Utility of knowledge of nursing theories
Understanding nursing theories is crucial in nursing practice because it facilitates effective application, processing of assessing patient’s needs and implementing appropriate care. In family care, the utility of knowledge derived from these theories ultimately creates a true baseline for cohesion, personal and family health growth. The thin line found in key ethical theories has led to the highly divergent application of ethics both at the hospital and homecare levels.
Basavanthappa (2007) points out that the satisfaction and usefulness that a nurse gains from understanding nursing theoretical concepts is important in designing interventions that are critical for meeting the healthcare needs of society. One such theory is Dorothy Orem’s self–help theory (Butts & Rich, 2011). This theory draws attention to questions that frequently recur in the theory. For instance, the meaning of nursing and boundaries of knowledge that exist in nursing as a field of practice is critical in this case. For example, when people make a judgment on nursing, what conditions do they follow? Therefore, it comes out clearly that something is not right and as such, it requires understanding and modulated orientation in forming a long-lasting image of nursing as a practice. However, as effective as the model may be, understanding its concepts may not be complete because it mainly focuses on treating illnesses while neglecting the dynamic nature of wellness and healthcare (Kollak & Kim, 2006).
The theory of nursing process by Ida Orlando is another critical model that provides the concept for best practices and a debate of its significance in nursing practice (Butts & Rich, 2011). Ida posits that the concept of good or bad has existed in the records of nursing as a practice. This consideration has brought about the inadequate meaning to nursing as a practice. The theory seeks to answer several questions on nursing. For example, what prompts nurses to take different actions during their duties? It also seeks to understand the key tenets of the correct relationship that exists between nurses and their patients. As such, it challenges a nurse to rise above the prevailing conditions and gather better understanding and comprehension. Indeed, both Orem’s and Orlando’s theories seek to empower nurses by challenging them to take charge of nursing processes and maintain effectiveness (Kollak & Kim, 2006).
The effectiveness of contemporary nursing theories in relation to my practice
In my practice as a family nurse practitioner, contemporary nursing theories are very important in shaping how I carry out health service processes to expedite desired outcomes. The theories are dynamic in the sense that they aid a nurse in factoring in the need for generating a process that can facilitate a holistic healing process for a patient while anchoring the required relationship between key parties. For instance, the goal attainment theory by Imogene King indicates that nurses must set themselves as key components in addressing patients’ demands (Kollak & Kim, 2006). From this scenario, I note that patients’ problems become alleviated when a nurse makes it his/her goal to provide effective service. It challenges practitioners in family nursing to ensure that they assimilate modernistic approaches towards addressing each scenario by taking each patient’s situation as unique. The theories emphasize societal goals, roles, values and interest towards making nursing practice successful.
Perhaps, it is the functioning and orientation of the concepts in the theories that emphasize the need for extra levels of improvement. While trying to categorize ‘good’ and ‘bad’ nursing practices, the concepts are indeed critical. The requirements of the nurses to effectively analyze the situation and develop the correct perceptions in addressing patients’ problems are paramount. According to my opinion, the demand for improvement has diverse orientations and therefore should be employed on different platforms so that all players are actively involved in the process.
References
Basavanthappa, B. T. (2007). Nursing theories. New Delhi, India: Jaypee Brothers medical Publishers Ltd.
Butts, J. & Rich, K. (2011). Philosophies and theories for advanced nursing practice. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning.
Kollak, I. & Kim, H. (2006). Nursing theories: conceptual and philosophical foundations, New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company, Inc.