Introduction
Current nursing philosophies tend to place a specific issue at the helm of the nursing process, be it communication, knowledge management, identification of patients’ needs, etc. (McKenna, Pajnkihar, & Murphy, 2014). However, globalization as the continuous process of knowledge dissemination has reinvented the realm of nursing, hence the demand for new approaches that can unify the existing frameworks. Therefore, it will be reasonable to consider the nursing theory that will embrace diversity by incorporating the elements of education, communication enhancement, and target population’s needs into a single philosophy. Thus, the concepts such as patients’ needs, a systematic approach toward their management, patient education, and multiculturalism will have to be included in the theory.
Key Concepts: Patients’ Needs, a Systematic Approach and Education
In the modern global community, it is imperative to address the needs of diverse populations from a multicultural perspective. Herein lies the importance of the concept of patients’ needs, which define the communication process, the choice of diagnosing procedures, the identification of appropriate interventions, etc. The item mentioned above is linked directly to the phenomenon of multiculturalism, which implies the acquisition of the skills that will help nurses identify and meet target populations’ needs, respectively. The endorsement of patient education factors into the specified paradigm as well since it will allow for a tighter connection between a nurse and a patient, at the same time enhancing the latter’s agency to a considerable extent. Patient education and the active promotion of multiculturalism among nurses, in turn, will become a possibility with the introduction of the principles of systematic management, i.e., a profound analysis of intrinsic and extrinsic factors that lead to changes in patients’ health. As a result, all-embracive care will be delivered to target populations (Potter & Griffin, 2016).
Metaparadigms of Nursing: Through the Lens of a Comprehensive Theory
Comprising the elements of several theories, including Orem’s Self-Care framework, Neuman’s System Model, and Henderson’s Need Theory, the proposed nursing philosophy compels healthcare providers to view the essential concepts through the prism of continuous learning in the setting of increasingly high cultural diversity (Demir & Platin, 2017). As a result, every item becomes a component of the unceasing process of knowledge management.
Nursing, for instance, is viewed as building the environment in which patients will not only recover faster but also acquire the skills and knowledge needed to prevent further deterioration of their health. Put differently, nursing processes are shaped to place a powerful emphasis on the communication between a nurse and a patient. Consequently, the latter’s needs are managed more efficiently.
Patients, in turn, are defined as independent individuals who require extensive support and education, yet at the same time must be given enough agency to be enthusiastic about engaging in the knowledge acquisition process and communication with a nurse. Furthermore, the context of patients’ cultural environment defines the choice of a nursing strategy. As a result, a better understanding of their needs and the introduction of family support into the nursing process will be possible (Wong et al., 2017).
Health, therefore, is termed as a state that is natural and highly dependent on patients’ ability to learn, adjust, and socialize. While the specified definition borrows heavily from Henderson’s nursing framework, it also lends its way to the further reinforcement of patient education (Peter & Justus, 2016). Particularly, it implies that lifelong learning can be deployed as a strategy for patient education. Thus, patients will develop the flexibility required to address emergent threats to their well-being immediately and identify available resources instantly.
Finally, an environment is characterized in the context of the newly developed theoretical framework as the combination of internal factors, external ones, and the impact of the information that is available to patients, including modern media. By envisioning the environment as the source of information that needs to be filtered to design an efficient care strategy, one will be able to reduce the harmful impact of myths and prejudices among patients and nurses alike. Thus, significant improvements in patient outcomes will be observed (Severinsson et al., 2017).
Nursing Process and Philosophy: Continuous Learning in the Multicultural Setting
Practice
The suggested theoretical framework is expected to contribute to a significant rise in the efficacy of the nursing practice. For instance, the communication between a nurse and a patient will occur more naturally and deliver more efficient results. The specified change is crucial for the procedures that restrict patients’ participation, such as bedside handovers (Yu & Kang, 2015).
Research
The introduction of the described nursing theory into the healthcare setting is expected to open new opportunities for research. For example, more detailed feedback from patients will allow gathering vaster amounts of data and producing more accurate research results. In addition, the philosophy will shift the focus to building a foundation for patients’ further lifelong learning.
Administration
The theory will also have a tangible effect on the arrangement of nurses’ work. Nursing roles and responsibilities will be distributed more evenly. As a result, a drop in workplace burnout rates is likely to occur (Wu, Singh-Carlson, Odell, Reynolds, & Su, 2016).
Education
The theory described above will have an especially massive impact on education since it will boost the process of knowledge and skills acquisition among nurses and patients alike. Therefore, the philosophy is expected to affect the education process extensively by shifting the emphasis from nurses’ guidance to patients’ autonomy. The introduction of lifelong education will also encourage patients and nurses to explore innovative tools for education, information dissemination, and knowledge management, including social networks.
Nursing Process’ Strengths and Limitations: Connecting to a Community
The focus on the active training of crucial skills and the promotion of lifelong learning must be viewed as the key strength of the theory. However, the approach also has its limitations. For example, the nursing process may be impeded by staff members’ reluctance to accept the proposed change. Because of the challenges associated with making the learning process consistent, the necessity to be flexible to manage the needs of patients from different cultural backgrounds, etc., nurses may be unwilling to develop the required skills. Thus, a system of incentives and rewards must be designed to encourage nurses to learn and communicate actively.
Furthermore, reaching out to the members of target communities may be fraught with certain difficulties. To handle the issue, one will need to use social networks as a tool for helping nurses bond with target demographics. Providing detailed instructions for nurses to access multicultural communities will also have to be deemed a necessity.
Conclusion: The Nursing Theory That Will Make a Difference
Despite the issues mentioned above, it is expected that the new nursing theory will contribute to a significant increase in the quality of nursing and the number of positive patient outcomes. By giving patients autonomy in the learning process, nurses will bond with them successfully and, thus, improve target demographics’ health outcomes. Therefore, the theory can be considered a necessary addition to the modern nursing environment.
References
Demir, G., & Platin, N. (2017). Impact of Neuman Systems Model in reducing care burden primary caregivers of patients with dementia. International Journal, 10(1), 393-403.
McKenna, H., Pajnkihar, M., & Murphy, F. (2014). Fundamentals of nursing models, theories and practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Peter, J., & Justus, A. H. (2016). Knowledge and Practices of stroke survivors regarding secondary stroke prevention, Khomas region, Namibia. Journal of Medical Biomedical and Applied Sciences, 5(3), 19-31. Web.
Potter, P. A., & Griffin, A. (2016). Fundamentals of nursing (9th ed.). New York, NY: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Severinsson, E., Haruna, M., Rönnerhag, M., Holm, A. L., Hansen, B. S., & Berggren, I. (2017). Evidence of linkages between patient safety and person-centred care in the maternity and obstetric context – An integrative review. Open Journal of Nursing, 7(03), 378-398. Web.
Wong, E. L., Lui, S., Cheung, A. W., Yam, C. H., Huang, N. F., Tam, W. W., & Yeoh, E. (2017). Views and experience on patient engagement in healthcare professionals and patients – How are they different? Journal of Nursing, 7, 615-629. Web.
Wu, S., Singh-Carlson, S., Odell, A., Reynolds, G., & Su, Y. (2016). Compassion fatigue, burnout, and compassion satisfaction among oncology nurses in the United States and Canada. Oncology Nursing Forum, 43(4), E161-E169. Web.
Yu, M., & Kang, K. J. (2015). A preliminary study on the current state of handovers among nursing students. Advanced Science and Technology Letters, 104(1), 29-33. Web.