Congestive Heart Failure Patients
Overview and Guiding Propositions
The self-care theory by Dorothea Orem seems a well-established and suitable theory for this research. Self-care theory is based on a belief that it is each person’s interest and responsibility to care for his or her own health and health of the friends and family (Riegel, Dickson, & Faulkner, 2016). Such paradigm places an accent on the preventability of most diseases and conditions. One of the guiding propositions of self-care theory is the establishment of a sustainable environment where a person has access to basic human health needs such as fresh air, clean water, space for activities, and so on. Another proposition of this theory is the human adaptability to the environment that has to be sustained by a person or encouraged by a nurse. Should any deviations occur, nurses should be competent to evaluate the degree of a patient’s dependence.
Application of Theory to the Project’s Focus
This theory seems to apply to this project due to the nature of heart failure management. The search for methods that tackle high readmission rates may be simplified and guided towards raising patient awareness of disease prevention and management in accordance with the set treatment plan. A certain number of patients are admitted to the hospital for a second time due to their failure to follow the doctor’s instructions for the recovery process. The self-care model appears to counter that problem. It offers a paradigm that allows nurses to implement solutions that are based on a high level of patient education. Encouraging patients to take on more responsibility for their health may decrease readmission rates.
Childhood Obesity
Overview and Guiding Propositions
Hildegard. E. Peplau’s interpersonal theory of nursing appears to apply to this work. The theory is based upon building a strong personal connection between a nurse and a patient to ensure a deep understanding of the needs of the latter (McEwen & Wills, 2017). By providing a tailored approach towards each patient, a nurse establishes an interpersonal environment that helps the former provide the best health outcomes for a patient. One of the guiding propositions of such a paradigm is an orientation of a health provider towards the identification of a care receiver’s needs. Another pillar of this theory is guiding a patient through counseling and teaching towards his or her health goals. Additionally, this model defines the roles of a nurse and a patient in the process of inter-personal relationships and phases of such relationships.
Application of Theory to the Project’s Focus
The goals of a project include a search for a lasting solution in combating childhood obesity in the U.S. Inter-personal connections and establishment of positive precedents in clinical practice fit into the study’s focus and establish a solid theoretical background because weight problems are often a delicate subject for a patient. It may be crucial to establish a relationship built on trust and respect that will allow a patient to feel secure and motivated to actively strive towards a healthier lifestyle and habit-changing. Another reason why interpersonal nursing theory applies here is its leaning towards the psychological sphere of influence. Many patients’ weight issues may be driven by psychological reasons, and a nurse needs to identify them by using suitable interpersonal communication tactics. A third reason why this theory is good for the project’s focus is that it is flexible in terms of instruments a nurse may use to establish a personal connection with a patient. Since each case of obesity may incorporate individual issues, having a vast theoretical base is essential for ensuring the best health outcomes.
References
McEwen, M., & Wills, E. M. (2017). Theoretical basis for nursing. New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Riegel, B., Dickson, V. V., & Faulkner, K. M. (2016). The situation-specific theory of heart failure self-care: Revised and updated. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 31(3), 226-235.