Introduction
Middle-range nursing theories have become increasingly important in guiding evidence-based practice and promoting the best outcomes for patients. These theories provide a framework for understanding and analyzing specific aspects of nursing care and can be used to inform and improve practice. Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest in the application of middle-range theories in nursing practice, as they provide a means of connecting nursing practice with nursing science. Middle-range theories are specific to certain nursing phenomena and less abstract than grand theories. This paper examines the concepts of a middle-range nursing theory within a specific clinical nursing practice setting.
Nursing Theory
The middle-range nursing theory selected for this paper is the Theory of Human Caring, developed by Jean Watson, which is based on the idea that the nurse-patient relationship is a caring one that involves both emotional and technical aspects of care. This theory emphasizes the importance of the human dimension in nursing care, highlighting the need for nurses to understand the holistic nature of care and patients’ psychological and emotional well-being (Watson, 2012). It emphasizes the importance of the nurse’s ability to reflect on the care provided and its impact on the patient, utilizing problem-solving and critical thinking in decision-making.
Nursing Case Background
I am a registered nurse working in a long-term care facility. One of my patients, whom I will refer to as Mr. Smith, has been living at the facility for several years. He has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and is dependent on staff for his daily care.
Mr. Smith is often confused and disoriented, and he has difficulty communicating his needs. He is also prone to wandering and becoming agitated. He has a history of falls and has limited mobility due to arthritis.
One day, I noticed that he was getting increasingly agitated. I tried to approach him and speak to him reassuringly. He then told me that he was looking for his late wife. He started to become disoriented and confused.
I realized that he needed emotional support, so I decided to talk to him and listen to his voice as he shared his thoughts about his wife. He shared his memories with me, and I offered him a sense of comfort. After a couple of minutes, Mr. Smith came back to his room. I took him back to his bed, and I informed the nursing home’s charge nurse about the incident. We then made a plan to provide him with additional emotional support.
Application of the Theory
Nursing Situation
Human caring is highly applicable to the nursing situation described because it emphasizes the importance of providing emotional and psychological support to patients to promote well-being and comfort. The nursing situation described involved a patient with Alzheimer’s disease who was confused and disoriented and required emotional support (Frisch & Rabinowitsch, 2019).
Watson’s theory stresses the essential human dimension of nursing, requiring nurses to understand and address the holistic care and emotional/psychological well-being of their patients. The nurse in this scenario demonstrated this by acknowledging the patient’s feelings and offering comfort and reassurance. This approach directly aligns with Watson’s principles, specifically by using the therapeutic self, expressing feelings, promoting growth, meeting human needs, and instilling faith and hope.
Other Situations
Jean Watson’s Theory of Human Caring can be utilized in various nursing practice settings. The principles and ideas of the theory can help guide patient care in various settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, and community health centers. One example of this is the use of the theory in the care of individuals with chronic illnesses, where patients with chronic illnesses often require ongoing care and support.
Watson’s theory accentuates the essence of understanding the patient’s needs and providing care accordingly (Guven Ozdemir & Sendir, 2020). In this situation, the nurse could utilize Watson’s curative factors to assist with the gratification of human needs, instilling faith and hope to help the patient understand their illness and manage their condition.
The theory has implications for nursing leadership and ethical decision-making, as it emphasizes the importance of the nurse-patient relationship, which is crucial for effective nursing leadership. The healing factors can serve as a guide for developing leadership strategies that foster a caring and compassionate environment (Foli, 2021). Additionally, it also guides nurses to use a systematic approach to solving problems, make decisions based on evidence, and respect the patient’s culture, values, and beliefs, which aligns with ethical decision-making in nursing practice.
Nursing Research
Because Watson’s theory offers a structure for analyzing particular elements of nursing care, its principles can be used to guide and enhance practice. Crucially, the theory is valuable for nursing research, especially for studying the nurse-patient relationship—a central component of the theory. By examining this relationship within the framework of the theory, researchers can gain a better understanding of its impact on patient outcomes. For example, Smith and Parker (2015) examine the relationship between the nurse’s use of curative factors and patient outcomes, including satisfaction with care, emotional well-being, and clinical outcomes. These interventions align with Watson’s healing factors, specifically, the therapeutic self, and promote personal and professional development.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Theory of Human Caring concludes that the nurse-patient relationship, holistic care, and patients’ emotional and psychological well-being are vital. This valuable nursing theory can be utilized in research, leadership, and ethical decision-making. Its principles, known as the curative factors, provide a solid framework for analyzing and improving practice. For example, the nurse in the clinical situation described applied these factors by adopting a therapeutic style and offering crucial emotional support.
References
Foli, K. J. (2021). A Middle-Range Theory of Nurses’ Psychological Trauma. Advances in Nursing Science, Publish Ahead of Print. Web.
Frisch, N. C., & Rabinowitsch, D. (2019). What’s in a Definition? Holistic Nursing, Integrative Health Care, and Integrative Nursing: Report of an Integrated Literature Review. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 37(3), 260–272. Web.
Guven Ozdemir, N., & Sendir, M. (2020). The relationship between nurses’ empathic tendencies, empathic skills, and individualized care perceptions. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care. Web.
Smith, M.C. and Parker, M.E. (2015). Nursing theories & nursing practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: F.A. Davis Company.
Watson, J. (2012). Human caring science: a theory of nursing. Jones & Bartlett Learning.