Theoretical Basis: Watson's Theory of Human Caring An advanced practice nurse (APN) to help guide professional practice and provide a working framework can use many different theories and models. Theories provide a foundation in which an APN can seek to understand patients and their problems and effectively plan interventions. Basing our practice on a particular theory can help improve the care we provide by not only providing structure but also providing boundaries and goals for our nursing actions and it defines a framework to evaluate the effectiveness of the actions we provide (Eldridge, 2014). This paper is going to review Watson’s theory of human caring and provide a description of the interrelated concepts for the grand nursing theory. The theorist’s background and perspectives will be explained and lastly the theory will be discussed as to how it can serve as an underpinning and improve nursing practice.
Once you explore the reasons how research influences the way nurses’ practice you will see it is an essential aspect to create and understand why nurses practice nursing in the way they care for patients today. Even in nursing school, nursing students have completed their own mini researches on the way they take care of patients. When students practice skills in a clinical setting they will have opportunity to observe other nurses performing tasks and then apply those aspects and will improve the ability to provide the best outcome for the patient. The textbook Understanding Nursing Research BUILDING AN EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE states, ”nursing research is a scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice”(Burns & Grove, 2011, p. 4). Therefore with the knowledge nurses receive from the research will become the new recommendations and standards for nurses to practice on patients in the future.
The BSN degree program is more robust as it indulges several aspects such as public and community health, nursing research, health management, nursing history and many other theoretical and practical aspects. A BSN nurse have a much broader perceptive about promoting good health, psychological aspects of the patients, patients family involvement and other health hazards (Ellis, 2007). A BSN degree better prepares a nurse to deal with critical situations and make decisions based on evidence based practices (Forster, 2008). ADN degree holder nurse is trained in a very straightforward approach meaning their curriculum is more task oriented with much less focus on critical thinking during clinical decisions that could probably come unfavorable to patients. These are some of the distinctions between a BSN and ADN holder.
Advanced knowledge in individual patient care, understanding the essentials of person, environment, health and nursing profession and having the ability to apply the metaparadigms in daily practice, effectively improve nursing practice and patient outcomes. The goal for both degree level nurses is to provide quality care, however the BSN has a much broader knowledge base allowing for the care of more complex patients and a higher degree of autonomy in her role leading to better patient outcomes. A BSN’s leadership skills are far superior, opening the door to hold higher level positions within hospitals and community facilities. For ADN's seeking to be ‘the best nurse they can be,’ the BSN program will lead them on that
This theory has been used to help the new generation of nurses to view the human being as a whole with a connection between body, mind, spirit and the environment, understand transpersonal relationship, and create caring moments in nursing practice to improve patient care to obtain positive outcomes. Watson’s theory focus in caring as it must to remain constant. The words “human care” in Watson original book, was later changed to “human caring” or “caring” to describe transpersonal interaction, caring moments, and carative factors, elements of Watson’s theory (Watson, 2012). Watson describes caring as an intentional act from the nurses. In her theory, Watson emphasis that the nurse has
It also contributes to patient care by classifying nursing phenomena and standardizing language among nurses. Nursing diagnoses are scientific interpretations of data that appeared and that are used to guide planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing practice. The use of nursing diagnoses gives more visibility to nurses, whose caregiving has previously been invisible or unrecognized(20). Defining characteristics and factors are related to nursing diagnoses. Those characteristics are passible clues of observations and checks.
BSN Degree Transitioning From RN to BSN Those who go on to receive their Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree after having already attained their registered nurse license will be experiencing changes in the clinical setting. They will be training for leadership responsibilities and have greater opportunities to work in more community based settings. They will have an increase in critical thinking and communication and have more of an opportunity for an increase in pay. Leadership and Community Based BSN nurses will be training for more leadership positions such as charge nurse rather than only a staff nurse. Baccalaureate nurses are more prepared for leadership positions as they posses “broad preparation in clinical, scientific,
Nursing uses theories, research based models and scientific systems to collaborate care provided within the health care systems. Nursing utilizes multiple sciences and knowledge development models to create a diverse education base. The nursing knowledge disciplines use empiric knowledge, esthetics, personal knowledge, and ethics. Nursing science encompasses the relationship between health and illness while addressing biologic, social, and behaviors to seek truth to provide better patient outcomes and enhance better living for all humans. Nursing knowledge expands to create a meaningful, holistic approach to providing health care needs and meeting the challenges of the social aspects of patient care.
I note that their knowledge and experience from multiples years of nursing prepare them for position that they are now in. The staff nurse provided more direct involvement in her role on the team by educating her patients during care. The nurse educator, on the other hand, was involved with her team indirectly by educating the staff on patient care issues. The interviewees’ position on promoting quality care outcomes requires them both to be directly engaged in the plan of care for the patient’s on their respective units. Although national evidence based research effects nursing as a whole, the staff nurse believes that nursing research has greatly improved her area.
The theory of reflection has made the author identify the epistemology of reflection in and on action and the effect this can have on her professional growth. Through intensive reflective practices the author may be able to grow on the delivery of services she provides as a district nursing student. The Department of Health (1999) acknowledged that reflective practices were an important part of continuing professional development. This supports the given quotation by Boud and Walker (1991) that learning from experience is a crucial part of learning and gives health professionals the potential to explore a scenario, gain new knowledge and put it into practice. The author will now aim to critically discuss the literature surrounding the two reflective concepts and establish its implications within the delivery of the district nursing service.