Nursing Concept Analysis Paper

Theory can be defined as the explanation of an event in which constructs and concepts are identified, relationships are proposed and predictions are made; it is a set of interpretative assumptions, principals or propositions that help explain or guide action. (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p521) Concepts occur in three steps; originating as a thought which are abstract or concrete in nature, progressing to a stage in which words and meaning are given to the concept, and lastly it is operationalized becoming a variable to be used tested during research. (McEwen & Wills, 2014, p50) According to McEwen, & Wills, (2014), a concept analysis identifies, clarifies and explores the meaning of concepts in order to promote understanding which aids in the development of conceptual frameworks, theories and research studies. (p55) Concepts relative to nursing include quality of life, blood pressure, hope, job satisfaction and pain.

Nursing is a career that is governed by a set of ethical principles. The duties of a nurse consist of care and support and its important that nurses are aware of their professional ethics. These principles are put into place to uphold and maintain moral values in healthcare. The American Nurses Association (ANA) code of ethics for nurses consists of nine provisions, outlined in the Code of Ethics for nurses with Interpretive Statements. These provisions are constructed to blueprint the role and responsibilities of a nurse. The chosen provisions being discussed will refer to the three main principles of patient autonomy, patient confidentiality, and patient rights.

Autonomy refers to an individual’s right to self- rule or governs one’s self (Beauchamp Childress, 2009). Autonomy is refer to the individual right to make his or her own decision regarding their health care needs. This is respected in the health care setting.

The purpose of this paper is to create a concept analysis and identify a nursing concept that is within a nursing theory. A concept analysis is a process where concepts and their characteristics are researched and clarified. The eight steps on conducting a concept analysis include selection of a concept used in a nursing theory, identification of the aims or purposes of the analysis, identification of possible use of the selected concept, determination of defining attributes, identification of model cases, identification of antecedents and consequences, and lastly definition of empirical referents (Walker & Avant, 2011). The nursing concept selected for this paper is “empowerment” within the nursing profession. The nursing theory from which the empowerment concept was obtained is Kanter’s Theory on Structural Empowerment. In order to empower someone, an individual needs the tools and resources to feel powered. According to Laschinger, Gilbert, Smith, & Leslie (2010), Kanter defines power as the ability to mobilize information, resources and support to get things done in an organization. The role of management is to provide employees with power tools that empower them to maximize their ability to accomplish their work in a meaningful way. Kanter goes on to describe two primary empowerment structures in organizations, first being the structure of opportunity and second the structure of power. The structure of opportunity relates to job conditions that provide

Theory development stems from personal experiences, intuition, and knowledge of the theorist (Burns et al., 2013). When a scholar develops a theory, it has to be tested through research. The findings of the study are then presented to experts in the area of academics and the field of practice (Burns et al., 2013). The presentation of the findings allows experts to provide constructive criticism, highlight the pros and cons of the theory, and acknowledge whether or not the theory can be accepted as a guide to practice. This theory evaluation paper will give the reader a theory description, theory analysis, and an assessment of Dorothea Orem’s self-care deficit theory of nursing (Alligood et al., 2010).

Autonomy is the agreement to respect another’s right to self-determine a course of action such as support of independent decision making. The patient self-determination act was passed by the United states in 1990 which stated that competent people could make their wishes known regarding how they what they wanted in the end of life if they were competent or have a power of durable power of attorney who is designated to make decision on their behalf when the individual is no longer competent (American Nurses Association, 2009).

“Autonomous nursing practice as defined as full command of expert knowledge and allowing for accountability and authority in decision making” (Creasia & Friberg, 2011, pg. 47). A doctor will more likely see a nurse as a professional once they show competence and autonomy, which in turn, will provide a positive nurse-physician relationship due to the trust built between professionals. A physician must be able to trust a nurse’s judgment and assessment skills to be able to provide a collaborative care for the patient. The wheel of professionalism is designed to compare nurses' professional behavior with other professions, which places university-based education as central to professionalism, which then leads to a strong code of ethics, professional recognition and continuing education to maintain nursing competence (Yam, 2004). As a nurse achieves a status of professionalism, a nurse will view oneself as an equal partner in the health care team, which in turn will boost confidence and support for a more proactive and confident nurse.

This essay covers the Key concepts of care. In 2013 the Francis report highlighted the need for student nurses to test and experience their values and levels of care and compassion, and whilst it is seen that the failures highlighted in the report go further than a lost compassion of nursing, this exercise is to look at the key concepts of care and the principles of the 6 Cs (Care, Compassion, Courage, Communication, Competence and Commitment) which have been identified as fundamental values, although not the only ones as nurses have other core values such as organisational, professional and NHS values to work to. I have selected one of the 6 Cs (communication) for a more detailed description from which I will then provide as requested in my brief an example specific to its application in a particular service. The area I have selected to apply this to, is Dementia.

Nursing, as the largest health care profession in the United States, plays a tremendous role in health promotion and delivery of care. From the 2.7 million employed registered nurses to the current Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, nursing infiltrates all aspects of healthcare (Bureau of Statistics, 2015). Therefore, as a profession, nursing must understand the intricacies of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and within its framework develop strategies to “advance nursing, health, and healthcare through education, clinical practice and research,” (Young et al, 2017). This paper aims to review portions of the ACA as it pertains to nursing, and offer an example of nurse practitioner innovation in practice.

The profession of nursing includes: promoting health, preventing illness, as well as providing care. NUR 102 teaches student nurses, like myself, a wide range of information and knowledge needed in order to become a successful nurse and also aids in the preparation for clinical placement. Nonetheless, this course teaches essay writing, critical thinking, nursing theories, as well as the roles and responsibilities that I will have as a nurse.

When nurses demonstrate certain values such as dignity, integrity, and respect in his/her personal life those qualities will be reflected in the professional life as well (Burkhart & Nathaniel, 2013). An empowered nurse will use his/her self-awareness to respect the choices and decisions a patient will make. By doing so, the patient becomes an equal and active participant in their personal health care. The goal of today’s healthcare is to provide personalized care for each patient. In order to be successful and provide the best care possible, the patient must have an active role in those care decisions. By taking responsibility for his/her care, the patient becomes empowered. In turn, the healthcare team respects the decisions made by the patient and uses those choices to craft an individualized care plan (Paget et al., 2011). When the preferences of a patient are combined with the unique education and experiences of the interdisciplinary team, every party involved is

Nursing is an all encompassing profession in which practitioners are not only proficient in technical medical functionality, they also have the obligation to remain compassionate and respectful of patients and as such are expected to adhere to pre established codes of ethics. Of these ethics, autonomy is of extreme importance as it offers patients a sense of personal authority during a time where they may feel as if their lives, or at the very least their health, is no longer under their control. Autonomy in the context of nursing allocates the patient and often their family with the final word on the course of treatment. The concept of patient autonomy is a highly variable subject in all fields of health care. It is a universal concept that varies widely in its meaning and interpretation. Autonomy in its simplest form can be defined as a state of independence or self governing (Atkins, 2006). Patient autonomy can also be defined as the ability to make once own decisions, based on one’s sound judgment. It is defined by the American Nurses Association (ANA, 2011) as the "agreement to respect another 's right to self determine a course of action; support of independent decision making." This seemingly straight forward ethical concept is rife with difficulties when one considers potential disagreements that may arise even when informed consent is provided, particularly among children or vulnerable people. Relevant research and

The third principle is autonomy; it deals with the ability to practice as a nurse and also it refers to the patient being able to make the decisions they want on their own. The issue is what constitutes good for a patient without infringing on the patient's autonomy or letting the patient come to serious harm.

The meaning of concept analysis is how nursing “explores the meaning of concepts to promote understanding” (McEwen, & Wills, 2010). Pain continues to be a common problem within health care and one of the most treat problems when seeking medical treatment. The concept analysis consist of several steps to complete the process. The steps of the concept analysis are as follows: “1. select the concept 2. Determine the aims or purpose of analysis 3. Identify all the uses of the concept possible 4. Determine the defining attributes 5. Identify model cases 6. Identify borderline, related, contrary, inverted, and illegitimate cases 7. Identify antecedents, and consequences 8. Define empirical references” (McEwen, & Wills,

According to the Arslanian, Hicks, Whall and Algase (2005) nursing theories have unique views. Advanced Practice Nurses (APN) not only focus on diagnosis and medical intervention but also considers family, environment and patient responses in their plan of care. This makes them different from other health care providers like physicians and physicians assistants (Arslanian et al., 2005). I agree that it is important for us as an APN to use theories to guide our own advanced practice because theory gives identification to nurses, and distinguishes nurses from other profession by its unique contribution to the clinical practice. Nursing is an autonomous profession (Kenny, 2013). Nursing theory provides various information to understand the patient