Abstract
Nurses and professionals consider the Lazarus and Folkman Stress and Coping Theory as one the best models for dealing with stress. The theory is one of the widely acknowledged transactional models. It presents the best interventions and management strategies to help individuals change their perceptions about stressful conditions. The model helps people deal with their external environment in a positive manner. The Middle Range Theory can help members of a family provide the best care to patients suffering from dementia. This paper applies the Lazarus and Folkman Stress and Coping Theory to a family providing health support to a family member by the name Martin. Martin has dementia disease.
Middle Range Theory Paper: Application of Theory to Practice
Martin had just celebrated his 40th birthday. He is currently staying at home whereby his family members are giving him the prescribed medicine for the disease. Martin’s dementia was diagnosed in its later stages of development. The members of the family were greatly concerned about Martin’s condition. As a nurse leader, I observed that the family members were depressed. This made it impossible for them to provide the necessary support to the patient. From the situation, I strongly believed that an appropriate Middle Range Theory would help the family. This would ensure Martin was getting the necessary support from them (George, 2010).
I decided to apply the Lazarus & Folkman Stress and Coping Theory since it is an effective transactional model for coping with stress. Whenever a family member has a serious condition like dementia, the relatives find it hard to cope with the situation (George, 2010). It was notable that the family members felt stressed because of they were unable to cope with the Martin’s condition. According to Lazarus & Folkman Coping and Stress Theory, stress can result from lack of resources or ability to cope with a situation. The family members found it hard to offer the best attention and care their patient. That being the case, I decided to design a stress management programme for the family members.
From the very beginning, I asked Martin’s relatives to list some of the factors affecting their relationship with the patient. From the exercise, I learned that the family members found it hard to cooperate with the patient’s situation. Most of them were unwilling to provide the needed care to Martin. The family indicated that the medication procedures were demanding. The relatives did not cooperate with each other in providing the needed care. Sometimes there was communication breakdown thus making it impossible to provide the best care to the patient (Hardy, 1998). The relatives were also uncertain about the future of the patient. This affected the healthcare regimes and practices for Martin.
The first thing I considered necessary as a nurse was to design a workable programme for the family members. I applied the Lazarus & Folkman Coping and Stress Theory because it views the external environment as a major cause of stress. I encouraged the members understand that Martin would get well if he continued to receive the best support and care. I discussed with the members about the future of our patient and his health condition. I also offered myself to be part of the situation. I also responded to their questions accordingly. It was my duty to encourage them to consider dementia as a treatable disease (Altman & Wohlwill, 2001). It was my duty to inform the family members that the condition was manageable with proper communication, cooperation, and the right medication.
From the above clinical situation, it is clear that I embraced the idea of cooperation and attitude change. After a few months, I observed that the members of the family had already changed their attitude about dementia. They were also willing to support, encourage, and communicate with him. This is essential towards faster recovery. Since dementia can cause stress in a family setting, the use of an appropriate transactional model can facilitate the best lifestyle practices and encourage the family members provide the best care and support to their patients (Antonovsky, 2003). I emerged victorious and proud from the practice because I applied the theory successfully to Martin’s family.
Reference List
Altman, J. & Wohlwill, F. (2001). Human Behavior and Environment. New York: Plenum Press.
Antonovsky, A. (2003). Health, Stress, and Coping. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.
George, J. (2010). Nursing Theories: The Base for Professional Nursing Practice. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson.
Hardy, S. (1998). Occupational Stress: Personal and Professional Approaches. London: Stanley Thornes ltd.