Concept Comparison and Analysis Across Theories - Essay Example

?Running head: Concept Comparison and Analysis across Theories Introduction Imogene King’s General Systems Theory, Dorothea Orem’s Self-Care Theory and Jean Watson’s Human Caring Theory have played substantial role in developing nursing knowledge. Payne (1983) indicates that the concept of health has been evolving over the years. Traditional health paradigms, in which the disease is the central focus, have evolved into complex model that center on a positive approach towards the healthy phenomenon. Subsequently, the emphasis on the health concept has affected the nursing concept. However, the health concept remains the nursing theory’s building block, with the aforementioned theories incorporating the concept of health as it is of major importance. This paper will present discussion of comparison analysis of health metaparadigm in General Systems, Self-Care Theories and the Human Caring Theory and highlight the main concepts in the Human Caring Theory. Discussion Health Concept Definition in King’s General Systems Theory Health metaparadigm refers to one’s dynamic experiences in life. When one optimally utilizes resources, he or she can attain full potential for daily life, which enables one to cope continuously with stressors within internal and external environment. Health can also be viewed as one’s capacity for social role functioning. According to Hanucharumkul (1989), King’s definition of health concept is equivocal. Health is viewed as how one is able to cope with growth and development stressors in internal and external environment, whereby one’s cultural inclination and efforts to conform are functional. This viewpoint seems to support Orem’s fundamentals for universal self-care and development. King’s view of social functionality of health is congruent with Orem’s viewpoint, although clinical model is not incorporated in King’s model. One’s functioning in social roles is paramount to health, notwithstanding other factors. This tends to engender ambiguity issues attributable to creating schema that humans are merely social beings. Both self-care and general systems theories underscore society’s role in health promotion of its members, while nursing fraternity is charged with sustainable health promotion, as well as safeguarding members from certain infections and injuries (Hanucharumkul, 1989). According to Hartweg (1990), Orem’s general theory has proven useful in health promotion activity by society. Health promotion concept focuses on illness. Orem’s concept of health promotion is correlated with concept of well-being and elevated wellness. The health promotion activity aims achieving high level of wellness for individuals, family, and community. The Self-Care Deficit Theory (SCDT) has been applicable in nursing context focusing on severe and chronic illnesses, such as rehabilitation, psychiatric and dialysis units. Health promotion concept enhances individual’s ability for general decision-making. Health promotion is only valid after attainment of stable health. Health promotion activity is conceptualized as an aspect of self-care activity. These activities must play integral role in life of an individual. Such activities might include positive nutritional practices, establishing systems for social support, coping with stressors, and involvement in physical exercises. The activities help in articulation of individual's potential (Hartweg, 1990). Self-care encompasses responsibility for adult’s own health, well-being, and existence. Self-care is initiated personally and must form important component of one’s lifestyle. King’s general conceptual framework echoes Orem’s pragmatic theory of self-care as deliberate practice. Health promotion behavior and practice of self-care tend to be congruent, with self-initiated self-care carried out with intention of attaining specific health targets. Orem attempts to distinguish health from well-being as two concepts that are related to state of humans. Orem defines health as condition under which sound or holistic human structure, and functional cognitive and body is developed (Hartweg, 1990). According to Sieloff, Frey, and King (2007), King’s health conceptualization has close correlation with adaptive model. Health is conceptualized with regard to individual’s interaction with environment. King argued that health should be approached from context of social function and general systems. According to King’s theory, health encompasses ability and performance that are spontaneously adaptive. Health is tacit life factor that permits normal functioning of individual’s social role. Health allows normal functioning individual roles and performance. King’s system of health conceptualization is not time bound and not culturally specific. In fact, King’s conceptual system is applicable to all cultures and can be employed anytime. This is attributable to provision of structure for observing interacting aspects of environment that improve or encroach on quality of life (Sieloff, Frey, & King, 2007). King characterizes and conceptualizes relationships among systems personal and interactive systems, which allow drawing of conclusion regarding interaction, health, self, and perception. King’s conceptual system for health is based on the assumption that one’s perceptions shape one’s reality. Individual’s interaction with others is shaped by perception. Such interactions shape health of individuals. Perception influences one’s health through interactions. Social support is conceived as interactions essential for human health. Health is also regarded as a multidimensional concept and personal. Such personal dimensions include social, functional, psychological, and biological dimensions of personal health. Furthermore, personal health is comprised of functional and structural aspects (Sieloff, Frey, & King, 2007). Dorothea Orem’s self-care theory The concept of health is common between Dorothea Orem’s self-care theory and Imogene King’s General Systems theory. Orem defines health as a state of integrity or wholeness of the human beings. According to the self-care theory, individuals are indicated to be healthy in case they are functionally and structurally sound or exhibit general wellbeing. Orem indicates that psychological, physical, social and interpersonal aspects of health are inseparable aspects. Orem also indicates that the provision of self-care through therapy and on continuous basis is very essential to the general wellbeing of individuals (Hanucharumkul, 1989). The concept of health is developed by Orem through the incorporation of a clinical model that is based on absence of symptoms and signs of a disease. Nevertheless, the self-care theory developed by Orem is a modern version of a functional health model. Orem develops the concept of health while relating to deficits that are prevalent in self-care. These deficiencies are in the foci of self-care categorized under developmental, universal and health-care deviation requisites in self-care. Furthermore, the theory of self-care indicates that health comprises of factors that make a person a human that can operate in union with psycho physiological and physiological mechanisms. Generally, self-care is the capacity to handle the aforementioned self-care requisites (Hanucharumkul, 1989). Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring and Its Best Application in the Practice of Nursing Philosophy and Concept Statement Rafael (2000) observed that Watson’s nursing system fits modern practice of health promotion and community health philosophically. Watson’s theory underscores significance of life experiences by client and nurse. The moment of caring is important component of life history of both patient and nurse. Watson’s theory takes into account uniqueness of mind-body-spirit without person’s completeness being compromised. Watson’s theories appreciate nursing. The nursing theory that was formulated by Watson comprises of major concepts that form the basis of beliefs on the environment, health and human beings. Watson presents an argument that human life should not be subjected to neglect but rather should be highly treasured. In the concept of the human beings, Watson indicates that human beings should be helped, cared for, respected, understood and cherished. According to this theory, human beings cannot be complete without the integration of their functions. Furthermore, this theory indicates that in offering medical care in the field of nursing, health should be perceived as a form of synchronization and unity within the body, mind and soul of each individual (Rafael, 2000). In the concept of environment, Watson theory of Human Caring indicates that the patient’s immediate environment, which is composed of the immediate society where the patient is located, contributes immensely towards the patient’s healing process. Through the practice of nursing, the human personality, which is usually complete in the absence of diseases, should be highly cherished through the interactions of human relations and the immediate environment where the individual is located. Particularly, the environment should undergo a transformation whereby the nurses are able to undertake their practices in a manner that can bring healing to the affected individuals (Rafael, 2000). Metaparadigms The patient metaparadigm is viewed as humanistic, metaphysical, and existential, which reinforces Watson’s conceptualization of health-illness and transpersonal caring relationship. The patient is viewed as broke parts that include mind, body and soul. Disharmony, which can be conscious or subconscious, results in illness, which may cause the disease. Patients have metaphysical ability to heal and transcend to greater degree of consciousness. Responsibility for self-healing rests with patient. The nursing metaparadigm involves helping patient to achieve greater degree of harmony between mind, body, and spirit. The relationship between nurse and patient is mutual, with nurse charged with bringing the client into his or her personal life experience and meaning to real caring moment (Sieloff, Frey, & King, 2007). The nursing philosophy that has been postulated by Watson in the theory of human caring can be used to facilitate the process of hiring new nurse as it can be of great importance during their orientation. Moreover, Watson theory can be incorporated into job descriptions, documentation of new nurses and in the development of necessary tools for reports in order to promote and encourage the communication inclination of individual patients. The language and the principles that are indicated in the theory are replicated in the philosophy of nursing institutions (Rafael, 2000). Nurses can use the theory of human caring in numerous occasions in the hospitals whereby the nurses and the patients can interact by sharing life histories and other exceptional areas that they encounter in their daily transactions. Furthermore, patient-nurse interaction is the core moment as indicated by the theory of human caring. The Conceptual Model The Watson’s human caring model theory can be effectively applied in the nursing practice since the relevance of Watson’s work has been revealed in the nursing practice. Through comprehensive analysis of the theory, the necessary action plans can be determined easily. The theory requests nurses to join effective discussion teams in order to investigate the usefulness of Watson’s theory in their work. Moreover, the theory encourages nurses to discuss relevant factors regarding caring of their patients during departmental meetings (Rafael, 2000). Conclusion To sum up, health concept is one of four metaparadigms that facilitate nursing profession. Others include patient, environment, and nursing. Nursing theorists Imogene King, Dorothea Orem, and Jean Watson have played significant role in cultivating nursing knowledge. King conceptualizes health with individual’s interaction with social environment. Orem’s theory of self-care is in harmony with health promotion behavior. This paper has discussed the health metaparadigm as postulated in the three theories. The concept of health has undergone significant changes as it has evolved into a complex model, which has achieved a positive approach towards the concept of health. References Hanucharumkul, S. (1989). Comparative analysis of Orem's and King's theories. Journal of Advanced Nursing , 14, 365-372. Hartweg, D. L. (1990). Health promotion self-care within Orem's general theory of nursing. Journal of Advanced Nursing , 15, 35-41. Payne, L. (1983). Health: a basic concept in nursing theory. Journal of Advanced Nursing , 8, 393-395. Rafael, A. R. (2000). Watson's philosophy, science, and theory of human caring as a conceptual framework for guiding community health nursing practice. Advances in Nursing Science , 23 (2), 34-49. Sieloff, C. L., Frey, M. A., & King, I. M. (2007). Middle range theory development using King's conceptual system. New York : Springer Pub. Co. Read More