Metaparadigm theories of nursing

For centuries the development of nursing knowledge has been influenced by numerous theorists and their respective theories. These theories have influenced, and continue to influence, nursing education, practice and research. (Johnson & Webber, 2005)

and systematic development and testing of nursing knowledge. Several recent reviews of the status of nursing

According to the American Nursing Association, “ Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations” (Association, Scope and Standards of Practice, 2010).

The American Nurses Association (ANA) is a full-service professional organization that symbolizes the interests of registered nurses through its constituent and state nurses associations. The ANA implements the nursing profession by raising high standards of nursing practice, honoring the rights of nurses in the work field, promoting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by pushing the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. Their mission statement is, “Nurses advancing our profession to improve health for all.” Some of ANA’s main focuses are reformation of the health care system so that it delivers primary health care in the communities, growing roles for

Describe the definition of nursing as put forward by the American Nurses Association. How does it address the metaparadigm theories of nursing?

The purpose of this paper is to discuss my personal beliefs pertaining to the profession of nursing. As well I will discuss the (4) metaparadigms in nursing which are known as; human beings, environment, health, and nursing, and my personal beliefs on these concepts and how they have similarities to the nursing philosophy of a nursing theorist.

In beginning we need to understand “What is nursing” in general? As defined by the ANA: Nursing is the protection, promotion, and optimization of health and abilities, prevention of illness and injury, alleviation of suffering through the diagnosis and treatment of human response, and advocacy in the care of individuals, families, communities, and populations.

The purpose of this paper is to present a personal belief about the metaparadigm of nursing and to incorporate it into that of Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring.

Overview In this paper I will explore my personal philosophy of nursing. I believe who you are as a person and the environment you come from has a big influence on how you practice as a professional nurse. I grew up in a very family centered environment and for as long as I can remember I have been concerned with the wellbeing of others. It was very important to my parents that my siblings and I graduate from college as we would be the first generation in our family to do so; my dad quit school after the 8th grade to help support his family and my mom married immediately after graduating from high school.

According to Allison Marchuk, “nursing philosophy is a statement of fundamental and universal assumptions, beliefs, and principles about nature of knowledge and truth and the nature of the entities represented in the metaparadigm” (Marchuk, 2014). Nursing philosophy is the base of practice for it ensures the application of knowledge, skills concepts, models and theories in the provision of care. The practice of nursing is based on concepts of patient, nurse, health, and environment. My professional nursing philosophy focuses on provision of human care/ family-centered patient care geared towards improvement and maintenance of health.

My experience as a volunteer at the Holland Christian Homes Long Term Facility was very enlightening as a person and more so, as a nursing student. Initially, as a student I believed health was merely an absence of disease and that one could only enjoy good health if there was a complete absence of medical, diagnosable problems. With more education in the health field, experience in the health industry, there was a shift in my ideas to a socio-environmental model of health

There are four nursing metaparadigms; each plays a central role in both nursing process and patient care. These four paradigms are essential as they form the basis and makes up the elements of nursing practice. They are important because they constitute the conceptual framework of nursing practice. Blais and Hayes, identifies person or client, environment, health and nursing, as the four paradigms (Blais & Hayes, 2016). 1

The nurse’s primary goal is to empower the knowledge of the patient to make informed choices regarding his/her health (Fawcett & Lee, 2015). Health Component The second part of metaparadigm nurse theory is “health.” This refers to the patient’s health and wellness which covers a person’s lifespan and genetic factors, and how the physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual well-being is integrated in healthcare for the highest health benefits. The theory is that these factors influence the patient’s state of well-being (Fawcett & Lee, 2015).

Fawcett, J, (1984) The Metaparadigm of Nursing: Present Status and Future Refinements. Images: The journal of Nursing Scholarship, Vol. XVI, No. 3, pg. 84 - 7.

Each professional discipline has a responsibility to identify concepts that provide a general description of this discipline. These concepts are named as the profession’s or concept’s metaparadigm (Fawcett, 1994). The Metaparadigm for nursing is the framework for the discipline that sets the phenomena of interest, propositions and the method of discipline. Metapardigm is very general and is intended to reflect the agreement of discipline member about the field of nursing (Marilyne Parker,2001).