The Importance Of Systems Theory In Nursing

I define my philosophy of nursing within the three nursing domains of person, health, and environment. My goal is to communicate the importance of nursing as a knowledge-based career, depending not only on the nurse fulfilling her role but also on the patient’s compliance. A patient must learn to provide self-care at home in the same capacity as the nurse would provide care in the clinical setting. I discuss various subjects within nursing. I explain why I want to be a nurse, what I believe a nurse’s role is, the different domains of nursing, and where I believe nursing will be in the future. My philosophy demonstrates the interdependence of the nursing domains. You cannot fully evaluate a person without evaluating their health,

Nursing theories have been a fundamental tool used to explain, guide and improve the practice of nursing. Theorists have contributed enormously to the growth of nursing as a profession. The four grand theorists I chose are Virginia Henderson, Peplau, Myra Levine and Jean Watson. These theorists have contributed tremendously in the field of nursing through their theories, and research. One thing the theorists have in common is that they are patient centered. They are all concerned on ways we can improve our responsibility to the patients, their families and the environment. They have different ideas but they are all aiming towards achieving the same goal, which is patient satisfaction and safety. Their differences are in their areas of

Nursing practice has revolutionized itself throughout the years. Today we realize the causes of current illnesses as complex and multifaceted (source). In past models, for instance the medical model, the approach was straightforward and neglected the patients active involvement in their care; the patient was viewed as the passive recipient and the doctor, an active agent that “fixed” their patients. ( source). New developed models since then, such as the biopsychosocial model, show us that care focuses on many factors. The model demonstrates understanding of how suffering, disease, and illness can be associated by many factors seen at the different levels in society and the medical sciences (source). Caring for each component is

The Neuman System Model is an open system that responds to stressors in the internal, external, and created environments (Masters, 2015). The model can be applied to physiological, psychological, sociocultural, developmental, and spiritual nursing care making it very diverse in applicability. The Neuman System Model discusses many concepts. One major concept is the idea of stressors and their affects on the patient system. Neuman defines stressors as any phenomenon that might penetrate both the flexible and normal lines of defense, resulting in a positive or negative outcome (Masters, 2015). Types of stressors include intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal. Intrapersonal stressors are those that occur within the client system boundary and correlate with the internal environment (Masters, 2015). Interpersonal stressors are those that

Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring. The theory can be described as an expanded view of

This has impacted the work I do now as I look beyond the patient’s medical diagnosis. I take time to get a brief history of what the patient likes to do, who they are as an individual; sometimes from a simple conversation stems multiple red flags that can cause undue stress. Another great theorist Alfred Alder emphasized that one’s birth order has an influence on the strengths and weaknesses and lifestyle in one’s psychological makeup. (“27 Theorists and Theories About Nursing and Health • Nurseslabs”, 2013). Having clinical rotations at Magnet hospitals has carried into how I view others and myself in practice today. My patient’s feel my compassion and care I provide. I am more than a “task doer”. Every theorist proposed something they believed to help us explain the phenomena we are facing in health. Moving forward I am able to integrate multiple disciplines and practice autonomy in nursing as a

Martha Roger’s nursing theory is known as the Science of Unitary Human Beings. Rogers believed that a patient should not be separated from his/her own environment when addressing health conditions and the treatment approach. Rogers believed a patient should be looked as a whole rather than being divided into separate parts. She also believed that a patient has a set of control in their own recovery and whether they want to participate in their healing process or not. In her theory Martha said that nursing should is both a science and an art. To her the science aspect

Throughout nursing, there are many theories that nurses may come across and use. Calista Roy’s and Betty Neuman are two theorists that use two different types of models to encompasses the health, person, and the environment. Callista Roy uses a theory that promotes adaptation to the stimuli a person may encounter. Betty Neuman uses a theory that promotes equilibrium in a time where a person will encounter stress. These theories allow the nurse to bring a knowledge to learn more about the person and the factors that influence their health. Although with any theory there are different approaches in how the nursing plan is done, but with the patient in mind, it makes the difference in care that is given and allows for better outcomes for the patient.

The two theories that have helped to form my personal perspective on nursing are Erickson; and Rogers. Helen Erickson’s model is based on caring for an individual patient based on their own unique needs and perspective (Nursing Theories and Models, 2017). Erickson’s model took concepts from several other theorists such as Maslow, Padget, Seyle, and Lazarus and combined them to create a nursing model that takes care of each individual patient based on their needs ( Reed, 2017). This theory helps me to be more cognizant of the individual needs of my patient, not all patients regardless of disease process are the same. Each patient may have different underlying factors or circumstances that affect their health and current situation. Rogers’ theory is broader, viewing nursing as both an art and science, promoting health and wellbeing to patients regardless of where they are (Nursing Theories and Models, 2017). The science of nursing involves the knowledge and research of nursing, and the art is applying that science for the betterment of the patient. This theory views an individual as part

King’s large system includes personal, interpersonal, and social systems that overlap. She postulated that nurses interact with patients through the lens of how nurses see the situation, while the patients have their own perceptions. Together they must communicate, set goals, and find ways to reach those goals (Alligood, 2010).

The behavioral system model is a model developed by Dorothy Johnson. This theory was influenced by Florence Nightingale’s book titled notes on nursing and was developed using work of behavioral scientists in many disciplines such as psychology, sociology, and ethnology. This theory explains that nurse’s specific contribution to patient welfare is to foster an “efficient and effective behavioral functioning in the person, before, during, and after an illness.

Nursing theories serve as thinking guides for nurses to follow in order to reach optimal outcomes for patients. Theories are applied in conjunction with experience one has gained and critical thinking in everyday nursing practice, research, and education. The Neuman Systems Model, which was created by Betty Neuman, is one example of a theory that has been in practice for decades and continues to be modified to reflect new research. When applying the NSM, the nurse focuses on identifying and preventing stressors which are factors that lead to fluctuations in the body that affect daily living.

The impact of nursing theories continues to provide a framework for guidance for patient centered care. Nurses continue to use these theories to provide beneficial knowledge in advancing their profession. Kearney-Nunnery (2012) describes the function of the conceptual model as a reference point and has been used to supply information to nursing scholars. One of these scholars that uses this model is Betty Neuman with the development of Neuman’s Systems Model. Neuman’s Systems Model refers to the individual, family, group and community as the client system and how they react when confronted with stress (Kearney-Nunnery, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding into to Neuman’s Systems Model, how it can improve patient care, and how it is used in nursing practices.

Orem describes how the patients self care needs will be meet by the nurse, patient, or both in her theory of nursing systems. “The design and elements of a nursing system defines the scope of nursing responsibility in health care situations, defines general and specific roles of nurses and patients, and defines reasons for nurses’ relationship with patients” (Current Nursing, 2010, para. 17). Orem recognized that members of the health profession usually develop specialized technologies. “A technology is systematized information about a process or a method for

I found this theory particularly interesting because I think it is patient centered in a unique way; other theories point out what the nurse can do to offer themselves to a patient. This theory draws attention to all the many layers of a person and health is more than just the absence of illness. Humans are complex beginnings and this theory, by Rosemarie Parse, reminds us that nursing is a science and an art. I know for myself, I can become lost in tasks and I have to remind myself that each patient is a person that came from a completely different walk of life.