American Nursing Idol - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: American Nursing Idol American Nursing Idol [Institute’s American Nursing Idol INTRODUCTION Since many decades, humans have endeavored to inquire and understand different aspects of human life in order to make it more useful, resourceful, satisfying, and contented; and such efforts have resulted in creation of a number of different fields, and nursing is one of them. In particular, various theorists, psychologists, and experts have attempted to define nursing and the role of nurses, and this paper is an effort to understand different aspects of some of such theories with an innovative contest. Specifically, the paper is about a contest ‘American Nursing Idol’ that included various nursing theorists from different states of the country, and now only three theorists have been able to reach in the finals of the contest at West Georgia. The paper will include description and discussion of different aspects of this contest that will allow a comprehensive understanding of nursing theorists and theories in an innovative manner. JUDGES I do not know you or your group members so you will have to fill out this section. THEORISTS IN FINALS Dorothy Johnson First finalist of the American Nursing Idol contest is Dorothy Johnson, a famous nursing theorist who has played a significant role in defining the field of nursing and especially, the role of nurses. In particular, Dorothy has put enormous efforts in indicating the significance of care of nurses on patients with her model of nursing care in the year 1968. She defined nursing as “the efficient and effective behavioral functioning in the patient to prevent illness" (Basavanthappa, 2007). In addition, she stated that nursing was “concerned with man as an integrated whole and this is the specific knowledge of order we require” (Basavanthappa, 2007). Her “behavioral system of model for nursing” has been very noteworthy in defining the role of nursing, as she indicated nursing as a regulatory force in her conceptualization that is responsible for the preservation of organization of patients’ behaviors at most favorable level. Further, Dorothy has identified four different goals of nursing that play an important role and that are essential in assisting the patients. Dorothy (Basavanthappa, 2007) has indicated that a nurse’s behavior should be in accordance with requirements of a society, and secondly, a nurse should be capable of bringing an alteration in the behavior of patients that may subsequently result in support to the biological components. Thirdly, a nurse’s goal is to ensure benefits to the patients during the period of sickness with the application of knowledge and expertise of physicians (Basavanthappa, 2007). Lastly, behavior of nurse should not in any way cause unessential shock or suffering to the patient during the same period. Virginia Henderson Virginia Henderson is second finalist of the American Nursing Idol who has given huge competition to her opponents with her concept of nursing. In particular, Henderson’s work is inductive, and a derivation of her education and experience (Timby, 2008). One of the significant characteristics of her concept is emphasis on independence of patients while they are in the healthcare settings, as she indicated that such independence enable patients to recover soon and adjust to normal settings after the process of hospitalization. According to her, nursing is “assisting individuals to gain independence in relation to the performance of activities contributing to health or its recovery” (Basavanthappa, 2007). In addition, her concept is a categorization of fourteen constituents that she believed essential for the fulfillment of human needs. Besides fourteen components, Henderson identified the role of nurses in three aspects: “substitutive (doing for the person), supplementary (helping the person), and complementary (working with the person)” (Klainberg & Dirschel, 2009). Moreover, it is an observation that before Henderson, there was no distinction between nursing and medicine; however, experts believe that after her description of nursing, there was a clear demarcation of boundaries between nursing and medicine that is one of the major achievements of Henderson (Timby, 2008) as she gave a distinctive role and significance to nurses and nursing respectively. In particular, following are the mentioned fourteen points of Henderson’s concept of nursing (Chitty, 2005): 1. “Breathe normally. Eat and drink adequately. 2. Eliminate body wastes. 3. Move and maintain desirable postures. 4. Sleep and rest. 5. Select suitable clothes-dress and undress. 6. Maintain body temperature within normal range by adjusting clothing and modifying environment 7. Keep the body clean and well groomed and protect the integument 8. Avoid dangers in the environment and avoid injuring others. 9. Communicate with others in expressing emotions, needs, fears, or opinions. 10. Worship according to one’s faith. 11. Work in such a way that there is a sense of accomplishment. 12. Play or contribute in various forms of recreation. 13. Learn, discover, or satisfy inquisitiveness that leads to regular growth and health, and utilize the accessible health facilities” Hildegard Peplau Hildegard Peplau is the third finalist of American Nursing Idol who has came up with her middle-range expressive categorization theory that seems an influence of a number of theorists, such as Sullivan’s theory of inter-personal relations, Maslow’s hierarchy, and works of Percival Symonds (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations has four chronological stages that is an attempt to indicate different phases of relationship between a patient and the nurse. Orientation Hildegard has identified this first phase of orientation as a stage of problem definition that begins as the nurse and patient meet for the first time as strangers. Hildegard indicated that this phase requires nurse to define the problem appropriately and decide the required type of service by asking questions, sharing past experiences, etc (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). This phase usually involves description of nurse’s role to the patient and services that will be available to the patient during the process of hospitalization. Identification The theory of interpersonal relationship has identified second phase of patient-nurse relationship as identification phase that includes choosing of adequate assistance by the patient, followed by construction of a kind of home-like feeling that helps patient in reducing hopelessness during different processes of hospitalization (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). Exploitation Hildegard has identified third phase as exploitation stage that includes utilization of professional support by patients to look for different alternatives for solution of identified problem/s. During the exploitation phase, patients begin to share their interests and needs with the nurses that resulted in efficient utilization and selection of services, which subsequently strengthens interrelationship of patient and the nurse (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). During this phase, according to Hildegard, patients become attention seekers by making silly requests to the nurses, and one may observe fluctuations in the level of independence of patients during this phase. Resolution Hildegard has indicated ‘Resolution’ as last phase of this interrelationship between patient and the nurse. During this phase, nurses start attempting to end the professional aspect of relationship, as one can observe fulfillment of patient’s needs and requirements by efforts of nurse. Subsequently, resolution phase continues with termination of therapeutic aspect of interrelationship of patients and nurses (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). Hildegard believed that this part of resolution phase is the most difficult one as it results in psychological impacts on both patients, as well as the nurses. WINNERS Judge A - Dorothy Johnson While evaluating different theorists, Judge A has selected Dorothy Johnson as deserving candidate for the title of American Nursing Idol. One of the major reasons of such selection is interrelation of different concepts in Johnson’s theory that is the major requisite for a theory to be efficient and understandable. In addition, analysis has indicated that theoretical framework of Dorothy Johnson is very logical in nature, and the theory is simple that enables its easy application in real-time healthcare settings (Basavanthappa, 2007). A major requisite of a good theory is its ability of testing, and it is an observation that a huge number of researchers have been using theory of Dorothy to Johnson to conduct their tests, and thus, this indicates its effectual performance. In this regard, physicians and nurses can consider and utilize the theory to enhance and improve their clinical and nursing practices that is one of the reasons of choosing Dorothy Johnson as deserving candidate for the title of American Nursing Idol. The judge has given Dorothy Johnson six (06) out of ten (10) due to abovementioned significant components and aspects of her behaviour system model of nursing. In particular, the theory lacks in few aspects that resulted in reduction of four (04) points, and it is important to indicate those aspects. Although most of Johnson’s concepts are interrelated with each other, however, there is a need of interrelation in her notions related to subsystems. Moreover, at some places, description of concept seems abstract and lacks practical utilization (Basavanthappa, 2007). Dorothy Johnson has ignored physically disabled individuals in this theory, and thus, it will be very hard to apply this model on such individuals. In addition, it is an observation that theorist has focused primarily on individual performance of nurses, and thus, there might be a problem during application of the model in groups. Judge B - Virginia Henderson While assessing the three final theorists, Judge B has selected Virginia Henderson as deserving candidate for the title of American Nursing Idol. One of the major reasons of such selection is integration of different acceptable models and theories in the nursing theory of Virginia Henderson. For instance, one can observe comprehensive application of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs in the Henderson’s theory that indicates its usability in the clinical settings. In addition, scrutiny of different components has indicated that Henderson’s theory is very logical and a nurse can easily accomplish an identified goal by following fourteen components of Virginia’s nursing theory (Chitty, 2005). Moreover, notions indicated in the nursing theory are already under utilization in different parts of the globe that signifies its applicability in healthcare settings. The judge has given Virginia Henderson six (06) out of ten (10) due to abovementioned significant components and aspects of her theory of nursing. In particular, the theory lacks in few aspects that resulted in reduction of four (04) points, and it is important to indicate those aspects. In particular, the judge has observed lacking in theoretical connection between physiological and other traits of patients. In addition, the theorist has overlooked the significance of holistic temperament of humans in the theory. Although the theorist has remarkably identified fourteen important components, however, one cannot observe any interrelation between these points, as well as interrelation between influences of nursing on these components (Chitty, 2005). Furthermore, while assessing few other components of Henderson’s theory, it is an observation that the theorist has emphasized on the role of nurses during the dying phase of an individual; however, judge observed no detail in terms of the specific role of nursing, another con of this theory that resulted in reduction of points. Judge C - Hildegard Peplau While scrutinizing the three final theorists, Judge C has selected Hildegard Peplau as deserving candidate for the title of American Nursing Idol. One of the major reasons of such selection is the interrelation of different constituents of every phase in Hildegard’s theory that allows different perspectives to look at a specific phenomenon (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). In addition, analysis has indicated the phase of interaction between nurses and patients are applicable to the notions of health, environment, and nursing. Moreover, Hildegard (Timby, 2008) has put enormous efforts to propose a logical approach of look at different circumstances of nursing. The theory is very simple and thus, it is applicable in every nurse-patient relationship, and additionally, it has testable hypotheses that are usually absent in theoretical frameworks. It is an understanding that Peplau’s theory is already in utilization in many healthcare settings, especially in patients of anxiety that signifies its importance. The judge has given Hildegard Peplau eight (08) out of ten (10) due to abovementioned significant components and aspects of her theory of nursing. In particular, the theory lacks in few aspects that resulted in reduction of two (02) points, and it is important to indicate those aspects. Specifically, the theorist has proposed an efficient theory; however, she has overlooked a few aspects, such as family dynamics, community service, health promotion, etc (Timby, 2008). In addition, the theory is applicable in every relationship except in unconscious patients who are not able to express their feelings of needs and wants, and thus, Hildegard’s theory is inapplicable in such circumstance (Sitzman & Eichelberger, 2010). AMERICAN NURSING IDOL After comparing and relating results of all the three judges, the judges have reached to a consensus of choosing Hildegard Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations, and thus, Hildegard Peplau is the American Nursing Idol of the year 2011. One of the key reasons of choosing Hildegard is her acquisition of eight points at Judge C, six points at Judge B, and six points at Judge A. In other words, on average, Hildegard seemed to be having the highest points in the result sheets of all the three judges that subsequently made her the American Nursing Idol. CONCLUSION Conclusively, the paper has identified some of the noteworthy aspects of different nursing theories, such as Dorothy Johnson’s behavior system model, Virginia Henderson’s need theory, and Hildegard Peplau’s theory of interpersonal relations. The paper has recognized and analyzed different studies related to the topic, and it is expectation of the researcher that the paper will be beneficial for students and professionals in better understanding of the role of nursing in patients’ care. REFERENCES Basavanthappa, B. T. (2007). Nursing Theories. Jaypee Brothers Publishers. Klainberg, M. B., Dirschel, K. M. (2009). Today’s Nursing Leader. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Chitty, K. K. (2005). Professional Nursing. Elsevier Health Sciences. Sitzman, K., Eichelberger, L. W. (2010). Understanding the Work of Nurse Theorists. Jones & Bartlett Learning. Timby, B. K. (2008). Fundamental Nursing Skills and Concepts. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More