Nursing And Caring: A Model Of Nursing

“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” (American Nurses Association, n.d.). The purpose of this paper is to expand my nursing philosophy as I transition into an Advanced Practice Nurse.

Regrettably, the existence of nursing depends on the medical inadequacy of others. Unfortunately, nursing exists because people get hurt, cannot care for themselves, or need assistance with daily activities. Carol Taylor (2011), author of Fundamentals of Nursing: The Art and Science of Nursing Care, writes, “Nursing care involves any number of activities, from carrying out complicated technical procedures to something as seemingly as holding a hand” (p. 5). Taylor explains it is the duty of a nurse not only to learn the pertinent skills but also to bond with and comfort others. Nurses have to do and become many things: They must be stern when necessary, compassionate when needed, open minded

Nursing is as much science as it is a study in the human condition. Combining caring and the notion of human flourishing allows the nurse sharpen her understanding of patients’ needs by observing and understanding herself (Husted & Husted, 2008). A nurse is able to better anticipate the needs of her patients by noting similarities and differences between the two of them. With caring in the nursing corner, even under less-than-ideal conditions, one can still create havens of hope, nourishment, and the possibility for flourishing (MacCulloh, 2011).

“Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. Nursing includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people. Advocacy, promotion of a safe environment, research, participation in shaping health policy and in patient and health systems management, and education are also key nursing roles” (ICN 2010)

Environment is the surrounding of a central point; it can be split in to three basic categories biological, physical and social. The environment of my care setting for example is made up biological aspects i.e. my self, my children, my husband, our pet hamsters and the out door plants and trees in the garden, also the children that attend my care setting. The physical aspects are the toys, furniture door wall, large garden equipment, buggies safety gates etc. the social environment in my setting is all about the culture, and customs of my setting and the activities and experiences we are involved in and interact with.

Environment is the surroundings and influences upon things including humans. These are many things happening individually or all at once. E.g. Light, temperature, water and interactions (other living things). Looking further, it has become popular to find that after the Sun, Moon and Stars the largest influence is us (human beings).

When asked to develop a personal nursing philosophy caring was found to be the main component. Jean Watson’s Caring Science as Sacred Science reflects this philosophy in which caring is the predominate component needed in nursing. This paper will provided basic information on the Caring Science as Sacred Science Theory. The paper will further provide a personal example of a patient experience in which this theory shaped the care and healing of the patient. The personal experience to be shown in this paper involves a patient with complex chronic illness. The patient had been hospitalized for over a month. Patients with chronic illness and in the hospital often experience feeling powerless, scared, distant, and confined (Kay Hogan & Cleary, 2013). When these feelings persist they overcome the patient and do not allow the patient to concentrate on healing or being an active member of the healthcare team. Patients in this situation need caring and psychosocial support before moving on with medical care. However, this can often be hard for the healthcare team. When a patient has complex complications often treating these issues is all the team has time for due to patient load and institutional demands. Jean Watson (2009) recognizes this in her work Caring Science and Human Caring Theory: Transforming Personal and Professional Practices of Nursing and Health Care. Watson (2009) recognizes nurses are often torn between values of human caring

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).

As a nurse you have to care about the patient, their health, using holistic care, and the environment. The patient is the person that comes to you for health care due to them being ill or wanting information on how to improve their health. Patients are the nurse’s main priority and their goal is to make the person feel great again. To do this, nurses care about their health and well-being. Health is your body working at it’s greatest potential. You can obtain good health by taking care of your body, eating well, exercising, and practicing a healthy lifestyle. While caring

Environment refers to the world around us. Environment makes up atmosphere or background against which someone or something is seen. The environment may refer to the actual physical surroundings or to the cultural background factors around life (Merriam-Webster). Environment is the natural world in which people, animals and plants live. From a small world environment of early man to a world of limitless possibilities in today’s society, the environment has played a distinct role in the development man. In history we have seen many environmental changes. In each of the above definitions, it is understood that the environment has been shaped by society. How our environment affects us has greatly changed over time.

According to Pepau the goal of nursing is to help the patient find their felt problem. The nurse and patient work together therefore they develop relationship between each other’s. These two individuals with common aim have interpersonal relation. Nursing is therapeutic in that it is a healing art, assisting an individual who is sick or in need of health care ( Pepau 1952). Nurse plays several roles in this relationship. As a resource person, nurse gives adequate information that help patient understanding of issues. As a counselor: a nurse helps patient to incorporate the sense of current life change event, and provides advice for change. Nurse plays role of leader by making sure patient undertakes maximum engagement to achieve treatment goals.

This article focused on a study of the implementation of the Watson theory of human caring and how it has a positive outcome when implementing the caring-based model. The purpose is to see if the caring-model would change the satisfaction rate a patient has when going to a hospital for assistance. Staff members from different departments had to assist a presentation where they learned about caring techniques such as Watson theory and how they should apply them at work. In the study there were 2 sample groups that were split randomly to prevent bias to analyze and take questionnaires of pre intervention and post intervention. Methods used for this study was the CBA tool that used the five-point scale to measure that focused on nurses and staff behavior and compare the results. The results showed that the staff members who attended the caring model presentation had a positive outcome as staff focused on patients’ needs. The final outcomes showed that implementing the caring-based model in different departments in health care setting benefits both staff and overall patients experience.

The foundation of environment as understood by the author is laid by Martha E. Rogers, in that it is the totality of the present pandimensional reality relative to space-time. Environment is unique to each form of energy perceiving it even if that material environment is cohabitated. It encompasses all attributes of the individual physiological, psychological and spiritual in their presenting state. Intangibles such as cultural belifes, morals, values, even religion and religious limitations are incorporated into the enviroment since they are affecting space-time perception of the individual. Humans are an integral part of the environment and the environment integral part of the human (Garon, 2011).

The environment generally refers to the surrounding’s of an object or an individual. It can be in the form of the physical environment, biophysical environment, built environment, social environment and the natural environment among other forms. The natural environment refers to the naturally occurring flora and fauna together with the land on which they occupy.

The Nursing Care Model that I have seen demonstrated would be the Primary Care Nurse Model. Consequently, after graduating from nursing school and I had gone to work in the High-Risk Labor and Delivery unit at a local hospital. I had experienced teamwork all thru nursing school but this would be a new concept for me. The charge nurse would assign patients to you in nursing report and you usually had one patient that would be in early labor and then one further along in labor. As the Primary Care Nurse, you were responsible for the two mothers and their babies.