainted on the street. She was diagnosed with the 2nd-degree AV block and later transferred to a non-intensive care unit as her children could not be with her at home. However, today after arriving at work, I found that Liza refuses the treatment because she does not see its purpose, as she will be dead soon.
In order to address this problem, a self-transcendence promotion plan was developed. Firstly, I will discuss with Liza and explain the importance of overcoming depression and intending to find a new meaning in life. Regardless of the patients reaction, she will be offered to use certain techniques to promote intrapersonal and temporal transcendence techniques. Then, when Liza becomes more accepting of her disease, she will be suggested to share her problems with other sick people and listen to their stories.
As for promoting intrapersonal awareness, Liza will be asked to contemplate her experience through techniques such as prayer, meditation, and journaling. Additionally, the patient will be instructed to analyze how her past experiences meaningfully related to the current disease and what she expects in the future to promote temporal self-transcendence (Reed, 2021). For a similar purpose, it is planned to conduct a one-on-one interview with the patient, where she can share the key events in her life, biggest challenges, and beliefs (Reischer et al., 2021). Finally, Liza will be suggested to join one of the breast cancer support groups to promote interpersonal self-transcendence.
Conclusion
Overall, the current essay reviewed the self-transcendence theory and showed its importance in the work of healthcare professionals, including advanced practice nurses. In this regard, it was shown that successfully finding meaning in the outside world is highly related to a persons levels of happiness. Moreover, self-transcendence allows people who encounter life-threatening difficulties to overcome them by constructing new meanings effectively. In addition, the hypothetical case of Liza, who was diagnosed with breast cancer, was discussed. To address her depression and refusal of treatment, such techniques as journaling, prayer, meditation, personal interview, and group therapy were proposed.
In this article, the researches main purpose is to analyze the competence and experience level of professional nurse practitioners and new graduated nurses. The study has been conducted according to Benners model consisting in the identification of relations between nurses competence and their experience. The examination has been accomplished by means of chi-square analysis. The article is of great importance for research paper as the given study directly relates to Benners theory.
In the article, Altmann summarizes the main concepts of Patricia Benner work From Novice to Expert in order to identify whether this book is a philosophy but a theory. To do that, the authors goal is to define the difference between a theory and a philosophy and to the stages of epistemological process occurring in the health care environment. Therefore, this summary directly relates to my research as it is based on Benners book.
This paper describes clinical decision support systems (CDSS), software aimed at improving the quality of care and providing an easier access to medical digital data. The authors believe that this program is not always efficient for those who lack experience. This article is not appropriate for my work, as the merits of CDSS are vaguely defined.
The authors state that clinical environment help novice nurses to apply the theoretical principles in practice and to view different situation in a full context. However, the problem is that nurse graduates are frequently guided by more experienced nurse practitioners that deprive them of possibility to make independent decisions, which is the reason of novice nurse leaving the profession. Therefore, the researchers discuss the necessity to insert decision-making training programs to health care environment. This work is, therefore, relevant to my own research, as it refers to Benners concepts of nurse transaction from novice to experts.
In the article, the researches touch upon the necessity to support novice nurse faculty members and their engagement into clinical environment. They also believe that mentoring is the key point triggering the novice nurse into academic life. The work implicitly reveals the Benners concepts of novice nurses penetration to experienced nurse stuff.
In the article, the authors intend to define the effectiveness of novice nurse transition to the role of intense care unit nurse if working with more experienced nurses. In particular, they discuss quantitative and qualitative results of Shadow-A-Nurse ICU Program after two years of its implementation. This source is rather helpful for further research in that field, as the program accomplishment is based on Benners application of skill acquisition model.
Reference
Alber, L., Augustus, L., Hahn, S., Penkert, J. (2009). Applying Benners Model to Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Self-Ratings of Role Competence. J Am Psyhiatr Nurses Assoc, 15(2), 126-137.
Altmann, Tanya. (2007). An Evaluation of the Seminal Work of Patricia Benner: Theory or Philosophy? Contemporary Nurse. 25, 114-123.
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