Philosophy of Nursing Practice - Research Paper Example

 Philosophy of Nursing Practice Introduction The health profession and particularly the nursing practice have evolved over time. It passed through evolution phase, receding phase and new paradigms phase. The arrival of the new millennium set-up has brought a great deal of changes in the nursing profession. The profession has grown exponentially throughout the theory of development era. Historically there are long lists of traditions and rules which served as guidelines in the nursing practice before the advent of the philosophical and theoretical interventions. The advent of nursing theories has been received overwhelmingly in the nursing profession. The philosophical question that many have been posed within the health science discipline is; what guides the practice? Health practitioners have used these theoretical interventions in pursuing useful health knowledge in a very efficient and effective way (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Theoretical interventions are used in the nursing professional when describing, explaining, predicting and prescribing nursing practice. Nursing educators have invested heavily in development of philosophy and conceptual framework which will be used by the nursing professionals when at work. A theoretical foundation applicable across nursing practice is very significant. The practice requires both practice experts and scientists to expand their knowledge on patient care. A series of theoretical interventions and education in the profession are designed to prepare the nurses for the practice and scientific inquiry. These have had a lot of benefits to the practitioners especially in preparing them to be special nursing professionals. Theoretical interventions and nursing practices have been adopted to educate young practitioners on how to incorporate practical expertise which is quite important when they are in the field (p. 342) Statement of Problem Nursing practice at an advanced level calls for deep understanding of philosophical and theoretical interventions which are useful in applying nursing skills in providing healthcare services to the public. If such understanding and abilities are not found within the nursing practice, there are many challenges encountered in clinical decision making. Nurses are likely to face numerous problems in deciding the treatment option to give to particular patients. Health organizations have healthcare service provision framework within which the healthcare practitioners have to abide (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Principles of Philosophical and Theoretical Interventions Clinical decisions should be made bearing in mind the consequences. It is important that nurses and clinicians follow the principles which act as a guide to solving a clinical problem. Principles of Beneficence - It is critical for clinicians to understand the concept underlying this principle. They should be able to promote patient’s good health and prevent any harm during treatment. The principle calls for all the health practitioners to remove any existing harm in the patient’s health. It holds that health practitioners should make exemplary decisions which are aimed at doing well for the patient. It implies that nurses should consider all factors and predict any repercussions before taking any action thought to be appropriate in restoration of patient’s good health. Basing this on their knowledge and skills, health care providers should use all the appropriate means to benefit the patients. Theoretical interventions have led to the introduction of this principle in Hippocratic traditions which assume that clinicians ought to do what will best benefit the patient. The principle holds that nurses should be able to analyze the consequences of a particular decision. Doctors should assume responsibility to help others and that their actions, behaviors and attitudes should concur with their commitment to public services or to benefit others. This commitment acts as a framework within which health professionals work (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Respect for Autonomy - Self-governing and self-directing are very important among all human beings in the world. This principle holds that clinicians, doctors, nurses and other health practitioners should allow the patient to make decisions that they feel and deem fit for their health. It is imperative that nurses allow competent patients to make decisions regarding their treatment options that were recommended by specialists such as a psychotherapist, psychologists among others. This principle has been adopted in solving ethical dilemmas that occur in the nursing practice. Nurses are thought to have a wide range of knowledge and skills that are adequate to explain parameters of the health services supposed to be performed for certain health problem. A health care provider is obliged to provide patients with unbiased information which is important in making their decisions concerning the mode of treatment they prefer. This information should be helpful to the patient when deciding on which treatment option to take. The principle further holds that health professionals should be keen enough not to allow or provide patients with services they request for which may conflict with the health care standards. They should monitor their patients to ascertain whether or not the decisions made are of value to their lives or may endanger their health status. In dealing with patients under this principle, it is imperative to incorporate the principle of beneficence. Principle of Justice - It is mandatory that health practitioners distribute treatment resources fairly and in a cost effectively manner. They should provide patients with what they deserve. This principle holds that likes should be treated alike and equals should treated as equals. In applying this principle, health practitioners should be able to ascertain who is equal or unequal. Unequal patients should be treated in the same way as equal ones. Efforts to treat people with similar needs in a similar manner are fundamental in application of this principle. Some of the Theoretical Interventions in the Nursing Practice Psychodynamic - Clinical decisions are quite delicate hence competent health staff should be allowed to make such decisions. Theoretical interventions have been important in sharpening the ability of the nurses to make such decisions. Psychodynamic implies that health practitioners should be exposed to intensive long term treatment modules where nurses or other health practitioners will be directed on how to resolve intrapsychic unconscious conflicts. Psychodynamic is aimed at restructuring personality as opposed to directing patients to single symptom recovery. It holds that talking cure is essential as it enhances free association and interpretation of one’s dreams. Through these intensive psychodynamic intervention programs, a defense mechanism has been discovered and the existing one has been modified to suit health problems (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Behavioral - Reinforcement measures are used to determine behaviors of individuals as postulated by this intervention based theory. This is derived from learning theory which ignores human cognitions. This is a philosophical intervention which holds that it is possible for the health practitioner to measure observable patient behavior in conjunction with existing data from other animal studies. Through conditioning experiments, nurses are in a position to hypothesize health behaviors of an individual hence making justifiable and well thought out decisions. Systematic Therapy - Nurses should not focus so much on the symptoms or insights during treatment interventions. Systematic therapy approach holds that the health practitioner should focus on problem behavior which generates problems amongst individuals. They should be able to identify the role symptoms whereas maintaining dysfunctional systems. Counseling has also been used in systematic therapy so as to enable patients understand the problem and the possible remedy for the specified problem (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). This intervention strategy is only used under theoretical framework which defines the problem. Clinicians should be able to show empathy and unconditional regard to the patients seeking medical assistance. They should be client centered and focus on the recent problems using realistic interventions which can result in effective remedies for the specific problem. Application of Philosophical Science and Theoretical Context in Clinical Decisions Nursing practice has been inadequate across all countries around the world. Preparation of nurses for the practice has been faced with quite a number of limitations imposed both by the nursing practice setting and health institutions (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Philosophical Science has been incorporated into the nursing practice to solve clinical-decision problems commonly faced by practitioners. Assumptions made by philosophical science researchers have offered an explanation for inadequacy of the nursing practice in decision making. Philosophical inquiry has been grounded in the evolving nursing paradigm which has enabled health practitioners for example nurses to make effective clinical decisions. Philosophical science provides fuller understanding of certain health phenomenon which in turn facilitates nurses’ judgment about transferability of certain health conditions. Through philosophical interventions, nurses’ clinical decision-making has been effective and relevant to situational phenomenon. This intervention plans have been used to give implicit description of a health problem which helps nurses to make right decisions on the treatment option to be given to a particular patient (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Philosophical science stipulates that nursing practice requires holistic approaches. The diagnostic decisions which have been a problem to the nurses have been managed very well through the philosophical interventions. Philosophical science provides direct links to pragmatic situations hence there are possibilities that nurses are put in a position where by they can relate the logical basis of the health conditions of a patient with the clinical setting. Clinicians and nurses can better understand and analyze the fundamental aspects of the nursing practice such as psychotherapy by relating them with theoretical interventions. Philosophical interventions are paramount in the development of nursing profession because of the fact that they permit more comprehensive and coherent reasoning before drawing conclusions on particular health matters. Doctors, nurses and clinicians are able to relate philosophical inquiries and evidence with the individual patient health condition before making any judgment. Philosophical science has been used in the nursing practice to inculcate reflective discussion between the health practitioners regarding virtues of alternative treatment approaches. Tamayo & Hinze (2005) suggested that philosophical science and theoretical context have been used to influence decision making among the patients concerning the treatment options that are preferable to them. These interventions give support to effective decision making and this is evidenced by suggestions from the mental health expertise to incorporate the interventions in the health management. The philosophical perspective reveals that nurses should be patient-centered hence there is a need to include aspects outside the prescriptions given to the patient when ascertaining the kind of treatment to be given to them. According to NIHM Bridging Science and Service Report, nursing practice should articulate reform challenges in the field so that they are in a position to incorporate and evaluate various patients’ aspects as they impact clinical care practice (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Both theoretical and philosophical interventions have been very useful because they allow health organizations to restructure their health policies. Through the respect of autonomy, nurses would allow patients to choose what they feel can relief them from pain during emergency situations. Theoretical contexts have been applied in many countries especially during the time of war or natural catastrophes (p. 245). Theoretical Bias Effects of Philosophical and Theoretical Interventions on the Nursing Practice Theoretical and philosophical interventions have been incorporated in the curriculum for nursing practice related to patient education. Philosophical education and theoretical interventions have enhanced efficiency and effectiveness of the health practitioners. Various nursing practice roles have been passed from educators to the learners through theoretical interventions. These essentials address fundamental competencies that have a particular role in the nursing practice. Philosophical interventions have been used to develop trainees into becoming experts in their area of competence. It is imperative to understand that both philosophical and theoretical interventions have been used by nursing specialists to delineate foundational and essential competencies which ought to be interpreted when preparing. Philosophical interventions provide terminal academic preparation for nurses. Philosophical underpinnings on nursing education reflect the complexity of the health practice and the foundation of nursing. The scientific foundation of nursing practice requires that students or the professionals should be well acquainted with philosophical foundation for the practice. It has been expanded to include both natural and social sciences practices (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). The expansion has effect on the nursing practices in areas such as human biology, genomics, science of therapeutics and complex human structure. Philosophical and theoretical issues are inherent in the development of the nursing practice since it creates opportunities for application of natural and social sciences which are quite helpful in solving problems which otherwise could be impossible under the normal practice. Philosophical theories have created a significant body of knowledge to guide the nursing practice hence expanding the underpinnings of the practice. The development of middle range philosophical interventions and concepts in guiding the nursing practices have been incorporated into the foundational knowledge necessary in the health profession. Through the philosophical theories and interventions, the nursing practice has been continuously advancing hence becoming sensitive to new scientific findings which demand for professional practices. Nursing education has had a major shift in order to cope up with the ever evolving clinical practice realities that keep emerging in the modern days (p. 321). Through these interventions, health practitioners have managed to integrate knowledge from ethics, biophysical, psychosocial and analytical sciences as the basis for nursing practices. The use of theoretical-based interventions and concepts has been very useful in determining the nature and significance of health care practice. The limitation posed by insufficiencies of the nursing education in preparing nurses for clinical decision-making has been solved through theoretical and philosophical interventions. The philosophical suppositions of researchers in decision-making are offered as an explanation for this education-practice gap. Nurses apply theoretical principles to describe, explain, predict or prescribe nursing practice. Theoretical perspective of Nursing has been regarded as caring since they are used by health professionals to describe the focus of nursing as being that of nurturing of persons “living caring and growing in caring”. Nursing knowledge and skills are important in decision making on clinical matters. According to Tamayo and Hinze (2005), nursing knowledge emanates from philosophical problems which arise within the context of the nursing practice. Philosophical interventions consider a variety of solutions and ideas which supplement nurse’s skills. Health organizations ought to adopt these interventions since they aid in arriving at health solutions for the numerous and complex problems they encounter during their practice. Philosophical theories and interventions have the effect of influencing nursing standpoint in clinical decisions. They will be able to disclose a more complete understanding of the common disease and dysfunction realities effects on human health. Philosophical suggestions and ideas have a direct relationship with nursing practice hence the nursing science discipline and its respective concepts can be easily harmonized and unified in arriving at the solutions for specific nursing problem. Redefinition of theoretical and philosophical approaches has been modified by health practitioners to reduce the gap between nursing theories and practice. According to philosophical theories, a new picture of nursing practice can be effectively promoted if problems are solved through guided nursing research. These interventions have developed mid-range theories which have strengthened integration of nursing practices with other disciplines which are paramount in clinical decisions. Recent studies have revealed that testing of interventions have been used to support effective clinical decision making in the clinical practice. Nurses have used these interventions in the range of decision making (Tamayo & Hinze, 2005). Conclusion It is imperative that nursing practice should be reformed from time to time to allow health practitioners to make relevant decisions which can help save the lives of victims during emergency situations. Clinical decisions on the treatment option to be given to a victim should be flexible enough so that patients can access treatment that can be considered as effective without any problem. References Tamayo, J. & Hinze, W. (2005). Rapid clinical decisions in context: A theoretical model to understand physicians’ decision-making with an application to racial/ethnic treatment disparities. USA: Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 123-453. Read More