Nursing Theory Essay

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Theory Perspective

The Joint Commission (2004) is focused on assuring a safe experience for both mothers and infants in the area of Obstetrics. JCAHO (2004) published a Sentinel Event Alert, “Preventing Infant Death and Injury During Delivery”. This document identified root causes that affect the safety of mothers and infants. Communication issues topped the list of identified root causes, identifying the importance of investigating this issue and working to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes. Obstetrical nurses identify themselves as advocates for laboring women (James, et al., 2003). But, Thorman, et al. (2006) in a Round Table Discussion of Perinatal Nurse Executives, states that, “much work is still needed to support appropriately assertive communication techniques when nurses have concerns about patient status”, to promote and ensure patient safety. My research interest is focused on identifying the barriers to assertiveness, or implementing the chain of command, when an obstetrical nurse is faced with clinical discord that threatens patient safety. This interest, sparked by quality assurance record reviews, led me down a path of communication factors and teamwork systems. I have identified and included in this discussion two related theories: the General Systems Theory and the Humanistic Nursing Communication Theory. General Systems Theory was invented by a biologist named Ludwig von Bertalanffy, who, in 1968, published General Systems Theory. Systems theory analyzes the relationship between the system and the environment, the inputs and outputs, or variables, which contribute to the stability of the system, and the use of information to guide the performance of the system. It has been used to understand different systems including: biological, electronic, and mechanical, as well as social systems.

The theory describes a system as an interdependent
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