Nursing theories and their utilization in nursing practice and research

Nursing theories and their utilization in nursing practice and research

Nursing theories and their utilization in nursing practice and research

Nursing theories are the cornerstone of quality nursing practice. They’ve been used for a long time — since Florence Nightingale introduced the first nursing theory back around 1860.

In short, a nursing theory outlines the needs of patients and explains how nurses should respond to different situations.

Over the years, different nursing theorists have created guidelines for understanding the nursing role, the relationship between a nurse and their patient, and the best treatment options for patients. These different theories reflect nursing research and work to improve the overall well-being of patients.

What is the nursing metaparadigm?

The nursing metaparadigm is the idea that there are four main components that interact and are generally interrelated when it comes to treating patients. The metaparadigm provides structure and key areas of focus that help define how nurses should evaluate a patient and their needs and then determine the appropriate nursing care.

The metaparadigm is reflected in the different nursing systems. When nurses use all four components when evaluating and treating patients, they provide holistic care. The major components of the metaparadigm look at the patient’s health from all angles.

Those interested in the nursing profession should make sure they understand the four components.

The nursing metaparadigm identifies four main concepts of patient care — first named by Jacqueline Fawcett — that outline how nurses need to evaluate their patients and provide care.

We’ll walk you through these four main components so you can see how they interact to create the full picture of a patient’s health and needs.

Person

In a nursing theory, the Person can also be referred to as a Client or Human Being. These terms all reference the patient or other people receiving care offered by the nurse.

For example, when caring for a patient in a hospital, the patient will have the title of Person. If the nurse offers HIV education programs in a community health center, on the other hand, the group would receive this classification.

When nurses work to define who the person is receiving their care, they should take a holistic look at the individual or the group. This means considering their social, spiritual, and physical needs.

Environment

The Environment can also be referred to as the Situation. You can define this classification by looking at all the different surroundings and conditions that impact the patient or people receiving care.

For example, the Environment includes the physical place where the person is and the people in their lives that impact their health. All of these environmental factors should be recognized in the conceptual framework of each nursing theory.

Health

Health is used to describe the current physical health of the person receiving care. This classification looks at the overall wellness of the person or people in question. Looking at the overall health of the patient requires not only collecting vitals but also looking at their emotional health and even their social conditions.

Nursing

The Nursing classification describes the actions taken by the nurse to provide care to the person or people in question. This might take the form of nursing care in a clinical setting, such as putting in an IV, or educational care that nurses provide to community members or family members of patients.