Nursing theory is a complex discipline designed to answer the most common questions of nursing science and practice. It studies the history and philosophy of nursing, its role, and its place in medicine and society. Also, this theory investigates the patterns of organization of nursing care and scientific research in this area, formulates models of nursing, the rights and duties of nurses of all levels of status and education (Mulero, 2021). Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory is chosen for this assignment; its concepts and their application to my practice will be further disclosed in this paper.
Florence Nightingale, the first researcher and founder of modern nursing, revolutionized public consciousness and views on the role and place of nurses in public health. She defined nursing as actions to use the patient’s environment to promote their recovery. At the same time, the nurse’s task is to create such conditions for the patient under which nature would deny its healing effect (Wayne, 2021). She believed that caring for the sick and caring for the healthy were two critical areas of nursing. Simultaneously, caring for healthy people presumes to maintain a person in a state where the disease does not occur. Treating individuals implies helping a sufferer from the illness live the most fulfilling life, bringing satisfaction (Wayne, 2021). Nightingale was the first to note that, in fact, nursing, as a profession, differs from the medical activity and requires exceptional knowledge other than medical awareness, organization, practical and scientific training.
While caring for a patient, a nurse should try to actively influence the course of the disease, skillfully manipulating two levers for this – the external environment and the patient’s values. Nightingale proved that the patient’s condition could be improved by influencing the environment (Gilbert, 2020). For this purpose, fresh air, heat, light, healthy food, leisure, and appropriate hygiene were provided (Wayne, 2021). Gradually, these factors have become essential for everyone, not just for patients. A nurse should help a person not only survive but also live as full a life as possible (Platt, 2020). Florence argued that nursing is caring for the sick and assisting people in establishing a normal lifestyle.
Several key concepts of this model will be described further. Firstly, the person refers to a patient who is able to recover from an illness by themselves. Second, health is possible, in case one lives in sound surroundings (Gilbert, 2020). Third, the environment is a pivotal idea of the model, standing for the phenomena such as pure air, light, water, and other resources that promote sanity. Ultimately, nursing as a concept stands for the art of improving a patient’s health.
The model’s ideas correspond to my perception of nursing practice for several reasons. The suggestion that the environment affects one’s well-being is essential because no single patient can recover in unhygienic surroundings. I firmly believe that sanity should be maintained at all levels, ranging from sanitizers in the hospitals’ halls to medical equipment sterilization. Additionally, my claim is that individuals must preserve health on their own. It implies that they should undergo annual checkups at their doctors to identify any physical deviations. It may be too late to find proper treatment if they do not.
I support the concept of environment in sustaining safe and sterile surroundings both at home and in the medical facility. If a person takes care of their lodgings, they are likely to maintain their health. In other situations, individuals are improbable to lead a healthy lifestyle (Gilbert, 2020). Often, I encounter patients with different socio-economic statuses in my practice, which affect their attitude to medical services. The lower the status, the less doctoral help they receive. However, they do not consider insurance programs’ options, which results in poor health outcomes.
The concept of patient roots in the previous one because a person can fight disease by accumulating their powers. In my opinion, if a person wants to stay healthy, he will do everything possible that depends on him, even if it is just wiping the dust which affects their environment. I believe when patients are admitted to a hospital, I should also sustain a safe environment for better health outcomes.
In summary, Florence Nightingale’s Environment Theory highly resonates with my views on nursing practice. A person is in charge of their health and their environment, while a nurse is accountable for taking care of a patient and their surroundings in the hospital. Moreover, nursing plays a pivotal role in treating patients and improving health outcomes by taking care of patients and settings they reside in.
References
Mulero, E. (2021). Nursing theories aren’t just concepts; they’re roadmaps. Sigma. Web.
Wayne, G. (2021). Nursing theories and theorists. Nurselabs. Web.
Platt, C. (2020). A nurse practitioner’s perspectives on theory in practice. Nursology. Web.
Gilbert, H. (2020). Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory and its influence on contemporary infection control. Collegian, 27, 626-633. Web.